And wasn't prosecuted (probably) because the rapist's family was politically connected. There's no excuse for at least statutory under the facts as presented. Also. dude should probably avoid saying rape-y things on social media if he's still within the statute of limitations.
Originally Posted by :
Here's a depressing story that will bring back memories of the Steubenville rape case. It begins with a 14-year-old drunk girl getting dumped on her porch by the high school football player who had just allegedly raped her, and it ends with her family being driven out of town by an unsupportive community.
A horrifying story out of Missouri: A mother was run out of a small town after her daughter blacked out at a party filled with older high school athletes and was left, with clear marks of rape, on the front lawn of her home in freezing weather.
The Kansas City Star details how the small town of Maryville turned against a newly-arrived family after 14-year-old Daisy Coleman reported that an older athlete had sex with her while another older male videotaped, after she was given an alcoholic drink at a party that left her barely able to stand. Her friend, a 13-year-old, was also made to have non-consensual sex.
After a thorough investigation by the local police however, clearly implicating 17-year-old Matthew Barnett in the sexual assault, charges were inexplicably dropped by the prosecuting attorney. Barnett, coincidentally, is the grandson of a prominent former Missouri state representative.
Star reporter Dugan Arnett writes,
Sexual assault cases can be difficult to build because of factors such as a lack of physical evidence or inconsistent statements by witnesses. But by the time his department had concluded its investigation, Sheriff Darren White felt confident the office had put together a case that would “absolutely” result in prosecutions.
“Within four hours, we had obtained a search warrant for the house and executed that,” White told The Star. “We had all of the suspects in custody and had audio/video confessions.
“I would defy the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department to do what we did and get it wrapped up as nicely as we did in that amount of time.”
But no prosecutions ever came. The charges were dropped by the prosecuting attorney who didn't believe the evidence was strong enough. He dismissed any idea that political influence had anything to do with his decision.
In the meantime, the town had already begun to turn on the Coleman family. Threatening phone calls and online threats were directed at the family. Melinda Coleman had moved to the town with her four children after her husband, a physician, had died in a car accident. She was easily targeted by the community for being an outsider.
The parent of one of the teens at the Barnett house that night was the only one to comment briefly to The Star: “Our boys deserve an apology, and they haven’t gotten it yet.”
In a later interview, Rice [the prosecuting attorney] called it a case of “incorrigible teenagers” drinking alcohol and having sex. “They were doing what they wanted to do, and there weren’t any consequences. And it’s reprehensible. But is it criminal? No.”
Robert Sundell, who represented Barnett, echoed that sentiment: “Just because we don’t like the way teenagers act doesn’t necessarily make it a crime.”
After the charges were dropped, things just got worse for Melinda and Daisy Coleman. Daisy has struggled with depression and attempted suicide. Melinda had to move away from Maryville and back to the town she had lived in with her now-deceased husband. In April, the house in Maryville she still owned burned down under mysterious circumstances.
And Matthew Barnett, the young man accused by Coleman of raping her? He's attending the University of Central Missouri and apparently having a great time:
In a recent retweet, he expressed his views on women — and their desire for his sexual attentions — this way:
“If her name begins with A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z, she wants the D."
Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat:
I was about to say make me, but I think we've all learned the people of Nodaway county have no problem with that.
Obviously a horrible thing happened to this young girl. I'm not vouching for anyone that did anything that happened to her family. I just took offense with "all people from Nodaway County" being bunched together in some weird Deliverance cult. My Mom and Dad are from there, and have lived there their entire life. My brothers and their families and a couple nephews live in the county.
All of Nodaway County people aren't phucked up. I don't like small town politics anymore than the next person...those with money and 'pull' should still be accountable for their actions. NO ONE is above the law. I hope these punks get thrown in prison and get raped themselves. My son is a Senior at NW and he sometimes talks negatively about the 'townies'...but, that's not everyone either.
I left Nodaway County when I joined the Air Force in 1982. I'm now retired from the AF, living in Iowa near Offutt AFB, NE, still working for the Air Force. I get back home as much as I can, back to the farm, fishing hole and hunting.
Don't lump everyone from Nodaway County together in some demeaning way. We're not all bad. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ClearmontChief:
Obviously a horrible thing happened to this young girl. I'm not vouching for anyone that did anything that happened to her family. I just took offense with "all people from Nodaway County" being bunched together in some weird Deliverance cult. My Mom and Dad are from there, and have lived there their entire life. My brothers and their families and a couple nephews live in the county.
All of Nodaway County people aren't phucked up. I don't like small town politics anymore than the next person...those with money and 'pull' should still be accountable for their actions. NO ONE is above the law. I hope these punks get thrown in prison and get raped themselves. My son is a Senior at NW and he sometimes talks negatively about the 'townies'...but, that's not everyone either.
I left Nodaway County when I joined the Air Force in 1982. I'm now retired from the AF, living in Iowa near Offutt AFB, NE, still working for the Air Force. I get back home as much as I can, back to the farm, fishing hole and hunting.
Don't lump everyone from Nodaway County together in some demeaning way. We're not all bad.
Bad eggs everywhere, nobody blames your people... [Reply]
Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat:
This is the same area where a man was shot in broad daylight with over 30 witnesses and no one was ever prosecuted because the witnesses wouldn't speak.
Maryville and the towns that surround it are filled with weird people.
Its a good place, strange place.
By today's standards, Ken Rex McElroy would be labeled a terrorist.
Locals protect locals.
As far as locals go-How long does it take a newcomer to become a local?
Said this before. A politician came to my door. As we were talking, i mentioned that I have been here 12 years and it has flown by. My daughter was 2 when we moved here-and BOOM now she is 14.
He said "12 years, you haven't been here very long"
No, apparently I have not. I bought a house, had another kid, pay taxes, contribute to society and teach your students. So since I have not been here long enough for you, I am sorry.
Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat:
I forgot this is CP. Everyone has children that never get in trouble, are captain of the football team and has a free ride to Harvard.
And you're a shitty parent if you're allowing your young teenage children to dabble in drugs, alcohol and "not stopping that". [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
And you're a shitty parent if you're allowing your young teenage children to dabble in drugs, alcohol and "not stopping that".
Were you frozen as a teenager and brought back to life at 25? [Reply]
Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat:
Were you frozen as a teenager and brought back to life at 25?
I didn't do drugs as a teenager. Never interested. I drank 3.2 beer before I was 18 but when I grew up, Kansas was an 18 state and I never got "drunk" nor did I drink and drive.
Pretty much everyone I knew was "straight" and not interested in drugs. It was school, football, baseball, wrestling, friendship and family.
And I'm still friends with almost everyone from those days and I can't think of one person that has a fucked up life. [Reply]