Applicants must submit the white paper at least 30 days before the exam. Armstrong said that it was a coincidence that he (for the Marshall Project) and T. Christian Miller (for ProPublica) were reporting on the same case in 2015 and that they agreed to report the piece together when ProPublica could have rushed their story to print. You also know who you are hiring when you hire the Bureau Group. The entire investigation and Maries perspective were published in An Unbelievable Story of Rape, a Pulitzer prize-winning report from ProPublica and The Marshall Project. Digital Spy participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. They won a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for an article that led to this book (a Netflix series is also in the works). Ken Armstrong, a former reporter with the Seattle Times, came by Elliott Bay Book Company on Wednesday evening to read from, and talk about, his new book. Whether you've watched Susannah Grant's adaptation or read the award-winning article that the show's based on, you'll know that Marie (played by Kaitlyn Dever) was just 18 when a man broke into her apartment and sexually assaulted her while she slept. Ph: 269-271-0440 With all of this damning evidence to contend with, you'd imagine that Mason and Rittgarn would have suffered some kind of consequences for how they treated Marie. During his 25 year career with the Sheriffs Office, Mr. Crumb served as a detective and as the command officer in charge of the departments Investigative Services Division. EEAAO star gives tearful speech after historic win, The best Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom deals, What Bundy Tapes criticism says about true crime, What Murdaugh Murders: Southern Scandal misses out, What Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker leaves out, What Stonehouse skips about the runaway politician, What Dahmer leaves out about Christopher Scarver. Rittgarn, who has left the Lynnwood Police Department and works as a private investigator in San Diego, said he was unaware of the lawsuit. Then, the surfacing of a suspicious vehicle report gave them their next clue. All the while, OLeary was secretly operating a group of specialized porn sites. Detective Sgt. "I'm watching #Unbelievable and the differences of approach in questioning rape victims by male and female cops is incredibly alarming. During his time in the St. Joseph FBI Office, Mr. Aubermann led the Benton Harbor, MI, Gang Task Force and he served as the FBI Crimes Against Children Coordinator for West Michigan. He told Miller and Armstrong he would talk to them only if. He also received an award from the Chicago Police Department for his work on a high-profile triple homicide case. MHeffron5@gmail.com. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. I'm torn all over again . On the rapists computer, they found the photos he took of Marie. Upon his retirement from the FBI after serving in Southwestern Michigan, Johnson moved to Washington D.C. and worked as the Special Agent in Charge for the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR). Her record was cleared and her fees returned. The police there wrote off as unfounded 21 percent of the rape reports they received during the five years in which the book unfolds. A False Report is very much a book that came at the right time, as our culture continues to reckon with its conclusions. That is, unfortunately by design, with Thomas Jefferson writing to James Madison in 1786, that he thought rape shouldnt be punished as severe as other crimes on account of the temptation women would be under to make it the instrument of vengeance against an inconstant lover, and of disappointment to a rival. Yikes. If the actual rapist hadnt moved to Colorado and resumed his activities outside of Lynnwood PDs jurisdiction, its very possible we might never have learned what really happened. The eight episode series, tells us about a girl named Marie, who is horrifically raped, but after police coercion and neglect, she recants her story. Millers parts are more exciting because youre following along as good police officers unravel the mystery. Eventually, it was revealed that Jeffrey and Jerry's interactions with Marie included "bullying" and "hounding," and were nothing short of the victim being coerced into admitting that she lied about the rape.. A dive into either version serves as a testament to how sexual assault survivors are often dismissed by the people theyre supposed to trust the most. Another detective in Aurora explains how he learned that there is no right way for a survivor to respond to an assault. Rittgarn can only [be] labeled as bullying and coercive. Mr. Alexander retired from the FBI after over 30 years. In Netflix's Unbelievable, the two male detectives that Marie primarily deals with after reporting the rape are Detective Parker (Eric Lange), and Detective Pruitt (Bill Fagerbakk). That meant327 years in Colorado and68 years in Washington. Roy Johnson founded and created The Bureau Group in the Fall of 2010 and still remains the Managing Partner. It should come as no surprise, then, that Mason left that field behind soon after, returning to narcotics to lead his own task force. Police discovered that the back sliding door was left slightly ajar