My friend committed suicide in 2016 by gunshot. She had a masters degree in counseling and had her own practice. The point is, you never know what’s going on in someone’s mind.
EXACTLY! How the f*ck do you not question the person she had her LAST CONFRONTATION WITH?! I think that family has ties with someone in that department or something because how does: 1. The “friend” not get questioned/investigated? 2. The presumed murder/suicide victim not get properly tested for DNA(rape kit, etc.), along with other articles found at the death site of the victim. 3. No testing of the articles found after the death by the parents. This screams, foul play. Everything about it stinks.
There was a lot of directions this case could have went it was alot of layers that needed to be pulled back that wasn't. It's unfortunate due to the department that handled this.
I watched this episode, and quite frankly I got a feeling that parents will often find it impossible to accept their child might have ended their own life. I don't know what happened to her, but I think there is no shortage of people who will take advantage of a grieving family and give them false narratives. What I know is, having lost two people in my life to suicide, they were the happiest people I knew - and that's why I think you can never really know what is going on with a friend. They might be the most funny and happiest person but be battling demons personally. Thank you, Dr. Grande.
Yes! I agree with you whole heartedly! I think it’s very sad that Unsolved Mysteries the Netflix series, seems to capitalize off of families grief in a profound way!
Yeah she committed suicide impulsively because she was upset after being caught stealing. It was very easy to come to that conclusion after watching the show. I kept waiting for more evidence of something sinister but, nope.
@@prairieflower7967 When people are hit by cars they are often launched right out of their shoes. Since the train was going 80mph and she was dismembered, it stands to reason her clothes would have gone with the dismembered limbs, leaving the undergarments on the torso, and no scrapes on the feet. Just my deductions.
Suicide by train is sadly not uncommon. My cousin is a train engineer, and they know it is likely that they will face striking a person at least once in their career. They are usually given mandatory counseling after such events.
Huh, well there goes THAT Plan. Originally I thought driving off the Grand Canyon Thelma and Louise style would be the Plan. But, It's apparently illegal. So, my motorcycle vs train was the next Plan. Does it actually BOTHER the conductors?
My paternal grandfather was an engineer for Southern Pacific Railroad. I never heard of any railroad horror stories coming from him but now it's too late to ask.
I owned a home in a lovely neighborhood that had train tracks running thru it. In the 18 years that I’d lived there, there were deaths on those tracks almost every single year! It was a small town, and was horrible each time. Most of the victims were teens walking, running or playing near the tracks. One 14 year old got a shoe stuck while playing chicken with a train with 3 of his buddies! The other kids tried to yank him off until the last moment! We often wondered why they didn’t just fence off the tracks at some point! (Although, we all know kids would find a way to get in there anyway)
The weight of embarrassment should never be underestimated. My teenaged daughter had a friend who stole something from her. I remember counseling her that her friend had family problems and was perhaps just a little jealous or just wanted to feel what she had experienced while staying overnight with us. My daughter thought about her disappointment and then contacted her friend and the relationship continued stronger than ever. A little miracle when you think about it and the friend was such an appealing person she was worth at least a second chance.
When I was in 6th grade a girl in my class whom we can call Lisa told us all these stories about her dad, the amazing surgeon. She moved with her mom and her second husband (who was a successful surgeon) to our town two years prior and we hadn't met her dad. Lisa and I were fairly close friends and I often spent time in her home with her, her mom and step dad, but as a kid I wasn't particularly interested in discussing the mom's ex-husband. Well, one day about a month before the school year ended Lisa's dad dropped by to visit. He was dressed in his work clothes; he clearly had been working close by and when they finished the job early he took the chance to come visit his daughter. As you all have guessed he wasn't a surgeon; he paved roads with asphalt and his clothes were sticky from all the asphalt. Lisa freaked out and ran off. Her dad was really distraught but we convinced him to spend the rest of the school day with us and hopefully Lisa would come back. He was a great guy and we all liked him instantly. No one cared what he was working with - most of our dads worked at the steel plant so his job wasn't that different from theirs anyway. Lisa didn't return, nor did she show up the next day. As I said, we were friends so I went home to her after school that day. Lisa refused to see me but I sat down with her mom and step dad and explained that we all understood that Lisa might feel embarrassed but that no one really cared about her lie; it really wasn't that big a deal. To us. It probably was to her dad (I didn't say that, because I was a kid and only focused on Lisa). No one in our class ever bullied anyone or spread rumours; we spent quite a lot of time sorting out bullying in other classes, so any repercussions for the lies were not something anyone ever considered. The next time I met Lisa was in high school. By then she had changed to a much more posh first name and also to her step father's equally posh surname. When she saw me I noticed that she had a hard time deciding if she should deny ever having met me before or run away. I basically just said it was nice to meet someone new and had minimal interactions with her after that. I never mentioned having met her previous or what had happened, because I thought she might be too fragile to deal with her new "friends" (she ran in circles I avoided like the plague as they were all a bunch of mean bullies who enjoyed pushing someone out of the circle and feast upon them. Utter vultures the entire bunch). And then we met again at uni. Lisa just couldn't get rid of me, I suppose. I still saw no reason revealing her past, because who cares about some little lie anyone made up as a kid anyway. Lisa was too embarrassed (and immature, like most sixth graders so that was perfectly understandable) to fess up to her lies. But she really didn't owe us an excuse; she owed her dad one. I suspect she ditched him completely after the move and name change and refused to have anything to do with him as she probably thought that he had ruined her life by dropping by that afternoon.
The parents really made an impression on me. They insisted on stating that their daughter had no problems in life whatsoever. Everybody has problems. This statement just made me feel that they were either not very close to her and just totally unaware of her issues or they were completely aware and were trying to overcompensate and delude themselves that she didn't actually have issues. Both options show to me that they didn't really have a genuine open guiltfree bond, otherwise the girl would have shared her troubles with the mother at least and the mother would have felt comfortable with stating those troubles to the police so that they would have had a potential motive for her murder to work on.
very much. I don’t believe in my mind that she would commit suicide. It wasn’t like her. I had so many conversations with her throughout high school and we used to snap each other loads and I still to this day still have her acc on snap with all the pics, chats and everything saved, and she was always so cheerful and caring, I also had a relationship with one of her best friends, when I first started there her and all of her female friends started melting and adoring about my British accent and thats how I ended up in a relationship with one of them, when we all heard about it the following morning it was so so so baffling, it’s the not knowing that destroys my mind, most of us have gone separate ways and I am British and from the United Kingdom but was at the same high school because of parents travelling forward and back between the US and UK for work and stuff, I’m now back in the UK and I just really wish and hope someone or something sheds a light on the situation because it’s daunting not knowing what happened that night, the night it happened me and a couple of friends were literally not even that far from the tracks where it happened or the road she walked up, I literally mean like few hundred meters away, I remember hearing the train horn going on for like 40 seconds or so before hearing the train stop, I also kind of remember seeing the police cars racing towards the area a few minutes later but we was heading back home, I just think to myself why couldn’t I have walked down that road and seen her or why couldn’t I have seen her walking through the trees on the tracks so I could of stopped her if it was suicide or protect her if it was something like foul play, it’s just so much to think and go through my head, knowing I was so so close, I always get hate saying this and that from people but people don’t understand the fact that it has effected literally everyone in the area especially the from our high school 😔
@@KF5o I am so sorry for your loss, not having any type of closure can be totally devastating, I wish you heal and keep her in your heart as a fond memory.
Is it possible that she was on the tracks and couldn’t get out quick enough. As a troubled teen myself, I relate to this girl. It is a tragedy that she didn’t survive the tough times. Hopelessness is killer. This story really affected me for many reasons, specifically that not killing myself one day at a time has allowed me to accomplish great things. I created the loving family that I never had. I’m so grateful I endured the suffering.
I lost my mom to suicide in 2013. The suicide of a loved one is usually never expected and takes everyone in their life by shock. Going through the grief of losing my mom in this way, I can see where it would have been easier, mentally, to blame it on something else. Anything else. I think that Tiffany’s family is in a deep state of denial. Suicide loss is a bitter pill to swallow and I empathize with her family and hope they find peace.
Death by train comes in at least two ways, accidental (I was a witness to one of these at age 15) and intentional/suicidal (there was a suicide near where I live by a teen that perhaps failed to meed his parent's expectations-this is conjecture). Murder is the stuff of Victorian plots. The suicides that are impulsive are the saddest in my view-I had a friend shoot himself because he feared failing a pilot license physical and hadn't slept in days. When someone takes their life, others die by degree. Very sad indeed.
The living are left suffering in the “would’ve, should’ve, could’ves” for the rest of their lives. So sad that you have witnessed such tragic events. I have been exposed to many myself…best wishes for your health and happiness.
This story touched me in several ways. When I was 16 , I was in an isolated campground when an older man was trying to force himself on me. I had friends there ,but was so overcome by confusion that I did not think anyone could help me. I saw a bridge crossing a wide international river, and walked to it planning to jump. The time of night was 1:30 am. By the time I had reached the middle of the bridge, the traffic on it both surprised me and broke my mood. I walked back to the campground and climbed into my sleeping bag and went to sleep. Life can be so overwhelming for young people. My heart goes out to Tiffany and the people who loved her. I never did anything that impulsive again. ❤
Dr Grande featured the story of Amy Pitzen after this video aired. Earlier in life, she impulsively attempted suicide after leaving a job interview (a job she would actually get). It really struck me deeply, and highlighted how irrational and unrealistic someone’s thinking can be when they are completely overwhelmed by negative emotion and pain. Just heart-wrenching to try and empathize with.
someone in my high school died cause they were walking home on the train tracks and had headphones on and didn’t hear it coming. he was only 16 and i’ve never forgotten that since then.
She likely committed suicide after being embarrassed after being caught stealing from her good friend. She made an impulse decision and the parents don't want to accept it.
@Chandra Cox that's look extremely foolish. Committing suicide just because you are upset or embarrassed for limited period of time!!!. Why she didn't give herself the opportunity to let upset go away. No griefs are eternal. You lifetime will swing definitely between embarrassment, joy, sorrow, etc. Just give yourself a break.
@@robd1329 ummm did you watch the same video? Her mother physically abused her. Tiffany had bruises on numerous occasions and her mother admired once to punching her. And this is just what’s public. Who knows how bad it was behind doors.
So I actually knew her. Not as well as the girls on the volley ball team, but she was actually very sweet and happy-go-lucky. She had the happiest disposition I’ve ever met! That’s why it’s so hard for our community to get behind the suicide idea. She was also found in a place not far from scummy areas. Of course suicide is likely for anyone. We’ve lost many to suicide in our area and school.
@Sarah, do you think she might have been a bit dipressed because of her sexuality or stressed by her competiotions, also being taller than the norm. If she was stealing that might have been a warning sign of something going on, like with winona ryder. Plenty of money and stealing. It's psychological. Hopefully they can still look into evidence.
@@Crimson11100 oh could’ve been a number of these things all at once. We all speculated more of a murder though since the investigation was poorly handled. Our area (particularly our high school) actually has had a few suicides in the last decade (not that peaceful of a town, it’s drug infested and low income mostly. Many didn’t suspect that for her, especially via train when she was afraid of the dark. It is just a sad story with no clear answers with a lot of odd details. The area she was found isn’t far from a main road where scum travel to Atlantic City and back.
I may be wrong here so if i am i apologise but i do remember reading somewhere that tiffany had also been caught stealing from her parents once or twice and that CPS had also been to her home on a number of occasions due to accounts of abuse via her mother hitting her on either her arm or her shoulder so she was definitely going through some horrible things and what i also noticed what was rather strange was that none of her friends were interviewed for the episode, just her parents, some professionals and some of her close family not even her own sisters.
