Monday, January 14, 2008

Marine Shame

We, in the office, have been following and discussing this case of the murdered/raped marine. We are pretty horrified over the fact of it. We are upset over what appears to be real problems with how this young woman's employers handled her case.

First, according the media --- since I don't have first hand knowledge and I do understand the limits of media reports --- she first reported the rape last April . . . but the Corps didn't reassign the two involved in the case to separate work areas until mid May. Then, after reporting the rape, the young woman seeks maternity treatment. Since the military keeps such a watchful eye over their people, you'd think this would have raised eyebrows.

Then, the woman felt compelled to move off base into civilian housing because of harassment she received from her colleagues. This sounds like she wasn't receiving the type of support and protection she needed and deserved and the military has the responsibility to provide. Then, finally, 8 months after reporting the rape, she is finally due to testify in a grand jury like hearing . . . and goes missing? And the military did nothing to verify her whereabouts? These people know what color you poop, and yet they didn't report her missing or check to make sure she'd not suffered a medical emergency?

When her family reported her missing to civilian authorities, it appears from the media reports, that not only was the corps not helpful, they intentionally sent law enforcement in the wrong direction. The media reports I've read say that the corps told local law enforcement that the man now being sought was "not a threat" to her and that they were "on friendly terms." If he wasn't a threat, why did the military have a protective order that they renewed 3 times (again, according to media reports) ordering him to not have contact with her? And, if they were on friendly terms, why was she going to testify that he raped her and was the father of her unborn child?

But the big question is . . . . how bright do you have to be to scratch your head and say "huh? I wonder if this is means something?" when the accuser and accused in a rape case both go missing the day before an important hearing? I know I've had my complaints about local law enforcement . . . but I'm reasonably confident that even in my little town, local authorities would find it worth looking into.

I think the corps failed this young woman . . . a woman who was able to endure the rigorous training of the marines . . . and who was willing to die for her country. I think the marines owed her more than what she got. And, the cynic in me who is so willing to believe the worst in people wonders if the man in question isn't hidden on another base, in marine custody, right now.

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