# The trial of Elizabeth Holmes (Theranos)\[sentenced to 11+ yrs, 18Nov2022\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 10, 2021, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138 "2021-07-10T04:42:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 31
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/601 "2023-05-08T04:36:50Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > NY Times, so likely paywalled. But jeez-Louise - Holmes may suck as a CEO, but she sure is a master manipulator: > _“I made so many mistakes and there was so much I didn’t know and understand, and I feel like when you do it wrong, it’s like you really internalize it in a deep way,” Ms. Holmes said as we stopped to look at a hissing anaconda._ “I smell another snake.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/602 "2023-05-08T07:18:27Z")
Unless it’s a fake, because who knows these days, she still shows founder of theranos in her bio on twitter. I find that amusing and pathetic. The NY Times is also pretty pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/603 "2023-05-08T09:50:28Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > The NY Times is also pretty pathetic. Agreed. “What comes next”? Why should _anything_ come next? She should go to prison, and then she should fade into obscurity. She’s a crook, and she’s never been anything other than a crook. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/604 "2023-05-08T15:50:37Z")
In the NY Times article, the author talks about Holmes’ dog. > [@](#): > > I can’t shake an earlier story that Mr. Evans relayed. In the waning days of Theranos, Ms. Holmes got a dog, a Siberian husky named Balto. Last year, when a mountain lion carried Balto away from the front porch, Ms. Holmes spent 16 hours searching in the woods, digging through brambles and poison oak, hoping to find him alive. Everyone knew Balto was dead, but Ms. Holmes kept searching. The relentlessness. The certainty. The fanaticism. It’s the same way Ms. Holmes kept hanging on at Theranos. So Holmes met a soul-mate. Someone who can lie through their teeth with a serious expression and some sucker will swallow it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/605 "2023-05-08T18:03:32Z")
_NYT_ is still a great paper, but running an interview like this is a serious error in judgment. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/606 "2023-05-08T19:31:50Z")
Looking at the posts I couldn’t understand what might be wrong with article. Then I checked it out. Egad, that is horrible. This is not remotely journalism. What is wrong with the NYT that would let this thru? ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/607 "2023-05-08T19:58:52Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > _NYT_ is still a great paper, but running an interview like this is a serious error in judgment. NYT has an unfortunate tendency to think that good reporting means presenting a wide range of views in a dispassionate and nonjudgmental manner, even when one of the views to be presented is that toddler murder can be justified if someone wants it badly enough. No judgments, just the facts, and it’s a fact the subject said it, you know? Let the _readers_ decide which side of the fence to land on! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/608 "2023-05-08T20:04:24Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > What is wrong with the NYT that would let this thru? You mean the newspaper that [published a series of articles feeding the false narratives about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq](https://www.salon.com/2015/04/06/judith_millers_pathetic_iraq_apologia_a_disgraced_reporter_rallies_to_her_own_defense/) and [even screws up its own correction](https://theintercept.com/2023/03/30/new-york-times-iraq-war-error/)? As for [the purported attack on Holmes’ dog](https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/11/11/elizabeth-holmes-confirmed-pregnant-her-beloved-wolf-dog-balto-killed-by-cougar-revelations-from-court-filing/), the _Mercury News_ did [report an attack on 17 March 2021 in the yard of a home in Woodside](https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/03/26/mountain-lion-spotted-in-portola-valley-may-have-attacked-dog/), but that the dog is expected to recover. The article notes Another missing dog about a week later in Portola Valley but it is described as a “medium-size dog”, not the “wolf” (read: large Husky) that Holmes owned. Mountain lion attacks have increased with the drought and wildfires reducing their natural prey, and it is at least marginally plausible that a desperate cougar might go after a full-sized Husky, but I’d lay odds on this story being as much of a dissimulation as just about anything else Holmes has ever said. She’s essentially constitutionally incapable of actually telling a simple truth or not presenting herself in a fake manner, whether it is hero feminist entrepreneur or brainwashing victim of domestic abuse, all of which is in service to her ego. In that, she is in good company in startup culture but the degree to which she was able to shine on investors, financial analysts, and professional journalists is the one thing that she really excels at. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/609 "2023-05-08T23:19:22Z")