It said at the end of the episode that they reached out to her friends and siblings, but all declined to be in the episode/interviewed. Not weird that they werent included if they werent willing to be.
I would believe suicide, if not for the clothes all over town, the weird route she took, in the complete dark she was allegedly "terrified of". And the fact that a person over 6 ft tall would not just leave marks on the bottom of the train, with the dismembered hands and feet being completely intact. Unless she also decided to just lay down across the tracks as part of her strange naked walking through complete darkness suicide plan. Not to mention male dna and some things were found at the scene but the "chain of custody" was broken in the process of having any evidence analyzed, so no one ever got any answers there.
I saw that episode and I really can't decide how she died. It was really all over the place. One thing struck me as off. The mom had admonished her for using her friends credit card. She then said to her daughter that now she had to go and tell her father Was it guilt?
I believe it was suicide as well and her parents and family are still in denial. I think her mom feels some remorse for how she treated Tiffany and that's why she has practically a shrine to her. I think it's just hard for them to believe it was because there was no note or anything to acknowledge Tiffany's last thoughts. I lost my grandpa to suicide in 2019 and even with a suicide note, it's still hard for me to believe my grandpa would have done that. I feel for them.
I think the same about the mom. When he said the mom found some of her things you knew she’s been walking along that same path where her daughter died… really hard to lose a child.
No one could ever convince me this was a suicide. Everyone who is saying this is suicide still can not answer how her shorts are missing, shoes and head band were found over a mile away, phone found in another area miles away. Also why would she lay on the tracks arms above her head, when in despair people lay with the arms close to the heart, arms spread to the sides, or in fetal position. The only reason hands would be above the head is if she were dragged, your arms naturally raise above the head when you’re dragged. Last, she would have brought her phone, or her phone would have at least been with her shoes. A suicide???? This wasn’t even an accident, this girl was murdered.
It’s so tragic, and just magnifies the work that still needs to be done to make mental health issues less stigmatized. These parents likely know in their heart of hearts that Tiffany took her own life, but likely feel shame about it. RIP Tiffany.
I lost my good friend by suicide by train. It’s breaks my heart I couldn’t have done something. I had no idea. These types of cases are tragic because no one wants to believe someone would end their lives in such a brutal way.
2 years and 8 months and I still don't believe my daughter ended her life. Yet everything pointed to the fact that she planned it and acted it researched it and it was just so out of the blue for us. That's why parents are in denial because they don't see the pain that's inside their child my daughter was 32 she knew how to manipulate and she was incredibly intelligent and she knew how to hide it. She had a husband and he worried about her but she still talked her way out of things with him. He had the police at the house one time because she threatened suicide and she talked her way out of that. People who are determined to end their life because there's no purpose to go for forward will do anything to make sure they're not stopped they may not take their life but they don't want anybody controlling them so they can't take their life if they want to. My therapist once told me very on in my first year of losing my daughter she said that if she came back and stood in front of you and told you exactly why she ended her life you still would not believe her because you don't have mental illness you don't have depression and you don't have the pain she felt inside. A suicide is one of the hardest ways to lose your child again it's because you just don't see it. In hindsight there were very very small Behavioral things we noticed in her again she was married and her husband saw a lot more of her negative behavior we saw her positive behavior but she expressed normal things to us and her three older siblings. She said she was depressed cuz she couldn't find a job after getting her master's degree. She expressed that she wasn't happy being married to Steve because he was so quiet and she wanted children but she wasn't sure if she wanted them with him and felt she was getting too old to have children. She was only 32 she was embarrassed by her past life and feel she wasted 6 years of her teen years using drugs she got clean at age of 20. And she was off and running with every athletic thing you could imagine she was a marathon runner at Rock and ice climber hiker traveled to Peru and Africa looking back I think she substituted being incredibly busy for drugs. I don't know it's just a speculative thing. She also she wasted 7 years of her education to get her Masters and didn't get the job that she wanted to get. So there were so many things she mentioned in her letter that would meaningful to her and she did not want to go backward. That I do know about my daughter. I miss her so much that the pain is constant and even after two and a half years it's like a cloud of sadness that hangs over me and her three older siblings. Our lives have totally changed I could only pray that she's at peace and she's happy and I'm so glad we all have part of her ashes. That gives me Comfort
It’s weird bc New Jersey is one of the nicest states, beaches, farms, mountains, and cities. Fantastic restaurants and food, entertainment, close to the city. Schools are highly rated. Wonderful state, I’m fortunate to have grown up here.
I'm glad you covered this. While I was watching the episode, I was reminded of things I've learned from you in past videos, especially the difficulty some families have in accepting an impulsive suicide. Her father's complete emotional devastation was palpable & difficult to watch. A thoroughly tragic situation all around. 😔 Thank you for your thoughtful analysis, as always 🙏
One thing that annoys me is when loved ones pull that “she or he would never do that to herself or himself” nonsense. The families need to do some research on what smiling depression is.
Tiffany's fake smile could not fool me on those pictures. She had extreme sadness and depression on her face, especially her eyes. She had some trouble behind all the smiling.
I live 10 minutes from mile marker 45. I've spent my entire life here, so I know/understand the area and the people intimately. I played on the tracks throughout my entire childhood. I know them, I know the trains. 2015-17...those were big heroin years around here. There were little signs stuck in the ground literally everywhere, "Stop the heroin." People were dropping dead like flies. I do know her toxicology was clean. But, there's that, fwiw. MM 45 is a known hangout spot. Its an area of the tracks where there are no houses, and a dirt road goes back behind the power lines, which can't be seen from the street. Someone local knew where this was, and brought her there. For a multitude of reasons, I can say with 100% certainty that this girl didn't walk barefoot to the tracks and throw herself in front of the train. Anybody ever try to walk barefoot on train rocks? It's hard enough to walk on them with shoes without hurting yourself. I'd go as far as to say it's just impossible without shoes. Nobody ever mentioned analyzing the tire tracks on the dirt road. She wasn't killed there. She was killed elsewhere and laid out on the tracks. Possibly because whoever did it thought ahead about the fact that it would be outside of state police jurisdiction. Her shorts will never be found. They're probably in a junkyard somewhere, in the trunk of a car. What teen throws their phone on the ground and walks away? 3.5 miles away? None. NJ transit police handled the scene poorly. In the chaos, they took it at face value that it was a suicide, and didn't treat it like a crime scene. After it was realized it was a crime scene, they found that they didn't obtain enough evidence to start an investigation. Sorry, but that's just what happened. Shit happens... Also, there was a lot of corruption going on in the county prosecutor's office during that time. The prosecutor ending up resigning over ethics violations. It was a big to-do. So, more important things were going on... All of this has nothing to do with me talking to anybody about this. My husband and I are just locals who know about the case, and have an interest in true crime. We both know the area well, we've been to mm 45 many times, we've been past her house. We don't know the family and have no reason to be biased. This is our conclusion. She was murdered, 100%. We wonder what her parents have NOT revealed. Perhaps money or favors were owed, and never repaid. And this is how they were ultimately paid. They do have a very nice property and seem to live a comfortable middle-class life, at least from appearances. Lots of equipment on the property. The "Stop the heroin" years...everybody around here remembers those signs. This will be solved one day, when somebody squeals. Whoever knows what happened will eventually have an opportunity to tell the truth, when it benefits them. Patience...it'll come out.
The parents reaction was so sad, they obviously went from lawyer to lawyer until they found one that would be happy to tell them yes and take their money. Rest easy Tiffany 🖤
I tend to agree with your theory…particularly since you filled in some big blanks the UM episode skipped over. While watching UM, I definitely felt the situation involving the stolen bank card and the friend’s very dramatic confrontation/accusation could be a catalyst for Tiffany’s subsequent suicide, particularly if she had other stressors and was depressed. However, the show barely mentioned the theft, making it seem like it wasn’t too important or relevant. UM also barely touched on the family problems; did the show even mention Mom’s physical outburst directed at Tiffany? In fact, I definitely think UM really pushed an extremely positive family dynamic…almost like Tiff and her folks saw themselves as the Three Musketeers, always together and always on an adventure. UM pushed this narrative so aggressively I remember wondering if the two children from Mom’s first marriage felt a little left out because they had a different dad and Tiffany was clearly the favorite? I don’t mean to be harsh as it was very apparent her parents were profoundly grief stricken over Tiffany’s death and it was also obvious they completely rejected the notion that it was a suicide. I don’t blame them; no parent wants to accept their child felt it was the only acceptable option. However, whether or not her parents wanted to believe she was suffering, Tiffany certainly appeared to be struggling with some very powerful thoughts and feelings. The only thing that made me second guess suicide was Tiffany’s state of undress. And it’s not so much that she was wearing only her under things. Actually, it occurred to me that her shoes, headband, and the still missing shorts seemed rather staged, like she kind of wanted to tell a story that would really worry her parents. If so, her poor mom truly bought it; she is certain Tiffany was abducted, lifted right out of her shoes and thrown in the trunk of a car. My problem with this sequence of events is the simple fact that Tiffany is 6’2” with an extremely athletic build. Tiffany is the kind of woman an anonymous perp out cruising around, looking for the perfect victim to hunt to the death, would very likely find far too intimidating to attempt to overpower and control, which is exactly what any sexual predator fervently desires…he wants to prove his “masculinity” by overpowering some helpless woman or child who didn’t stand a chance from the get go. Then he wants the ultimate control which is how and when his victim will die by his hands. Additionally, the logistics of lifting Tiffany into a trunk or trying to force her into a back seat are also problematic. Still, even if Tiffany staged her disappearance, I had/have a hard time believing she walked almost two miles through the woods without shoes on. Even if she kept her bare feet on the raised tracks (which would be fairly smooth), based on the location of her shoes, she still would have quite a walk along the forest floor. Of course, it is still possible. Also, it crossed my mind that if Tiffany didn’t actually want to complete suicide, but was trying to glean some attention by “going missing”. Perhaps Tiffany was walking barefoot on the tracks to save her feet and maybe even to avoid leaving footprints, but the oncoming train caught her off guard and she lost her balance, unintentionally falling between the tracks and unable to get up and off them before it was too late? One thing I do believe is certain is the inadequacy of the investigation. I definitely think all involved rushed to judgment and neglected protocols such as treating the accident and its environs like a crime scene until the evidence proves otherwise. Similarly, I believe the train employees were overly concerned with protecting themselves and possibly the company by forcing the suicide narrative from the beginning.
Wow! I was writing a comment just like this and I accidentally deleted it! There is something that struck me about the mother. Her emotions seemed forced and contrived. As soon as I saw pictures of Tiffany, I immediately thought that she might be interested in girls didn't want her parents to know but was surprised when the mother mentioned that she had just broke up with her girlfriend recently.
Thank you for this sensitive analysis its a very sad story. She didn''t get the help she needed even though her family had the resources their pride or lack of insight got in the way.
She was just a child and kids make impulsive decisions They tend to see things black or white and are not able to look ahead and think it will get better I do think she was depressed as well (for many reasons) and was not getting the support from her Mom about her being gay Now her Mom feels guilt because she blames herself for not being there for her daughter so wants it to be a "mystery" She took her life ....in a impulsive moment Very sad
He works in Florida now and refuses to answer questions he also blocked me I do strongly believe he heard what he heard but we may never know also Jaime should be subpoena to say who answers phone 1039 call so much fucked this case 🙏
Another excellent analysis, Dr. Grande. I think that suicide has such a terrible stigma that the survivors would have preferred to believe that it was actually a murder than the grim realization that Tiffany was overwhelmed by her life and chose to put an end to her suffering. Living in New Jersey didn't help, either.
