Norristown, PA– ..” My name is Salmon, like the fish..”

In honor of this Fridays premier of the film, The Lovely Bones; a screenplay adaptation of the New York Times Bestselling novel by Alice Sebold, I bring you an interview with it’s deceased heroine.

Fictional fourteen year old rape and murder victim, Suzie Salmon, spoke fictionally to blinkoncrime about her break out role:

“I would rather be attending my High School with Ruth and Ray, but Holly and I have infinity edition Cosmopolitan here..”

With regard to it’s subject matter, this is the single most emotion invoking book I have ever read. I am not talking about the many publications that I have devoured that have shaped my Blink Gumbie.

I am talking about my awakening as a new Mother, to the atrocities that I needed to protect my children from.

I had no idea.

I used Deft, had plastic thingies in all my outlets, an alarm system and obnoxious monitors in the nursery. I was good to go.

Right?

I read THE LOVELY BONES over a snowed-in weekend when it was released in 2002.

The effects of the jolt to my rural ignorance remain.

The story about the rape and murder of Suzie, and her subsequent observations of her afterlife and “realtime” observation of her families despondency in dealing with her loss, is, raw. Raw-est.

Luckily, and that is no play on words for Ms. Sebolds freshman offering of “Lucky”; her first novel in which she recounts her own sexual assault, is “raw– lite” in it’s movie form in comparison.

Peter Jackson, the films director, chose in the novels adaptation to exclude the specifics, or overt references to Ms. Salmon’s actual fate.

While I struggle with the comforting, lingering angst that perhaps  allows me to suggest in some fictional way it did not happen; I think it blurs the message of the young lady who ultimately wanted to be called Susan.

Non-spoiler alert: That pedophile builds an underground hut to murder a child. She was too polite to refuse the adult who wanted to show her “his work.”  She is not his first, or last victim.

They never are. The neighbors dog found Suzies elbow.

Although I think the film is brilliantly cast, I am not thrilled from an awareness perspective that the truth about Suzie’s demise is glossed over.

That said, I think there is enough hype surrounding this work that the message will get out to the same demographic it has now insured a ticket.

The fact is, over the last year I have covered true crime, I am sad to say I have many Suzie Salmons in our collective pocket.

Our Suzies to date, who are the reason I am doing this article,  below:

Haleigh Cummings

Sunny Sandra Cantu

Nevaeh Buchanan

Sarah Foxwell

Somer Thompson

..” There was nothing anyone could have done. Nobody knew he was evil and would hurt young girls..”

-Suzie as conveyed to Blink

Everyone says that. In Suzie’s case, I would agree the resources may not have been available. For that, I will direct you to my editors choice reading selections:

The Gift of Fear… by Gavin DeBecker

Protecting The Gift.. by Gavin DeBecker

The Looking Glass ..The Lovely Bones Set, and donations to NCMEC !

In this limited edition boxed set, The Lovely Bones appears for the first time with a special companion volume, Looking Glass. This unique work integrates images of missing children with the opening chapters of The Lovely Bones, providing a powerful visual experience and honoring the thousands of children who go missing every year. Many of these children are recovered quickly, but others are still out there waiting, and the search continues. Alice Sebold is proud to support the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an organization working to prevent child abductions, find missing children, and ultimately to bring them home.

A dedication: To Ken Lanning. The dedication you have shown in your career to our children is unprecedented. I am not sure I will ever publish our interview, I will however use the knowledge as best I can.

My profound thanks for your time and observance. That was the most haunting and enlightening time I have ever spent personally or professionally.

Resources for Parents to be better informed of your childs’ neighborhood:

Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Registry

Criminal Check

FBI Site by State

Suzie-

I pray every time it will be the last for these babies. Anything you could do would be huge.

BREAKING NEWS

Monroe, MI– Sources inside the investigation into the disappearance of missing Monroe child, Nevaeh Buchanan, have confirmed to blinkoncrime.com that she has been found.

In an area along the Raisin River, the FBI Forensic Evidence Recovery Team has removed the remains of 5 year old Nevaeh and transported her to the Medical Examiner with the asisstance of the FBI.

The Monroe Police Department will not publicly confirm the identity of the child, but has confirmed they recovered the remains of a female child matching Nevaeh’s description.

The staff and readers of blinkoncrime.com wishes to extend our prayers and condolences to the friends and family of Nevaeh Buchanan.

