Teen is Suspect in Craigslist Killing
This story is troubling:
Sadly, the victim sensed that something was wrong with a woman named "Amy" who asked her to babysit but she didn't rely on her built-in intuition:
If you talk to a stranger on the phone about setting up a job or other business exchange etc., it is always best to meet them in a public place, not a home and if the person sounds strange, don't go or at least bring a friend to a restaurant or open area with other people. Gavin de Becker, the author of The Gift of Fear
says "victims of violent behavior usually feel a sense of fear before any threat or violence takes place. They may distrust the fear, or it may impel them to some action that saves their lives."
Good advice.
MINNEAPOLIS - A 19-year-old man suspected of killing a woman who answered an online ad for a baby sitter was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder.
Michael John Anderson is accused of shooting Katherine Ann Olson in the back at his home in suburban Savage, according to the criminal complaint filed in Scott County District Court.
Sadly, the victim sensed that something was wrong with a woman named "Amy" who asked her to babysit but she didn't rely on her built-in intuition:
This ad was posted by someone claiming to be "Amy." Olson's roommate, Matt Thiede, told police that Olson had talked with "Amy" over the phone and commented that "the woman seemed kind of strange."
Olson and "Amy" exchanged e-mails, and in one message, "Amy" asked Olson to baby-sit a child between 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday. The address and phone number provided to Olson matched Anderson's address and cell phone number, authorities said.
If you talk to a stranger on the phone about setting up a job or other business exchange etc., it is always best to meet them in a public place, not a home and if the person sounds strange, don't go or at least bring a friend to a restaurant or open area with other people. Gavin de Becker, the author of The Gift of Fear
says "victims of violent behavior usually feel a sense of fear before any threat or violence takes place. They may distrust the fear, or it may impel them to some action that saves their lives." Good advice.
posted by Helen at 6:11 PM
6 Comments:
They're trying to train that out of us, you know. "Street-smarts" is just another name for prejudice.
When confronted with the evidence, Anderson changed his story, according to the complaint; he said he was present during Olson's slaying but the killing was committed by a friend who "thought it would be funny."
More of that famous dark humor, I guess.
dr. ellen makes a good point. I know from actual experience which types of persons are most likely to give me a hard time. But that's profiling or prejudice although I consider several factors including dress, facial expression, gate (how they walk if walking), group behavior and so on. Yes, race is a consideration.
I've been working in downtown Cincinnati for nearly 9 years now. I take a walk nearly every day at lunch time. I've never had someone of the same race, white, make a hostile comment to me and rarely by anyone of any race. Curiously, blacks are also more likely to give a pleasant greeting.
I do what I can to promote "racial harmony." Hold open doors, give a guy change for the parking meter, and generally be polite. But, I know there is a sub-culture for which I need to watch out. Those are the very few that have made the hostile, unwarranted comments.
How a person walks, talks, dresses and otherwise behaves and looks means more to me than race though.
Many seem to think it's better to be a victim of a crime than to be reasonable.
People need to listen to their gut reactions, even if it makes them seem rude. I have chosen not to get into elevators if the vibe of the person already in it wasn't right. Sure, most of those people probably were perfectly safe, but it would only take once for me to be right, and dead or worse if I ignored my gut feelings.
The Gift of Fear will be mandatory reading for my daughter when she's old enough.
Excellent advice in it.
I don't understand 2nd degree. There is no 2nd degree about this.
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