I watched this episode and I was so curious to know your opinion of this case. Poor thing, she had her entire life ahead of her. Thank you for the thoughtful analysis, Dr. Grande.❤
Problem with these shows is they alter or leave out information for dramatic effect. I had a GF with severe panic attacks during arguing that would run away and remove articles of clothing, cut or act suicidal. She would walk for miles and not remember how she got there.
No way this girl committed suicide. No way that she walked over a mile with no shoes when she had a perfectly good set. What this means is that there was undoubtedly someone else involved and if that's the case then they would have come forward if there was not Foul Play involved. At the very best it may have been someone assaulting her and she ran away and accidentally ran over the tracks and got hit and at the very worst someone murdered her and placed her on the tracks to be ran over to hide the murder and make it appear as an accident.
This past summer, August of 2022, I was on a train going from Stratford, CT to Grand Central Station in NYC. We came to a screeching halt and had to change trains as a man jumped in front of our train to his death. Very sad and gruesome.
Thank you for covering this case. How come her feet didn't have cuts or anything on them and why did she remove her clothes? You're right about the show leaving out important details.
You realize that people are literally blown out of their clothes/their clothes are shredded when they are in a high-impact collision or subjected to high level forces such as a waterfall or rapids? It’s common with high speed car crashes, motorcycle crashes, airplane crashes - which tear every bit of a person apart, falling or jumping out of tall buildings, etc. Men in Vietnam talked all the time (as well as WWI or WWII) of men being blown of out their boots by stepping on mines, etc.
@@4Mr.Crowley2 I'm aware of your facts; however, in Dr. Grande's detailed description, it seemed that her clothes were left intact & together yards away from her body. (She walked some 2 miles ) I used to live on the San Francisco Peninsula and it was sadly amazing how many people, young and old, committed suicide on the commuter train tracks. My husband was a cop and he described the mess that was left with decapitated heads, arms, legs, feet, and torsos severed. The coroners' job was often gathering pieces scattered all around for like the equivalent of a block or so. They finally tried fencing off along the tracks, but determined people would get over or cut through the fencing. Sadly, one of the detectives we worked with retired, only to end his life on those tracks. His name was Al Ajuria, a really nice guy.
Idk why but this one is very sad … I think it is because I believe it was a suicide too, a very impulsive and not thought out at all one that I know has left her parents in a bad way for the long haul . Yea my heart goes out to them and her . I hope they all find peace and forgiveness and heal . May God be with them and comfort them .
Dr. G, I'm so glad you covered this episode! And you did it beautifully!❤️👏🏾 Your Patreon is one of the few I pay for. This episode made me want to never watch UM again. I grew up watching the original series but the reboot is just a huge disappointment. They left out so many CRUCIAL details and kept questioning her decisions that night... as if a suicidal teenager is thinking rationally at the end. It was super frustrating and irresponsible. Her parents need to grieve and accept their daughter's suicide. I hope they're able to find peace someday and move forward.
Dr Grande, could you make a video covering the "concrete-encased high school girl murder case" also known as the murder of Junko Furuta? I'm intrigued to hear your opinion as to the mental health of the four main perpetrators. How could four juvenile men do such inhuman things to a random 16 year old woman? Why did so many people (friends, parents) turn a blind eye? It is so infuriating that they could recieve such light sentences for such nightmarish crimes. I would really like to see awareness for this case spread in order to ensure that the victim, as well as the ordeal that she was made to suffer, are not forgotten
That case haunts me and I’ve heard it all at this point with how much true crime I watch, listen to and read on a daily basis. I really wish I could un-know it honestly. Just reading the Wikipedia page alone was horrifying and sickening.
Ahh so glad you’re covering this. I was friends with her in high school. She was such a sweet person and always had a cheery, happy-go-lucky disposition. Plus the rumors and lack of thoroughness (rumors of it for the investigation) is what made us question everything. That is why it’s so so hard for our community to accept the investigator’s analysis. Along with some other things known about her. Oh also- we very much know south jersey sucks 😂😂😂😂
This happened 20 minutes away from where I live & remember my 2 high school kids talking about it & all the rumors going around their school, that Tiffany & her parents had a rough relationship.
My only problem with Dr. Garcia's conclusion at the end, is that he thought that she decided to get hit by the train at the end, which meant that she was walking their barefoot. But if she was walking there barefoot, why did her feet look clean. That's the main reason why I'm skeptical of the suicide theory.
How clean was they did you see them and she walked down a paved road then the railroad tracks with the type of rock along it when wasn't far from the paved road and the pick of her shoes you can tell they was just thrown they where both facing the same way and up right and about shoulder width apart and her phone was thrown maybe bc she was very upset at whoever and threw the phone and her GF had broke up with here prior
And the cloths and head ban along with the shoes she purchased with the friends stolen card that she got caught about and was her best friend for years
Am I the only one to think that the uncle who arrived at the death scene out of the blue to be a suspect? He simply said “out of nowhere i decided to drive down that road” and there she was dead. It is very probable that who ever picked her she knew good enough to feel comfortable and ride along.
I am pretty sure it was suicide but thought that detail was unbelievably weird and suspicious too when i watched the episode. Her whole family seems overly self-conscious in the episode actually. Maybe they are just trying to overcompensate for the guilt they feel for contributing to her depression, but their presentation seems kinda dishonest.
@@saniherwood of all the places he could have gone he went to the place of death. Its very common for killers to show up at the location where they kill and give interviews to be off the radar.
I found this episode to be the most mysterious! I think she was put on the train tracks by another person and not a suicide. I hope that this case can eventually be solved and the parents can get some closure. Once again, job well done. You have become a master at perfecting each case you tell😊
What was strangest to me, was the fact that the parents cremated her almost immediately. Knowing that no rape kit or anything had been done. That fact wasnt discussed at all, and made me think somethings off with the parents too.
I thought releasing this episode was a stretch and a half right away. It was immediately clear the family is in extreme denial. It’s understandable that they don’t want to live with the reality but they started making insane claims towards the end. “This is the branch my daughter was probably hanging onto as they took her away”. Like without any substantial evidence the family is creating their own fake scenarios. The clothes missing is the only part in my opinion that does add suspicion.
No one could ever convince me this was a suicide. Everyone who is saying this is suicide still can not answer how her shorts are missing, shoes and head band were found over a mile away, phone found in another area miles away. Also why would she lay on the tracks arms above her head, when in despair people lay with the arms close to the heart, arms spread to the sides, or in fetal position. The only reason hands would be above the head is if she were dragged, your arms naturally raise above the head when you’re dragged. Last, she would have brought her phone, or her phone would have at least been with her shoes. A suicide???? This wasn’t even an accident, this girl was murdered.
@Rose I just don’t agree. The circumstantial evidence leans more towards chaos involving more than one person. To imply it’s a suicide you literally have to ignore or undermine the evidence. You can step out of shoes, take off your headband, and still be be pushed or dragged in front of a train but no one can explain why her feet show no evidence of walking on the rocks barefoot for almost a mile, the route of travel does not make sense if she was alone, and even if the shorts were torn to shreds some piece of the material would still be found somewhere. My theory is someone hurt her impulsively, they panicked, then dragged her unconscious body to the tracks. Her shoes and headband probably slipped off while she was being dragged, the murderer had to make it look like an accident/suicide so they gathered the accessories and hid them in the trees neatly where they knew they’d be found, im thinking this was a sexual assault that escalated to murder, or a violent attack that lead to the murderer trying to stage a sexual assault.
You know what they say about opinions. I happen to live up the street from the Vialente's and know their family. I spoke to her uncle who Mike that discovered her at the scene, he was a active NJ State Trooper at the time which they failed to mention. Tiffany did NOT kill herself. I'm not surprised the NJ Transit Police botched the investigation, they should have called in Homocide detectives. Her body was cremated before they found the circumstantial evidence of a possible homicide. Eventually someone will talk, nobody keeps secrets forever. Hopefully soon, so their family can get some justice and closure.
As someone who's had those kind of thoughts earlier in my life, I found the way she acted logical. * Train is quick, painfree and you don't need any supplies for it * You don't want to do it where someone close to you can be the one who discovers you so you'd want to get away from the closest area surrounding your house so the placement along the tracks also makes sense. * You don't want someone to be able to 1. stop you or 2. see you do it too clearly (don't want to traumatize people more than necessary) so in the dark, far away from the road or a crossing sounds right * Just taking off and walking around aimlessly when faced with a difficult confrontation... Yeah, that adds up. After watching your analysis of the case I'm almost upset with the family for basically lying on the show on multiple counts that would point towards suicide! I mean, I absolutely get if they wouldn't want to air the family's dirty laundry on Netflix for the world to see or talk about things that could make their daughter look bad - but if you're going to be a part of a documentary trying to find out the truth about what happened then you need to provide the information necessary for that. Now they are essentially wasting other people's time and money by providing this arranged version of events. Incredibly sad story no matter what, rest in peace Tiffany 💞
I've been suicidal many times.(I'm bipolar type 2.) To me, the simple fact that she sent that text to her friend asking Just yes or no? Should I do it? Says it all. Either way Idk how I'd react if my child unalived themselve. Although it seems to me her and her mother weren't really close. But who knows if I didn't want to believe it I may come up w any other scenario besides suicide to cope. Sad.😢♥️🙏
This is a clear case of suicide, (to me) unfortunately. A lot of information was left out of this episode (and a few others) of Unsolved Mysteries, which is really disappointing. Absolutely nothing points to the direction of foul play in this story. Tiffany was going through a difficult break up with her girlfriend, and her mom basically spat venom when referencing Tiffany was a lesbian. Tiffany’s friends have mentioned previously that she’d been self harming, and was feeling “alone and lonely”. CPS had been called on Tiffany’s mom I believe 3 times, because of bruises that were seen on Tiffany’s body. Tiffany and her mother went to counseling 1 time, and thereafter, communication was very poor between the 2. Those issues were never followed up with. Tiffany’s mother said she was found “only wearing a bra”, autopsy states she was wearing a blue tank top. Mother says Tiffany was “lifted up out of her shoes”, and the photo of the shoes looks like they were simply stepped out of. Mom says Tiffany’s feet were “clean and pristine”, and they were clearly dirty. Parents are in denial, let’s just pls stop with this whole, “her life was so perfect and so great” narrative. That photo of her on the night cam shows someone (Tiffany) determined to commit suicide. A map of the area and her route to the tracks pretty much confirm that as well. It’s simple ): Dr. Grande, thank you for another video! Edit/Update! I know someone referenced the ax found near the scene of the tracks, however, it was lost in evidence. I also highly doubt that ax had anything to do with Tiffany. As for her shorts and clothing-Tiffany’s body was dragged, dismembered, and pretty much disintegrated to shreds, those items could’ve burned. Her older sisters and her friends all declined to be interviewed for the show. Most likely because they refused to be apart of the parents narrative of foul play.
that's very presumptuous as well. her feet weren't as damaged as would be expected if she walked that far on extremely sharp rocks by the tracks. there is plenty that points to foul play as well so assuming and insisting suicide isn't the correct way to go about it either. a killer could put her on the tracks or push her to cover up cause of death
@@Cinder_311 There isn’t any evidence that points to a killer, and there isn’t any evidence that points to foul play in general, either. It’s a sad story, don’t get me wrong, but the circumstances of it all just don’t fit the puzzle. And that’s all I’ll say on that! I’m not here to argue with anyone who disagrees, and we’re all able to form our own opinion. This just happens to be mine :)
I agree. I peeped those comments they made on unsolved mysteries. re her feet. They were filthy. granted they weren't soaked in dirt but it would have to rain a lot for that AND depending on the type of mud/dirt may affect how dirt attaches itself to your skin. the fact that the sniffing dogs smelled the trail from the home to near railroad tracks is also telling. It means she walked there. no other way her scent could be followed. I do not think they want to accept she wanted to end her life. She is also over 6 ft tall. It would take some VERY STRONG PPL to hurt her and carry her to the tracks. IJS
I watched the episode on Netflix and I am NOT convinced that it was suicide. I know people have a hard time coping when a loved one dies that way and usually say "they never would've done this," but the evidence does not add up. Her shorts and shirt were never found. Her shoes were found miles from where she was hit but her feet showed no evidence of walking barefoot. Based on the injuries sustained, it seemed as if she was lying across the tracks, not jumping in front of the train or standing on the tracks. The transit police were not equipped to investigate a murder. They didn't secure the area adequately or even clean up all the bits of her skull and body that were scattered around the area. Her relatives (uncle and grandpa) combed the entire area and picked up bits of her body and her necklace but never found her missing clothes. Police lost evidence that could have been crucial to her case and they failed to do a rape kit before her body was cremated. Edited for clarity.
