Who Killed Ryan Harris?
October 31, 2006 9:10 AM Subscribe
Who Killed Ryan Harris? Eight years ago the body of eleven-year-old Ryan Harris was discovered in a poor neighbourhood on the South Side of Chicago. What followed was a saga involving the youngest children in U.S. history to be charged with murder; the subsequent dropping of the charges after exculpatory evidence surfaced and allegations of coerced confessions; another (adult) suspect allegedly faking a low IQ and entering an Alford plea; lawsuits against the prosecutors on behalf of the boys, later settled out of court; and, earlier this year, one of the boys coming back into the news after being charged in connection with a double shooting, with lawyers insinuating that his earlier ordeal was to blame for his criminal activity. One of the sadder stories I've heard in some time.
Good lord was that disturbing.
posted by squidfartz at 10:36 AM on October 31, 2006
posted by squidfartz at 10:36 AM on October 31, 2006
I lived in Chicago at the time and it was just as confusing then. The initial charges against the boys were perplexing, but seemed backed up, then the whole investigation swung another way due to the semen discovery. The interrogation was obviously flawed. Not only has Chicago since instituted videotaping of all interrogations (due to other incidents involving beaten suspects), other large cities are instituting juvenile interrogation facilities or special training.
Even so, I'm persuaded to the point of reasonable doubt on Durr that the boys may well have had something to do with it -- the crime scene details are so strange.
One of the saddest aspects of reading this, though, is the depth of distrust and violence in the area. 74 sex offenders within a mile. More than one rock-throwing incident that could be connected. Grown men shooting squirtguns into a crowd. Many reportable incidents of violence that were never reported. Many possible discoveries of the body that were never reported.
The only thing you can be certain of is that there were leads never followed up on. And that it's difficult to rule the boys out completely.
My multiracial neighborhood gets kids from Chicago up here during the summer -- parents trying to get them away from gangs, primarily. They often get little supervision and they tend to form packs of up to 20 kids at a time, who just rove the neighborhood. Some of the older ones are "watching" a "shorty", so you have some pretty young children being exposed to a lot of adolescent stupidity, everything from litter to disorderly conduct. It feels very Lord of the Flies sometimes.
... and in Lord of the Flies, didn't they kill Piggy with rocks?
posted by dhartung at 12:15 PM on October 31, 2006
Even so, I'm persuaded to the point of reasonable doubt on Durr that the boys may well have had something to do with it -- the crime scene details are so strange.
One of the saddest aspects of reading this, though, is the depth of distrust and violence in the area. 74 sex offenders within a mile. More than one rock-throwing incident that could be connected. Grown men shooting squirtguns into a crowd. Many reportable incidents of violence that were never reported. Many possible discoveries of the body that were never reported.
The only thing you can be certain of is that there were leads never followed up on. And that it's difficult to rule the boys out completely.
My multiracial neighborhood gets kids from Chicago up here during the summer -- parents trying to get them away from gangs, primarily. They often get little supervision and they tend to form packs of up to 20 kids at a time, who just rove the neighborhood. Some of the older ones are "watching" a "shorty", so you have some pretty young children being exposed to a lot of adolescent stupidity, everything from litter to disorderly conduct. It feels very Lord of the Flies sometimes.
... and in Lord of the Flies, didn't they kill Piggy with rocks?
posted by dhartung at 12:15 PM on October 31, 2006
I read this article in the print Reader last week. Yikes. The scary thing is that there are so many possible suspects, and that the young boys are actually at the top of the list.
posted by nonreflectiveobject at 12:34 PM on October 31, 2006
posted by nonreflectiveobject at 12:34 PM on October 31, 2006
Disturbing. An intense read.
Well constructed post too.
posted by dazed_one at 1:04 PM on October 31, 2006
Well constructed post too.
posted by dazed_one at 1:04 PM on October 31, 2006
I regret that I didn't hear about this story as it unfolded (afterall, Ryan wasn't white). The article was a well-written, engaging read. Fantastic FPP!
posted by parilous at 9:20 AM on November 1, 2006
posted by parilous at 9:20 AM on November 1, 2006
A month or so in police custody, falsely accused, netted the boys over $8 million? Sounds like a good deal to me.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:37 PM on November 1, 2006
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:37 PM on November 1, 2006
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posted by delmoi at 9:21 AM on October 31, 2006