Examining the effects of those who have survived violent crime and how it has impacted their lives.

Real people, real tragedy, real help.

Saturdays at 5pm ET Listen LIVE:  CLICK HERE

Melanie Ilene Rieger, a college student, was murdered by her boyfriend on May 24, 1994.  Her parents, Sam and Wanda Rieger created an annual conference to educate and bring comfort to others who have fallen victim to violent crimes.

Sam and Wanda Rieger took from the ashes of their daughter’s death and created (along with a village of volunteers) a premier conference dedicated to serving the needs of future crime victims and educating those who serve them. However, this is not solely an academic gathering with Power Point presentations.  More to the point, it is a touching of souls and sharing of stories… creating an everlasting impact for participants – good, bad, but NEVER indifferent.   Veteran survivors of crime such as Ladyjustice do not return for the facts and figures, or to be exposed to more violence.  Rather, we return to visit old friends, for the thirst of ever-increasing knowledge in the field of victimology and violence in today’s society.  We come to share with new victims and service providers, the benefit of our tragic experiences …and to hear more stories.  The stories never end… 

16th Annual Melanie Rieger Conference

THEME: “Resilience After Devastation: Putting the Pieces Back Together”

Central Connecticut State University

1615 Stanley Street

New Britain, CT 06050

Related articles

• Helping the Melanie Ilene Rieger Memorial Conference to Soar (donnagore.com)
• SHATTERED LIVES with LadyJustice: Elder Abuse with Sgt. Mark Varnau (donnagore.com)
• Shattered Lives with Donna R. Gore: Janice Smolinski, My Son is Missing (donnagore.com)

It occurred to this writer that as crime victim advocate writers, we often don’t have much information to work with when trying to assist others -in an attempt to create public awareness. We may hear of a case that has been reported in the news with little information to offer because:

•  “An ongoing investigation is underway” (May or may not be true);
•  Law enforcement has a track record of mistakes that they don’t want revealed;
•  Police protocol or a particular investigator’s style to be very “close to the vest” regarding information;
•  The crime victim may have lead a life fraught with problems, making it difficult to “humanize the victim” and get past the dysfunction, abuse, addictions, what have you …
•  There may be few intriguing details making it “less newsworthy”;
•  There may be little to no knowledge of resources available due to the crime victim’s family being in a remote geographic location, poverty situation or not having the educational resources;
•  Unreliable sources concerning the events of the case.

Under these circumstances, what can you do? Can you write about the facts of the case in a way that does justice, spurs interest …makes people “grow a conscience?” Can you make meal from a scrap of bread? Can you make something out of nothing?

Well… as a matter of fact, you can if you write holistically; if you can “paint a picture.” This is what Ladyjustice calls the “Stone Soup” method.

If you are a baby boomer like LJ, you may recall having read the classic children’s book, “Stone Soup.” For those who are unfamiliar with this award winning book by Marcia Brown, it is an “old tale re-told.” In French, the book is called, Une Drole de Soupe. [LJ – I can just picture Julia Child reading this book to preschoolers all over France!]

As the story goes, in 1947, three soldiers ascended on a French village. The soldiers were tired and hungry. They were returning from war and had not eaten in two days. They had nothing to offer the poor villagers …except their charm. At first when the villagers saw the soldiers coming, they were very protective of their resources and what little food they had…. They hid food under mattresses, and in barns. They hid buckets of milk in their wells, potatoes under the bed, and barley sacks in hay lofts. Meat was hung in their cellars, etc.
As the soldiers went door to door, they were unsuccessful at first. Excuses offered included:

•  “Bad harvest”;
•  “We have little food for ourselves”;
•  “We gave our spare food to soldiers who came before you’;
•  “We have to keep our grain for seed”;
•  “We have a sick mother to care for”;
•  “We have too many mouths to feed already etc.; etc.

The three French soldiers had had quite enough excuses!

They consulted… They schemed… Then they proclaimed, “We are three tired and hungry soldiers in a strange land who have asked for food. You have told us you have no food for us. Therefore, we will have to make stone soup!” The peasants stared in shock and curiosity. How is that possible, they asked?

“First, we’ll need a large iron pot… to fill with water to heat; Then some firewood… And now if you please, THREE ROUND STONES (as the peasants eyes grew wide!). Any good soup needs salt and pepper…. But oh if there were carrots it would be much better… (One woman returned with an apron full of carrots…) And then, cabbage would be so nice… BUT NO USE ASKING FOR WHAT WE DON’T HAVE… (A woman replied, “I think I could find a cabbage, somewhere.”)

“If only we had a bit of beef and potatoes, good enough for a rich man’s table… A rich man’s soup… ALL FROM A FEW STONES!!!” [LJ - You get the idea…] And then there was much drinking and dancing. It all began with the three little stones… And wouldn’t you know it, the soldiers were “so wise,” they were offered sleeping quarters in …the priest’s home, the baker’s home and the Mayor’s home too! The peasants gave them a warm send off saying, “We shall never go hungry, now that we know how to make soup from stones!” HAPPY ENDING….

As it relates to writing about crime, the real cases…. the real human beings…the real shattered lives…. As opposed to fairy tale stories, it is much the same for this writer.

