Both Kaitlyn and Danielle think what's most important is that viewers of Unbelievable learn to accept that not all survivors are the same and that we must take their accounts seriously. Unbelievable is the story of a girl known as Marie who, in 2008, was victim-blamed and coerced into falsifying her own rape story. I was, for lack of a better word, enslaved to something Ive detested my entire life, he after his arrest in 2011. Over the course of his career, Mr. Blynn has conducted a wide variety of investigations to include surveillance operations, fugitive investigations, bank robbery investigations, kidnapping investigations, white collar crime cases, and wire fraud investigations. At one of the crime scenes, detectives found some touch DNA. Coloma, MI In the original story, authors Miller and Armstrong chose to leave out much of this information about OLeary, instead concentrating on his victims. "Bullying" and "hounding" are two words his report used to describe the male detectives who questioned Marie and it goes on to label them further as "coercive, cruel, and unbelievably unprofessional". If Camus The Stranger was about the nakedness of man when faced with the absurd, this is how it might be told as a true crime story in 2018. Grand Rapids, MI In 2008, an 18-year-old named Marie reported that shed been raped. He worked for a police department 15 miles northeast of Galbraiths. According to her, Mason apologised, saying he was "deeply sorry", but unlike the show, Rittgarn was nowhere to be seen. Sgt. These investigators have conducted and led complex investigations throughout the State of Michigan, across the United States, and around the globe. Mr. Alexander has been involved in numerous FBI investigations to include white collar crimes, violent crimes, crimes against children and the elderly, crimes against corporations, and crimes against federal/local governments. These investigators have conducted and led complex investigations throughout the State of Michigan, across the United States, and around the globe. In the final episode of Unbelievable, we learn that the incredible police work conducted by Detective Stacy Galbraith ('Karen Duvall' in Unbelievable, played by Merritt Wever) and Detective Edna Hendershot (AKA 'Grace Rasmussen', played by Toni Collette) resulted in an arrest. royjohnson@thebureaugroup.com. The Snohomish County sergeant who conducted the internal review concluded: The manner in which she was treated by Sgt. Join to connect Applicants must submit the white paper at least 30 days before the exam. Neither he or Manson were ever investigated for the way they mishandled Maries case. If you or someone you know needs help or has been affected by sexual assault, call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. We all got into this job to help people, not to hurt them.". What I cannot escape is the cruelty built into our criminal justice system when the powerful arbitrarily decide they dont want to believe someone. They were looking for more cases where their assailant could have been the same. There is a bad guy. Kayla Keegan leads Good Housekeepings editorial growth strategies in the partnership, news, social, branded, membership and newsletter spaces. anthonyaubermann@thebureaugroup.com. If youve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. What happens next is of monumental importance, and I hope the right people take the right lessons from this book. Jeffrey Mason and Jerry Rittgarn. Jeffrey Mason questioned whether he was qualified to do his job after more than 20 years as a cop when he learned hed helped prosecute a vulnerable rape victim. Mason moved to his post working on narcotics cases. Mr. Crumb investigated or oversaw numerous investigations concerning complex financial crimes and fraudulent activities. Lynnwood added training on the effect of trauma, which can cause rape victims memories to fragment, and adopted well-respected guidelines, which train police officers not to doubt a victim because he or she doesnt behave as expected and crucially not to accuse one of lying without definite proof. Its not until three years and many more rape victims later, that Maries original claims are investigated and her attacker is brought to justice by a couple of amazing female detectives. People cope differently, react differently," Kaitlyn says. ronaldneil@thebureaugroup.com. When Cunningham received a call from a crying Marie, she recounted that it sounded like a lot of drama.. Those are twin narratives that run through the piece and how theyre told individually is captivating. Ph: 616-502-2532 Johnson has over 30 years of experience in Federal and State law enforcement as a senior investigator and also as a manager. For me, its the case even the most craven apologists for unrestrained police power cant explain away. Edna Hendershot (Grace Rasmussen in the show), had investigated more than 100 rapes by 2011. A learners permit was placed on her chest. Both former foster moms apologized for mistrusting her. It was Marie. Marie conceded and later told her case managers that she, in fact, had not been raped. In the story, its Pruitt who initially accuses Marie of lying about her rape to get attention, which stays true to the actual story. What made the story so memorable was not the methodical brutality of Marc OLearys attacks but the way his first victim, an 18-year-old named Marie, was treated by local police when she reported the assault. If this hadnt been documented in their reports, I would have been skeptical that this actually happened. The Most Iconic Celebrity Best Friendships, The Most Iconic Old Hollywood Engagement Rings, The Most Iconic Oscar Dresses of All Time, Christie Brinkley Honors 69th Birthday in New IG. It was an incredible, serendipitous moment both in the series and in real life and it is that conversation that sets the entire story in motion, eventually leading to Maries vindication and the capturing of a serial rapist. It was just like, freedom.. This is an incredibly timely and important story because it hit at the same time the broader culture is talking about these exact issues. Like what you just read? An external reviewer said that if the two police officers who interrogated Marie hadnt documented their own bullying and coercive behavior, he would have been skeptical that such conduct actually happened. This eight-part limited series is based on true and horrific events that happened to real people and the creators of this show kept that at the forefront of their minds throughout the entire process. The Bureau Group is the premier private investigative firm in West Michigan. Anyone can read what you share. Detective Jerry Rittgarn, who declined to be interviewed for the original news story, said hed talk for the book only under monetary compensation contract a quid pro quo the authors rejected. They also found one of Maries kitchen knives next to the bed and her learners permitoddly removed from her walleton the bedroom windowsill. Jeffrey Mason (who was the lead investigator) and Jerry Rittgarn. Claiming police coerced her into recanting her story, the woman . In real life, the detectives' names are Stacy Galbraith and Edna Hendershot, but again, thats pretty much