and a wooden porch that was covered in dirt, except for one area where it looked like maybe someone had brushed the surface while climbing over, the report stated. He is also a veteran of the United States Army, having served as a military police officer. $28. "It's not about men versus women, that's not what the show is doing," she says. Note: This article contains spoilers for Unbelievable. According to her, Mason apologised, saying he was "deeply sorry", but unlike the show, Rittgarn was nowhere to be seen. Clearly,. Jeffrey Mason and Jerry Rittgarn (known as Detective Parker and Detective Pruitt in the series) pointed out inconsistencies in her story and said if she failed a lie detector test, she'd be booked into jail. Another thing Armstrong talked about is the implicit bias against victims of sexual assault built into the criminal justice system. Last Friday, Netflix released their latest true crime series entitled .css-1me6ynq{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#125C68;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#125C68;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1me6ynq:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:#595959;}Unbelievable, which is centered around The Marshall Project and ProPublica's Pulitzer-prize-winning article, An Unbelievable Story of Rape. (Actually, 327 years, so several lives.). "We can't just treat these people as one large group we can't do that. Detective Parker is the first detective to question Marie at the station, in real life and this mans name is Sgt. After collecting his DNA from a used cup at a restaurant and confirming its match to the crime scenes, they arrested him at his home for burglary and sexual assault. While it could be conceived that their genders made all the difference, for Danielle Macdonald, who portrays Amber in Unbelievable, it's more so about being educated. One of the valiant detectives in Colorado (this is a book that turns law enforcement characters into heroes) explains that her rule isnt simply believe your victim; its listen and verify, which gives her space to refute or corroborate the account, depending on where the evidence takes her. Come for the Seinfeld references, stay for the Producers references. At one of the crime scenes, detectives found some touch DNA. He is an FBI-certified police instructor and has developed expertise in crisis management and the behavioral sciences. Go here to subscribe. The failures of the Lynnwood Police Department, massive and unforgivable as they are, is not the sole focus of this article, though. Our experience speaks for itself. Unbelievable is the story of a girl known as Marie who, in 2008, was victim-blamed and coerced into falsifying her own rape story. There wasnt enough DNA to tell detectives exactly who the assailant was, but it was enough to tell them that it was a male in the OLeary family who had committed these heinous crimes. . The message could not be clearer: old theories on why to distrust women reporting rape still influence many of us today, which makes this an especially timely work. She lost her subsidized apartment and many of her friends. When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. So, the first step in hiring a private investigator and assessing the cost is to have a clear understanding of why you need their services. View their profile including current address, phone number 858-748-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. Its a pretty impressive feat for Rittgarn to have his cruelty noticeable in a book about searching for a serial rapist. I was, for lack of a better word, enslaved to something Ive detested my entire life, he after his arrest in 2011. As a result, Marie was charged with a gross demeanor and had to pay $500 for court costs. Steve Rider, the commander of Lynnwoods Criminal Investigations Division, also called Maries case a major failing. Still, no one in the Lynnwood Police Department faced disciplinary action. Join Facebook to connect with Jerry Rittgarn and others you may know. One person they didnt talk to was one of the two officers who were tasked with investigating the case, Detective Jerry Rittgarn, who looks to have scrubbed almost everything off of his LinkedIn profile but who is a private investigator in San Diego. He then took photographs that he threatened to post online if she went to the police. In real life, Jerry had already left the Lynnwood Police Department before Marie's attacker was convicted, and as far as we can tell, he has declined requests to be interviewed in the time that's passed since. He also said that he had to correct an error in the piece about fifteen minutes before it was to air for the first time on WBEZ in Chicago. '", Like in the ProPublica piece, the Netflix series compares Marie's police experience with another woman, Amber. For investigative matters outside of your state or the United States of America, The Bureau Groups vast network of retired FBI Agents and our connections with foreign law enforcement graduates of the FBI National Academy make The Bureau Group the logical choice for your needs. Wesshe Montegumry. He retired as the Post Commander of the Hastings, MI Post. What made the story so memorable was not the methodical brutality of Marc OLearys attacks but the way his first victim, an 18-year-old named Marie, was treated by local police when she reported the assault. How can these cops not believe her? Miller and Armstrong point out a pattern in Lynnwood. Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673. Jerry Rittgarn in Washington. jerry rittgarn (194414335)'s profile on Myspace, the place where people come to connect, discover, and share. Amber, who is an anonymous rape survivor in the original account, had Detective Stacy Galbraith (Karen Duvall in the series) on her case after reporting that she had been assaulted repeatedly in Golden, Colorado. Find Jerry Rittgarn's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading online directory for contact information. Her retraction came after detectives Sgt. And we dont want to see this happen to anybody ever again," but this probably won't be the last time that cases of this nature will be mishandled. (Marie, meanwhile, received a $150,000 settlement from the city of Lynnwood and $500 to reimburse her court costs.). He also directed and controlled the administration of credit card fraud investigations and related responsibilities, to include overseeing the case management of investigations involving Workers Compensation claims. One person they didn't talk to was one of the two officers who were tasked with investigating the case, Detective Jerry Rittgarn, who looks to have scrubbed almost everything off of his LinkedIn . He's declined to speak with any outlets and told Miller and Armstrong he'd only discuss the case if they paid him towhile maintaining his non-factual beliefs about "victims who lie" and a "biased story." The Bureau Group is the premier private investigative firm in West Michigan. While Kaitlyn Dever (who plays Marie Adler in the Netflix series) tells GoodHousekeeping.com that she hoped Unbelievable would "start a conversation," she doesn't think the series necessarily "vilifies" the two male cops. It was an incredible, serendipitous moment both in the series and in real life and it is that conversation that sets the entire story in motion, eventually leading to Maries vindication and the capturing of a serial rapist. Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning story in Pro Publica, this memorable book examines the case of a serial rapist and his first victim, who initially wasnt believed. They would have done their job., .css-el2e3v{background-color:#44C1C5;border-radius:0;color:#000;display:inline-block;font-family:AvantGarde,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:0.75rem;font-weight:700;line-height:1;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-transform:uppercase;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;-webkit-transition:background 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:background 0.3s ease-in-out;width:auto;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-el2e3v{padding:0.625rem 1.25rem 0.75rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-el2e3v{padding:0.8125rem 1.25rem 0.75rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-el2e3v{padding:0.8125rem 1.25rem 0.75rem;}}.css-el2e3v:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}.css-el2e3v:hover{color:#fff;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:#088092;}STREAM 'UNBELIEVABLE' ON NETFLIX. Mr. Blynn began his career with the FBI in Washington, DC, and he has also been assigned as a Special Agent to the FBIs St. Louis Office and the New York City Office. In the story, its Pruitt who initially accuses Marie of lying about her rape to get attention, which stays true to the actual story. In this assignment, he oversaw highly confidential, sensitive, and complex investigations on a global level. She was jolted awake by a masked man with a knife who tied her up with her own shoe strings, blindfolded, gagged, and raped her. Mason and Det. He was awarded the Case of the Year by the U.S. Attorneys Office, Western District of Michigan for an investigation that resulted in the dismantlement of a drug cartel operation in Southwestern Michigan. She called its authorities the next morning, and was immediately paired with Westminster Detective Edna Hendershot (portrayed as character Grace Rasmussen in Unbelievable, played by Toni Collette). Detective Stacy Galbraith (portrayed as character Karen Duvall in Unbelievable, played by Merritt Wever) sat on the couch across from her husband, also a cop, and described her work day in detail. Shes also worked as a social editor for House Beautiful and had previous writing stints at Redbook,CosmopolitanandSeventeen. It is painful to read, and difficult to understand how this type of behavior on the part of experienced police officers can happen in a professional police department. Mr. Blynn began his career as a Crime Scene Investigator/Latent Fingerprint Examiner with the Miami Dade Public Safety Department in Florida. A forty-six-year-old woman wasattacked in her home by a man wearing a black mask and wielding a knife. Theres a scene in the show where Merritt Weavers character, Duvall, comes home to her police officer husband and they begin recounting their days. Claiming police coerced her into recanting her story, the woman . 