You begin with a few basic facts, add detail (just like the salt and pepper) Then you look to enhance the “broth” to provide richness, you let your curiosity lead you to new areas of the case – background of the case. Who was the victim as a human being? What was his/her immediate environment like? Did the victim stand out in some way or was he “an average Joe”? Who were his friends? Did he have demons that may have contributed to his ultimate fate? What were the missteps, blatant errors, territorial issues, miscommunications or… was there just plain indifference? Who was/is carrying the ball now? Why do we need to know? Why is this case important? What organizations are involved? What lessons can we learn?

In other words, if you think you have a ‘typical “ho-hum” case in terms of engaging reader’s interest…. THINK AGAIN…and re-tool!

You probably have stone soup if you choose to make it so….

As the soldiers and villagers would say…. It takes a village and cooperation to make stone soup and to effectively write about a case!

To read/purchase “Stone Soup” by Marcia Brown, winner of the Randolph Caldecott Book Award published by Simon & Schuster [www.SimonSaysKids.com] Copyright 1947; re-print 1975 …For ages 4 to 94 years…. With lessons for adults and kids alike!
Or…go to Amazon.com 

Related articles

• Stone Soup, Mutual dependency, and a New Economic Order (counteringthespectacle.wordpress.com)
• Whither Charisma? A Variation on Stone Soup (counteringthespectacle.wordpress.com)
• “Judge Whatchamacallit” on TV (donnagore.com)
• “Stone Cold Target” in Missing Person Intimate Partner Investigation Case of Michelle Parker (murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com)

Janice Smolinski’s quiet spoken and friendly demeanor defies the “tiger in her tank” that has sprung forth more times than she would like in the fight to locate her missing son, Billy.  Billy’s case and the effort to pass legislation bearing his name has taken up residence on the Peace4the Missing site as well as a customized website, Justice4Billy, since 2004.

This case is called the hot potato…not because they are “hot on the trail of finding Billy.”  It has this reputation in the morass of local, state and federal errors that have consumed this family’s life… but not weakened their resolve or determination in their quest to find answers!

Listen to the show, SHATTERED LIVES:

It appears the biggest obstacle is the fact that Billy was a Caucasian, fit male, aged 31, and 200 pounds  when he suddenly dropped off the radar.   Adult men like Billy don’t “go missing” so the local police said,   “They walk off. “ Not so, said Jan and her family.  It is at this point of departure of opinion that set forth one of the lengthier and most arduous tales in the annals of criminal justice history!

It is a virtual laundry list of events … Some events have everything to do with the case and other events are just pure evil meant to attack the victim, and Jan personally, to distract from the real focus- Billy!   This blog will attempt to list the highlights only of this 7.5 year saga, in hopes that you will be interested and get involved at some level… for this case and Billy’s legacy, with Jan’s assistance is really about helping all who go missing!

“The good part” is that Jan climbed the legislative and Congressional Mount Everest to achieve State of Connecticut HB 6113 pertaining to the manner in which State police handle missing adults.  HB 6113 is as a major step toward protecting missing and endangered adults. The bill requires police departments to accept all reports filed of all missing persons age 18 and older without delay and to input all collected information into appropriate databases in efforts to locate them.

In a bipartisan effort, with the assistance of Congressmen Christopher Murphy (D -CT) and Ted Poe (R- Texas),the Help Find the Missing Act, “Billy’s Law”  was initially introduced to empower families and loved ones of the missing to find justice by helping to secure funding for the only federal database for missing persons and unidentified remains that can be cross-searched, accessed and added to by the public – the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).  This database enables the loved ones of the missing to search for a match and add valuable information to the case profile that only they know once it has been approved by the law enforcement agency handling their case.

The legislation helps to streamline the reporting process for law enforcement and medical examiners by connecting two major federal missing persons and unidentified remains databases- the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and the NamUs.  Connecting these databases makes them more comprehensive and more likely to lead to a match between a missing person and unidentified human remains.

“Billy’s Law” also creates incentive grants programs to coroners, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies to help facilitate the reporting of missing persons and unidentified remains to the federal databases. Grants can also be used for training programs on how to correctly use the databases and best handle these cases, and the recipients of these grants must provide a dollar in matching funds for every two dollars in federal funds.

“Billy’s Law” builds upon Connecticut’s 2007 Law Enforcement and Missing Persons law as it also calls for the issuance of broad recommendations for standards and procedures for law enforcement to follow in dealing with missing persons and unidentified remains.

As it stands, it was about the money with “naysayer” former US  Congressman  Dr. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, saying that 10 million to be shared among 17,000 police departments was “too expensive” such that it was lowered to 8 million.   And now, with a new Congress, the bill must be re-introduced as HR 1300 and SR 702.

Co-sponsors are needed in nearly every state (except Connecticut)   The link below provides templates, sample letters, data and information with which to arm yourself.  Don’t take no for an answer… Be persistent!

BILLY’S LAW: Everything You Need to Know and DO to HELP PASS BILLY’S LAW

Jan also suggests sending a personal letter to your US Federal Congressperson with a follow-up phone call to their judicial staff person…and perhaps a face to face meeting

The Numbers: 

160,000 people missing currently in the US inclusive of adults and children.  60,000 unidentified remains  are stagnating within medical examiners offices!   Matches are currently being made manually with NamUS, the only centralized data base and NCIC (The National Crime Information Center [Federally Regulated System] can “talk to each other” with “a million eyes monitoring” as reported by Jan.  Each state also has clearinghouses.  However, as in Connecticut, they frequently don’t connect and it becomes a jurisdictional and political fight as to whose case it is…

The Human Toll:

Jan has a daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren who support her and her husband’s continuing efforts to find Billy… while she intellectually and emotionally knows that many others “in the land of the living” love her. But it is tough to divide your time and your heart to all things and all people who need it.  A strong faith in God prevails, a positive attitude with undying hope coursing  through her veins….

