I would guess that we all know of people that have had bad childhoods, bad experiences or tragedy happen to them that have gone on to live normal productive lives. So, how does someone get this messed up to think that they have the right to kidnap, sexually abuse, assault, exploit, and murder? Not to mention, thinking they are justified in taking away and defining how the family and friends of the victims live the rest of their lives. This monster literally stole the lives of so many people, granted they are still living and breathing, but I guarantee you they are not living their lives the same as they would have prior to the day the crime was committed to them or their loved one. Where is justice for them and why isn't that a criminal offense that's punishable by law?
I would like to pose a question since I am new to the boards. I had to ask myself today--why am I so fascinated with this case? Was it the mystery? My sense of needing justice? After reading about Jacob's responses like "What did i do wrong?" or how he wanted to go home and then cried, it made me numb for about a half hour. Well, I found an answer to my question--at least in part....A few days before I turned 14, one of my good friends I went to school with, Eugene Martin, was kidnapped and has never been seen again. At the time, I was terrified, super anxious, nervous, just horribly upset by the news. I wasn't just upset because of what happened to Eugene, but my parents explained to me what happens when a young person is taken (most likely)--which made me feel worse than I did because just a few months before this, my uncle by marriage had begun molesting me. Now--I'm saying this not for attention or whatever (because I have already come out with this information about 10 years ago)-but just to put you in my mindset today. A few months before this happened, my uncle had taken me to a motel and promised me that a girl was coming to have sex with us. I was excited and scared at the same time--I knew it was wrong, but I was 13 and very curious--not unlike most 13 year old boys. When this 'girl' didn't show up, he wanted me to 'practice' with him. I became scared because he wanted me to do certain things that I didn't want to do and I felt trapped in this room with him, so I bolted--at least I tried to. He blocked me from the door and we got into a wrestling match, and he was much stronger than me. He began choking me so hard I nearly passed out. I don't remember how I got him off of me--all I remember is somehow escaping, running outside the motel and crying. I tried to go to the front of the motel when he came out. I asked him to take me home. Stupid as I was, he could have easily taken me somewhere else and killed me. I wasn't thinking about that--I just wanted to go home. He took me home. I never told my parents or anyone until 2001, when I was 30. Now fast forward a few months in August to when Eugene was kidnapped. I wanted to tell my parents about my uncle but I was afraid either they wouldn't believe me or that I would be in a lot of trouble. So, hearing about Eugene really screwed me up inside. Then to top it all off about 3 weeks after Eugene disappeared, school started. Sometime in that first week (I can't remember if it was the 1st day or 2nd day--probably the 2nd or maybe even the 3rd day of school), I was walking to catch a bus with a friend. I wanted to walk another 5 blocks to catch the bus downtown so I could check out some new baseball cards. My friend didn't want to come with me so i went on alone. A few minutes later, I thought a car was following me, and i stopped to look and I was right. A man pulled up beside me and asked if i needed a ride, where I was headed. My "Eugene antenna" went up as I said no I didn't need one. I distinctly remember quickly looking for an escape route when the man turned into an abandoned lot to my right (he had to cross in front of me). He got out of his car and before his second foot could hit the ground I was gone. I was damn fast too. I ran maybe 2 or 3 blocks when he finally stopped following me after doing a U in the parking lot. I ran into the front office of a used car lot and called my Dad. We called the police, but yep---they never showed up. We left and went home.
So--I was thinking about this today--Why am I so interested in this case? It finally dawned on me this afternoon. I wanted to know what would have happened to me if this man had gotten ahold of me. Would I have cried out? asked to go home? Today has been unnerving to say the least. Looking back, it is hard to believe all that happened to me within a span of months, but it did. Nothing that dramatic like that has happened to me since then--at least not in a bad way. I guess today I put myself in his shoes and from experience, I could empathize with how he must have felt. So I ask you all--why are you so interested in this case? I'd like to know--maybe it will help me stop shaking and go to sleep--