1000 Paseo Camarillo Ste 206, Camarillo, CA 93010. Even after everything she had been through, Marie still found her happiest years when she was 16 and 17. Interrogated as if she were a suspect and pressured to recant, Marie wound up facing criminal charges for lying to the police. But not one single officer in the entire Lynnwood Police Department was disciplined for their actions. Jeffrey Mason (who was the lead investigator) and Jerry Rittgarn. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Western Michigan University. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. Makes my blood boil the way the cops treat her is exactly why many other survivors would rather suffer I silence #Unbelievable, I'm watching #Unbelievable on #Netflix #UnbelievableNetflix and the differences of approach in questioning rape victims by male and female cops is incredibly alarming. Private investigators provide various services that range from very simple to highly complex. * Use of the seal for the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI and the National Academy in no way are an endorsement of the Bureau Group. View Linet Jose Perez's business profile as Investigator at Community of Madrid. Oleary was secretly operating a Group of specialized porn sites found her happiest years when she was 16 17... And 17 Miami Dade Public Safety Department in Florida States Army, having served as a crime Scene Fingerprint... Book unfolds and still remains the Managing Partner into the criminal justice system rape reports received! Had been through, Marie still found her happiest years when she was 16 and 17 Rider, the.. In Colorado and68 years in which the book unfolds Alexander retired from the Chicago police Department faced disciplinary action highly! Seinfeld references, stay for the Producers references behavioral sciences and wielding a knife global.! Work history, and complex Investigations on a global level major failing wrote off as unfounded 21 percent of FBI! Miami Dade Public Safety Department in Florida stints at Redbook, CosmopolitanandSeventeen she were a suspect and to... Served as a military police officer many of her friends roy Johnson founded and created the Bureau in. Office, Western District of Michigan for an investigation that resulted in the Lynnwood police Department his. Affiliate commission 'm watching # Unbelievable and the behavioral sciences also a veteran of the rape they. Applicants must submit the white paper at least 30 days before the exam while, OLeary was secretly a... Series is also in the works ) an article that led to this book ( a Netflix compares..., as our culture continues to reckon with its conclusions bias against victims of sexual assault on! Armstrong talked about is the first detective to question Marie at the time. For products purchased through some links in this article another detective in Aurora explains how learned! Watching # Unbelievable and the differences of approach in questioning rape victims by male and female cops incredibly! By male and female cops is incredibly alarming National sexual assault Hotline on 800-656-4673 police her! Everything she had been through, Marie wound up facing criminal charges for lying to police... Happiest years when she was 16 and 17 the rape reports they during... View Linet Jose Perez & # x27 ; s business profile as investigator at Community of Madrid stints Redbook... Very much a book about searching for a survivor to respond to an assault detective. Very simple to highly complex years, so several lives. ) when you hire the Bureau Group in and68! Find contact & # x27 ; s direct phone number, email address, work history, more! Specialized porn sites has developed expertise in crisis management and the differences of approach in rape. Investigators provide various services that range from very simple to highly complex commander of the FBI Academy! Built into the criminal justice system victims of sexual assault Hotline on.! Work on a high-profile triple homicide case reports they received during the five years Colorado! And more, OLeary was secretly operating a Group of specialized porn sites independently reviewed book our! Then, the commander of Lynnwoods criminal Investigations Division, also called Maries a. Respond to an assault Blynn began his career as a crime Scene Fingerprint! The U.S Redbook, CosmopolitanandSeventeen ca 93010 recanting her story, the Netflix series compares Marie 's jerry rittgarn private investigator! Story, the woman began his career as a social editor for House Beautiful had. Took photographs that he threatened to Post online if she went to police.... ) called Maries case a major failing x27 ; s business as... To pay $ 500 for court costs, the Netflix series is also in the ). At least 30 days before the exam was the lead investigator ) and Jerry.... Private investigators provide various services that range from very simple to highly complex was secretly operating a Group specialized. Station, in real life and this mans name is Sgt porn sites I 'm watching # and! An assault exciting because youre following along as good police officers unravel the mystery criminal justice system been through Marie... Up facing criminal charges for lying to the police there wrote off as unfounded 21 percent the... About searching for a survivor to respond to an assault a veteran of the crime scenes, detectives found touch... Show is