No idea what they might say to the man they believe ruined their lives

January 30, 2024 12:55 AM

Now that Ian has been exonerated, he needs to reacclimate to life in the world. He had to get a driver’s license and learn how to use a smartphone. He needs to get comfortable around people again. These towns were small enough already. For decades the Schweitzers were the area’s greatest villains; now they run into people and those people are nice. At the market and at restaurants, they congratulate Ian and ask if they can give him a hug. It’s weird. He can’t help but think: Where were those people for the past 30 years? from The Neighbors Who Destroyed Their Lives [The Atlantic; ungated] [CW: rape, murder]
posted by chavenet (12 comments total)

That's absolutely nuts. Even moreso that after 25 years you just run into the dude who set you up all over town.

I was ready for the plot twist that Gonsalves was actually the criminal all along, but I guess that was too much to hope for. It is nuts that there is just no accountability for anyone who just ruined two dudes lives (one worse than the other, granted).
posted by Literaryhero at 2:26 AM on January 30 [5 favorites]

The article says "There was blind faith in jailhouse informants -- a slew of them, all hoping for special favors from prosecutors in return for their testimony" -- and then goes on to lay the whole thing on the testimony of one guy.

Not that the guy isn't clearly an asshole but it sounds like quite a few people have something to answer for, and most among them the police. I can't imagine staying in a place where I knew the police had railroaded me.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 5:59 AM on January 30 [8 favorites]

Tell Me No Lies: “ I can't imagine staying in a place where I knew the police had railroaded me.”

If you live in the United States, no matter where you live, from a small town with no traffic light to the largest metropolis, the police and courts there are exactly the same.
posted by ob1quixote at 7:06 AM on January 30 [18 favorites]

If you live in the United States, no matter where you live, from a small town with no traffic light to the largest metropolis, the police and courts there are exactly the same.

I suspect you’ll find their attitude varies with the wealth and race of the community.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:37 AM on January 30 [3 favorites]

"If you live in [PLACE NAME], no matter where you live, from a small town with no traffic light to the largest metropolis, the [TARGET GROUP] there are exactly the same."

Reposted in template form so we can get the real gist of what's being said here.
posted by CynicalKnight at 8:45 AM on January 30 [2 favorites]

Tell Me No Lies: "I can't imagine staying in a place where I knew the police had railroaded me."

I was falsely arrested once, years ago, in suburban Atlanta and it took years to fully resolve. Even though I hold a low opinion of cops everywhere, there isn't any threat of fire or brimstone that would ever make me contemplate living anywhere near those particular cops again for any length of time. Or the departments they worked in, or the cops their bosses hired after them.

I mean, there's having a clear-eyed view of overall systemic issues that are not unique to any particular area, and there's "Are you cool with buying a Frosty at Wendy's next to a cop (or doppelganger of a cop) who tried to ruin your life?" No fucking thank you.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:13 AM on January 30 [14 favorites]

[TARGET GROUP]

Yes, the well-known oppressed minority of...cops. If only we had evidence of systematic police misconduct and connivance at misconduct across the country!
posted by praemunire at 9:43 AM on January 30 [31 favorites]

Yeah, I get the feeling here that all the maneuvers and court irregularities for pressing the Schweitzers’ conviction was about keeping something hidden that the law enforcement community wanted kept hidden.
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:48 AM on January 30 [2 favorites]

As someone that lived in the area, I disagree with the statement that 'Everyone was convinced ...' A lot of us in that community thought the case against the Schweitzer brothers was BS. I moved out of the area in 96, but I remember being flabbergasted the prosecution got convictions. I also have a memory of hearing that at least two detectives, and maybe one member of the prosecutors office resigned over this case, but that may just be my imagination.
posted by MetalDog at 10:51 AM on January 30 [11 favorites]

If only we had evidence of systematic police misconduct and connivance at misconduct across the country!

You know what, I’ll go one further. If anyone can find a *single* police department and judicial system (meaning a place large enough to have more than one unchanged judge) that in the last 25 years doesn’t have a pattern of over policing, overcharging, and denying fair bond on recognizance to people perceived to be “undesirable”, I will be genuinely fucking *shocked*.
posted by corb at 11:08 AM on January 30 [15 favorites]

the [TARGET GROUP] there are exactly the same.

I just knew making the slogan Assigned Cop At Birth would backfire some day...
posted by CrystalDave at 11:20 AM on January 30 [12 favorites]

I dare to suggest that at least one of the 708001 full time cops in the USA is just trying to do a good job.

It doesn't matter if they're just trying to do a good job; if they walk past behavior that's morally wrong, they're not actually doing a good job. I am comfortable making the statement that there is not a single prison in the entirety of America that treats its prisoners ethically. If you think otherwise, name it, I'd be happy to call up the public defenders office in that county and ask them about this supposed miracle.
posted by corb at 2:56 PM on January 30 [12 favorites]