May 7, 2012
The trial of Douglas Lively is over. The jury has ruled that Douglas Lively is GUILTY of first degree murder of our son Brian Duquette. Douglas got life in prison - no parole. Now we can forget about Douglas and the very violent act that he did and just remember the good times with our son Brian. We will always love and miss Brian so much. The jury only deliberated one hour and 10 minutes and much of that time was probably picking a foreman. Guess there was zero doubt, which may be a record for a murder trial. After the jury was dismissed, all of the jury members, even the alternatives, returned to the courtroom to hear the sentencing, and they do not have to do that and we were told that they seldom do that. Even the prosecutor was surprised.

I need people to know that Brian Duquette did NOT have a police record and was never accused nor arrested for any reason. Nor did his parents or sister. Brian never had any problems until he met the Lively's. Brian helped many people that were down and out and the Lively's were his downfall. I warned Brian about helping strangers. But Brian wanted to help people that were less fortunate than himself. Brian was raised in a family with no police records, and was raised properly to be a good, outstanding citizen.

Now that the trial is over, the judge said jurors can talk or not talk about the case, so that includes us. No family member of Brian ever talked to any juror or witness in the case before or during the trial. Many lies were told about Brian during the trial because Douglas had to try to defend himself by painting Brian as a bad guy, and this was done by TRYING to paint Brian as a bad person. Hopefully, juror members did not believe any lies about Brian's personality and life. Brian was a college graduate with a degree and any money he had earned was in an HONEST, lawful manner. And he often used his money to help other people. It is our opinion that if you put a bad person with a good person who is trying to turn the bad person around, that does not happen; for some strange reason the bad person can influence the good person more than the good person can influence the bad person. But Brian has never strayed from being a good person and helping others. Helping others was his downfall.

Although our Brian is lost to us forever, we are thankful for so many reasons:

a- Douglas Lively was unable to dispose of Brian's body after the murder. This was indicated as a possibility of intent of action by the fact that after Brian was murdered, Brian was wrapped in a blanket by the front door as if ready for transport.

b - People called to testify told the truth about the gems, ID's and credit cards being found, and all other stuff.

c - The car was not destroyed by Douglas, and carpet fibers were in the car.

d - Douglas' DNA was under Brian's fingernails and nowhere else on Brian.

e - Justice was served, even though that will not bring Brian back to us. A big weight has been lifted off our shoulders, and we intend to not think about Douglas Lively, but to continue to remember the many wonderful things about our son, Brian Duquette.

In conclusion: Brian did NOT deserve to have his life ended in such a nasty, intentional extremely violent manner. And Douglas Lively can not ever hurt anyone else in any way shape or form, except may others in prison with him.

January 2012 - Another year, more holidays without Brian Lee Duquette in our lives. It does not get any easier. I still cry almost all the time. The hole in my heart will never heal. No word on a trial yet. I do not even know how to deal with the trial when it does happen. Why can't this nightmare be just a dream, instead of our real-life nightmare? We miss Brian so darn much and it hurts. I still cry daily for Brian. He will never get to meet his niece's baby, little Anthony Brian and any further children his niece may have.

Does Brian's killer get to watch TV, laugh at a comedy, enjoy any part of life in jail -- well probably some - but Brian never will again. It just isn't right.

On Wednesday, authorities arrested and charged 32-year-old Douglas Allen Lively with first-degree murder and armed robbery. He was being held in the Harrison County Jail in Mississippi on unrelated charges, said Orlando police Detective Michael Moreschi.

Lively, who lives in Gulfport, Miss., was in Orlando last month for a court hearing. He was staying with Duquette, 39, who was a close friend of Lively’s brother. But Lively told investigators he was on a bus back to Mississippi when the July 3 killing occurred.

Authorities disagree, saying Lively took part in the killing, stole computer equipment, and left in Duquette’s green 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee and headed back to Gulfport. The vehicle was recovered in Gulfport on July 17, Moreschi said.

Detectives are not saying how Duquette died. The investigation continues, Moreschi said, and others may be involved.

Duquette was manager of software development for Tribune Interactive, which handles online operations for Tribune Co.’s TV stations, Web sites and daily newspapers, including the Orlando Sentinel. He left the company — after nearly nine years — when his position was eliminated this summer.
Duquette’s father, Lee, said his son was sending out résumés and had hoped to move to California.

Now, the elder Duquette struggles to cope with the loss of his son.
“This a little bit of a relief, knowing they have someone in custody,” Lee Duquette said. “Maybe now my wife can stop crying. ..... At least someone can be brought to justice for this.”

He did not know Lively but had heard his son talk about him.

“I know that Douglas Lively was one of the people that my son helped in the past ..... as far as when he was down and out,” Lee Duquette said.

The grieving father said he never understood what the saying “No good deed goes unpunished” meant.

“Now, I know,” he said. “You help people and it turns on you.”

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