Check back to blinkoncrime.com for updates

BREAKING NEWS

Monroe, MI– Late this afternoon, the FBI Forensics Unit was called to the scene of the Raisin River following hours of search, prompted by a tip of undisclosed origin.

This development follows the first statements made by a named Person of Interest, George Kennedy, boyfriend of Nevaeh Buchanans Mother Jennifer:

 “I ain’t got nothing to run from,” he said. “I went back to the motel room to clear my name.” “I didn’t take her and I definitely didn’t kill her,” he said. “I have no clue. I wish that I did have some clue. I am hoping that she ain’t dead. I still got my fingers crossed that they are going to find her alive.” “I was a father figure to that little girl,” he said. “Because I am a sex offender it doesn’t mean I have to bury myself under a rock. I have no regrets about knowing Nevaeh, her mother, or grandmother. I care about them a lot.”

At press time, blinkoncrime.com has confirmed that a mobile CSI team, and air support are on-scene and the immediate area has been taped off.

Check back to blinkoncrime.com for this breaking story.

Earlier today, James Easter, named earlier in the investigation as a person of interest but cleared by the District attorney at his arraignment on an arson charge, spoke to

Breaking News

Monroe, MI- Last evening a 3rd individual was taken into custody by the MPD after an extensive search at the 1520 Oak St. home of James P Easter.

Easter, 64, is said to frequent the Charlotte Arms Apartments; the last place 5 year old Nevaeh Buchanan was seen, where she resided with her mother Jennifer and her Grandmother.

Police removed numerous bags of evidence from the scene, which included remnants from a burn pit. Neighbors have desribed him as “very odd” , and some have stated they have seen him sit in the “kiddie pool” section at the neighborhood pool, and therefore would not let their children near him.

Sheriff Crutchfield, Chief of Monroe PD, indicated in a very brief press conference this morning that Easter began burning things in his backyard within 5 minutes after returning from their interview with him. He is being held for undisclosed reasons.

Monroe Police are asking for the publics help in locating two youg boys, named Dillon and Ryan, approximate ages 7 and 10, who were playing at the playground they day Nevaeh went missing. They would like to speak to them regarding anything they may have seen.  

There are 6 registered sex offenders with the last name Easter on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry, James P is not one of them.

Check back to blinkoncrime.com for updates.

Monroe, MI– In a press conference this morning, the Chief of Monroe Police Department Tilton Crutchfield indicated there is more than one person of interest in the disappearance of 5 year old Nevaeh Buchanan.

While Crutchfield would not comment on specifics, he also declined to answer whether Nevaeh’s mother, Jennifer Buchanan, was considered a POI at this time. Late this afternoon, Michigan Department of Corrections spokesperson Russ Marlan, confirmed a friend of Jennifer Buchanan, Roy Smith, 48, ALSO a convicted sex offender, is in jail. He has been there since Monday while Parole agents decide if he has violated his parole.

Roy Smith is actually one of 2 sex offenders by the same name,associated with Kennedy. The other, is one of 6 other sex offenders living at Motel 7 alongside him. It is not known if they are related.

Chief Crutchfield also deferred a reporter question as to whether or not Law Enforcement was aware that on at least 3 separate occasions over the last several months, George Kennedy’s parole officer recommended that his parole be REVOKED. On all 3 requests, the parole officer managing Kennedy’s case was overruled by his Management. 

Special Agent FBI Detroit, Edward Hanko, spoke to reporters briefly about the importance of the public keeping an open mind and to continue looking.

When asked if he was 100% sure Kennedy was “the guy” he said he learned many years ago not to make that statement until he was requesting “that piece” of paper necessary to make an arrest.

BREAKING NEWS

UPDATE I– Nevaeh playmates say she was stabbed by “Daddy George” in the woods.

Reported live on HLN Jane Valez Mitchell show, a search warrant was executed today at the Motel 6, where convicted sex offender George Kennedy, boyfriend of Nevaeh’s mom was living.

Among those items found were bloody shorts, a bloody towel, and a blood stain above the sink. Previously found in Kennedy’s fishing tackle box in his van, was a silver tool, found to contain human blood.

It is not known at this time if the blood matches the type of missing 5 year old Nevaeh Buchanan.

Check Back to blinkoncrime.com for this developing story.