OT: Iowa Student Mollie Tibbetts' body found
Sorry to have to pass this on, but I was asked about this by FauxMo a couple of weeks ago, as I live about 27 miles from Brooklyn, IA.
Mollie's body was found Tuesday, it's been confirmed by her father and the head of law enforcement, but they're not giving out many details, as the investigation is still ongoing.
She was 20 years old, and a student at Iowa. My daughter is 17 and plans to go to Iowa, so I don't have to tell you that this hits REALLY close to home.
Hug your children if you have them. My heart is aching for Mollie's family, and the small towns in our area. We're all feeling the loss. She could have been my daughter.
Link to the story: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/21/mollie-tibbetts-missing-iowa-student-found-dead-sources-say.html
August 21st, 2018 at 2:24 PM ^
You couldn’t be more wrong. Maybe in your section of town. Try going over to Englewood or Garfield Park West or East. I’m sure you won’t and I’m sure you don’t care seeing as you are saying everything is fine, and people who are crying for help are ignored by you and your corrupt mayor.
August 21st, 2018 at 2:33 PM ^
Nobody likes you
August 21st, 2018 at 2:46 PM ^
That’s all you have? Truth hurts doesn’t it?
August 21st, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
Oh please. I used to go to 70th and Halsted to get my hair cut before giving tennis lessons at Hamilton Park.
August 21st, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
I lived in North Lawndale for 4 years. It was (and is) a very violent place, but ONLY among those who are in the illegal drug trade. Very few are the violent acts against innocents, but that doesn't mean that the death and violence is okay because it's among criminals. And criminals are still human beings.
The real question is not about stopping crime once it happens but about stopping crime BEFORE it happens and that's a systemic shift that a mayor and a police force cannot implement alone.
Nor can traveling "salvation forces" from well-meaning churches.
Empowering people to know that there are options beyond crime is hard to do when it's all you've known. A tract or a free dinner isn't enough. Or even a coat of paint.
I was very involved in my church there and my wife taught school on the West Side where we lived. We have been involved in Benton Harbor for more than a decade too, doing similar work on the ground, living in the community. (If you need my bona fides.)
And I'm studying to become a pastor to continue to promote real, lasting change in Jesus' name that isn't a "just be more like rich white people" solution, but one that is grounded in God's clarion call to uplift the poor and the oppressed. And to be part of interfaith (including those without faith) measures to rehumanize those who have been dehumanize by policies and talking points that place the blame squarely on "making better choices."
#breakingallthepoliticsandreligionrules but needed to say it
Lots of good is happening in the city of Chicago. Lots. Mostly by people who live there.
August 21st, 2018 at 2:52 PM ^
You can't pick and chose a spot and claim that things are bad all over. You're right, things in Chicago are bad, at least in some parts, and there are other places in the world that are even more dangerous, but by and large this is the safest the world has been, maybe ever.
August 21st, 2018 at 8:15 PM ^
I live in Chicago. It is not the same as you describe. Sure there are areas that you Don't want to go but to categorize it this way is not good. You will be surprised where Chicago ranks in comparison to many cities for a city with such a huge population. You just have to know how to be safe. Also people here care and do a lot to help others.
August 21st, 2018 at 1:18 PM ^
The illustrative example was the razor blades in the Halloween candy story. It basically killed trick or treating for years, at least where I lived. Even now, decades later, people are going earlier before it gets dark or worse going to the fricking mall.
August 21st, 2018 at 1:30 PM ^
If it's light out you'll be able to see the razor blades in the candy I guess, haha. I remember that suburban myth as well. I don't believe it ever happened.
August 21st, 2018 at 1:44 PM ^
Trick or treating sucks now. I feel bad for kids now with modern Halloween.
August 21st, 2018 at 1:32 PM ^
Not really commenting here to discuss this take, but I am going to go on record as saying that I've used that "arrow" button in the upper right for the first time ever to ignore the entire stupid conversation that got launched out of this, and it's great.
My opinion of mgoblog 3.0 has just increased considerably.
August 21st, 2018 at 1:54 PM ^
Great trick. Didn't see that until you mentioned it.
August 21st, 2018 at 3:33 PM ^
Oh my lord....you just saved this site for me. Bless you
August 21st, 2018 at 6:24 PM ^
If someone in New York, CA, or Florida read about this and took some extra precautions on a run than it was worth hearing about it.
