To the editor: Over the decades, my readers will agree that I write my opinion. This letter will be no exception. Read carefully. Many years ago in Mississippi, a young lady was murdered in my hometown. A local reporter seized upon the story and ran it continually in our paper for days.
Personal photos, crime scene images, family information it did not matter. No suggestion was too ludicrous or no picture too graphic. After enduring it for several days, I wrote this reporter through his newspaper. I asked two questions. Do you feel that you are helping to solve this crime? and Do you understand the pain that you may be causing the victim’s family and friends?
In a show of character, the editor ran my letter. Shortly thereafter, the extensive coverage ceased and the murder was shortly solved. Now for the reason for this letter. Several weeks ago a woman was murdered in Habersham County. The Northeast Georgian has run coverage on multiple days on multiple pages. This saturating coverage included many pictures and stories. I found it eerily similar to my earlier experience in Mississippi. I would have the same questions today that I posed decades ago.
Also I had trouble defining the connection between singed leaves in the trees and the flower pot containing birdshot holes. In closing, I would note that I consider any investigator who is unable to keep up with his gloves at a crime scene to be incompetent.
Bobby Clardy
Toccoa