Monday, May 15, 2006

Judgment Call

I wouldn't want to be in law enforcement for anything - really - even though I have toyed with the idea. You'd have to have a very strong sense of justice and of people.
Take the disappearance of 6-year-old Aarone Thompson, who was reported missing on 14 November. Her father Aaron told police that she became upset and left the house when he refused to let her have a cookie. Three days later, police halted their search and said they believed Aarone may have been dead as long as 18 months. They said they received a tip but have not released any specifics.
The cases was due to go before a Grand Jury within the next few days but this may now be delayed because Shely Lowe, the woman sharing the house with Aaron at the time has died of an apparent heart attack.
The police evidence about Aarone's "non-disappearance" has not been released but Thompson's defenders critized the investigation for focusing on the couple rather than the missing girl. In turn, the police have called Aaron Thompson's account a fabrication and the couple's behavior "morally reprehensible."
Sam Riddle, a family friend, blamed the investigation for Lowe's death, saying she cried from severe stress at times. "I am firmly convinced the Aurora police and the state of Colorado hounded Shely Lowe to death," Riddle said.
And that's where the ability to "get it right" comes to play. Hopefully the Police are right about their concerns and Thompson (and Lowe) has a case to answer. It would be doubly tragic to think Ms Lowe's death may have been triggered for no good reason - and that Aarone's disappearance should have been pursued in a more rigorous manner.
As well as delaying the trail, the Grand Jurors may also decide to delay questioning of Lowe's children who lived with her and Thompson. (It is unclear if it was the Lowe children who were the "seven childrern removed from the house" following reports of Aarone's disappearance.)

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