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Searching for Shaniya
Yesterday, a 5-year-old girl disappeared in Fayetteville. Although an arrest was made in her kidnapping, the girl has not been found. Clues are scarce, but a community is involved in finding her. And while everyone searches for this precious little girl, there are many more who want to help.
That’s how our community reacts to tragedy. One such group is a search and rescue unit that is trained, equipped and experienced for this sort of work. I won’t name them because they haven’t been given the green light yet. But, having worked with this group, it’s refreshing to know that there is a resource out there that can step in at a moment’s notice and help law enforcement at no charge to them.
Whether they’re asked to join the search or not, I know Shaniya and her family are being served well. And, heaven forbid, should another child disappear, we can all feel good about the fact that we are surrounded with some of the best search and rescue
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Sex Offender Accused of Rape Shouldn't Have Been Walking the Streets
Make sure you read this story on ncwanted.com. If anything begs the question: What’s wrong with the system? This story does.
A convicted sex offender was arrested for abducting a woman, and then taking her to a construction site where she was raped at knifepoint. The suspect has an extensive criminal past -- 18 arrests in Wake County since 1993, including crimes against women and children.
One of his more recent crimes was a sex crime involving a 10-year old in January. He struck a plea deal: 36 months probation, and placement on the sex offender registry.
Authorities won’t say when the rape occurred at the construction site, but suffice to say, Donald Currin should never have been walking the streets. He’s being held on a million dollars secured bond. Let’s see if he stays behind bars this time.
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GERALD'S BLOG: Dealing with Evil
Where does the evil come from? I spent an hour Tuesday talking to and interviewing Sam Thompson…the father of 7-year old Somer Thompson. As you may know her body was found in a landfill, 50-miles from her home in Florida. What this girl did was decide not to walk home with her siblings after school. She got mad at one of the children, and being true to her nature, ran ahead of them for the remainder of her walk home.
This energetic young girl was never seen alive again.
During my interview with Sam, I felt a fatherly connection with him, as I have two kids of my own. At the time of the interview, she was still missing, and his hope was tempered with the thought that he may never see his daughter again. Everyone there was trying NOT to think about that. You didn’t allow your mind to even entertain the thought. It makes the reality of her death that much harder to take for everyone.
We give ourselves in the media a certain distance from the people
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Gerald's Blog: Old Law Needs Fresh Look
Here’s an issue that’s sparking plenty of debate. The state is preparing to release 20 longtime inmates at the end of the month because of a ruling on a 1974 law, which basically said life in prison meant 80 years. And with good behavior, they’re considered eligible for release.
The governor is now trying to challenge their release. After speaking with a local law professor, I’m under the belief that there’s nothing she can do. The law was written in the 70’s, and was applied correctly when these crimes occurred. Victims’ rights groups are also crying foul, and for good reason. Of the 20 inmates to be released, all are either rapists, murderers or both.
It is an interesting dilemma: follow the law, or do what’s right morally?
Unfortunately, the court system has no choice but to follow the law. Let’s see if there’s any wiggle room in that law that can keep these people behind bars. If anything else,
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Information Sharing is the Key to Solving Crimes
I had a conversation with someone the other day about unsolved crimes. They asked me, 'why there were so many?'
We talk with people all the time who are waiting for answers to a case that affects them, and we talk with law enforcement officers waiting for information to solve a case that affects these people. Both sides want a resolution, and in large part, that’s what NC Wanted is all about -- providing a vehicle for the public to offer tips so law enforcement can solve these cases.
The problem is: no matter what your interest in the case, we’re all in limbo until information is passed along. And, as we see in cases all the time, that can take a while.
If you have any information about crime in North Carolina, don't wait. Call us on our toll-free tip line and click on 'Report A Tip.' Your information could help a family who has been waiting for answers.
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