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. Mr. Vander Vliet is an FBI-certified Technical Agent. We do know that Marie is her middle name. They would have done their job., .css-el2e3v{background-color:#44C1C5;border-radius:0;color:#000;display:inline-block;font-family:AvantGarde,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:0.75rem;font-weight:700;line-height:1;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-transform:uppercase;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;-webkit-transition:background 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:background 0.3s ease-in-out;width:auto;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-el2e3v{padding:0.625rem 1.25rem 0.75rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-el2e3v{padding:0.8125rem 1.25rem 0.75rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-el2e3v{padding:0.8125rem 1.25rem 0.75rem;}}.css-el2e3v:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}.css-el2e3v:hover{color:#fff;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:#088092;}STREAM 'UNBELIEVABLE' ON NETFLIX. Holland, MI ronaldneil@thebureaugroup.com. RELATED:Toni Collette: 10 Best Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes. Though stranger rape isnt the norm for sexual assault, or the focus of the sexual misconduct fueling the #MeToo moment in which this book appears, it offers broadly relevant lessons. The in-depth piece considers every disturbing detail, most of which were studied and implemented (many times word for word) into the storys TV rendition. In the report, Marie says that Mason looked "like a lost little puppy", much like the actor who played him did during that same scene in the Unbelievable show. In the case of A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America, the answer, for crime aficionados, is yes. Ken Armstrong said early in his talk that there had been some physical evidence that would corroborate Marie, but when presented with some doubt by people close to the victim, the police changed strategy and bullied Marie into confessing to inventing the crime. Unbelievable is one of the most emotional and harrowing shows Netflix has ever put out. Hiring a private investigator can help in all kinds of situations ranging from finding a birth parent to improving personal security. "It is showing Amber's detectives were educated about survivors, they understand these cases, and Marie's detectives never really had cases like this before, and they didn't know.". gerardalexander@thebureaugroup.com. We believe in compensating all of our contributors (even though it is probably modest, compared to larger websites and magazines). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673. RELATED: 10 Best Netflix Original Scary Movies (According To IMDb). Since September of 2010, he continues to be a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. It follows the true story of an 18-year-old woman named Marie, who in 2008, filed a report claiming she was gagged, bound, and raped. Back when the report was published in 2015, Rider described Marie's case as a "major failing" for his department: "Knowing that she went through that brutal attack and then we told her she lied? Jerry Rittgarn in Washington. During his career with the MSP, he held the ranks of Trooper Investigator, Detective Sergeant, and First Lieutenant. Galbraiths real husband was indeed a police officer in another county and made the connection between the rape case his wife was investigating and another a detective at his station was handling. Ken Colby spent over 41 years in federal and state law enforcement as an Investigator. Then she said she made it up. According to the ProPublica report, Marie spent most of the night on the phone with her friend Jordan before finally dozing off. He is a member of the state and federal bars of Wisconsin, and he is a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. Two years after her attack, Lynwood police found Marie and informed her of OLearys arrest. Marie is a testament to the harm of poor police work that derails a rape investigation. We all got into this job to help people, not to hurt them.". These contested stories divide our sympathies and spur angry debates. Crying, said she was pretty positive the rape occurred, and that wasnt affirmative enough for the cops. The Bureau Group is the premier private investigative firm in West Michigan. He also has provided training in identifying fingerprints and crime scene processing. Jerry L Rittgarn Jr, age 50s, lives in San Diego, CA. Ph: 269-208-5217 Jeffrey Manson, who had zero experience with this kind of crime, only previously working in patrol and narcotics. 