I live in central NJ and it's beautiful with mountains, wheat fields, lakes and rivers, and next to none gun violence. An MTV show isn't what it is. I'm also a transplant so no bias
Also , I’m born and raised in New Jersey. That area where Tiffany is from is considered to be an extremely conservative rural area. I’m pretty sure being gay in that environment was another turmoil within itself given where she was located. Again, Truly sad case
Dr G, You are one of the most awesome TH-cam people and I am devoted to you. My only question is why are her clothes removed and what about her clean feet? You are so thorough and informative that I have never had a question about anything before . Just curious about this sad story.
I've lost multiple people to suicide in my life, But two stand out to me my sister and a close friend both had no history of suicidal tendency and we're generally happy and up beat both we're young my sister 12 and my best friend was 18, Both had received horrible news that wasn't really horrible but to there adolescent mind seem like the end of the world and that was the path they took in a moment notice! While it is possible that something happen to her I most likely think a mixture of what ever happen with her stealing that credit card and thinking that it would ruin her future that was the path she choose to advoid the consequences of what she thought was the end of the world going on in her life! RIP to the girl though as someone who watch a suicide tear my parents apart i can understand a grieving family wanting to not accept it
Oh my goodness, I had deja vu when I started listening to this video. I watched the episode two days ago. There are two things that struck me as odd. One was: Why her body was found with such a lack of clothing. That the shirt and shorts were never found was also concerning. I have yet to hear a good explanation for those circumstances. The second was that her body was cremated. I think the family made a mistake choosing that option. Several years ago a family member was murdered. Cremation was considered, but the police advised against it just in case there any question arose during the trials of the people responsible.
With some experience from the subject of railroads safety investigations one thing is obvious and that is that the crew lied to escape liability. They didn’t see shit, not her running towards the track or sitting beside it and then diving in. They were not paying attention and didn’t see what they hit.
this poor child was really struggling on so many levels. it’s heartbreaking that she thought throwing herself in front of a train was her only way out!
Reminds me of Jolissa Fuentes similarities: a relative died recently, conflict at a party, goes missing right after, happy-go-lucky personality. Both found dead. Except that Tiffany's toxicology report was clear. Does anyone else actually not see the shoes on Tiffany's feet on the deer camera? I see bare feet, no matter how long I look. Also 1 minute away are her parents. If you are followong a person down a straight visible line only 1 minute away you will see where this person goes. If she didn't get into the car whose headlights were registered on cam then it's very suspicious as to how she would have disappeared. Relative driving to crime scene is super sus.
I live in Mays Landing, and this unsolved case still haunts my town nine years later. I firmly believe she was murdered but it was made to look like a suicide. We may never know what really happened. R.I.P., Tiffany. 😢
I think she killed herself because her life was going down hill. I think she took the clothes off because they may have been the clothes she bought with that CC she stole, they may have been a reminder of her shame. Does anyone say if she was drunk or high on drugs when this happen,? she was at a party, was she drinking?
Her shoes were placed in their position. There's no way the impact of a train would result in her shoes being directly next to each other, as opposed to scattered.
Suicide. My mother and brother, 28 years apart, both committed suicide. As a loved one you blame yourself for suicide. Murder is different. I blame myself every day. In a murder, you can blame the unknown or just one person.
Dr Grande, I truly appreciate your methodical approach, explaining both sides before stating your opinion. Can you please do the same for the death of Meghan Marohn near Stockbridge Massachusetts?
No one could ever convince me this was a suicide. Everyone who is saying this is suicide still can not answer how her shorts are missing, shoes and head band were found over a mile away, phone found in another area miles away. Also why would she lay on the tracks arms above her head, when in despair people lay with the arms close to the heart, arms spread to the sides, or in fetal position. The only reason hands would be above the head is if she were dragged, your arms naturally raise above the head when you’re dragged. Last, she would have brought her phone, or her phone would have at least been with her shoes. A suicide???? This wasn’t even an accident, this girl was murdered.
The clothes and shoes being found, neatly arranged, makes me think suicide. My friend's father committed suicide by drowning. He had gambling and alcohol addiction issues. He walked a couple miles to the river. He left his wallet, shoes and his clothes neatly folded on the end of a pier used by a gas company. A suicide note was found. Very sad.
Not sure myself, but I would like to know more about her cell phone and communication prior or during her walking off. The altercation with the friend about the credit card was clearly a bigger deal to Tiffany and probably her parents as well.
From what I’m hearing her parents abused her, so it seems to be completely possible her parents harmed her after finding out she stole the card and maybe that the reason she commuted suicide
I would like to thank all the Americans who gave me information about New Jersey. Otherwise I wouldn't have understood Dr. Grande's digs at New Jersey. You see, I'm a foreigner and I have never been to U.S.
Dr. Grande, like always, you did a great job of breaking down the facts that both support and debunk a theory (in this case, murder). However, in your final thoughts, you leaned towards suicide- but how do you explain the removal of her clothes? Thanks in advance for indulging me! ☺️
Dr. Grande, I appreciate your analysis but I believe the conclusion of suicide is erroneous. Allow me to defend my claim. The most compelling piece of evidence that points in the direction of foul play, is the location of Tiffany’s headband and shoes. If Tiffany took her life, she would have, rather oddly and tediously, walked over a mile in the opposite direction, kicked off her shoes, threw off her head band, and then proceeded to walk, barefoot, all the way to the impact site. Why would she do that? Why, moreover, would she discard her cellphone on the ground instead of bringing it with her? Tiffany may have been depressed, just like most teenagers are, struggling with a break up, conflict in the home, experimenting with marijuana, and stealing money-but none of this seems weighty enough to support the inference of suicide-especially with her college/volleyball dreams just around the corner. I believe it is far more plausible that Tiffany was murdered and placed on the tracks. Your counter objection to this specific theory was that murderers don’t place bodies on tracks; they usually, instead, hide the bodies. But it seems plausible that an impulsive murderer could place the body there to stage a suicide. In short, this seems to be an unsolved homicide case-the shoes and headband location being the driving force behind my reasoning.
My 3 year old is obsessed with trains. I asked him, “Do you want to be a train conductor?” He thought about it for a minute and then answered, “No. I want to be the train.” 🚂
AWESOME! When I was a kid, I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and for weeks, I was a car that could fly, and constantly said, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.......". A little while later, I saw 'Herbie, The Love Bug". For weeks, I was a VW Beetle, constantly speaking in "BEEP!"'s. ROCK ON, Little Guy! BE the train! 😺👍
In today's world, your parents would take you to a psychologist who would insist that your parents affirm your identity as a train, then refer you to a medical doctor to prescribe life-altering and sterilizing hormone treatments.
My friend committed suicide in 2016 by gunshot. She had a masters degree in counseling and had her own practice. The point is, you never know what’s going on in someone’s mind.
but why did she strip and leave her clothes so far away in the forest?
All of that education would make anyone depressed
The UNSOLVED MYSTERIES episode never explored the situation with her friend’s credit card, which I found most frustrating and irresponsible.
Yea noticed that too! I wonder why the producers did that? I guess for more suspense?
Same. I feel that was an important element that they missed.
EXACTLY! How the f*ck do you not question the person she had her LAST CONFRONTATION WITH?! I think that family has ties with someone in that department or something because how does:
1. The “friend” not get questioned/investigated?
2. The presumed murder/suicide victim not get properly tested for DNA(rape kit, etc.), along with other articles found at the death site of the victim.
3. No testing of the articles found after the death by the parents.
This screams, foul play. Everything about it stinks.
There was a lot of directions this case could have went it was alot of layers that needed to be pulled back that wasn't. It's unfortunate due to the department that handled this.
Ya I thought it would have been brought up, like it would make sense if the friend was waiting for her maybe with a bf or sum
I watched this episode, and quite frankly I got a feeling that parents will often find it impossible to accept their child might have ended their own life. I don't know what happened to her, but I think there is no shortage of people who will take advantage of a grieving family and give them false narratives. What I know is, having lost two people in my life to suicide, they were the happiest people I knew - and that's why I think you can never really know what is going on with a friend. They might be the most funny and happiest person but be battling demons personally. Thank you, Dr. Grande.
Yes! I agree with you whole heartedly! I think it’s very sad that Unsolved Mysteries the Netflix series, seems to capitalize off of families grief in a profound way!
@@prairieflower7967 that doesn't prove anything. She could have been walking carefully along the tracks, to avoid cuts. She committed suicide.
Yeah she committed suicide impulsively because she was upset after being caught stealing. It was very easy to come to that conclusion after watching the show. I kept waiting for more evidence of something sinister but, nope.
@@prairieflower7967 *should have
She might have walked a different route, the tracks weren't the only way to where she was hit.
@@prairieflower7967 When people are hit by cars they are often launched right out of their shoes. Since the train was going 80mph and she was dismembered, it stands to reason her clothes would have gone with the dismembered limbs, leaving the undergarments on the torso, and no scrapes on the feet. Just my deductions.
Suicide by train is sadly not uncommon. My cousin is a train engineer, and they know it is likely that they will face striking a person at least once in their career. They are usually given mandatory counseling after such events.
Huh, well there goes THAT Plan. Originally I thought driving off the Grand Canyon Thelma and Louise style would be the Plan. But, It's apparently illegal. So, my motorcycle vs train was the next Plan. Does it actually BOTHER the conductors?
My paternal grandfather was an engineer for Southern Pacific Railroad. I never heard of any railroad horror stories coming from him but now it's too late to ask.
Just look away
I owned a home in a lovely neighborhood that had train tracks running thru it. In the 18 years that I’d lived there, there were deaths on those tracks almost every single year! It was a small town, and was horrible each time. Most of the victims were teens walking, running or playing near the tracks. One 14 year old got a shoe stuck while playing chicken with a train with 3 of his buddies! The other kids tried to yank him off until the last moment! We often wondered why they didn’t just fence off the tracks at some point! (Although, we all know kids would find a way to get in there anyway)
@@reachingcoldmountainbeforeyou what does it being illegal matter if you’re dead? Just curious.