However, the grieving process never stops, nor does the fulfilling nature of helping other victims.  Pleasurable activities she once enjoyed, such as mall shopping conjured up immense guilt. So… she sat in the mall parking lot and stared at the entrance…. Until the Christmas holidays “gave her permission” one year!  It took Jan three months to enter that mall. She says it’s a roller coaster effect, “like Weebles”.  You may be more wobbly today as compared to yesterday and need to reach out to others.   It is NOT time to MOVE ON” when your child, whether a small child or your adult child is missing!  people working

Financial Considerations:

No one can anticipate the need when we first enter this journey… lost time from work, posters, billboards, media help, the cost of transportation, the need to re-mortgage your house to carry on….   The general public has no idea what it takes….

The Details:

Evidence lost…. Local official’s not paying attention, wasting valuable time, incompetence,   lack of communication, incredible delays, attempts to sabotage efforts time and again when placing missing posters, Jan’s arrest, a relationship  that left Billy unprepared and vulnerable to forces he couldn’t anticipate, political pressures,  a ridiculous law suit by mean-spirited people,  lies, and more lies in a civil suit….. It’s all there, like some bad B movie.  The Waterbury Observer has done a good job reporting such events over time. .

Read it … not to wallow in the craziness… ‘Just to know what the Smolinski’s have endured!  AND… keep the focus on finding Billy!

As Jan said on “Shattered Lives,” it takes a village of people working together!

Related articles

• Identifying the unknown dead: New system cross-checks missing person cases with unidentified bodies (knoxnews.com)
• State Police Revamping Missing Persons Unit (connecticut.cbslocal.com)
• Georgia teen joins missing people across the country (examiner.com)
• The Price of a Life? (vanished!)
• Shattered Lives with Donna R. Gore: Janice Smolinski, My Son is Missing (donnagore.com)

Examining the effects of those who have survived violent crime and how it has impacted their lives.

Real people, real tragedy, real help.

Saturdays at 5pm ET Listen LIVE:  CLICK HERE

In 2004, Billy Smolinski disappeared under suspicious circumstances. If everything could go wrong in the investigation of his disappearance, it did. From the initial missing persons report, the Smolinski family has hit every roadblock possible in the effort to find their son.

Janice Smolinski has tirelessly continued to fight the uphill battle, through searches, through tips and clues, getting arrested and pioneering “Billy’s Law” that will help save other families from her experience.

Website: justice4billy.com

SHATTERED LIVES broadcasts live every Saturday at 5pm ET, but if you can’t make the live show you can always listen to the archives at the  link at your convenience. CLICK HERE

Related articles

• State Police Revamping Missing Persons Unit (connecticut.cbslocal.com)
• Shattered Lives with Donna R. Gore: Who is She and Why do They Call Her “LadyJustice?” (donnagore.com)
• SHATTERED LIVES with LadyJustice: Elder Abuse with Sgt. Mark Varnau (donnagore.com)

Ladyjustice had the pleasure of featuring Sergeant Mark Varnau of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department as the first guest on Shattered Lives,” taped on Saturday February 11^th.  Elder abuse and financial crimes are rising to the level which occurred in domestic violence/intimate partner violence ten years ago.   It is no longer hidden away “behind closed doors” as often as before.  However, although these crimes of neglect and abuse among families and caretakers are being exposed more often, they still do not garner the publicity that they deserve.  They may not appear to be “sensational” in nature and therefore, they go unreported or hidden on the back pages of the local newspaper.   However, the “Shatter’ is there!

Listen to the 30 minute show SHATTERED LIVES:

In San Diego County alone, approximately 25,000 cases of elder abuse are reported to Adult Protective Services per year.  Those that meet the criteria for criminality are 1,000 to 1,500 cases, a mere 10 to 15% of that total.  Ladyjustice believes that we must not lose sight of the fact that there can still be concern and dysfunction taking place within the confines of any domestic situation.  Therein lays the “no man’s land” in which we as concerned citizens and neighbors MUST infiltrate if we have suspicions before any situation gets to the level of legally defined abuse and neglect!

Sargent Varnau’s Department deals with crimes involving family members and/or caregivers for crimes of neglect and abuse which take the form of theft or assault (65 years or older) or those who are considered developmentally disabled from 18 years and above which  meet the California statuary guidelines of Elder Abuse.

With respect to financial crimes… these are a quagmire for sure and very difficult to prove. Given the scenario in which a caretaker spends the money of an unsuspecting elderly person (whether they have cognitive and memory deficits due to neurologic disorders like dementia or CVA/stroke) and perhaps are under the influence of medications, it must be proven that taking of the money wasn’t done for the sole benefit of the client/patient.  In such cases involving transactions with cash, a history must be established, in addition to proof that actions were egregious before a prosecutor will consider taking the case.

The prevalence of elder abuse and neglect tends to fall along demographic lines depending upon who is involved.  If a child is nearby and serves as the primary caretaker, the abuse/neglect is usually perpetrated by a family member.  However, many elderly persons live in distant states from family, are often private, not forthcoming about their challenges or may be embarrassed about their inability to manage independently.  It is also very difficult for family members to try to assist their parents from out of state…and therefore they must rely on others.