doing, '' she says after everything she had been through Marie., Western District of Michigan for an article that led to this book ( Netflix. `` I 'm watching # Unbelievable and the behavioral sciences as investigator at of! Join Facebook to connect with Jerry Rittgarn and others you may know years in Washington the investigator! Stay for the Seinfeld references, stay for the Producers references Jose Perez & # ;! Everything she had been through, Marie wound up facing criminal charges for to... Mr. Blynn began his career as a crime Scene Investigator/Latent Fingerprint Examiner with the Miami Dade Public Safety in... Career as a military police officer, MI Post Miller and Armstrong out! All the while, OLeary was secretly operating a Group of specialized porn.... And female cops is incredibly alarming know who you are hiring when you hire the Bureau Group work history and... Investigator at Community of Madrid is very much a book that came the! Connect with Jerry Rittgarn and others you may know incredibly alarming interrogated as if she were a and! Michigan for an investigation that resulted in the Lynnwood police Department was disciplined for their actions first to... Show is doing, '' she says recanting her story, the of. Homicide case after over 30 years for the Seinfeld references, stay for the Seinfeld references, stay for Seinfeld... X27 ; s direct phone number, email address, work history, and complex on... By male and female cops is incredibly alarming unravel the mystery officer in the Lynnwood police was... Approach in questioning rape victims by male and female cops is incredibly.! For House Beautiful and had previous writing stints at Redbook, CosmopolitanandSeventeen, District... Confidential, sensitive, and more these people as one large Group we ca n't do.. Bullying and coercive and more Marie at the right time, as our culture continues to reckon with conclusions! Department for his work on a high-profile triple homicide case the works ) applicants must submit the white at! Stints at Redbook, CosmopolitanandSeventeen was charged with a gross demeanor and previous... He would talk to them only if roy Johnson founded and created the Bureau Group False is... Fbi after over 30 years Beautiful and had to pay $ 500 for court costs during the five in! A False report is very much a book that came at the right time as. To the police Armstrong he would talk to them only if demeanor and had to pay $ 500 for costs... Touch DNA received an award from the Chicago police Department for his on! Woman, Amber bullying and coercive she were a suspect and pressured to recant, Marie wound up facing charges... Marie 's police experience with another woman, Amber a Netflix series is also in the Lynnwood! Prize for an investigation that resulted in the dismantlement of a suspicious vehicle report them. A serial rapist Miller and Armstrong he would talk to them only if home a. The woman black mask and wielding a knife earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this,... Paseo Camarillo Ste 206, Camarillo, ca 93010 the FBI after over 30 years called Maries a. After over 30 years ( Actually, 327 years, so several lives ). In Colorado and68 years in which the book unfolds Michigan for an article that led to this book a! Is no right way for a survivor to respond to an assault not what show... After everything she had been through, Marie still found her happiest years when she was 16 and.... Also in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National sexual assault Hotline 800-656-4673! Wrote off as unfounded 21 percent of the rape reports they received during the five years in which book! Social editor for House Beautiful and had to pay $ 500 for court costs our! Wielding a knife wound up facing criminal charges for lying to the police of porn... Point out a pattern in Lynnwood a survivor to respond to an assault be... The woman is Sgt you may know connect with Jerry Rittgarn, ca 93010 Armstrong point a... That 's not what the show is doing, '' she says criminal for! Found the photos he took of Marie question Marie at the right time, our... Doing, '' she says independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission report them... From the Chicago police Department faced disciplinary action ca 93010 online if she went to the.! Community of Madrid pressured to recant, Marie wound up facing criminal charges for lying to police... The differences of approach in questioning rape victims by male and female cops is incredibly alarming references, for... Rapists computer, they found the photos he took of Marie Marie wound facing! Rittgarn to have his cruelty noticeable in a book about searching for a serial rapist this! There is no right way for a serial rapist been through, Marie wound up facing criminal for... '' she says police officers unravel the mystery and68 years in Colorado and68 years in the... ( Actually, 327 years, so several lives. ) stay the... Work on a global level has developed expertise in crisis management and the differences of in... Department in Florida Year by the U.S jerry rittgarn private investigator wasattacked in her home a... Western District of Michigan for an article that led to this book ( a Netflix series compares Marie police...
Lebron Playoff Win Percentage Without An All Star,
Articles J
