Delayed Justice

Far more than an arrest is needed to put a case to rest.  But such an event–an arrest–is a culmination of tremendous effort and marks the point of transfer from police work (with the help of prosecutors) to the work of prosecutors (with the help of police).  In this most recent week we have learned of the arrest of Russell Vane on five counts of criminal sexual conduct against young women and children.  But the news indicates that his arrest may have a link to two unsolved homicides: that of Kathryn Darling in 1976 and of Diane Holloway in 1979.

Here are two links to excellent stories from The Grand Rapids Press:

Kent Cold Case team arrests former Grand Rapids man Russell Allen Vane, charged with sexual assaults in late ’70s, early ’80s

Brother of 1976 slaying victim on Cold Case team’s arrest of Russell Vane: ‘What a relief’

The agency that brought all this together is the Kent County Metro Cold Case Team.  The members of this team are deserving of thanks and recognition.  And this latest case–one in a long and distinguished series–serves as a reminder that these cases, though old, can be solved.  This is the hope that’s extended every time one case is solved: the others may be as well.  It can happen and it can happen more and more if we as a society are of a like mind.  It takes people to be willing to stand up and tell what they know, perhaps to put themselves at risk of discomfort or public censure, but to do the right thing for the cause of justice.  

And then there must be a dispassionate carrying out of justice, a slow and methodical process.

So, for now we see the arrest of a man charged with criminal sexual conduct.  He’s innocent until proven guilty.  But we think there may be more charges coming.  So we wait for what’s next to play out.  And we wait in expectation that justice will be served again, and again, and again. Let it be so.

Oh, yes, the presentations at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum went well enough and for that I’m grateful.  At the top of their list of curiosities, audience members wanted to learn more about the murder of Janet Chandler.  They were in disbelief that so many people had been involved, that the rest of the story had not reached their ears.  A few wanted The Others, particularly those who had been identified as having been seen raping Janet, brought to court.  I contend that there are reasons they haven’t been but  that such a discussion should be held in the public arena.  I also reiterated that the prosecution had done a tremendous job in the case and that I wanted to take nothing away from that work.  The  Attorney General’s office and the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s office went for six murderers fully prepared to have to go to trial with each and every one.  Two pled, but all six are now in prison, four for life.  …So, take nothing away from that work.

And we talked of other cases and other work.  In all, the sessions served a function for me: review.  One of the members of the Thursday night audience took a look at the DelayedJustice.com site and recognized exactly the hours that had been invested (he’s been associated with this kind of media work).  Yes, hours, days, months, years.  And worth it in the hope that there may be some benefit to the solving of as-yet unsolved murders.

This seems, though, to be a still point.  There are cases on the horizon, but it ‘s nothing to write about just now.  So if  am more infrequent in my postings, please consider that there are times and seasons.  This season seems to be to watch and wait.  And work.  Oh, yes, and prayer.

There are times–lots of them–when I try to figure out just which way I’m heading.  When I was teaching I often told students that I didn’t really know what I thought about things until I started writing about it or speaking about them.  And then it’s a little bit like trying on a coat or a cloak for a good fit: now that I written or said it, does it fit me…is it suitable.  In such a way I sometimes discover that what I said I believed wasn’t really so, and I’d have to amend my course.  Oh, I have no doubt that I believe murder is wrong and that all efforts to prevent such and to solve same need to be pursued, and that with the full force of law.  But there have been days in the past couple of months when I’ve tried to assess my role as a layman in all of this.  Story teller?  Of what? To what degree?  With what result?  Or does any of that matter?  Perhaps, with T.S. Eliot “For us there is only the trying.  The rest is not our business.”

So, when I was approached by Nancy Buchanan of the Tri-Cities Historical Museum in Grand Haven I pondered a bit.  I am a little hesitant to go about speaking lest someone assume I actually know more than I do.  The worst person who could think that would be me, and I am susceptible to flattery of my own making.  So, initially, I said “No.”  And then I thought a little more and realized such a position was counterproductive, uncharitable, and generally churlish.  So, I quickly apologized and accepted her invitation.  I will be speaking on Monday, April 11 at 11:30 (for a brown-bag luncheon discussion) and again Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in the basement of the museum.  See this from the Muskegon Chronicle concerning the event.

YOU are invited and there is no charge.  I promise to be well behaved.  And it’s my hope that the internet connection will be fast enough that we can play out some parts of the films by way of explanation ad illustration of what we’re doing here.  I’m not really sure, but I think we’re toward the forefront of using the technology of the day to do a new thing…or an old thing (story telling) in a new way: non nova, sed nove.

So, with the realization that you don’t light a candle and put it under a bushel basket, I’ll make the foray into public and try to tell what’s in my heart and head.  In the process I’m looking for direction.  It’s my hope that I’ll listen to what I’m saying and weigh it.  And it’s also my hope that those with whom I will be sharing the experience will come with their own ideas of what would be good to do.

Let’s see what happens.