How A Town Reacts To A Serial Rapist
I decided to go and hear what folks were saying about the big-bellied rapist yesterday.
I’m not going to use their names here and basically what I learned has been very accurately covered in this story from The Pacer, which is a publication for UT Martin. It’s a good read and focuses on the lack of communication about certain aspects of the case and how that has created tension/rumors around the community.
The TBI is here and the local police departments have beefed up patrols trying to ensure safety but there is a heightened level of anxiety. Two students on campus have created a Facebook page that is offering a place to talk about where to purchase pepper spray/self-defense tools and is also escorting women to where they need to be. It’s a good idea, seems to be highly organized and is a place where students are getting validation for the fear they feel. I also noticed that it is also a place where folks are saying what they are hearing. It’s what we’ve all heard quite frankly but there hasn’t been any confirmation on any of these aspects so when it comes to rumors, I’m taking some of it as just another reason to be cautious but not necessarily as fact. There is even an interactive map on where the attacks were created by a student on Google maps.
The rumor mill is feeding a lot of the fear in the town as well as the rapist. It’s the old, very real standard that there is a monster in our midst but we don’t know who the monster is. Folks just want to know what’s going on. And, let’s remember, we live in a society where we are all a little bit of Gus Grissom. As we aren’t hearing official notification on certain aspects of the case, people are trying to put things together themselves. I’m afraid that’s not very helpful and is feeding into the terror.
Women need to know what they are up against.
One young woman said “I’m very concerned that I don’t know what he’s actually after. Is it college students? Is it younger women or does he care? I wish we knew more about what he’s after. I wish the police would let us know if there is a pattern. Are they blondes or brunettes? What is the age range? I really want to know.”
I don’t know at this point if the TBI is allowing local law enforcement authorities to give any information out so they have more to work with. I’ve seen this happen before and the TBI usually locks down a case. I’m not saying I agree with it, but it’s usually pretty standard procedure. This has just been my experience at least having worked with them in the past.
“One question I have is that I’m not clear of whether or not he’s in the house when they get home,” another woman asked. “Is he already inside? And how is he getting inside? Is he breaking in through windows or picking a lock? I wish this was clearer.”
That’s a good question. I talked to a local business yesterday afternoon who has quite a bit of rental property. They are being very aggressive in handing out information, trying to meet with their tenants and checking locks in their townhomes/apartments/houses to make sure everything is in order. I believe that’s an excellent idea. There was also some discussion of meeting with their renters and offering practical advice and answering questions.
“I’m scared. Every little noise scares me because the last rape happened just down the street from me,” yet another concerned woman said. “My son and I are terrified. I keep hearing all this different stuff and it’s hard to determine what’s real and what’s not.”
One of the toughest young women I know still lives with her family. The incident that happened on Sunday scared her and the girl that I know who is usually billy bad ass was very somber. “Dad left for awhile and I was asleep but I heard him lock the door as he went out to breakfast with his friends, which woke me up. I didn’t go back to sleep until he came home. I guess I’m more freaked out about this than I thought.”
Personally, I don’t believe older women are in this guy’s demographic if you piece this stuff together, but that doesn’t really matter in the big picture. Women are scared and rightfully so. When folks are sitting over a cup of coffee or dinner, or even a beer, and they keep hearing information that has not been verified or denied, it creates a larger issue and feeds more fear. This issue concerns me. The mystery of the monster in our midst and the conversation laced with terror coming from women will continue to grow.
The feelings are valid. Everyone wants to feel safe and they don’t.
I was talking to my friend The Engineer and we both agreed that right now any man with a big gut is being eyed warily. This, of course, was to be expected, but in a conversation that included several community leaders late yesterday, there is some heightened concern that an innocent man is going to get hurt.
But the paranoia is there and, I guess, at this point can’t be avoided.
“Everyone on campus was looking for someone, anyone that fits this description,” one female student said. “I found myself really studying men who have a big stomach. I know that may not be fair, but who knows if that’s the guy.”
One thing I’ve seen happening as well is that each night, there is another rumor of another attack. There hasn’t been one since Sunday but my phone and email account has been inundated with messages asking if there had been another attack on Monday and then again last night with one woman even leaving me a message on my Facebook page.