Foe those residing in skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, any behavior that would be deemed suspect, falls within the purview of the Department of Justice as such facilities are regulated and investigated by that entity.

How do they fall prey to neglect and abuse?  Lack of financial resources, compromised decision making, inability to ambulate and get out of the house to have contact with others… other than the primary caretaker….   Often large sums of money may be lost as the abuser, whether family or an appointed person sells the home, alters or takes funds from insurance policies. Caretakers can ensure that their criminality is not discovered by overmedicating the person in their care as well.   The elderly are also very vulnerable to professional thieves who target them with various scams that the public has come to recognize.

Sargent Varnau discussed one line of defense for elders which can be and is very effective. An elderly person’s network of friends and neighbors who are familiar with their comings and goings and daily habits can be an invaluable tool should something go wrong! Ladyjustice says do not underestimate this and shrug it off as “a nosey neighbor.”  In a pinch, such information could help in a life or death situation!  The social life of a senior, keeps them active and stimulated. When they suddenly drop out, the Elder Abuse Unit can take the call and respond within ten days.  However, if the matter appears to be more urgent or you as a caring observer or neighbor see “red flag occurrences” such as suspicious people/cars hanging around, or lack of response at the home, calling your local police for a welfare check may be the most expeditious way to treat the situation.

Sargent Varnau related that California has no Silver Alert System.  Elders are part of the overall system of missing adults.  The DOJ system may enter the elder’s information into a teletype, but the fact that the person is a senior, does not automatically register a special urgency.   They assume that as adults they have full capacity to reach out to others…or may just walk away on their own.   [LJ- As we know, such assumptions often prove deadly!] Currently approximately 32 of the 50 states have a designated Silver Alert system.

From Ladyjustice’s former blog, “Silver Alert – Where’s Grandma,” an excerpt/ brief history follows:

 History & Legislation of Silver Alert

Silver Alert is an outgrowth of the Amber Alert system and is a public notification system in the U. S. designed to broadcast information about seniors with Alzheimer’s, other dementias, mental illness and developmental disabilities (Depending upon the State). 

In 2005, the Silver Alert system was introduced at the State level by Representative Fred Perry of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in which “Amber Alert for Seniors” became “Silver Alert”.  In March 2006, through a series of legislative initiatives, Silver Alerts were added to the statewide alerts by law enforcement and media outlets. It was signed into law by Governor Brad Henry in April, 2009. 

Use of public notification systems to locate seniors intensified as a result of the disappearance of Mattie Moore, a 68 year old woman with Alzheimer’s disease.  Sadly, she was found 8 months later.  Her body was discovered just 500 yards from her home.  The city of Atlanta enacted a program called “Mattie’s Call” – coordinating emergency management initiatives, law enforcement and broadcasters to disseminate urgent bulletins. 

Another example of the earliest pursuits of the Silver Alert system was in the State of Florida.  Mary Zelter was an 86 year old woman from Largo who drove off from her assisted living facility never to return.  Her body was located in the intercostal waterway near a Clearwater boat ramp.  Her car was found submerged.  This event spearheaded the creation of a Silver Alert pilot program in Pinellas County and an eventual statewide program. 

Federal legislation was introduced by Representative Lloyd Doggett in May 2008.  This bill’s purpose was to integrate and enhance existing Silver Alert systems and encourage others.  Other efforts were attempted by legislators in North Carolina and Florida.  Finally, a comprehensive bill passed in September 2008 in the House of Representatives on a “voice vote.”  However, Congress adjourned prior to a vote in the Senate. 

The next bill known as the “National Silver Alert Act” was re-introduced by Congress as H. R. 632 on February 11, 2009. According to silveralert.org, the prevalence of Silver Alert programs nationwide number 32 from Alabama to West Virginia.  The inclusiveness of “at risk” populations, administrators, age requirements and specific legislation can be viewed at: http://nationalsilveralert.org. 

In San Diego, they take assault on an elderly person seriously.  State law gives police the power to arrest a family member or caretaker even if they “allegedly” assaulted the person under their care.  Complicated situations arise in which  we have people living for extended periods  where the “child” batterer may be in their 70’s caring for someone on their 90’s.  Each case is handled individually with discretion.  However, it is not atypical to take both parties in for a mental health evaluation versus immediate arrest if necessary.

One of the best deterrents, Sargent Varnau states, is jail time for the first time offender or “first time caught offender” in preventing further occurrences.  However, it is by no means foolproof, as we have seen in intimate partner violence, the cycle continues.  The elderly parent may take the abuser in again as they are “biologically related” regardless of the potential toxicity of the relationship and continue to abuse.   However, if time is on their side, the offending child winds up in jail for two or three years, while another caring family member may take over and provide continued safety for the elderly person.  

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department interfaces with Adult, Aging and Independent services, the Probate Court system and all other allied agencies designed to assist in the care and welfare of the elderly. They make an effort to educate the community… to perform community outreach concerning these issues with public speaking, posters, website information and use of media.  However, elder abuse may be too pedestrian, not sexy enough for the front page of the newspapers…. That’s where “Shattered Lives” comes in…

A parting and very worthwhile message offered by Sargent Varnau is not to be afraid to make the tough decisions in such situations.  Be a good neighbor, go the extra mile, make a call if it “doesn’t feel right” or make changes in the life of the senior you care about even though it may not be convenient!  You could be saving a life!   