the only thing that was changed in this story. He also said that he had to correct an error in the piece about fifteen minutes before it was to air for the first time on WBEZ in Chicago. Rape Crisis Scotlands helpline number is 08088 01 03 02. One of the valiant detectives in Colorado (this is a book that turns law enforcement characters into heroes) explains that her rule isnt simply believe your victim; its listen and verify, which gives her space to refute or corroborate the account, depending on where the evidence takes her. Amber, who is an anonymous rape survivor in the original account, had Detective Stacy Galbraith (Karen Duvall in the series) on her case after reporting that she had been assaulted repeatedly in Golden, Colorado. He has been assigned to the protective details of both the US Attorney General and FBI Director and he has twice been assigned to provide firearms instruction at FBI Headquarters. It broke me, she said of the doubt she was raped and its repercussions. Marie went on to say that "[Mason] was rubbing his head and literally looked like he was ashamed about what they had done". Ken Armstrong said that he and Miller interviewed everyone still working with the Lynnwood PD, and that they were all very concerned with how they failed Marie and wanted to ensure it doesnt happen to anyone else again. In the case of A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America, the answer, for crime aficionados, is yes. "We're just telling the story, and we are giving the facts," Kaitlyn says. In the early morning hours of this victims attack, a white Mazda pickup truck is spotted ten times in the lot, raising suspicions. That was pulled from real life too. Claudia Rowe is a Seattle Times staff reporter and author of The Spider and the Fly, a memoir. When the woman reported the attack to Lynnwood police, she says detectives Jerry Rittgarn and Sgt. Review: Bruce Springsteen reminds Seattle no one works a room like the Boss, ZooTunes reveals a stellar concert lineup for summer 2023, Are you too fat for Universals new Mario Kart ride? Submit the fee and application no . An unexpected strength of the book is the chance it affords Jeffrey Mason, one of the original detectives who doubted Marie, to look back on his mistakes. They found her manner suspiciously unemotional, and detected slight inconsistencies in her story. " An 18-year-old said she was attacked at knifepoint. We have one just like that, he said, perturbed. It sounds clich, I guess, but its really kind of an actual Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in real life, OLeary said at his own trial. Ph: 772-913-5280 I'm torn all over again," another said. The failures of the Lynnwood Police Department, massive and unforgivable as they are, is not the sole focus of this article, though. Additionally, DNA samples obtained from three of the linked crimes pinpointed a paternal family line to question. Marc OLeary was the man who, after many years of getting away with it, was eventually caught and taken into custody in February of 2011. He is a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. Miller and Armstrong point out a pattern in Lynnwood. Hastings, MI The Bureau Group is the premier private investigative firm in West Michigan. Our experience speaks for itself. His investigative experience includes major crimes, fraud, larceny, internal investigations, and vehicle identification. Most of what we see in Netflix's adaptation is true to what happened in real life, and you can read more about that right here. Two years after her attack, Lynwood police found Marie and informed her of OLearys arrest. You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat. The eight episode series, tells us about a girl named Marie, who is horrifically raped, but after police coercion and neglect, she recants her story. Submit a white paper on any investigative topic. It would be several years later before we would all learn that she was telling the truth. Ph: 616-240-1937 Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673. The other, Detective Jerry Rittgarn, left the department of his own accord. Clearly, neither one of these detectives was qualified to deal with sexual-assault crimes in the way that Galbraith and Hendershot were. What's more, Stacy's partner on the greater sexual-assault investigation, Sgt. The Police Departments in the three places in Colorado (Aurora, Golden and Westminster) pooled their clues and figured out they were probably looking for the same attacker. Ph: 269-271-0440 While in Afghanistan, Mr. Heffron worked directly with US and NATO special forces military units and intelligence agencies. He also received an award from the Chicago Police Department for his work on a high-profile triple homicide case. He also served as a Supervisory Special Agent at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C. in the Intellectual Property Rights Section. The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast. Thats the larger lesson of a nonfiction narrative like this one: It continues, beyond a books pages. Eventually, it was revealed that Jeffrey and Jerry's interactions with Marie included "bullying" and "hounding," and were nothing short of the victim being coerced into admitting that she lied about the rape.. Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Jerry Rittgarn was born on 05/01/1947 and is 75 years old. By contrast, Jeffrey had only taken on two rape cases before Marie's, while Jerry worked as a technician in the aerospace industry before becoming a detective. stevencrumb@thebureaugroup.com. It is painful to read, and difficult to understand how this type of behavior on the part of experienced police officers can happen in a professional police department. DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK. Mr. Vander Vliet is a graduate of Calvin College and the University of Wisconsin Law School. Anthony Tony Aubermann is a retired FBI Special Agent with over 30 years of service to the FBI. McQuerys began when she took Marie to buy new beddingthe old had been taken as evidence, per the reportand Marie insisted on purchasing the same set she had before. Ron Neil founded Lair Investigations, LLC, in 1998 after serving 26 years with the Michigan Department of State Police (MSP). Mr. Alexander is an FBI-certified Hostage Negotiator, who has successfully negotiated several grave situations. This story was reported by ProPublicas T. Christian Miller and the Marshall Projects Ken Armstrong, and their reporting was expanded into a book that came out this week called A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America. Shes also worked as a social editor for House Beautiful and had previous writing stints at Redbook,CosmopolitanandSeventeen. He's declined to speak with any outlets and told Miller and Armstrong he'd only discuss the case if they paid him towhile maintaining his non-factual beliefs about "victims who lie" and a "biased story." In an effort to close and lock the lid on the event forever, she accepted. If you or someone you know needs help or has been affected by sexual assault, call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. 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