Your take is bullshit that people say to try and make others see a big picture. It’s ok to see the little one once in a while.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:35 PM ^
So sad. People are awful.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:36 PM ^
I was really hoping the “ran away with a friend” theory was true, even though I knew that was very unlikely.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:37 PM ^
Being an Iowa alum and residing in the state, this has hit close to home. I was holding out hope that she would be found alive. Prayers to the family and the Brooklyn community.
I hope they catch the person who did this.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:38 PM ^
After all this time, it was safe to assume she was already dead, but this at least brings closure to her family. Absolutely awful. Just looked at my 15 yo daughter and said, "please be safe in the world. Just assume everyone is awful." So sad to have to say that...
August 21st, 2018 at 12:50 PM ^
You don’t have to say that. What a horrible thing to say and teach your child. I can’t imagine teaching my daughter that everyone is horrible. What a terrible thought, going through life thinking everyone around them is an awful person. “Hey kid, watch it because the nice lady at the grocery store probably torches bunnies just for fun.”
August 21st, 2018 at 12:53 PM ^
Why would you lie to your 15 year old daughter? The world is safer than it has ever been.
August 21st, 2018 at 2:34 PM ^
It's ok, she's 15, she wasn't listening anyway...
August 21st, 2018 at 12:53 PM ^
"Just assume everyone is awful." - this is a terrible thing to teach a child and I assume will turn them into a pretty socially inept person.
August 21st, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^
First, I didn't say "everyone is awful," I said "assume" that. There is a big difference. Second, while the world may be "safer" in many ways, that makes it still "not very safe," especially for women. Third, you guys go ahead and parent however the fuck you want, and feel free to keep your parenting tips - or assumptions about my (very social, very successful, incredibly bright) 15 yo daughter to yourselves, okay?
EDIT: This response may have been too harsh. Sorry. I'll stay out of this now.
August 21st, 2018 at 1:26 PM ^
Maybe it's you who should keep your own parenting tips to yourself? That way you don't get the unsolicited responses you've received :/
August 21st, 2018 at 1:30 PM ^
You’re fine. All us parents rightfully get worked up over this stuff. I took issue with your view and you with ours. It’s fine. I’m just glad that we’re not part of the shit show that’s right above us in the comment line...yeesh that’s a disaster and will probably get this whole thread caved.
August 21st, 2018 at 1:32 PM ^
I'm ignoring everything now. :-)
August 21st, 2018 at 2:00 PM ^
Y'know... my personal philosophy is that while we should be prudent about personal safety, we should also balance that by recognizing that most people are inherently decent and we as a society can't go around being afraid of literally every single thing. But I get the need to protect your loved ones and I ain't gonna fault a father for looking out for his loved ones.
August 21st, 2018 at 2:08 PM ^
I actually said the thing I quoted above, and don't feel a lick bad about it. That said, I am the farthest thing from an overprotective parent on the planet. I took my two blonde, toe-headed kids (12 and 15) to a developing South American country last year, where we traveled to both rural and urban areas by bus for 10 days (i.e. not an all-inclusive beach vacation stuck in a hotel, at all). I want that sense of adventure tempered with a healthy dose of realism and caution, however.
August 21st, 2018 at 4:06 PM ^
Sounds awesome - I'm actually going to Colombia myself later this year and vacillate between excitement at the adventure and numb panic that I haven't been pre-planning nearly enough - mind if I ask which country you went to?
August 21st, 2018 at 8:15 PM ^
Why, it was Colombia. I have been there about 50 times (not exaggerating, go for work, plus have a Colombian wife and we still have a place there), but this was my kids' first time. I can tell you just about everything you might want to know or see. I am well traveled especially in the north (Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Tirona Park), but have also spent a lot of time in Bogota, and some in Cali and Medellin. So let me know if I can help!
August 21st, 2018 at 8:11 PM ^
Faux Mo--I raised 3 girls (now young women) and I understand how you feel-- thinking about all the awful things that can befall them is terrifying. You want them to not trust bad people, but as you and I both know figuring out who is a bad person is tricky.
What you want to do is to empower her to trust her gut. Young girls are taught to be "nice" and "smile" and "be helpful" which makes them ignore the creepy vibe they get from some people and THAT makes them vulnerable.