This is the anatomy of the fear in the community, but the reality is very simple.
We are a town waiting for the next one. The rapist seems to be escalating his attacks. So one of these days, one of these messages is going to be real.
As I said, we are a town waiting.
We don’t know anything official. We may not be hearing anything official at this point but I do know that is not stopping the conversation.
One woman summed it up perfectly. “I’m just scared. I don’t want to be alone. This man raped a girl in front of her own parents. If he will do that, he will do anything.”
I wish they had an eye or hair color description.
I agree.
Me too…eye/hair color would be helpful…I have to agree that I’d like to know who his targets have been…what the pattern is. Has there been a vehicle connected with him or is he on foot?
And as the mother of a daughter (even though she’s just a toddler right now)…the thought of what happened in the last attack (or rather what was rumored to have happened…was that ever confirmed about the parents?) really shook me. The presence of other people didn’t protect that girl and that’s scary.
[...] » How A Town Reacts To A Serial RapistPosted 52 minutes [...]
I was attacked by two men near my house in Nashville 3 years ago. Mace was NOT a deterrent for them; the only thing that saved me from being put into the back of their car and taken god knows where was a passerby who stopped to help me. I’ve since been told (by police and a self defense coach) to carry wasp spray. It shoots farther (about 10 feet) and is more accurate than mace. By the time the mace could reach my attackers, they already had a strong hold of my arms.
It’s hard to recover from something like that. Please, don’t be afraid to call your friends, or stay with someone else while the threat of rape is high. I’m a very independent single female, but sometimes it’s okay to ask for help, or to have a male you trust stay on your couch for a week or two. You deserve better than living in fear.
Excellent advice Megan. Thank you!
I walked around marinating this story in my brain yesterday and the conclusion I came to is there needs to be a large display of public anger — something like a “National Night Out” or a “Take Back The Night”. Women walking arm in arm – with them men that love them there as well. Anger should be expressed. This animal should be made well aware that people are PISSED and, in the word of The Dude “This aggression will not stand, man.”
One young woman said “I’m very concerned that I don’t know what he’s actually after. Is it college students? Is it younger women or does he care? I wish we knew more about what he’s after. I wish the police would let us know if there is a pattern. Are they blondes or brunettes? What is the age range? I really want to know.”
Here’s the thing: does it really matter if there is a pattern and if he does and everyone knew it was blondes with tiny dogs that drove blue cars, wouldn’t that lull everyone else into a false sense of security? If all the blondes hid their tiny dogs and blue cars after dying their hair he’d just move onto someone else eventually, and the rapes would still happen.
Good work, ‘Coma in getting the story out there. I’m really pissed that this is taking place. I hope this animal is castrated when it’s all said and done.
I grew up in that area but have since moved out of state. I am so frightened for my family and friends there and am relying on Facebook and you to keep me informed. I have found myself watching over my shoulder here in DC – probably should do that anyway! This has heightened my awareness and has me on edge. Take care everyone and be safe – hope they catch this moron very soon!! thanks for the updates!!
If the witness description that led to the drawing was accurate, someone knows who this guy is. He’ll be wearing a baseball cap now, though. I’d ask the bartenders and package store clerks.
I’d be careful about the wasp spray. The effective ones contain cholinesterase inhibitors (nerves turn on but they never turn off) and are essentially nerve gas. I wouldn’t carry that around with me every day.
The Google Map was a reminder for me that Martin is still close to home. Those are neighborhoods I’ve been in or at least near.
Thanks for all of this info/links. This whole thing (and sexual assault in general) infuriates me.
speaking of maps – re: what Loveable Liberal said – has anyone pinpointed the attack sites on a map — because it stands to reason this guy is not leaving his “comfort zone” — often times, you can find the perp in the center of the crime scenes. Just a thought…
Beth, I have one linked up top from Google re: the Martin rapes.
doh! thanks!
[...] now in Hooterville the police and TBI are trying to capture a serial rapist who has struck 3 times in the last 2 months. Everyone is impatient and scared, particularly the young women who are potential victims. As you [...]
We never think, it will be someone we know ! I know this young man…Who can figure ?
I do too. It’s a shame that the local media didn’t get the story first. But, Don, I’m glad they made an arrest. It was scaring so many people.