Since I read it over two years ago, the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning story An Unbelievable Story of Rape has never been far from my mind. She was jolted awake by a masked man with a knife who tied her up with her own shoe strings, blindfolded, gagged, and raped her. In the early morning hours of this victims attack, a white Mazda pickup truck is spotted ten times in the lot, raising suspicions. Detective Jerry Rittgarn, who declined to be interviewed for the original news story, said hed talk for the book only under monetary compensation contract a quid pro quo the authors rejected. Miller and Armstrong teamed up for the project that became this book when they discovered they were working on it separately. The True Story Behind Netflixs Unbelievable, The Reason Hoda Kotb Hasnt Been on the Today Show, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. He said they shared writing duties, so the piece reflected their different writing and report stories. During his career, Mr. Aubermann specialized in fraud and embezzlement cases, organized crime investigations, cyber-crime investigations, and crimes against children cases. Shortly after Marie is raped, she calls the police. I am having to explain to someone how rape cases are handled so insensitivity by police in America," one viewer tweeted. Based on those doubts, the detectives coerced her into recanting and then charged her with a crime: false reporting. Manson has publicly and privately apologized to Marie for the way he handled this case and has since moved back to the narcotics division. Unbelievable on Netflix: What happened to the male detectives in real life? If you or someone you know needs help or has been affected by sexual assault, call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. East Grand Rapids, MI Two years after her attack, Lynwood police found Marie and informed her of OLearys arrest. Hiring a private investigator can help in all kinds of situations ranging from finding a birth parent to improving personal security. Like her character in the show, Galbraith is a strong Christian and admired Hendershots work for years before actually working with her on this case. They used this DNA sample to circle in on a suspect, who was originally not Marc OLeary, but his brother, Michael. They won a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for an article that led to this book (a Netflix series is also in the works). While assigned to Detroit, Mr. Vander Vliet worked bank robberies, violent crimes, and narcotics cases. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. But when the police told her OLeary had been identified as her assailant, and that her criminal record would be expunged, she got her drivers license and then a job as a truck driver. Jerry Rittgarn was born on 05/01/1947 and is 75 years old. Hendershot also knew of a 2009 case that occurred in Aurorathe attackers methods were identical. Jerry Rittgarn, who threatened Marie with jail if she failed a lie-detector test, left Lynnwood to work as a private investigator. Jerry Rittgarn asked Marie, according to the report. Her lawyer assumed Marie was faced with the charge merely because she wasted the detectives time. She was a teenager coming out of foster care and her sense of self and her support system was tentative and fragile. Crying, said she was pretty positive the rape occurred, and that wasnt affirmative enough for the cops. He told Miller and Armstrong he would talk to them only if they paid him, while complaining about victims who lie and a biased story. The other officer, however, is introspective enough to be the books most complex figure. He is a member of the state and federal bars of Wisconsin, and he is a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. He has been assigned to the protective details of both the US Attorney General and FBI Director and he has twice been assigned to provide firearms instruction at FBI Headquarters. During his career with the MSP, he held the ranks of Trooper Investigator, Detective Sergeant, and First Lieutenant. Dahmer's LGBTQ+ controversy and backlash explained. Matching evidence collected from two separate crime scenes confirmed to Galbraith and Hendershot that they were connected. Jeff Mason didn't believe her. Rittgarn was more experienced in that he had worked as a detective for 11 years already, but this experience was mostly limited to cases involving helicopters and the aerospace industry. Mr. Alexander served as an FBI Special Agent in several cities around the country, however, the majority of his career was spent in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he served as the Senior Resident Agent. Detective Stacy Galbraith (portrayed as character Karen Duvall in Unbelievable, played by Merritt Wever) sat on the couch across from her husband, also a cop, and described her work day in detail. According to the report, Cunningham called Sgt. Her hobbies include perpetual coffee sipping and pretending to be a Chopped contestant while cooking. Mr. Vander Vliet is an FBI-certified Technical Agent. Unbelievable is the story of a girl known as Marie who, in 2008, was victim-blamed and coerced into falsifying her own rape story. The vehicle was registered under Marc Patrick OLeary. Jerry Rittgarn, who threatened Marie with jail if she failed a lie-detector test, left Lynnwood to work as a private investigator. Armstrongs appearance at Elliott Bay Book Company provided some insight into how this remarkable piece came to be. The implicit bias against sexual assault victims is a national embarrassment that extends far beyond the Lynnwood borders. Then she said she made it up. Marie conceded and later told her case managers that she, in fact, had not been raped. For me, its the case even the most craven apologists for unrestrained police power cant explain away. Go here to