The weight of embarrassment should never be underestimated. My teenaged daughter had a friend who stole something from her. I remember counseling her that her friend had family problems and was perhaps just a little jealous or just wanted to feel what she had experienced while staying overnight with us. My daughter thought about her disappointment and then contacted her friend and the relationship continued stronger than ever. A little miracle when you think about it and the friend was such an appealing person she was worth at least a second chance.
When I was in 6th grade a girl in my class whom we can call Lisa told us all these stories about her dad, the amazing surgeon. She moved with her mom and her second husband (who was a successful surgeon) to our town two years prior and we hadn't met her dad. Lisa and I were fairly close friends and I often spent time in her home with her, her mom and step dad, but as a kid I wasn't particularly interested in discussing the mom's ex-husband.
Well, one day about a month before the school year ended Lisa's dad dropped by to visit. He was dressed in his work clothes; he clearly had been working close by and when they finished the job early he took the chance to come visit his daughter. As you all have guessed he wasn't a surgeon; he paved roads with asphalt and his clothes were sticky from all the asphalt.
Lisa freaked out and ran off. Her dad was really distraught but we convinced him to spend the rest of the school day with us and hopefully Lisa would come back. He was a great guy and we all liked him instantly. No one cared what he was working with - most of our dads worked at the steel plant so his job wasn't that different from theirs anyway.
Lisa didn't return, nor did she show up the next day.
As I said, we were friends so I went home to her after school that day. Lisa refused to see me but I sat down with her mom and step dad and explained that we all understood that Lisa might feel embarrassed but that no one really cared about her lie; it really wasn't that big a deal. To us. It probably was to her dad (I didn't say that, because I was a kid and only focused on Lisa). No one in our class ever bullied anyone or spread rumours; we spent quite a lot of time sorting out bullying in other classes, so any repercussions for the lies were not something anyone ever considered.
The next time I met Lisa was in high school. By then she had changed to a much more posh first name and also to her step father's equally posh surname. When she saw me I noticed that she had a hard time deciding if she should deny ever having met me before or run away. I basically just said it was nice to meet someone new and had minimal interactions with her after that. I never mentioned having met her previous or what had happened, because I thought she might be too fragile to deal with her new "friends" (she ran in circles I avoided like the plague as they were all a bunch of mean bullies who enjoyed pushing someone out of the circle and feast upon them. Utter vultures the entire bunch).
And then we met again at uni. Lisa just couldn't get rid of me, I suppose. I still saw no reason revealing her past, because who cares about some little lie anyone made up as a kid anyway.
Lisa was too embarrassed (and immature, like most sixth graders so that was perfectly understandable) to fess up to her lies. But she really didn't owe us an excuse; she owed her dad one. I suspect she ditched him completely after the move and name change and refused to have anything to do with him as she probably thought that he had ruined her life by dropping by that afternoon.
What a kind and thoughtful response. Parenting goals x
Honestly man, the way you ended this was really empathetic. You're right, these are all real people with real families. Good on you
The parents really made an impression on me. They insisted on stating that their daughter had no problems in life whatsoever. Everybody has problems. This statement just made me feel that they were either not very close to her and just totally unaware of her issues or they were completely aware and were trying to overcompensate and delude themselves that she didn't actually have issues. Both options show to me that they didn't really have a genuine open guiltfree bond, otherwise the girl would have shared her troubles with the mother at least and the mother would have felt comfortable with stating those troubles to the police so that they would have had a potential motive for her murder to work on.
I agree, Mila.
very much. I don’t believe in my mind that she would commit suicide. It wasn’t like her. I had so many conversations with her throughout high school and we used to snap each other loads and I still to this day still have her acc on snap with all the pics, chats and everything saved, and she was always so cheerful and caring, I also had a relationship with one of her best friends, when I first started there her and all of her female friends started melting and adoring about my British accent and thats how I ended up in a relationship with one of them, when we all heard about it the following morning it was so so so baffling, it’s the not knowing that destroys my mind, most of us have gone separate ways and I am British and from the United Kingdom but was at the same high school because of parents travelling forward and back between the US and UK for work and stuff, I’m now back in the UK and I just really wish and hope someone or something sheds a light on the situation because it’s daunting not knowing what happened that night, the night it happened me and a couple of friends were literally not even that far from the tracks where it happened or the road she walked up, I literally mean like few hundred meters away, I remember hearing the train horn going on for like 40 seconds or so before hearing the train stop, I also kind of remember seeing the police cars racing towards the area a few minutes later but we was heading back home, I just think to myself why couldn’t I have walked down that road and seen her or why couldn’t I have seen her walking through the trees on the tracks so I could of stopped her if it was suicide or protect her if it was something like foul play, it’s just so much to think and go through my head, knowing I was so so close, I always get hate saying this and that from people but people don’t understand the fact that it has effected literally everyone in the area especially the from our high school 😔
@@KF5o I am so sorry for your loss, not having any type of closure can be totally devastating, I wish you heal and keep her in your heart as a fond memory.
that last tweet of hers really shows how depressed she was imo but this still looks like a murder to me
Is it possible that she was on the tracks and couldn’t get out quick enough. As a troubled teen myself, I relate to this girl. It is a tragedy that she didn’t survive the tough times. Hopelessness is killer. This story really affected me for many reasons, specifically that not killing myself one day at a time has allowed me to accomplish great things. I created the loving family that I never had. I’m so grateful I endured the suffering.
I lost my mom to suicide in 2013. The suicide of a loved one is usually never expected and takes everyone in their life by shock. Going through the grief of losing my mom in this way, I can see where it would have been easier, mentally, to blame it on something else. Anything else. I think that Tiffany’s family is in a deep state of denial. Suicide loss is a bitter pill to swallow and I empathize with her family and hope they find peace.
Your final comments are very sensitive and touching Dr Grande.
The NJ humor not unnoticed, this was excellent!
Death by train comes in at least two ways, accidental (I was a witness to one of these at age 15) and intentional/suicidal (there was a suicide near where I live by a teen that perhaps failed to meed his parent's expectations-this is conjecture). Murder is the stuff of Victorian plots. The suicides that are impulsive are the saddest in my view-I had a friend shoot himself because he feared failing a pilot license physical and hadn't slept in days. When someone takes their life, others die by degree. Very sad indeed.
The living are left suffering in the “would’ve, should’ve, could’ves” for the rest of their lives. So sad that you have witnessed such tragic events.
I have been exposed to many myself…best wishes for your health and happiness.
This story touched me in several ways. When I was 16 , I was in an isolated campground when an older man was trying to force himself on me. I had friends there ,but was so overcome by confusion that I did not think anyone could help me. I saw a bridge crossing a wide international river, and walked to it planning to jump. The time of night was 1:30 am. By the time I had reached the middle of the bridge, the traffic on it both surprised me and broke my mood. I walked back to the campground and climbed into my sleeping bag and went to sleep. Life can be so overwhelming for young people. My heart goes out to Tiffany and the people who loved her. I never did anything that impulsive again. ❤
Dr Grande featured the story of Amy Pitzen after this video aired. Earlier in life, she impulsively attempted suicide after leaving a job interview (a job she would actually get). It really struck me deeply, and highlighted how irrational and unrealistic someone’s thinking can be when they are completely overwhelmed by negative emotion and pain. Just heart-wrenching to try and empathize with.
someone in my high school died cause they were walking home on the train tracks and had headphones on and didn’t hear it coming. he was only 16 and i’ve never forgotten that since then.
Murder is the thing of Victorian plots? Like, people don’t get murdered anymore?!
She likely committed suicide after being embarrassed after being caught stealing from her good friend. She made an impulse decision and the parents don't want to accept it.
That is crazyyyy. Her parents couldnt have been that bad. This story doesnt make sense
@Chandra Cox that's look extremely foolish. Committing suicide just because you are upset or embarrassed for limited period of time!!!. Why she didn't give herself the opportunity to let upset go away. No griefs are eternal. You lifetime will swing definitely between embarrassment, joy, sorrow, etc. Just give yourself a break.
@@aminkuah5379 well, of course. No one who commits suicide is thinking rationally.
@@robd1329 suicide often doesn’t
@@robd1329 ummm did you watch the same video? Her mother physically abused her. Tiffany had bruises on numerous occasions and her mother admired once to punching her. And this is just what’s public. Who knows how bad it was behind doors.
Her parents made her look like the happiest girl in the documentary. Parents can be so blind sometimes.
So I actually knew her. Not as well as the girls on the volley ball team, but she was actually very sweet and happy-go-lucky. She had the happiest disposition I’ve ever met! That’s why it’s so hard for our community to get behind the suicide idea. She was also found in a place not far from scummy areas. Of course suicide is likely for anyone. We’ve lost many to suicide in our area and school.
@Sarah, do you think she might have been a bit dipressed because of her sexuality or stressed by her competiotions, also being taller than the norm. If she was stealing that might have been a warning sign of something going on, like with winona ryder. Plenty of money and stealing. It's psychological. Hopefully they can still look into evidence.
@@Crimson11100 oh could’ve been a number of these things all at once. We all speculated more of a murder though since the investigation was poorly handled. Our area (particularly our high school) actually has had a few suicides in the last decade (not that peaceful of a town, it’s drug infested and low income mostly. Many didn’t suspect that for her, especially via train when she was afraid of the dark. It is just a sad story with no clear answers with a lot of odd details. The area she was found isn’t far from a main road where scum travel to Atlantic City and back.
@@Sarah-be3vc Umm , Do you anything about the credit card that Tiffany was accused of using , what’s the story behind that ?
@@harisn9632 not a clue. That was one of the many details the public never heard about until the documentary. :(
I may be wrong here so if i am i apologise but i do remember reading somewhere that tiffany had also been caught stealing from her parents once or twice and that CPS had also been to her home on a number of occasions due to accounts of abuse via her mother hitting her on either her arm or her shoulder so she was definitely going through some horrible things and what i also noticed what was rather strange was that none of her friends were interviewed for the episode, just her parents, some professionals and some of her close family not even her own sisters.
It said at the end of the episode that they reached out to her friends and siblings, but all declined to be in the episode/interviewed. Not weird that they werent included if they werent willing to be.
Sisters probably knew tiffany was depressed and their parents are in denial😊
I would believe suicide, if not for the clothes all over town, the weird route she took, in the complete dark she was allegedly "terrified of". And the fact that a person over 6 ft tall would not just leave marks on the bottom of the train, with the dismembered hands and feet being completely intact. Unless she also decided to just lay down across the tracks as part of her strange naked walking through complete darkness suicide plan. Not to mention male dna and some things were found at the scene but the "chain of custody" was broken in the process of having any evidence analyzed, so no one ever got any answers there.
I saw that episode and I really can't decide how she died. It was really all over the place. One thing struck me as off.
The mom had admonished her for using her friends credit card. She then said to her daughter that now she had to go and tell her father
Was it guilt?
What has been 6 feet tall have to do with anything? Alive or dead, murdered or suicide, she was definitely run over by the train.
I believe it was suicide as well and her parents and family are still in denial. I think her mom feels some remorse for how she treated Tiffany and that's why she has practically a shrine to her. I think it's just hard for them to believe it was because there was no note or anything to acknowledge Tiffany's last thoughts.
I lost my grandpa to suicide in 2019 and even with a suicide note, it's still hard for me to believe my grandpa would have done that.
I feel for them.
I think the same about the mom. When he said the mom found some of her things you knew she’s been walking along that same path where her daughter died… really hard to lose a child.
But the only thing is...why didn't she have her normal clothes on anymore??
The evidence points to anything but suicide. I mean I could only consider suicide if I didn't have two brain cells to rub together
She walked over 2.5 miles to kill her self naked tho ?