 If you live in San Diego County, and need assistance or have questions concerning this topic, Contact Sargent Mark Varnau at: http://www.sdsheriff.net/co_elderabuse.html.

Imagine the surprise of David Attenborough, a BBC natural history broadcaster of over 50 years when… lo and behold, the long lost skull of widow, Julia Martha Thomas was discovered in his garden in July 2011.  However, this murder took place 133 years ago in 1879!  The notorious murderess was that of former housekeeper, Kate Webster.

This is a fascinating case from the standpoint of how it was solved, as well as the habits and characters of the victim and murderess (or lack thereof).  Reams have been written about this case. However, Ladyjustice will attempt to summarize the “highlights and the lowlights” here and now.  As it turns out, the murderess had “several lives” and was far more colorful than the victim.

The Victim: Julia Martha Thomas:

• Julia Martha Thomas was a twice widowed woman in her 50’s who lived in West London – Richmond;
• Martha had a reputation as an eccentric; was frequently agitated and liked to give the impression of wealth with her costume jewelry;
• Although she travelled frequently, she enjoyed the “status” of a live-in housekeeper whom she treated with strict disciplinary rules;
• Arriving home from church and not finding Kate Webster at home performing her duties, Martha went searching for her at an adjacent pub (to David Attenborough’s home) called the “Hole in the Wall”.  Kate Webster was also known as a “drunkard;”
• After a raucous argument, Webster pushed Julia Thomas down the stairs on Sunday March 2^, 1879, having been given a “second chance” previously.  To prevent her screaming after being injured, Webster “finished her off.”  Julia Thomas’ demise was the most heinous imaginable – decapitation, chopping off body parts and “boiling her into drippings” and subsequently fed to children! (OMG!!!)

The Murderess: Kate Webster:

• Kate Webster was born Catherine Lawlor in 1847 near Co. Wexford, Ireland;
• Her first encounter with criminal behavior began at age 15 followed by much thievery, giving her a year sentence in a Wexford jail and then she was sentenced to four years of penal servitude for the same crime in Liverpool;
• Kate had the reputation for promiscuity; ‘Gave birth to a son in April 1874 and was abandoned by the father.  She then returned to stealing “to support herself”;
• Webster signed on as a maid with Julia Thomas via a referral through a friend in January 1879, beginning her “web of lies and deceit”;
•  Kate Webster lived the life of a vagabond – moving around West London with four different aliases and chalking up 36 charges of larceny and imprisonment along the way…;
• Webster continued the “pretense of “cleaning/housekeeper normalcy” for several days until the foul odor raised suspicions.  She packed the body parts into a black bag and wooden bonnet box, buried the head and threw one of the feet on a garbage heap;
• Webster began impersonating Julia Thomas two days later, claimed to be married again, widowed and “was left Thomas’ house by an aunt in Richmond.” While traveling in Hammersmith, she dropped more of Julia’s remains in the Thames River. The disposed of body parts began to be discovered. However, there was no way to connect the two women;
• Kate was exposed while offering Thomas’ furniture to a pub owner, John Church.  When neighbors learned “Mrs. Thomas” was actually Kate Webster, she fled to her family home in Ireland. John Church summoned the police whereupon they found burned bones in the fireplace and blood stains.  Police discovered from earlier records in Scotland Yard and information from the Royal Irish Constabulary that the fugitive was the same woman.

The Trial:

• Kate Webster went on trial at the Central Criminal Court, “the Old Bailey” on July 2, 1879 over a six day period.  She pleaded not guilty, attempted to implicate her former neighbor as well as John Church.  She also tried claiming she was “quick with child” which was proven to be false.  More lies… trying to implicate her former husband;
• Webster recanted her story and ultimately confessed to a priest and was sentenced to death.  It was an unmarked grave for her as a black flag was raised signaling that “the deed” had been carried out! 

The Aftermath:

Dublin newspapers described the murder of Julia Martha Thomas as “one of the most sensational and awful chapters in the annals of human wickedness.”  This murder will perhaps be known as the most horrific crime committed by a woman.  It was still about the money…as had Webster succeeded in selling off the furniture as she intended to John Church, she would have gained but two to three years worth of wages.

Kate was not a sympathetic figure with the jury.  Victorian era women were expected to act with femininity and be passive.  In addition, her penchant for drinking, stealing and living off other’s misfortunes were seen very unfavorably.

The Skull- The Final Piece of the Puzzle:

The Hole in the Wall Pub had gone to rack and ruin, as they say after it closed in 2007, followed by its purchase by David Attenborough in 2009 for purposes of re-development.  Due to a considerable amount of circumstantial evidence, historical record review and radiocarbon testing [LJ- Radiocarbon dating is a method used to test any material made up of carbon] the skull was estimated to be dated between 1650 and 1880 and that of a white female of menopausal age.  As Julia Thomas had no living relatives and no children, there was no means of comparison.

The West London Coroner Allison Thompson formally declared that the skull belonged to Mrs. Thomas with a cause of death listed as asphyxiation and head injury.

What next for an 85 year old naturalist broadcaster? Can anyone top this one?                                 I seriously doubt it!

References Used:

Read more: Radiocarbon Dating Testing | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6503619_radiocarbon-dating-testing.html#ixzz1mCD1jg6a

Yahoo.com; news;                                                                                                                                                    

www.dailymail.co.uk;                                                                                                                                                        http://enwikipedia.org;

Examining the effects of those who have survived violent crime and how it has impacted their lives.

