A blog I haven't used in 2 years seems to be gaining traction again (presumably thanks to the Anti Karen Read crowd) so what I'm hearing is that you, XTwitterverse, may want to hear from me.
Let me tell you a moderately long-winded story about how I came to engage with the elephant in the room - the utter circus of the investigation into the death of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe.
I know there's been some controversy around the Crime Junkie podcast, but it's one that actually changed my life. I'd never listened to a single podcast before 2018, when my friend Miranda recommended it. I listened from the first episode up to the, I don't know, the 40th or something. Host Ashley Flowers said, "If you haven't listened to the Serial podcast yet, turn this off. Run over there, listen, and come back."
And so I did.
For the next several years I deep dove into the case against Adnan Syed and tried, with other internet sleuths, to figure out who killed Hae Min Lee in 1999. This went so far beyond listening to Serial - I interacted tangentially with podcasters like Colin Miller, Rabia Chaudry, and Bob Ruff. I did research. A theory I hung on to for a long time was not one that was popular with folks on either side of the courthouse. In my opinion, there was a strong case to be made that her uncle did it. That said, I'm sure it was more than likely her boyfriend Don, or the streaker, Alonzo Sellers (who "found" Hae's body in a sketchy Baltimore Park.) Still, it was hard for me to decipher who was the more likely culprit. All we knew was that the state's story had made ZERO sense, and Adnan was innocent. But because the investigation was faulty and corrupt, it would be hard to prove who did, in fact, kill her. (Sound familiar?)
Thankfully, Adnan is a free man today - not because his conviction was overturned (though, oddly, it was actually overturned... but that's a story for another day.) No, he was released pursuant to the Juvenile Restoration Act, a state law that bans life without parole for minors and sentence reduction after serving 20 years in prison.
So, Adnan's "free," but the state doesn't have to admit to any wrongdoing, doesn't have to pay him a dime, and still gets to consider the murder of Hae Min Lee "solved."
(Kinda like Norfolk County - though they just act that way without a conviction. For now.)
But I digress.
So, I became a small part of the True Crime Community, listening to several weekly podcasts. I joined those types of Facebook Groups. I hadn't been involved in an online community since the message boards for the TV show LOST.
But I'd stopped listening to Crime Junkie for *insert some reason here. I'd read about the Karen Read charges, maybe from those True Crime Facebook Groups, maybe from mainstream news outlets, maybe both. I don't remember. I'd also been reading about Sandra Birchmore, but I didn't have much context as to how much overlap there was.
And then I just happened to stumble upon the April 26, 2024 episode of Crime Junkie, with Delia D Ambra as a special guest or something.
And I thought, let me check this out. Because just from the little bits I knew, I could already picture it. Maybe I'm an empath. Maybe it's because I'm a writer. But I could see - in my mind's eye - myself in Karen's shoes (or boots, I guess) walking out to my garage to head out and search. I wondered why she'd go out looking that soon. I could envision all the people at the bar - I pictured a high-top table against a wall, with the head of the table at the window. I could imagine them drinking there and talking. I pictured Karen's SUV in the driveway, her backing out of it, with John at the rear. Why would he be at the rear? Did she leave and come back to get him? I could see the cops inside the house, pictured some fight happening - maybe that someone had even kicked him out, and that's how he ended up on the cold hard ground.
There was SO much I didn't know then.
And then Ashley Flowers mentioned solo cups. And dog bites. And butt dials. And the gift Julie Albert wanted to buy for the lead investigator.
And I was in. I had to know more. I'd never watched a trial online. I didn't really use Tik Tok much, but I ended up there, watching recaps of the trial testimony that had already taken place with content creator "I'm Not a Lawyer But," (who I haven't kept up with, but that's no fault of her own.)
I dove in. I discovered Law & Crime, and 2x speed. I went to the beginning. I caught up. And then somehow (I think via Facebook) I was turned on to Emily D. Baker. I didn't even get to know Melanie Little or anyone else until Season 2.
Like with Hae Min Lee, I made up my mind as to what didn't happen.
But now, it's so similar to Adnan - can we ever truly know what DID?
To borrow a phrase from Crime Junkie, it gives me Full Body Chills to think about the lives that the McAlberts and Proctor et al would be living right now if Karen have given up and taken a plea.
Because you KNOW that's why they added Murder 2. They thought they could get her to plead.
In closing, I only use Twitter/X in fits and spurts. Lately, I've been more active because let's face it - it's fun. I truly do care that the darkness in Canton comes to light, and that the NCDAO and the MSP pay for what they've done to Karen and Aidan. And while I fervently want justice for John O'Keefe - a lot of the twitter stuff is just entertaining. It just is. (Shout out to Trooper Paul.) (Also I mean I can't deal with like Jess Machado shit, but I'm talking about the Fourskins and stuff. You know?)
There's nothing wrong with enjoying it as we link arms and fight for what is right.
There's a genuine bonding aspect. Parasocial relationships. Emotional engagement. We find things to fill our holes. We watch and we listen because we can't imagine that something like this could happen to someone just like us. We connect with one another. We wade through the drama. And, if you're like me: we walk away, and we come back.
But now I'm just a girl/ standing in front of the McAlberts/ asking them to admit what they've done.
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