I understand from a relative that a much more distant relative-in-law was among the victims in Maine. No one I've ever met, and married to somebody I haven't seen since the Reagan administration, but still news to make you stumble a bit.
I live in Portland, and it's very close to home. Schools are closed, businesses were yesterday.
Lewiston is about 45 minutes from here, and everyone knows someone, the shock is still sinking in.
The area where he was last spotted is very rural, and it's been since Wednesday night, so I'm preparing myself for a long wait.
A very good friend of mine is in higher ed admin in Portland. We spoke on the phone this morning, and it sounds like an incredibly stressful situation all around. Multiple people connected to her institution were hurt or killed.
2: My dad used to be in Dresden - wondering if Brunswick locked down too.
Brunswick is more locked down than than Portland. Most businesses reopened today, but schools and many daycares are closed, here. Brunswick is much closer to Lewiston, and even closer to the towns where the search has been focused.
On the OP, I think heebie is likely right that this might just be an independent bit of racism. Which is probably worse.
There is isn't a good article out yet, but it's pretty clear that the police screwed this one up.
They failed to sweep the trailer his body was in, and spent two days searching for a man who was dead in the trailer across the street from where his car was found, the center of their search.
This is in addition to all the missed chances to stop him ahead of time, the usually ignored warnings and calls for help from those near him, in this case including the army reserve.
Of course
Of course I clicked post too soon.
Of course, I don't think it will get any traction.
Civilians just don't understand how difficult it can be to notice a dead body.
The Attorney General in South Dakota lost his job for a fatal hit and run. But I don't think he suffered any real consequences.
Civilians just don't understand how difficult it can be to notice a dead body.
True, actually. Even when the body is in an actual car.
This story got a bit of attention a while ago: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bodies-found-wales-missing-eve-smith-b2294735.html and there have been many similar cases
At the transit station an hour ago I walked past someone lying on the stairs almost fully covered by a blanket. Not much way to tell if they were sleeping or dead.
I mean, that would have been appropriate for me to try.
Covering stairs with a blanket is a tripping hazard.