"eDiscovery" in Domestic Relations Mutual Scheming: Digging up Dirt by "Friending" Ex-Spouse

On the Globe and Mail Blog, Erin Anderssen writes "[i]n the latest example of two people losing all sense of reason while they part ways, Angela Voelkert, of Indiana, decided to go digital dirt-digging on her ex-husband, David. She created a fake profile on Facebook of a teenager named Jessica Studebaker (complete with a cute picture) and became friends with him." Leonard Greene adds in his New York Post article "[a]nd what she learned was astounding: he was plotting to kill her and run off with their kids, law-enforcement authorities believe." 

However, the Globe and Mail Blog reports:

Except ... all charges were dropped suddenly. It appears Mr. Voelkert had been running a scam of his own. According to The Smoking Gun, he produced a notarized affidavit – signed six days before he first mentioned any sinister plans – that made clear he’d suspected all along that Jessica was really Angela. His affidavit stated that he had “no plans” to harm anyone. “I am lying to this person,” the affidavit states, “to gain positive proof that it is indeed my ex-wife trying to again tamper in my life.”

For all their mutual scheming, Mr. Voelkert paid the bigger price: He spent four days in custody until federal investigators confirmed his affidavit was real. (In the end, though, it’s the kids trapped in the middle of this mess that deserve our sympathy.)

For details, see:

• She's no 'friend' of hubby (New York Post).
• The most bizarre use of Facebook in a divorce case ever (Globe and Mail Blog)

Hat tip to Family Law Prof Blog's Wild Facebook Use by Divorcing Couple for this gem. But for recognizing the dueling parents children being caught up in this mutual Facebook scheming (don't know if they are old enough to access Facebook), this would have been Friday Fun worthy. [JH]