Accuracy in reporting

Newspaper reporters are usually pretty accurate when they quote someone. They want to get it right; they don't want to get it wrong. As for direct quotes? When they write that so-and-so "said", you can also be pretty sure that's what the person did say.

Can a news story be tilted by what is written and by what is omitted? Let's see...

In the first story about the death of Kurt Milliman, reporter Hilary Gowins wrote in the second paragraph of the story (online on 5/29/11; print edition 5/30/11): "Kurt Milliman, 48, of Prairie Grove went to the home of Timothy and Kimberly Smith at 4320 Doty Road in response to a Craig’s List advertisement for prostitution services (emphasis added), McHenry County Undersheriff Andrew Zinke said."

Where did Gowins get that? Undersheriff Zinke. Where did Zinke get that? It's my understanding and belief that Craigslist does not advertise "Prostitution Services." Craigslist has been the news about use of its listings for that purpose, but I believe it does not have a category of services with that title. Why would Zinke say that?

No story yet mentions that Kurt was a former employee of the McHenry County Sheriff's Department. I've heard that he was and that the parting wasn't entirely friendly.

Then Zinke is quoted, "Based on the evidence at the scene, witness statements, physical evidence and what was deduced from computer forensic evidence, ...”

First, why is Zinke saying anything a murder investigation? Why do I call it a "murder investigation"? If you've got someone in custody and have charged him with first-degree murder, then you're handling a murder investigation. And the investigators and the Department spokesman (the Undersheriff) ought to be keeping their mouths shut.

And don't you just love the term "business transaction" (Zinke's term)? And then Zinke said, "...some type of altercation ensued and Mr. Smith shot Milliman.” Since when do you refer to the victim by his last name only, but then refer to your arrested alleged murderer as "Mr."? This is the quote that got me started on this entire article!

Back to an earlier part of the statement attributed to Zinke, "“Based on the evidence at the scene, witness statements, ..." Witness statements? Who were the witnesses who could give statements? Oh, you mean Timothy Smith and Kimberly Smith? The accused persons who have been arrested and charged? Yeah, like their statements will be reliable and to be believed.

Gowins wrote that Kurt Milliman was shot in the torso. Front? Back? Side?

Now look at Zinke's next quote: “When deputies arrived, the couple was standing outside, and they immediately informed the deputy that the person inside had been shot,” Zinke said. “The responding deputy secured the couple for safety and gave rescue assistance for the victim.”

"When deputies arrived..." That's more than one. But then the Smiths "informed the deputy." That's one deputy.

And then Zinke said. “The responding deputy secured the couple for safety ..." What does that mean? The (one) deputy "secured" the Smiths. How did he do that? Was one of the Smiths armed at that time? And for whose safety did he "secure" them? Theirs? His own? How much time elapsed between the arrival of the first deputy and a second deputy? Did deputies know they were responding to the scene of a shooting? Did the dispatcher ask the Smith who telephoned whether there were weapons present or if anyone had been injured?

With whose gun was Milliman shot? Did his own business allow him to carry a weapon? Was he armed?

Of what value was the quote of neighbor April Zimmerman? Absolutely none. The first deputy responded at 10:59PM. April says she drove by at 11:45PM and "all the lights were on." Well, duh.... Deputies were there to investigate a crime. Of course, all the lights were on.