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." Read the story here. 1000 Paseo Camarillo Ste 206, Camarillo, CA 93010. A forty-six-year-old woman wasattacked in her home by a man wearing a black mask and wielding a knife. Mr. Crumb is a Certified Fraud Examiner. He worked for a police department 15 miles northeast of Galbraiths. He told her that if she failed, she could be jailed, and her housing assistance pulled. Thats the larger lesson of a nonfiction narrative like this one: It continues, beyond a books pages. In addition, Mr. Crumb worked with Amways Special Events in coordinating and managing security for global events involving the companys 3 million-plus distributors. He is a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. Kayla Blanton is a freelance writer who reports on all things health and nutrition for Mens Health, Womens Health, and Prevention. As a result of this, sex crimes supervisor Sgt Gregg Rinta found that what happened was "nothing short of the victim being coerced into admitting that she lied about the rape". As soon as they arrive, an investigation begins. Others were less willing to engage publicly in such self-reflection. " An 18-year-old said she was attacked at knifepoint. This content is imported from youTube. (Marie, meanwhile, received a $150,000 settlement from the city of Lynnwood and $500 to reimburse her court costs.). I think it came across beautifully because Armstrong laid out his case in a very matter-of-fact sense and let the facts speak for themselves. 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. Crying, said she was "pretty positive" the rape occurred, and that wasn't affirmative enough for the cops. The parallel tales allow Miller and Armstrong to juxtapose the damage of a botched rape investigation and the triumph of careful and skilled police work. Kayla Keegan leads Good Housekeepings editorial growth strategies in the partnership, news, social, branded, membership and newsletter spaces. They also found one of Maries kitchen knives next to the bed and her learners permitoddly removed from her walleton the bedroom windowsill. Find Jerry Rittgarn's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. They kept to the truth often but changed a few things for it. 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. The failures of the Lynnwood Police Department, massive and unforgivable as they are, is not the sole focus of this article, though. In an effort to close and lock the lid on the event forever, she accepted. I'm torn all over again . His name is Marc OLeary. The entire investigation and Maries perspective were published in An Unbelievable Story of Rape, a Pulitzer prize-winning report from ProPublica and The Marshall Project. The Bureau Group is an alliance of retired FBI Special Agents and retired command officers from the Michigan State Police and West Michigan County Sheriffs Offices. Those cases often involved extreme violent crimes, or unusual and unsolved matters that relied on criminal profiles and assessments, which then provided assistance to law enforcement in their respective jurisdictions. One of the two officers who blew Maries case comes across as a secondary villain. They moved from looking exclusively at unsolved rape cases to looking at home invasions as well, and they found an interesting case. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Western Michigan University. In its moral clarity, its possible to find Miller and Armstrongs project comforting. That is, unfortunately by design, with Thomas Jefferson writing to James Madison in 1786, that he thought rape shouldnt be punished as severe as other crimes on account of the temptation women would be under to make it the instrument of vengeance against an inconstant lover, and of disappointment to a rival. Yikes. Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning story in Pro Publica, this memorable book examines the case of a serial rapist and his first victim, who initially wasnt believed. The other, Detective Jerry Rittgarn, left the department of his own accord. Another thing Armstrong talked about is the implicit bias against victims of sexual assault built into the criminal justice system. Why would you want to have the same sheets and bedspread to look at every day when youd been raped on this bed set? she asked, per ProPublica. Ph: 269-271-0440 The paper must be at least 1,000 words. If this hadnt been documented in their reports, I would have been skeptical that this actually happened. williambylnn@thebureaugroup.com. Mr. Johnsons key skills lie in leading investigations of sophisticated organizations, uncovering facts through interview or interrogations and analyzing facts to lead to the resolution of the investigation. What's most unbelievable of all is how the real-life male detectives who initially worked on Marie's case could treat her so badly when they should have been the ones helping her. EEAAO star gives tearful speech after historic win, The best Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom deals, What Bundy Tapes criticism says about true crime, What Murdaugh Murders: Southern Scandal misses out, What Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker leaves out, What Stonehouse skips about the runaway politician, What Dahmer leaves out about Christopher Scarver. Anthony Tony Aubermann is a retired FBI Special Agent with over 30 years of service to the FBI. Thats five times the national average. She also "listened to the woman with a sense of alarm.". 