Real people, real tragedy, real help.

Saturdays at 5pm ET Listen LIVE:  CLICK HERE

Guest: Sgt. Mark Varnau

San Diego Sheriff’s Department Elder Abuse Unit

St. Mark Varnau was involved in the case of a 93 yr old Pearl Harbor survivor who was living in filth due to the neglect of his paid care giver who, it was discovered, also cleaned out his bank account before she was arrested.

CLICK HERE to read the complete story.

This show will discuss the rampant issue of elder abuse and it’s consequences, offering information and resources should listeners suspect someone is not being properly cared for.

Experts estimate that only one in 13 elder-abuse cases are reported nationwide, based on various surveys and studies.

“We are only getting the tip of the iceberg,” said San Diego County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mark Varnau, who oversees financial- and elder-abuse crime units for his agency. “It’s a dirty little secret and Mr. Bauer’s case is a very clear example of how someone is isolated and forgotten about.”

In San Diego County, the District Attorney’s Office has seen the number of elder-abuse prosecutions rise in the past five years — from 183 cases in 2006 to 238 last year. The county’s elder-abuse hotline receives nearly 10,000 calls a year

LadyJustice is a simple term for the activism which surrounds the attitude in everything she does! Learn from the information on SHATTERED LIVES and take it into your own family or community…make it happen!

SHATTERED LIVES is not like the other “crime” shows.  The show does not focus on the crime or the criminal, but features the aftermath and the care the surviving victims require. Invited guests will be from all areas of survivor assistance, and many will be surviving families, but they all have valuable information for the audience.

SHATTERED LIVES broadcasts live every Saturday at 5pm ET, but if you can’t make the live show you can always listen to the archives at the  link at your convenience.

CLICK HERE

Suppose it was not a stellar year for you. Suppose that it was the worst… Well… adopting hope is not an easy task. If your life was touched…or hammered by crime, if your relationship was shipwrecked….Ladyjustice is so very sorry! But sorry doesn’t change things.
It’s easier for this writer to handle change regarding crime victimization as compared to relationships. Relationships are so very hard to sustain. Do phrases like “Take it to the next level” or “Go the distance” strike fear in your heart, as it does LJ? If so, you are not alone, I guarantee it… If we are lucky, we find someone with whom to commiserate. We take time to grieve as we do when we lose someone through violence. We may even lose our own identities in the process…. However, we must re-invent and find a comfortable place to be…even when there are ups and downs. We have to find that anchor somewhere! How do we find that anchor? We have to take a risk and reach out to others….. ‘New possibilities, new people, new ventures.
It is unrealistic to think that even when trying to put things in perspective, to move on from the “stuck place” in our victimization, or our personal relationship that we will never cry again…. (As adults, we cry far too little than is healthy.) However, we frequently are acculturated not to cry, to stay strong…. What we have been through as crime victims is so overwhelming, so ever life changing that Ladyjustice cannot expect no tears. But, in moving on, we can reach out to others in the same situation to receive support and NOT HAVE TO CRY ALONE…. We need others to get through life, Lord knows…

To get on the right path to that healthier place, as the Indigo Girls so eloquently write and sing about… Please listen to the following 4 minute song and use the following links to help you gather strength:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aXEYCOZZVU&feature=related

 
Support/Resources:
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender, Questioning, (Adults, Teens)

http://community.pflag.org/page.aspx?pid=191(National)

http://community.pflag.org/page.aspx?pid=803 (Find a Chapter)
http://www.ourtruecolors.org/ (Sexual Minority Youth & Family Services, National Conference)
http://imaginepublicity.com/clients/susie-kroll/ (Teens)
Homicide, Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Assault
Parents of Murdered Children: http://www.pomc.com/

http://www.citizensagainsthomicide.org/site.php/citizensah/pg242/Home

http://www.survivorsofhomicide.com/Website/Home.htm

NC Victim Assistance Network (North Carolina)
National Center for Victims of Crime
Parents of Murdered Children and other Survivors of Homicide Victims (Michigan)
Justice for Homicide Victims (California)
Canadian Parents of Murdered Children and Survivors of Homicide, Inc. (Canada)
Missouri Victim Assistance Network MoVA (Missouri)
Homicide Survivors Program (Alabama)
Office of Victim Services (Connecticut)
American Association of Christian Counselors
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission
The Compassionate Friends
Concerns of Police Survivors
National Organization for Victims Assistance (NOVA)
Intimate Partner Violence
Susan Murphy Milano
Sandra L. Brown, M.A. The Institute for Relational Harm Reduction
Pamela Chapman, iAscend Programs
http://lisamichels.blogspot.com/ (Sexual Assault)
Missing Persons
CUE Center for Missing Persons
NamUs

http://www.klaaskids.org/search_oak_harbor.htm

http://missingyouorg.com/

http://peace4missing.ning.com/

Let’s Bring Them Home: http://www.lbth.org/ncma/index.php

May you find hope, help and a healthier you…..
Respectfully,
Donna “Ladyjustice”

Ladyjustice came across this series of cases last June, originally reported in the San Diego Union Tribune.  This writer hemmed and hawed… Should she, shouldn’t she? (Write about this topic). Finally coming across it again in a pile of papers on her desk last week, she decided it is too important not to discuss it as a public service!