No one could ever convince me this was a suicide. Everyone who is saying this is suicide still can not answer how her shorts are missing, shoes and head band were found over a mile away, phone found in another area miles away. Also why would she lay on the tracks arms above her head, when in despair people lay with the arms close to the heart, arms spread to the sides, or in fetal position. The only reason hands would be above the head is if she were dragged, your arms naturally raise above the head when you’re dragged. Last, she would have brought her phone, or her phone would have at least been with her shoes. A suicide???? This wasn’t even an accident, this girl was murdered.
It’s so tragic, and just magnifies the work that still needs to be done to make mental health issues less stigmatized. These parents likely know in their heart of hearts that Tiffany took her own life, but likely feel shame about it. RIP Tiffany.
Dr Grande, this is the nicest you’ve ever been to a victim. Thank you, it’s tremendously sad she took her own life.
...and the nicest he's been to New Jersey!!!
The nicest he's been? How many of his pieces have you watched. That statement doesn't even make sense because it is not accurate.
He makes fun of the criminals, not the victims.
He makes fun of NJ every time the state is mentioned...it's the best! I agree NJ the armpit of the US.
We don't know that she did.
I lost my good friend by suicide by train. It’s breaks my heart I couldn’t have done something. I had no idea. These types of cases are tragic because no one wants to believe someone would end their lives in such a brutal way.
2 years and 8 months and I still don't believe my daughter ended her life. Yet everything pointed to the fact that she planned it and acted it researched it and it was just so out of the blue for us. That's why parents are in denial because they don't see the pain that's inside their child my daughter was 32 she knew how to manipulate and she was incredibly intelligent and she knew how to hide it. She had a husband and he worried about her but she still talked her way out of things with him. He had the police at the house one time because she threatened suicide and she talked her way out of that. People who are determined to end their life because there's no purpose to go for forward will do anything to make sure they're not stopped they may not take their life but they don't want anybody controlling them so they can't take their life if they want to. My therapist once told me very on in my first year of losing my daughter she said that if she came back and stood in front of you and told you exactly why she ended her life you still would not believe her because you don't have mental illness you don't have depression and you don't have the pain she felt inside. A suicide is one of the hardest ways to lose your child again it's because you just don't see it. In hindsight there were very very small Behavioral things we noticed in her again she was married and her husband saw a lot more of her negative behavior we saw her positive behavior but she expressed normal things to us and her three older siblings. She said she was depressed cuz she couldn't find a job after getting her master's degree. She expressed that she wasn't happy being married to Steve because he was so quiet and she wanted children but she wasn't sure if she wanted them with him and felt she was getting too old to have children. She was only 32 she was embarrassed by her past life and feel she wasted 6 years of her teen years using drugs she got clean at age of 20. And she was off and running with every athletic thing you could imagine she was a marathon runner at Rock and ice climber hiker traveled to Peru and Africa looking back I think she substituted being incredibly busy for drugs. I don't know it's just a speculative thing. She also she wasted 7 years of her education to get her Masters and didn't get the job that she wanted to get. So there were so many things she mentioned in her letter that would meaningful to her and she did not want to go backward. That I do know about my daughter. I miss her so much that the pain is constant and even after two and a half years it's like a cloud of sadness that hangs over me and her three older siblings. Our lives have totally changed I could only pray that she's at peace and she's happy and I'm so glad we all have part of her ashes. That gives me Comfort
Your NJ references crack me up!! As soon as I hear you mention New Jersey, I anxiously await your humorous connotation! 😂
Dr G shows no love for us 🥲
@@jairojrnj Hes a qwack doctor. Lol
It’s weird bc New Jersey is one of the nicest states, beaches, farms, mountains, and cities. Fantastic restaurants and food, entertainment, close to the city. Schools are highly rated. Wonderful state, I’m fortunate to have grown up here.
I'm glad you covered this. While I was watching the episode, I was reminded of things I've learned from you in past videos, especially the difficulty some families have in accepting an impulsive suicide. Her father's complete emotional devastation was palpable & difficult to watch. A thoroughly tragic situation all around. 😔 Thank you for your thoughtful analysis, as always 🙏
I would have been here earlier, but I was watching the Darrell Brooks verdict. Guilty on all 72 counts. He wasn't so talkative at the end.
@Frank Lee He was all yadad out. He was completely without yada.
One thing that annoys me is when loved ones pull that “she or he would never do that to herself or himself” nonsense. The families need to do some research on what smiling depression is.
Tiffany's fake smile could not fool me on those pictures. She had extreme sadness and depression on her face, especially her eyes. She had some trouble behind all the smiling.
That also boggles my mind, but maybe they never had to deal with a suicide before and they're not much into the topic depression etc.
Your dry humor Dr is just right. I like it.
I live 10 minutes from mile marker 45. I've spent my entire life here, so I know/understand the area and the people intimately. I played on the tracks throughout my entire childhood. I know them, I know the trains.
2015-17...those were big heroin years around here. There were little signs stuck in the ground literally everywhere, "Stop the heroin." People were dropping dead like flies. I do know her toxicology was clean. But, there's that, fwiw.
MM 45 is a known hangout spot. Its an area of the tracks where there are no houses, and a dirt road goes back behind the power lines, which can't be seen from the street. Someone local knew where this was, and brought her there.
For a multitude of reasons, I can say with 100% certainty that this girl didn't walk barefoot to the tracks and throw herself in front of the train. Anybody ever try to walk barefoot on train rocks? It's hard enough to walk on them with shoes without hurting yourself. I'd go as far as to say it's just impossible without shoes.
Nobody ever mentioned analyzing the tire tracks on the dirt road.
She wasn't killed there. She was killed elsewhere and laid out on the tracks. Possibly because whoever did it thought ahead about the fact that it would be outside of state police jurisdiction. Her shorts will never be found. They're probably in a junkyard somewhere, in the trunk of a car.
What teen throws their phone on the ground and walks away? 3.5 miles away? None.
NJ transit police handled the scene poorly. In the chaos, they took it at face value that it was a suicide, and didn't treat it like a crime scene. After it was realized it was a crime scene, they found that they didn't obtain enough evidence to start an investigation. Sorry, but that's just what happened. Shit happens...
Also, there was a lot of corruption going on in the county prosecutor's office during that time. The prosecutor ending up resigning over ethics violations. It was a big to-do. So, more important things were going on...
All of this has nothing to do with me talking to anybody about this. My husband and I are just locals who know about the case, and have an interest in true crime. We both know the area well, we've been to mm 45 many times, we've been past her house. We don't know the family and have no reason to be biased. This is our conclusion. She was murdered, 100%.
We wonder what her parents have NOT revealed. Perhaps money or favors were owed, and never repaid. And this is how they were ultimately paid. They do have a very nice property and seem to live a comfortable middle-class life, at least from appearances. Lots of equipment on the property.
The "Stop the heroin" years...everybody around here remembers those signs.
This will be solved one day, when somebody squeals. Whoever knows what happened will eventually have an opportunity to tell the truth, when it benefits them. Patience...it'll come out.
His continued disdain for New Jersey is always hilarious.
No one likes New Jersey
I wonder why?
The parents reaction was so sad, they obviously went from lawyer to lawyer until they found one that would be happy to tell them yes and take their money. Rest easy Tiffany 🖤
I tend to agree with your theory…particularly since you filled in some big blanks the UM episode skipped over. While watching UM, I definitely felt the situation involving the stolen bank card and the friend’s very dramatic confrontation/accusation could be a catalyst for Tiffany’s subsequent suicide, particularly if she had other stressors and was depressed. However, the show barely mentioned the theft, making it seem like it wasn’t too important or relevant.
UM also barely touched on the family problems; did the show even mention Mom’s physical outburst directed at Tiffany? In fact, I definitely think UM really pushed an extremely positive family dynamic…almost like Tiff and her folks saw themselves as the Three Musketeers, always together and always on an adventure. UM pushed this narrative so aggressively I remember wondering if the two children from Mom’s first marriage felt a little left out because they had a different dad and Tiffany was clearly the favorite?
I don’t mean to be harsh as it was very apparent her parents were profoundly grief stricken over Tiffany’s death and it was also obvious they completely rejected the notion that it was a suicide. I don’t blame them; no parent wants to accept their child felt it was the only acceptable option. However, whether or not her parents wanted to believe she was suffering, Tiffany certainly appeared to be struggling with some very powerful thoughts and feelings.
The only thing that made me second guess suicide was Tiffany’s state of undress. And it’s not so much that she was wearing only her under things. Actually, it occurred to me that her shoes, headband, and the still missing shorts seemed rather staged, like she kind of wanted to tell a story that would really worry her parents. If so, her poor mom truly bought it; she is certain Tiffany was abducted, lifted right out of her shoes and thrown in the trunk of a car. My problem with this sequence of events is the simple fact that Tiffany is 6’2” with an extremely athletic build. Tiffany is the kind of woman an anonymous perp out cruising around, looking for the perfect victim to hunt to the death, would very likely find far too intimidating to attempt to overpower and control, which is exactly what any sexual predator fervently desires…he wants to prove his “masculinity” by overpowering some helpless woman or child who didn’t stand a chance from the get go. Then he wants the ultimate control which is how and when his victim will die by his hands. Additionally, the logistics of lifting Tiffany into a trunk or trying to force her into a back seat are also problematic.
Still, even if Tiffany staged her disappearance, I had/have a hard time believing she walked almost two miles through the woods without shoes on. Even if she kept her bare feet on the raised tracks (which would be fairly smooth), based on the location of her shoes, she still would have quite a walk along the forest floor. Of course, it is still possible. Also, it crossed my mind that if Tiffany didn’t actually want to complete suicide, but was trying to glean some attention by “going missing”. Perhaps Tiffany was walking barefoot on the tracks to save her feet and maybe even to avoid leaving footprints, but the oncoming train caught her off guard and she lost her balance, unintentionally falling between the tracks and unable to get up and off them before it was too late?
One thing I do believe is certain is the inadequacy of the investigation. I definitely think all involved rushed to judgment and neglected protocols such as treating the accident and its environs like a crime scene until the evidence proves otherwise. Similarly, I believe the train employees were overly concerned with protecting themselves and possibly the company by forcing the suicide narrative from the beginning.
Wow! I was writing a comment just like this and I accidentally deleted it! There is something that struck me about the mother. Her emotions seemed forced and contrived. As soon as I saw pictures of Tiffany, I immediately thought that she might be interested in girls didn't want her parents to know but was surprised when the mother mentioned that she had just broke up with her girlfriend recently.
Thank you for this sensitive analysis its a very sad story. She didn''t get the help she needed even though her family had the resources their pride or lack of insight
got in the way.
She was just a child and kids make impulsive decisions They tend to see things black or white and are not able to look ahead and think it will get better I do think she was depressed as well (for many reasons) and was not getting the support from her Mom about her being gay Now her Mom feels guilt because she blames herself for not being there for her daughter so wants it to be a "mystery" She took her life ....in a impulsive moment Very sad
So sad. No one will ever know what really happened RIP, but great analysis Dr. G. Rosie O from Devon England 🙏🇬🇧
The convenience store clerk who turned in the three kids he "overheard"... I want to know more about him.
That’s the one thing that makes me really question suicide. But I need to know how credible that dude is.
