There is a certain kind of anger that certain news items inspire: Bush lying, the weak Senate Democrats, and so forth; Kansas creationists, the Katrina response ....
But this time, it's a different anger, something more intimate that somehow tempers the disgust. It's the kind of anger that keeps you warm.
The event is hardly unique, and perhaps that fuels the anger.
I picked up the story shortly after it broke. A murder-suicide occurred at the University of Washington during class hours. The moment must have been surreal for the people in the vicinity; people heard the gunshots. Talk about nightmares, though? KUOW radio (94.9 FM, Seattle; see KUOW.org) reported that nobody really reacted at first because there is a lot of construction taking place in the area. But apparently there was one professor who paused in his lecture, waited a few seconds, shrugged and said, "I don't hear any screams," and went on with the lecture. Poor guy.
Reports on the first day stated that the victim's co-workers knew she was being stalked; the assailant's picture was even posted in the office where she worked. Allegedly, a restraining order had been issued but not served.
It is a tragic story, and hardly unique. And it had slipped my attention for a few days. But then The Stranger stepped in. Among the regular columns in Seattle's best newspaper is one "Police Beat", by Charles Mudede. Typically, the column consists of excerpts from police reports mingled with existentialist commentary. But this week, they decided to cover the big story.
This week it is a difficult read, but I encourage all to do so: "Police Beat", April 5, 2007.
Talk about nightmares ....
The summary:
They had him.
Seventeen hours.
I think it's that number that stokes the anger.
Seventeen freaking hours.
There are, of course, many questions remaining. Rowan was in the country illegally, and yet police repeatedly released him from custody. What, exactly, was happening with the restraining order? Given that they had him in custody seventeen hours before the shooting, why did they not hold him for the violation? Was his name even Jonathan Rowan?
The Rochdale Observer reports:
Some excerpts from Rebecca Griego's application for a restraining order can be found at True Crime Blog UK.
But this time, it's a different anger, something more intimate that somehow tempers the disgust. It's the kind of anger that keeps you warm.
The event is hardly unique, and perhaps that fuels the anger.
I picked up the story shortly after it broke. A murder-suicide occurred at the University of Washington during class hours. The moment must have been surreal for the people in the vicinity; people heard the gunshots. Talk about nightmares, though? KUOW radio (94.9 FM, Seattle; see KUOW.org) reported that nobody really reacted at first because there is a lot of construction taking place in the area. But apparently there was one professor who paused in his lecture, waited a few seconds, shrugged and said, "I don't hear any screams," and went on with the lecture. Poor guy.
Reports on the first day stated that the victim's co-workers knew she was being stalked; the assailant's picture was even posted in the office where she worked. Allegedly, a restraining order had been issued but not served.
It is a tragic story, and hardly unique. And it had slipped my attention for a few days. But then The Stranger stepped in. Among the regular columns in Seattle's best newspaper is one "Police Beat", by Charles Mudede. Typically, the column consists of excerpts from police reports mingled with existentialist commentary. But this week, they decided to cover the big story.
This week it is a difficult read, but I encourage all to do so: "Police Beat", April 5, 2007.
Talk about nightmares ....
The summary:
June 30, 2006: Jonathan Rowan busted for DUI, presumably arrested.
March 5, 2007: Jonathan Rowan moves out of his Ballard (Seattle) home under "weird" circumstances involving Seattle police. Rebecca Griego informs police that Rowan may be wanted by British authorities for prior crimes.
March 6, 2007: Police learn that Rowan allegedly assaulted Griego in January. Rowan calls Rebecca Griego at work, tells her that she cannot get away from him, should be looking over her shoulder, and threatens to harm or steal her dogs. Rebecca Griego seeks court protection order. Later in the day, Rebecca Griego reports that Rowan called her cell phone ten times, including threatening messages such as, "I'm going to fuck you up."
March 31, 2007: Police respond to call accusing Jonathan Rowan of attacking Rebecca Griego at her home.
April 1, 2007; 4:16 PM: Police arrest Jonathan Rowan at Rebecca Griego's home after he attempts forced entry. Rebecca Griego reveals that she is five months pregnant with Rowan's child.