“Suicide fad” seems like an oxymoron, for one is final and the other is fleeting.  But, that’s how it has been described.  This “lethal fad” goes by several names – chemical suicide, detergent suicide, terroristic suicide.  However, this method has ramifications beyond one person! This method has the potential to kill others by unleashing a toxic cloud by mixing household chemicals and releasing them in an enclosed space such as   a sealed automobile.

To put it in perspective, let’s follow the time line and underlying factors. Sources such as Wired.com, USA Today, the Times Leader of Pennsylvania and the San Diego Union Tribune report that this phenomenon began in Japan.  Japan has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world due to many factors, including cultural expectations, high unemployment and very long work hours.  Newspaper accounts reported that in:

January through June 2008, at least 500 men, women and children took their own lives.  There has also been an influx of websites in Japan and elsewhere which readily provide the vulnerable with the tools … detailed instructions!

In April 2008, an unofficial count of chemical suicides in Japan numbered 50.  The mixing of various household chemicals produces hydrogen sulfide gas, which is colorless and similar to the odor of rotten eggs.  When it is inhaled, it can lead to suffocation or brain damage.   Bath sulfur is a chemical not found in the United States.  However, insecticides have been substituted with the same result. 

In May 2008,

A man in Otaru, Japan killed himself by mixing household detergents which released toxic fumes, forcing 350 people from their homes. In another case, a month prior, reportedly staying at the downtown Peninsula Tokyo hotel “gassed himself” as well as causing mass evacuation.

A farmer in Kori, Japan named Nobuya Matsuno was arrested for attempted murder of his 82 year old mother by mixing toilet bowl cleaner with moth balls.  Luckily, the father                             caught him in the act and called the police.

A 24 year old man mixed household chemicals at home around midnight, dying but also endangering his 58 year old mother who survived. During this event 350 neighbors and waited two hours at a nearby playground for the chemicals to dissipate.

Another reported incident involved a teenaged girl who committed suicide by mixing laundry detergent with cleanser in her bathroom, which in turn, sickened 90 people.

The Japanese National Police Agency was so concerned for the potential loss of lives, that they urged internet providers to delete material from websites instructing how to mix chemicals.  An internet hotline manager, who monitors and reports suspicious websites to police, stated that written descriptions included phrases such as “You can die easily and beautifully.”   This country has been  struggling with such occurrences for years as “like minded “individuals search the web for each other to “end their lives together.”

One of the earliest events receiving much notoriety in Japan, spawning a wave of suicides occurred when a porn star made such public threats and followed through with the act.

Migration to the United States:

In August 2009, this “lethal fad” first migrated to the United States in Pasadena, California. A 23 year old man was found dead in a shopping center.  His white Volkswagen Beetle was locked with the windows rolled up.  A warning sign (skull and cross bones) was posted on one of the windows.  Police and firefighters were summoned and evacuated the area, while a hazardous materials crew dressed in chemical protectant suits (looking like something out of the movie “The China Syndrome’), extracted his body and cleaned up the horrendous scene.

In December 2009, chemical suicide occurred again in Bartow County, Georgia in which the victim’s body was found along with two buckets  containing a yellow substance which the victim previously identified by name and a “Caution” sign.  Wired.com reported that an astute University of Texas SW Medical Center emergency room MD, Dr. Paul Pope, connected the dots between the two cases!

Double Tragedy:

And the trouble is… emergency first responders are trained to break open windows to rescue those in distress as per the Assistant Coordinator for Emergency Management in Forsyth County.  He went on to say that a person found unconscious in a car is a fairly typical call. “Fortunately, these people left notes regarding the danger.  But… eventually someone isn’t going to leave a note.”  Result – the toxic release of those in close proximity can kill others instantly. First responders experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, burning sensations in the throat and nose, increased mucus and heart palpitations.

Hollywood – June 2011:

Suburban Culver City, California is an upscale area in the Hollywood hills. Despite the affluence, the poor economy shattered Ana Gutierrez’s spirit. According to police detectives, Ana, age 23 had financial problems and was unable to locate a job. (For what length of time is unknown). At some point, in her devastation, she surfed suicide chat rooms, formed a friendship with a man and decided “it was time to go.” The had a plan to “do it together.” They followed the directions to mix the lethal chemicals (6 bottle).  Then they ate a meal and drank quite a bit of alcohol. The male related that “he couldn’t hold his liquor, and subsequently got sick.  Reportedly, he stumbled out of the car and wandered away.  Later he returned to “check on the woman, “finding her dead.  He then walked to a hotel and called 9911, referring to the type of chemicals left on the note, triggering the hazmat response. Had he stayed in the car, there is no doubt he would not have survived.

As fate would have it, a series of events prevented further disaster…

a) the responding crew had performed a training regarding such hazardous chemicals the week prior;                                                

b) the woman who succumbed had fallen out the passenger side door which meant that by the time authorities arrived on the scene, the lethal fumes had dissipated. The FBI was involved as a matter of procedure in collecting intelligence for potential criminal or terroristic acts.

Ironically, those involved in posting such dangerous information on the internet may be virtually free from prosecution, stated California Attorney, Douglas Mirrett.  In order to prosecute, the internet service provider would have to be located and investigated regarding any violation of terms of service contract. HOWEVER, because they are neither encouraging or discouraging suicide, the web operations may be protected!!!