All I could think reading that article was that she is a complete sociopath. I think the writer was trying to show how easy it was to be sucked in by her and support her but she did a really poor job of hinting that even her supporters don’t trust a word she says. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/610 "2023-05-09T07:15:35Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Mountain lion attacks have increased with the drought and wildfires reducing their natural prey, and it is at least marginally plausible that a desperate cougar might go after a full-sized Husky, but I’d lay odds on this story being as much of a dissimulation as just about anything else Holmes has ever said. The problem with this story is that it’s all reliant on the partner’s word, which is pretty meaningless. I had a boss who used to make up personal stories to prove whatever point she had at the moment, regardless of whether or not the story contradicted what she had said yesterday. One day she would tell us she was working there because she loved teaching, but she didn’t need the money because her husband was wealthy. The next month, she was working there for the money. Both times she has some sort of point of why we should have a particular attitude and her needing or not needing the job proved the argument. This tale of the mountain lion was first used in an attempt to create sympathy from the judge. “You can’t send my partner to jail! She just lost her dog!” and not is being used to has part of her newly created persona. “She didn’t try to deceive people, she was just misguided but is too stubborn in her pursuit.” ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/611 "2023-05-09T09:03:21Z")
I was trying to figure out why I had such a visceral negative reaction to her in this article and I realized it’s because she never shows any thought for those she hurt. Now since she is appealing her case, her lawyer may have told her not to apologize but going with the “I was young and naive and I really believed that this would work” narrative requires her to show some remorse to be sympathetic. Even if we assume that she really was an innocent victim of Sonny and had no idea that the tests were not being done on her machine and that the military was not using it etc, a normal person would have mentioned that she felt terrible about the people who got erroneous results and if she had known she would have stopped it. But this article is all about her. Here’s how SHE was inappropriately vilified by the media. Here’s how SHE was just trying to invent something useful. Here’s how SHE is just a normal person trying to raise her children. How will SHE be able to move past this. I just see absolutely no evidence of compassion or a conscience. It screams sociopath. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/612 "2023-05-09T14:41:52Z")
Right. “Main character” syndrome. She’s the tragic victim in this, according to her. Not a psychologist or other mental health expert, but that POV accords with a certain sociopathy – the rest of humanity exists as characters in her story, which is the only story being told. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/613 "2023-05-09T17:24:32Z")
I really thought that article was satire. Like the writer was making up a fake interview. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/614 "2023-05-09T18:29:14Z")
It _did_ read that way a bit. And check this out: [Cute! New York Times Helps Elizabeth Holmes Launder Her Reputation Before Prison](https://jezebel.com/cute-new-york-times-helps-elizabeth-holmes-launder-her-1850413387) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/615 "2023-05-09T18:38:33Z")
That _Jezebel_ uses the same web framework as _The Onion_ with just a different color scheme made me double take. [_TheOnion.com_: “Elizabeth Holmes Arrives To Trial With Prototype For Black Box That Will Prove Her Innocence”](https://www.theonion.com/elizabeth-holmes-arrives-to-trial-with-prototype-for-bl-1847584107) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/616 "2023-05-09T18:54:17Z")
Wait, Invicta? I would never make fun of a baby name from another culture, but seeing as Holmes and I are both white, and neither of us have started a prison sentence (as of this writing), I feel we are of similar enough backgrounds that I can laugh a bit. Horologists: is there a better Swiss watch company to name your kid? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/617 "2023-05-09T19:12:51Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > Horologists: is there a better Swiss watch company to name your kid? It’s German (although mostly using Swiss movements) but I think [Sinn](https://www.sinn.de/en/) would be a great name for a child. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/618 "2023-05-09T19:27:26Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > That _Jezebel_ uses the same web framework as _The Onion_ with just a different color scheme made me double take. [_TheOnion.com_: “Elizabeth Holmes Arrives To Trial With Prototype For Black Box That Will Prove Her Innocence”](https://www.theonion.com/elizabeth-holmes-arrives-to-trial-with-prototype-for-bl-1847584107) > > Stranger I hadn’t seen that before. Outstanding! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/619 "2023-05-10T05:01:07Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > But this article is all about her. Here’s how SHE was inappropriately vilified by the media. Here’s how SHE was just trying to invent something useful. Here’s how SHE is just a normal person trying to raise her children. How will SHE be able to move past this. I just see absolutely no evidence of compassion or a conscience. It screams sociopath. Yeah, this is exactly how I feel. It also presents “Liz” as a true believer" > [@](#): > > What does she think would have happened if she hadn’t garnered so much early attention as the second coming of Silicon Valley? Ms. Holmes does not blink: “We would’ve seen through our vision.” In other words, she thinks if she’d spent more time quietly working on her inventions and less time on a stage promoting the company, she would have revolutionized health care by now. Yeah, nothing has changed. She’s still doing her snow job and found one more person to believe her. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/620 "2023-05-10T06:27:00Z")
It makes me wonder if there’s some flaw in the human psyche that allows them to be conned by people they know ahead of time are (_convicted!_) con artists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138.md?page=32)