Teach her to have a healthy skepticism of people she doesn't know well.
A really good book about this is "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin DeBecker. Good luck!
August 21st, 2018 at 12:40 PM ^
If they're not releasing information, the body must be in pretty rough shape while they do some forensic testing. I guess if it was potentially sitting outside for this entire Summer hot streak, it could already be in a fairly advanced state of decomposition.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:41 PM ^
She could have died a non-violent death, but after a month outside, any body will be in "rough shape."
August 21st, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
Don't want to release info pertaining to an investigation that way when they bring someone in they can hint at certain elements and see if the person in question accidentally fills in the story with information that was never released.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:57 PM ^
Exactly. The girl was 20 years old and her body took months to find after going missing. I'm guessing she didn't fall off of her bike and hit her head.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:40 PM ^
Damn!
August 21st, 2018 at 12:45 PM ^
I feel terrible for her family and their community, but why exactly is this on this board?
August 21st, 2018 at 2:02 PM ^
Because it's something that happened on the campus of another Big Ten school and there are many posters here who happen to have kids attending various schools, especially in the Midwest?
August 21st, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
It didn't happen on the campus at all. It happened an hour away while she was home for the summer.
August 21st, 2018 at 3:03 PM ^
yeah, that is not the reason it is getting covered the way it is.
August 21st, 2018 at 2:12 PM ^
Lots of folk are fascinated by true crime and missing people stories. I'll admit to being in that group myself. This case has all the elements to garner attraction (young, attractive gal who seemed to have her stuff together, completely sudden disappearance, the b/f who was halfway across the state, but was he?, et cetera).
Reminds me a bit of the Shelby Township case in February 2007. That story went national too.
I live in Colorado and this story LED the KOA (News Radio) local news at 7:30 AM (as I was driving into work). That's ~ 700 miles away from eastern Iowa.
August 21st, 2018 at 2:58 PM ^
This is a hard one to crack. A lot of statements made during the investigation would lead people to believe that the investigation is not focused on her inner-circle and this may be a "stranger-danger" type occurrence. However, the original story, that she went to her boyfriend's house, alone, to "dog-sit" overnight..... I don't know. That account did not sit well with me from the moment I heard it. I guess we will see, but that never sounded legit to me to begin with.
August 21st, 2018 at 4:16 PM ^
The original story didn't sound that strange to me. Life's different in the smaller towns. Seems strange to me as a city-dweller, but folks don't always lock their doors.
News conference at 5 ET. I bet they have someone in custody. LE seemed to know exactly where to be looking this AM, as soon as it get light enough outside.
August 21st, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^
This is the problem with it. It's not true crime and missing people that people are focused on. It is crime against white and female, and usually not poor. I have been trying hard not to get into this here because this is a tragedy, but the coverage of this case has been excessive, and frankly, embarrassing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_white_woman_syndrome
August 21st, 2018 at 3:17 PM ^
I can only speak for myself, but it is true crime that I am interested in, not missing white women.
August 21st, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^
You are right. MWWS is a thing. The media does focus on certain cases versus others.
I guess for myself, I can't follow a case that doesn't get coverage. I can't read a book that doesn't get written.
In Cold Blood was the book that got me interested in the genre. I read it when I was college-age.
I was driving from Denver to Wichita back in 2014. Taking a different route than boring I-70. Saw a sign and realized I was driving by Holcomb. I felt a bit creepy that I stopped and tried to find the house. But I did. The house is still there. Two other folk were there taking pictures. I didn't take a picture. Just drove by and back on US-50 to Wichita. But true crime interests many folk.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:47 PM ^
Find the savage who did this, string him from a tree, and let the family treat him like a pinata.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
Part of me agrees.
August 21st, 2018 at 2:38 PM ^
Sure. Let's bring back lynchings...
PSA: you don't have to say shit like this to prove that you're the MOST outraged by shit like this. We can all be equally sad this has happened, it's not a competition.
August 21st, 2018 at 4:34 PM ^
Looks like we have a another thread to proclaim our support for the Anti Kitten-burning Coalition.
Edited. My apologies, on further reflection, the above is an inappropriate and poor comparison that implies I may question the veracity of the story.