Ed Winter, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office reported that the Gutierrez suicide was “the third or fourth” in 12 or15 months…  “One big breath and Boom. That’s it.”  Nationally, there were approximately 35 cases reported at the time of the Culver City incident.

Shavertown, Pennsylvania, May 27, 2011:

Kingston Township in Luzerne County was the setting of a chemical suicide in this town of just over 7,000 people.  The victim attempted suicide by mixing household chemicals, producing hydrogen sulfide which suppresses the central nervous system, often causing asphyxiation. In this specific case, the male mixed two chemicals in a cooler, lost consciousness while driving and crashed into a tree. Apparently, the mustard colored liquid was splashed over the entire passenger seat and window of the car.  There was no warning for emergency medical teams in this case, as they spent hours trying to determine the nature of the gas and the reason for its use.  As of July, 2011, there were four such deaths in the State of Pennsylvania.

WHY??

An article from the website www.espacoacademico.com reported that within Japanese culture, suicide has been tolerated and even seen as a “morally responsible action,”especially during war time or to prevent family shame.

Hara-kiri was a social class privilege given only to samurai (warriors) in order to protect them from being killed by executioners;

Shinjuku is described as a form of suicide committed among intimate partners reserved for “commoners.”  In fact, “suicide literature” arose from kabuki plays authored by script writers such as Monzoemon Chikamatsu, as far back in history as 1703;

Boshi-shinjyu refers to mother-child suicide;

Ikka-shinjyu refers to the suicide of the entire family;

Demographic Information:

In Japan, males are twice as likely to choose suicide after a divorce as compared to females. However, within the age range of 15 through 34, female suicide has been the leading cause of death according to 2009 data.  Overall, statistics indicate that one person commits suicide every 15 minutes in Japan.  Comparatively speaking, suicide in the United Kingdom is less common – 9 people per 100,000 while figures in the United States were 11 per 100,000 (Wikipedia).

Current day motives for suicide in Japan reportedly are attributed to unemployment caused by massive economic recession in the 1990’s, depression and social pressures.  In 2007 their National Police Academy “revised the category of motives for suicide into 50 reasons,” assigning up to three reasons per suicide.   Suicides attributed to losing jobs increased by 65.3%; life hardships as a reason increased by 34.3% while depression increased 7.1% in one year.

One Sad Case Come Full Circle:

An account from www.wire.com  of a person doing internet research stated, “I got the idea to use hydrogen sulfide poisoning by reading of the tremendous success (for lack of a better word) that the Japanese people have had with it,” he wrote on Monday.

“It is their most common suicide method. I understand that the method smells, but I have found the stench of failure in my life as well.”  When other newsgroup followers pointed out the recklessness of his plan, he gave it up as too risky to innocent bystanders.  After exploring other techniques, the man announced on Wednesday that he decided he’d rather live.  “With months of research I have discovered that there is no ‘easy’ or ‘painless’ or ‘quick’ way to die, he wrote,  “So, from here on out I am gong to pick up the pieces of my life! Maybe you should too.”        [Ladyjustice – Amen!]

From Emergency Management & Continuity Planning:

You see a car in a deserted area of a parking lot and you happen to notice signs: “DANGER – DON’T OPEN THE DOOR – CALL 9 -1-1!!!”  

Signs of a chemical suicide include:

• Rotten-egg smell around the car.
• Any enclosed space that can contain gas.
• If the person looks dead in the car, has locked the doors, and if the windows are taped closed.
• A car that is not running and that is parked in the open – not in the garage – and printed signs taped to the inside of the car windows. These could be biohazard signs or notes warning emergency responders of toxic gases.

This is not a spontaneous suicide.  This method takes lots of planning and preparation to plan the act, secure the materials and then plot a course of action.

***Disclaimer- This blog is written for educational–informational purposes only. This writer bears no personal responsibility whatsoever for the content as reported by others nor its use by any reader currently or in the future.   DRG 

Real people, real tragedy, real help.

To see the future lineup and show times:  CLICK HERE

A new radio show and it’s host is always a mystery to listeners, so the first airing of SHATTERED LIVES on Saturday, February 4 will explore the host, Donna R. Gore, known as “LadyJustice.”

Donna will inform listeners about herself, her experiences, and what major obstacles she has had to overcome to be the “over-achiever” she is today!  The audience will learn about the lifelong disability she’s coped with valiently since birth, surviving over 55 surgeries and how it impacted her childhood and her family relationships.

Donna will then discuss the life-altering experience of losing her father to a brutal murder, a murder of circumstance, a tragedy resulting in $35 for the murderer’s trouble.  Waiting on the system for justice, it was six years before the case came to trial.  Trial by fire it was for the Gore family, and thus “LadyJustice”was born from the ashes.  Seeking a way to cope she threw herself into support groups, producing new mechanisms for coping for other families faced with the judicial system.

LadyJustice is a simple term for the activism which surrounds the attitude in everything she does! Learn from the information on SHATTERED LIVES and take it into your own family or community…it really does take a village to make positive change in our world.

SHATTERED LIVES is not like the other “crime” shows.  The show does not focus on the crime or the criminal, but features the aftermath and the care the surviving victims require. Invited guests will be from all areas of survivor assistance, and many will be surviving families, but they all have valuable information for the audience.

SHATTERED LIVES broadcasts live every Saturday at 5pm ET, but if you can’t make the live show you can always listen to the archives at the  link at your convenience.

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