Sunday, June 5, 2011

Is murder story right?

As I have read the stories of the murder of Kurt Milliman just a week ago, I began questioning what I was reading right from the start.

First off, I didn't like the way it was being described in the Northwest Herald, although I was fairly sure that the reporter was writing about it in terms provided by the McHenry County Sheriff's Department. For a resident in a home to call 9-1-1 and report an "unwanted person" and then for the deputy to arrive and find a person inside who was fatally shot, that just didn't make any sense to me.

"The responding deputy secured the couple for safety" ... Who talks like that? I have never, in 15 years in McHenry County, heard or seen a phrase like that. And Undersheriff Zinke's term of "business transaction" for prostitution?

Right away a Craigslist ad for "prostitution services" was mentioned. Well, Craigslist doesn't have a "Prostitution Services" classification!

And $40 for sex? With a pimp involved? Even if the pimp is the husband? No part of this story is believable!

Yet that is what is being disseminated by the McHenry County Sheriff's Department and only to selected media. The Department has refused to conduct an open press conference where, no doubt, less friendly reporters would be asking some very pointed questions. And the Sheriff of McHenry County, seems to be MIA. Presumably, the Undersheriff acts on behalf of the Department, when the Sheriff is unavailable. He won't even acknowledge requests for notification of any press conference to be held.

Let's start with, "Show us the Craigslist ad!"

On June 2, Kevin Lyons wrote in Our Views in the Northwest Herald, "police say Milliman and the Smiths had been communicating at least in initial conversations to arrange an act of prostitution."

Now to me this sounds like it ought to be part of an active law enforcement investigation. Since Kevin didn't say "which" police and since it's the McHenry County Sheriff's Department that is handling the investigation, is it reasonable to assume that Kevin got his information from the sheriff's department. Did someone there improperly leak information to Kevin? Is "improperly" not even the right word?

And supposedly "the ad" was quickly removed from Craigslist at law enforcement request? Oh, really?

Why isn't Kimberly charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder? Obstruction of Justice just doesn't seem like a serious enough charge for lying at the beginning of the investigation. Why is her bond so much lower than Timothy's?

Were the hands of both Smiths checked for gunpowder residue? What kind of gun was there? Revolver? Automatic? Did either Smith have a FOID card? If the gun was owned by one of them, when was it purchased?

Is there another component to this crime that hasn't been mentioned in the press yet?

3 comments:

FatParalegal said...

I think this was a message for Scott.

Justin said...

You need help. Name one police agency that releases details in the detailed precision that you find acceptable. You want the precise minute details of the investigation. Do you want the settings used when the crime scene photos were taken too?

QUOTE “Why isn't Kimberly charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder? Obstruction of Justice just doesn't seem like a serious enough charge for lying at the beginning of the investigation. Why is her bond so much lower than Timothy's? Were the hands of both Smiths checked for gunpowder residue? What kind of gun was there? Revolver? Automatic? Did either Smith have a FOID card? If the gun was owned by one of them, when was it purchased?”

Maybe if you go back and dig out some Civics 101 from your failed run for Sheriff, you’ll see that the JUDGE stets the bond, NOT the police. Is being shot with an OLD gun more serious than a NEW gun? The SAO prescribes the charges under felony review. Maybe as Lou.

Yup you meddling geezer …YOU NEED HELP. (BTW Geezer by definition: a senior citizen, especially a man who is eccentric or irritable ) Maybe your website should be renamed from The Woodstock Advocate to ‘The Meddling Geezer.”

Gus said...

Snidely, I like the new name for my blog. I'll sleep on it.

My quarrel is with information that is apparently being leaked to the Northwest Herald. Some of that seems to be information which ought to be withheld from the press. Will you agree with me on that?

Sure, a judge sets the bond. And the State's Attorney has input, as does (probably) law enforcement.

If Kimberly initially claimed Timothy wasn't home, then she must have shot Kurt.

It's a good thing that there are meddlers around here to point out everything that is wrong. Are you doing your part?

By the way, where IS Sheriff Nygren?