He works in Florida now and refuses to answer questions he also blocked me I do strongly believe he heard what he heard but we may never know also Jaime should be subpoena to say who answers phone 1039 call so much fucked this case 🙏
Ok nancy drew😒
JUST A WEIRDO WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A HOMICIDE BUT NEEDED AN EXCUSE TO REPORT HIS THEORY AND MADE UP THE STORY ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES
She was definitely going through it emotionally
Another excellent analysis, Dr. Grande. I think that suicide has such a terrible stigma that the survivors would have preferred to believe that it was actually a murder than the grim realization that Tiffany was overwhelmed by her life and chose to put an end to her suffering. Living in New Jersey didn't help, either.
I watched this episode and I was so curious to know your opinion of this case. Poor thing, she had her entire life ahead of her.
Thank you for the thoughtful analysis, Dr. Grande.❤
Problem with these shows is they alter or leave out information for dramatic effect. I had a GF with severe panic attacks during arguing that would run away and remove articles of clothing, cut or act suicidal. She would walk for miles and not remember how she got there.
Only thirty nine seconds in and I hear the words New Jersey; I instantly anticipate Dr Grande's sarcastic Jersey joke. Never not funny!
The unsolved mysteries episode left a ton of relevant info out.
No way this girl committed suicide. No way that she walked over a mile with no shoes when she had a perfectly good set. What this means is that there was undoubtedly someone else involved and if that's the case then they would have come forward if there was not Foul Play involved. At the very best it may have been someone assaulting her and she ran away and accidentally ran over the tracks and got hit and at the very worst someone murdered her and placed her on the tracks to be ran over to hide the murder and make it appear as an accident.
This past summer, August of 2022, I was on a train going from Stratford, CT to Grand Central Station in NYC. We came to a screeching halt and had to change trains as a man jumped in front of our train to his death. Very sad and gruesome.
Thank you for covering this case. How come her feet didn't have cuts or anything on them and why did she remove her clothes? You're right about the show leaving out important details.
Right from the beginning to me some of the actions seem like those of someone having a mental break.
As for her clothes... she may have shed them to humiliate her parents.
You realize that people are literally blown out of their clothes/their clothes are shredded when they are in a high-impact collision or subjected to high level forces such as a waterfall or rapids? It’s common with high speed car crashes, motorcycle crashes, airplane crashes - which tear every bit of a person apart, falling or jumping out of tall buildings, etc. Men in Vietnam talked all the time (as well as WWI or WWII) of men being blown of out their boots by stepping on mines, etc.
@@4Mr.Crowley2 I'm aware of your facts; however, in Dr. Grande's detailed description, it seemed that her clothes were left intact & together yards away from her body. (She walked some 2 miles ) I used to live on the San Francisco Peninsula and it was sadly amazing how many people, young and old, committed suicide on the commuter train tracks. My husband was a cop and he described the mess that was left with decapitated heads, arms, legs, feet, and torsos severed. The coroners' job was often gathering pieces scattered all around for like the equivalent of a block or so. They finally tried fencing off along the tracks, but determined people would get over or cut through the fencing. Sadly, one of the detectives we worked with retired, only to end his life on those tracks. His name was Al Ajuria, a really nice guy.
@@4Mr.Crowley2 Oh wow I didn't know that.
Idk why but this one is very sad … I think it is because I believe it was a suicide too, a very impulsive and not thought out at all one that I know has left her parents in a bad way for the long haul .
Yea my heart goes out to them and her . I hope they all find peace and forgiveness and heal . May God be with them and comfort them .
This case reminds me of maura murray.Maybe she had some issues nobody knew.... Greetings from Greece 💙
She did look like she had a heavy burden on her. Her face carried an enormous dark energy.
Dr. G, I'm so glad you covered this episode! And you did it beautifully!❤️👏🏾 Your Patreon is one of the few I pay for.
This episode made me want to never watch UM again. I grew up watching the original series but the reboot is just a huge disappointment.
They left out so many CRUCIAL details and kept questioning her decisions that night... as if a suicidal teenager is thinking rationally at the end. It was super frustrating and irresponsible.
Her parents need to grieve and accept their daughter's suicide. I hope they're able to find peace someday and move forward.
Dr Grande, could you make a video covering the "concrete-encased high school girl murder case" also known as the murder of Junko Furuta? I'm intrigued to hear your opinion as to the mental health of the four main perpetrators. How could four juvenile men do such inhuman things to a random 16 year old woman? Why did so many people (friends, parents) turn a blind eye? It is so infuriating that they could recieve such light sentences for such nightmarish crimes.
I would really like to see awareness for this case spread in order to ensure that the victim, as well as the ordeal that she was made to suffer, are not forgotten
That case haunts me and I’ve heard it all at this point with how much true crime I watch, listen to and read on a daily basis. I really wish I could un-know it honestly. Just reading the Wikipedia page alone was horrifying and sickening.
You took the episode and summarized it better than the show!!
Such a sad story, your review and explanation of that night are fantastic
Ahh so glad you’re covering this. I was friends with her in high school. She was such a sweet person and always had a cheery, happy-go-lucky disposition. Plus the rumors and lack of thoroughness (rumors of it for the investigation) is what made us question everything. That is why it’s so so hard for our community to accept the investigator’s analysis. Along with some other things known about her.
Oh also- we very much know south jersey sucks 😂😂😂😂
Like what? What else do you know about her that make you question suicide?
This happened 20 minutes away from where I live & remember my 2 high school kids talking about it & all the rumors going around their school, that Tiffany & her parents had a rough relationship.
My only problem with Dr. Garcia's conclusion at the end, is that he thought that she decided to get hit by the train at the end, which meant that she was walking their barefoot. But if she was walking there barefoot, why did her feet look clean. That's the main reason why I'm skeptical of the suicide theory.
How clean was they did you see them and she walked down a paved road then the railroad tracks with the type of rock along it when wasn't far from the paved road and the pick of her shoes you can tell they was just thrown they where both facing the same way and up right and about shoulder width apart and her phone was thrown maybe bc she was very upset at whoever and threw the phone and her GF had broke up with here prior
And the cloths and head ban along with the shoes she purchased with the friends stolen card that she got caught about and was her best friend for years
Am I the only one to think that the uncle who arrived at the death scene out of the blue to be a suspect? He simply said “out of nowhere i decided to drive down that road” and there she was dead. It is very probable that who ever picked her she knew good enough to feel comfortable and ride along.
I am pretty sure it was suicide but thought that detail was unbelievably weird and suspicious too when i watched the episode. Her whole family seems overly self-conscious in the episode actually. Maybe they are just trying to overcompensate for the guilt they feel for contributing to her depression, but their presentation seems kinda dishonest.
I thought he knew she was missing and tried to help find her? Or maybe I missed out something...
@@saniherwood of all the places he could have gone he went to the place of death. Its very common for killers to show up at the location where they kill and give interviews to be off the radar.
I found this episode to be the most mysterious! I think she was put on the train tracks by another person and not a suicide. I hope that this case can eventually be solved and the parents can get some closure. Once again, job well done. You have become a master at perfecting each case you tell😊
I 1000% agree
If you found this episode THE most mysteries I feel sorry for your critical thinking skills.
@@cabooseabs6864 you can’t even word your sentence properly lol I feel sorry for you. Shut up
What was strangest to me, was the fact that the parents cremated her almost immediately. Knowing that no rape kit or anything had been done. That fact wasnt discussed at all, and made me think somethings off with the parents too.
I thought releasing this episode was a stretch and a half right away. It was immediately clear the family is in extreme denial. It’s understandable that they don’t want to live with the reality but they started making insane claims towards the end. “This is the branch my daughter was probably hanging onto as they took her away”. Like without any substantial evidence the family is creating their own fake scenarios. The clothes missing is the only part in my opinion that does add suspicion.
No one could ever convince me this was a suicide. Everyone who is saying this is suicide still can not answer how her shorts are missing, shoes and head band were found over a mile away, phone found in another area miles away. Also why would she lay on the tracks arms above her head, when in despair people lay with the arms close to the heart, arms spread to the sides, or in fetal position. The only reason hands would be above the head is if she were dragged, your arms naturally raise above the head when you’re dragged. Last, she would have brought her phone, or her phone would have at least been with her shoes. A suicide???? This wasn’t even an accident, this girl was murdered.
@Rose I just don’t agree. The circumstantial evidence leans more towards chaos involving more than one person. To imply it’s a suicide you literally have to ignore or undermine the evidence. You can step out of shoes, take off your headband, and still be be pushed or dragged in front of a train but no one can explain why her feet show no evidence of walking on the rocks barefoot for almost a mile, the route of travel does not make sense if she was alone, and even if the shorts were torn to shreds some piece of the material would still be found somewhere. My theory is someone hurt her impulsively, they panicked, then dragged her unconscious body to the tracks. Her shoes and headband probably slipped off while she was being dragged, the murderer had to make it look like an accident/suicide so they gathered the accessories and hid them in the trees neatly where they knew they’d be found, im thinking this was a sexual assault that escalated to murder, or a violent attack that lead to the murderer trying to stage a sexual assault.
You know what they say about opinions. I happen to live up the street from the Vialente's and know their family. I spoke to her uncle who Mike that discovered her at the scene, he was a active NJ State Trooper at the time which they failed to mention. Tiffany did NOT kill herself. I'm not surprised the NJ Transit Police botched the investigation, they should have called in Homocide detectives. Her body was cremated before they found the circumstantial evidence of a possible homicide. Eventually someone will talk, nobody keeps secrets forever. Hopefully soon, so their family can get some justice and closure.
Mays Landing New Jersey…A peaceful, quiet town. “So nice in fact, residents are sometimes almost able to forget they’re in New Jersey.” 😂😂😂
Some people are completely unable to deal with shame.
"Unauthorized money removal behavior" = PERFECT !
As someone who's had those kind of thoughts earlier in my life, I found the way she acted logical.
* Train is quick, painfree and you don't need any supplies for it
* You don't want to do it where someone close to you can be the one who discovers you so you'd want to get away from the closest area surrounding your house so the placement along the tracks also makes sense.
* You don't want someone to be able to 1. stop you or 2. see you do it too clearly (don't want to traumatize people more than necessary) so in the dark, far away from the road or a crossing sounds right
* Just taking off and walking around aimlessly when faced with a difficult confrontation... Yeah, that adds up.
After watching your analysis of the case I'm almost upset with the family for basically lying on the show on multiple counts that would point towards suicide!
I mean, I absolutely get if they wouldn't want to air the family's dirty laundry on Netflix for the world to see or talk about things that could make their daughter look bad - but if you're going to be a part of a documentary trying to find out the truth about what happened then you need to provide the information necessary for that. Now they are essentially wasting other people's time and money by providing this arranged version of events.
Incredibly sad story no matter what, rest in peace Tiffany 💞
No shorts no shoes ????? that makes no sense at all.
I've been suicidal many times.(I'm bipolar type 2.) To me, the simple fact that she sent that text to her friend asking Just yes or no? Should I do it? Says it all. Either way Idk how I'd react if my child unalived themselve. Although it seems to me her and her mother weren't really close. But who knows if I didn't want to believe it I may come up w any other scenario besides suicide to cope. Sad.😢♥️🙏
I dunno about the text, it could mean that but it also could mean "should I steal the credit card".
@@ethan35387 she had already done that.
@@ethan35387 facts. Different perspectives always help me. Thank you.
Dr. Grande, what a thoughtful analysis of such a sad sad case. May peace surround Tiffany’s family. 💕 from Jean
This happened in my area :(
Was very shocking
Great video! Thank you.