April 2, 2007; 9:30 AM: Jonathan Rowan shoots Rebecca Griego several times with a stolen .357, killing her, and then takes his own life.
March 5, 2007: Jonathan Rowan moves out of his Ballard (Seattle) home under "weird" circumstances involving Seattle police. Rebecca Griego informs police that Rowan may be wanted by British authorities for prior crimes.
March 6, 2007: Police learn that Rowan allegedly assaulted Griego in January. Rowan calls Rebecca Griego at work, tells her that she cannot get away from him, should be looking over her shoulder, and threatens to harm or steal her dogs. Rebecca Griego seeks court protection order. Later in the day, Rebecca Griego reports that Rowan called her cell phone ten times, including threatening messages such as, "I'm going to fuck you up."
March 31, 2007: Police respond to call accusing Jonathan Rowan of attacking Rebecca Griego at her home.
April 1, 2007; 4:16 PM: Police arrest Jonathan Rowan at Rebecca Griego's home after he attempts forced entry. Rebecca Griego reveals that she is five months pregnant with Rowan's child.
April 2, 2007; 9:30 AM: Jonathan Rowan shoots Rebecca Griego several times with a stolen .357, killing her, and then takes his own life.
They had him.
Seventeen hours.
I think it's that number that stokes the anger.
Seventeen freaking hours.
There are, of course, many questions remaining. Rowan was in the country illegally, and yet police repeatedly released him from custody. What, exactly, was happening with the restraining order? Given that they had him in custody seventeen hours before the shooting, why did they not hold him for the violation? Was his name even Jonathan Rowan?
The Rochdale Observer reports:
The Observer understands the gunman to be a Jonathan Ghulam Nabi Rowan, who was born on 13 March, 1966, at Birch Hill Hospital.
His parents, Michael and Dorothy (maiden name Holt), are believed to have lived in Clover Street – a house thought to have later been demolished.
But police in Seattle say they cannot rule out the possibility that the dead man was using a stolen identity, having found at least three aliases and two passports at his home address.
What is clear is that a man carrying a passport bearing the name Jonathan Rowan left Britain for America in 1996, where he was later arrested several times for driving offences and being drunk in Washington State.
He began a relationship with Miss Griego, a university reasearcher, but this ended in 2004 because of his growing obsession for her.
In the weeks before her death, Miss Griego had taken drastic steps to avoid her ex-boyfriend, changing her mobile phone number, moving house and later obtaining a restraining order after he hurled a glass candlestick holder at her in a drunken rage.
His parents, Michael and Dorothy (maiden name Holt), are believed to have lived in Clover Street – a house thought to have later been demolished.
But police in Seattle say they cannot rule out the possibility that the dead man was using a stolen identity, having found at least three aliases and two passports at his home address.
What is clear is that a man carrying a passport bearing the name Jonathan Rowan left Britain for America in 1996, where he was later arrested several times for driving offences and being drunk in Washington State.
He began a relationship with Miss Griego, a university reasearcher, but this ended in 2004 because of his growing obsession for her.
In the weeks before her death, Miss Griego had taken drastic steps to avoid her ex-boyfriend, changing her mobile phone number, moving house and later obtaining a restraining order after he hurled a glass candlestick holder at her in a drunken rage.
Some excerpts from Rebecca Griego's application for a restraining order can be found at True Crime Blog UK.
I warned you not to go.
I warned you not to stay.
I warned you not to dig your own, dig your own little fucking grave ....
.... Did I warn you?
Did I warn you?
Did I warn you?
Did I warn you?
Did I warn you?
This time I'll concentrate;
Lie back in the water and wait.
This thing I intend to do
Is harder on me than it
Is on you!
(Floater, "Kill the Girl")
I warned you not to stay.
I warned you not to dig your own, dig your own little fucking grave ....
.... Did I warn you?
Did I warn you?
Did I warn you?
Did I warn you?
Did I warn you?
This time I'll concentrate;
Lie back in the water and wait.
This thing I intend to do
Is harder on me than it
Is on you!
(Floater, "Kill the Girl")