Since 1999 we've been following the case of a young girl named Erika Baker who went missing from my hometown. The case eventually made national news,reaching the LA TV stations that we get through DISH West Coast feed. We stay in touch with former co-workers at the local police department, read the local newspaper online and of course, get information from my mom who still lives there.
Yesterday one of the presumed participants of the case was convicted. The story is a long one, involving an attorney who is still facing charges for obstructing justice for refusing to release information given to her by a now-deceased participant in the alleged hit-and-run-homicide, retracted confessions and confusing testimony. The saddest part is that little Erika's body has never been found and may never be due to conflicting statements by those involved.
When Erika was first reported missing hundreds of people from the community showed up to volunteer for search parties, to hand out flyers and to man the phones at the call center set up to take tips. The Kettering Police Department spent hundreds and hundreds of manhours investigating the case and many officers became personally involved with the case which is still not over simply due to the fact that Erika's body has not been recovered. I have to admit, I am very proud of my hometown and the people who live and work there.
It's tragic that this scenario is repeated over and over in cities all over the country. While improving technology and new laws have helped, such as with Amber Alerts, you simply have to watch the local news to hear of another child lost. And you wonder how a country chock-full of people who can be so wonderful can have so many monsters.
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