This is a clear case of suicide, (to me) unfortunately. A lot of information was left out of this episode (and a few others) of Unsolved Mysteries, which is really disappointing. Absolutely nothing points to the direction of foul play in this story. Tiffany was going through a difficult break up with her girlfriend, and her mom basically spat venom when referencing Tiffany was a lesbian. Tiffany’s friends have mentioned previously that she’d been self harming, and was feeling “alone and lonely”. CPS had been called on Tiffany’s mom I believe 3 times, because of bruises that were seen on Tiffany’s body. Tiffany and her mother went to counseling 1 time, and thereafter, communication was very poor between the 2. Those issues were never followed up with. Tiffany’s mother said she was found “only wearing a bra”, autopsy states she was wearing a blue tank top. Mother says Tiffany was “lifted up out of her shoes”, and the photo of the shoes looks like they were simply stepped out of. Mom says Tiffany’s feet were “clean and pristine”, and they were clearly dirty. Parents are in denial, let’s just pls stop with this whole, “her life was so perfect and so great” narrative. That photo of her on the night cam shows someone (Tiffany) determined to commit suicide. A map of the area and her route to the tracks pretty much confirm that as well. It’s simple ):
Dr. Grande, thank you for another video!
Edit/Update! I know someone referenced the ax found near the scene of the tracks, however, it was lost in evidence. I also highly doubt that ax had anything to do with Tiffany. As for her shorts and clothing-Tiffany’s body was dragged, dismembered, and pretty much disintegrated to shreds, those items could’ve burned. Her older sisters and her friends all declined to be interviewed for the show. Most likely because they refused to be apart of the parents narrative of foul play.
that's very presumptuous as well. her feet weren't as damaged as would be expected if she walked that far on extremely sharp rocks by the tracks. there is plenty that points to foul play as well so assuming and insisting suicide isn't the correct way to go about it either. a killer could put her on the tracks or push her to cover up cause of death
@@Cinder_311 There isn’t any evidence that points to a killer, and there isn’t any evidence that points to foul play in general, either. It’s a sad story, don’t get me wrong, but the circumstances of it all just don’t fit the puzzle. And that’s all I’ll say on that! I’m not here to argue with anyone who disagrees, and we’re all able to form our own opinion. This just happens to be mine :)
Totally agree. But why she stripped to the underwear? I don't get it.
@@magdam8290 also her legs were completely severed as if her body was laying on the tracks.
I agree. I peeped those comments they made on unsolved mysteries. re her feet. They were filthy. granted they weren't soaked in dirt but it would have to rain a lot for that AND depending on the type of mud/dirt may affect how dirt attaches itself to your skin.
the fact that the sniffing dogs smelled the trail from the home to near railroad tracks is also telling. It means she walked there. no other way her scent could be followed. I do not think they want to accept she wanted to end her life. She is also over 6 ft tall. It would take some VERY STRONG PPL to hurt her and carry her to the tracks. IJS
Thank you Dr. Grande 🙏
I watched the episode on Netflix and I am NOT convinced that it was suicide. I know people have a hard time coping when a loved one dies that way and usually say "they never would've done this," but the evidence does not add up. Her shorts and shirt were never found. Her shoes were found miles from where she was hit but her feet showed no evidence of walking barefoot. Based on the injuries sustained, it seemed as if she was lying across the tracks, not jumping in front of the train or standing on the tracks. The transit police were not equipped to investigate a murder. They didn't secure the area adequately or even clean up all the bits of her skull and body that were scattered around the area. Her relatives (uncle and grandpa) combed the entire area and picked up bits of her body and her necklace but never found her missing clothes. Police lost evidence that could have been crucial to her case and they failed to do a rape kit before her body was cremated.
Edited for clarity.
I live in central NJ and it's beautiful with mountains, wheat fields, lakes and rivers, and next to none gun violence.
An MTV show isn't what it is. I'm also a transplant so no bias
Also , I’m born and raised in New Jersey. That area where Tiffany is from is considered to be an extremely conservative rural area. I’m pretty sure being gay in that environment was another turmoil within itself given where she was located. Again, Truly sad case
Dr G,
You are one of the most awesome TH-cam people and I am devoted to you. My only question is why are her clothes removed and what about her clean feet? You are so thorough and informative that I have never had a question about anything before . Just curious about this sad story.
dr. grande, PLEASE cover the case of xavier dupont de ligonnes! that was my favorite episode of unsolved mysteries!
I've lost multiple people to suicide in my life, But two stand out to me my sister and a close friend both had no history of suicidal tendency and we're generally happy and up beat both we're young my sister 12 and my best friend was 18, Both had received horrible news that wasn't really horrible but to there adolescent mind seem like the end of the world and that was the path they took in a moment notice! While it is possible that something happen to her I most likely think a mixture of what ever happen with her stealing that credit card and thinking that it would ruin her future that was the path she choose to advoid the consequences of what she thought was the end of the world going on in her life! RIP to the girl though as someone who watch a suicide tear my parents apart i can understand a grieving family wanting to not accept it
I’m
So sorry to you both. Praying for you and your families
I watched it last night it was absolutely heart wrenching 😢😢😢
Oh my goodness, I had deja vu when I started listening to this video. I watched the episode two days ago. There are two things that struck me as odd. One was: Why her body was found with such a lack of clothing. That the shirt and shorts were never found was also concerning. I have yet to hear a good explanation for those circumstances. The second was that her body was cremated. I think the family made a mistake choosing that option. Several years ago a family member was murdered. Cremation was considered, but the police advised against it just in case there any question arose during the trials of the people responsible.
Love the the doc's constant New Jersey burns.
With some experience from the subject of railroads safety investigations one thing is obvious and that is that the crew lied to escape liability.
They didn’t see shit, not her running towards the track or sitting beside it and then diving in. They were not paying attention and didn’t see what they hit.
Great detective work miss marple😒
this poor child was really struggling on so many levels. it’s heartbreaking that she thought throwing herself in front of a train was her only way out!
Wow loved the ending on this one. It is so easy to forget that they are human. R.i.p
I grew up with the family and they are great people
Reminds me of Jolissa Fuentes similarities: a relative died recently, conflict at a party, goes missing right after, happy-go-lucky personality. Both found dead. Except that Tiffany's toxicology report was clear. Does anyone else actually not see the shoes on Tiffany's feet on the deer camera? I see bare feet, no matter how long I look. Also 1 minute away are her parents. If you are followong a person down a straight visible line only 1 minute away you will see where this person goes. If she didn't get into the car whose headlights were registered on cam then it's very suspicious as to how she would have disappeared. Relative driving to crime scene is super sus.
I live in Mays Landing, and this unsolved case still haunts my town nine years later. I firmly believe she was murdered but it was made to look like a suicide. We may never know what really happened. R.I.P., Tiffany. 😢
I think she killed herself because her life was going down hill. I think she took the clothes off because they may have been the clothes she bought with that CC she stole, they may have been a reminder of her shame. Does anyone say if she was drunk or high on drugs when this happen,? she was at a party, was she drinking?
The father seems quiet through all this. He's a parent too.
As a retired accident investigator, I have seen where the clothes and shoes can be removed by the event of the impact.
1.5 miles away???
Some discarded prior
Her shoes were placed in their position. There's no way the impact of a train would result in her shoes being directly next to each other, as opposed to scattered.
DI enjoy your perspective on things and would find your perspective on this really interesting.
on the Cabo Six
Suicide. My mother and brother, 28 years apart, both committed suicide. As a loved one you blame yourself for suicide. Murder is different. I blame myself every day. In a murder, you can blame the unknown or just one person.
Dr. Todd
Im missing the flashy shirts.
My comments have yet to generate an interesting dialogue and worse have never been liked by Dr grande
Dr Grande, I truly appreciate your methodical approach, explaining both sides before stating your opinion. Can you please do the same for the death of Meghan Marohn near Stockbridge Massachusetts?
No one could ever convince me this was a suicide. Everyone who is saying this is suicide still can not answer how her shorts are missing, shoes and head band were found over a mile away, phone found in another area miles away. Also why would she lay on the tracks arms above her head, when in despair people lay with the arms close to the heart, arms spread to the sides, or in fetal position. The only reason hands would be above the head is if she were dragged, your arms naturally raise above the head when you’re dragged. Last, she would have brought her phone, or her phone would have at least been with her shoes. A suicide???? This wasn’t even an accident, this girl was murdered.
Truly Dr. Grande🥀 You Are Candidly Sincere🧡🖤
Are you diagnosing anyone in this video?
he's simply speculating what Could be going on in a situation like this
The clothes and shoes being found, neatly arranged, makes me think suicide. My friend's father committed suicide by drowning. He had gambling and alcohol addiction issues. He walked a couple miles to the river. He left his wallet, shoes and his clothes neatly folded on the end of a pier used by a gas company. A suicide note was found. Very sad.
Not sure myself, but I would like to know more about her cell phone and communication prior or during her walking off. The altercation with the friend about the credit card was clearly a bigger deal to Tiffany and probably her parents as well.
From what I’m hearing her parents abused her, so it seems to be completely possible her parents harmed her after finding out she stole the card and maybe that the reason she commuted suicide
Thank you very much...
I would like to thank all the Americans who gave me information about New Jersey. Otherwise I wouldn't have understood Dr. Grande's digs at New Jersey. You see, I'm a foreigner and I have never been to U.S.
I live in NJ..its ok. Its just exhaggerated. Im happier here than living in south central L.A.
NJ actually has a higher HDI than many European countries so it’s actually a great place to live.
@@commonomics fogetaboutitttt
@@elainelessack I doubt he is being totally serious… they are jokes
NJ is very high in education. One of the smartest states 😊
Dr. Grande, like always, you did a great job of breaking down the facts that both support and debunk a theory (in this case, murder). However, in your final thoughts, you leaned towards suicide- but how do you explain the removal of her clothes? Thanks in advance for indulging me! ☺️
I have the same question
The New Jersey jokes never fail to make me laugh
Dr. Grande, I appreciate your analysis but I believe the conclusion of suicide is erroneous. Allow me to defend my claim. The most compelling piece of evidence that points in the direction of foul play, is the location of Tiffany’s headband and shoes. If Tiffany took her life, she would have, rather oddly and tediously, walked over a mile in the opposite direction, kicked off her shoes, threw off her head band, and then proceeded to walk, barefoot, all the way to the impact site. Why would she do that? Why, moreover, would she discard her cellphone on the ground instead of bringing it with her? Tiffany may have been depressed, just like most teenagers are, struggling with a break up, conflict in the home, experimenting with marijuana, and stealing money-but none of this seems weighty enough to support the inference of suicide-especially with her college/volleyball dreams just around the corner. I believe it is far more plausible that Tiffany was murdered and placed on the tracks. Your counter objection to this specific theory was that murderers don’t place bodies on tracks; they usually, instead, hide the bodies. But it seems plausible that an impulsive murderer could place the body there to stage a suicide. In short, this seems to be an unsolved homicide case-the shoes and headband location being the driving force behind my reasoning.
As a native Jersey girl, I approve those jokes. 👍😂
Hola Dr Grande! Best time of the day :) saludos!
My 3 year old is obsessed with trains. I asked him, “Do you want to be a train conductor?” He thought about it for a minute and then answered, “No. I want to be the train.” 🚂
AWESOME! When I was a kid, I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and for weeks, I was a car that could fly, and constantly said, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.......". A little while later, I saw 'Herbie, The Love Bug". For weeks, I was a VW Beetle, constantly speaking in "BEEP!"'s.
ROCK ON, Little Guy! BE the train! 😺👍
In today's world, your parents would take you to a psychologist who would insist that your parents affirm your identity as a train, then refer you to a medical doctor to prescribe life-altering and sterilizing hormone treatments.
His name is Thomas?
@@arinerm1331 😆 "train person"
There's probably a surgery for that now.