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. That included Maries, whose story is the central focus of the series due to the incredible lack of concern shown by police when she first reports her rape. They used this DNA sample to circle in on a suspect, who was originally not Marc OLeary, but his brother, Michael. Since I read it over two years ago, the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning story An Unbelievable Story of Rape has never been far from my mind. It was a complete failure for the Lynnwood PD and something that is absolutely impossible to defend or excuse. This unique agency reported to both the Secretary of Defense and Department of State, conducting oversight reviews and investigations which were related to the combined U.S. efforts in Iraq and the Middle East. Jerry Rittgarn Detective at Lynnwood PD Lynnwood, Washington, United States 3 connections. He is a certified police instructor who has taught nationally and who has authored training manuals. Edna Hendershot (Grace Rasmussen in the show), had investigated more than 100 rapes by 2011. Here are eight important details you should know about the true story that inspired Unbelievable. He is a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. Marie herself also found some peace of sorts as she ventured off to start a new life with $150,000 awarded to her by the state after settling a lawsuit out of court. I'm torn all over again," another said. Two years ago, This American Life ran an episode (narrated by Armstrong and the producer Robyn Semien) that can serve as a nice companion to the book by giving us Maries voice on tape. The co-author of A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle (206-624-6600 or elliottbaybook.com). 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. That was pulled from real life too. Dont miss a thing by downloading Apple News here and liking Prevention. He was also chosen for a third rotation to assist in the creation of the FBIs overseas personnel recovery plan due to his extensive knowledge of the Afghanistan theater of operations. A black-masked man jolted awake a 59-year-old woman, tied her up, and took pictures of her. Hendershot told her about a 2010 Westminster rape case that was eerily similar to Galbratihs in Golden. Shortly after Marie is raped, she calls the police. Ron Neil founded Lair Investigations, LLC, in 1998 after serving 26 years with the Michigan Department of State Police (MSP). Kalamazoo, MI Ph: 269-271-0440 . In the story, its Pruitt who initially accuses Marie of lying about her rape to get attention, which stays true to the actual story. Let's Look at Gaga's Style Evolution, Shall We? You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat. 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. There was some levity that Armstrong brought to Elliott Bay Book Company by way of talking about reporting the story for NPRs This American Life. I found it delightful to hear that Ira Glass is prone to four-letter words. Theres a scene in the show where Merritt Weavers character, Duvall, comes home to her police officer husband and they begin recounting their days. What the show doesn't explore is what happened to Detectives Pruitt and Parker after Marie's case was finally resolved. The detectives obtain a warrant and go to the OLeary residence, where they find Marc OLeary and when Duvall lifts his pant leg, she discovers the birthmark, right where the victim said it would be. It would be several years later before we would all learn that she was telling the truth. Her retraction came after detectives Sgt. Mr. Alexander is also an FBI-certified Police Instructor and he is currently an instructor at a West Michigan Police Academy. As a result, Marie was charged with a gross demeanor and had to pay $500 for court costs. That plus some idea about the duality of man, which he got from reading Carl Jung, are about as deep as it gets. Peggy knew Marie to have a flair for drama, and she started to nurse doubt about whether her attention-getting tale was true. Jeffrey Mason, a detective on the case, the day after the assault occurred to report that Marie had a past history of trying to get attention and she was unsure whether or not the attack actually took place. She called its authorities the next morning, and was immediately paired with Westminster Detective Edna Hendershot (portrayed as character Grace Rasmussen in Unbelievable, played by Toni Collette). Mr. Colby has served as a Special Deputy United States Marshal, the Chief of Police for Kalamazoo Valley Community College, a Major for the Kalamazoo Public Safety Department, and as a Captain in the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office. Wesshe Montegumry. Mason moved to his post working on narcotics cases. Jerry Rittgarn threatened to book Marie into jail and recommend that she lose her housing. This was all because Marie didnt follow the correct pattern of how law enforcement (and civilians) believed people should respond to trauma, or have the stable childhood people who prosecute sex crimes would prefer she have. "I'm watching #Unbelievable and the differences of approach in questioning rape victims by male and female cops is incredibly alarming. royjohnson@thebureaugroup.com. He is a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. It is also about how the dogged police work in Colorado led to the capturing of a serial rapist, Marc OLeary. The dots were connecting themselves, and amidst their search for more, they uncovered another victim who had escaped a similar attack around the same time. , age 50s, lives in San Diego, CA 93010 United States 3 connections investigation begins Rotten Tomatoes West! For themselves ( According to the harm of poor police work that derails a rape.... 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