subscribe. Ken Armstrong, a former reporter with the Seattle Times, came by Elliott Bay Book Company on Wednesday evening to read from, and talk about, his new book. They kept to the truth often but changed a few things for it. . What's more, of the sexual violence crimes not reported to police from 2005 to 2010, 13% believed the police would not do anything to help, according to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). On Friday, September 13, Netflix released a new limited series that truly adopts the definition of its title. Again, no experience with sexual assault victims. It was an incredible, serendipitous moment both in the series and in real life and it is that conversation that sets the entire story in motion, eventually leading to Maries vindication and the capturing of a serial rapist. T Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, the investigators who broke the story for Pro Publica, also interviewed Steve Rider, the commander of Lynnwoods Criminal Investigations Division. RELATED: 10 Weird True Crime Stories Netflix Should Cover In A Documentary Next. Ron Neil founded Lair Investigations, LLC, in 1998 after serving 26 years with the Michigan Department of State Police (MSP). Mr. Blynn began his career as a Crime Scene Investigator/Latent Fingerprint Examiner with the Miami Dade Public Safety Department in Florida. ronaldneil@thebureaugroup.com. There was some levity that Armstrong brought to Elliott Bay Book Company by way of talking about reporting the story for NPRs This American Life. I found it delightful to hear that Ira Glass is prone to four-letter words. Jerry Rittgarn Detective at Lynnwood PD Lynnwood, Washington, United States 3 connections. It is painful to read, and difficult to understand how this type of behavior on the part of experienced police officers can happen in a professional police department. 12 Likes, 0 Comments - Jule Saynes (@resident_of_collinwood82) on Instagram: "Happy Birthday Actor Jerry Lacy, he played Private Investigator Tony Peterson, Reverned Trask," As a Tech Agent, he was responsible for the installation of the most cutting-edge electronic surveillance devices, which included cameras, microphones, telephone wiretaps, GPS trackers, and other devices. This is an incredibly timely and important story because it hit at the same time the broader culture is talking about these exact issues. Mr. Crumb investigated or oversaw numerous investigations concerning complex financial crimes and fraudulent activities. Ph: 269-208-5217 Jeff Mason didn't believe her. Mr. Alexander has been involved in numerous FBI investigations to include white collar crimes, violent crimes, crimes against children and the elderly, crimes against corporations, and crimes against federal/local governments. What's most unbelievable of all is how the real-life male detectives who initially worked on Marie's case could treat her so badly when they should have been the ones helping her. Neither man followed standard protocol. (Jerry) Alexander. Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning story in Pro Publica, this memorable book examines the case of a serial rapist and his first victim, who initially wasnt believed. They moved from looking exclusively at unsolved rape cases to looking at home invasions as well, and they found an interesting case. She called its authorities the next morning, and was immediately paired with Westminster Detective Edna Hendershot (portrayed as character Grace Rasmussen in Unbelievable, played by Toni Collette). Since September of 2010, he continues to be a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. It was a story out of a horror movie or a Law & Order script. When word got out, even Maries friends turned against her. They also found one of Maries kitchen knives next to the bed and her learners permitoddly removed from her walleton the bedroom windowsill. He holds FBI certifications as a Police Instructor, SWAT Operator, Tactical Instructor, and Firearms Instructor. Years later, here was incontrovertible proof that she had told the truth. Ph: 616-901-7796 Others were less willing to engage publicly in such self-reflection. Bureau Group personnel are proud members of these associations. Parker and Pruitt portray real-life investigators Sgt. As previously noted, Detective Rittgarn left the department prior to Marie's rapist being caught. A learners permit was placed on her chest. The Bureau Group is the premier private investigative firm in West Michigan. The message could not be clearer: old theories on why to distrust women reporting rape still influence many of us today, which makes this an especially timely work. He is also a veteran of the United States Army, having served as a military police officer. Upon his retirement from the FBI after serving in Southwestern Michigan, Johnson moved to Washington D.C. and worked as the Special Agent in Charge for the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR). The Bureau Group is composed of retired law enforcement officials who hail from West Michigan and share the values of the region. kennethcolby@thebureaugroup.com. Mr. Colby has experience in school security audits, active shooter training and the development of threat assessment teams. Both Rittgarn. Sgt. Miller was reporting on the Colorado angle for ProPublica, an investigative news organization, and Armstrong was chasing Maries story for the Marshall Project, a group that focuses on criminal justice journalism. Mr. Blynn began his career with the FBI in Washington, DC, and he has also been assigned as a Special Agent to the FBIs St. Louis Office and the New York City Office. Youll love our magazine! Unbelievable | Official Trailer | Netflix. When an important and widely read news story is later expanded into a book, readers can be excused for wondering if the original has merely been padded. The John Grisham-worthy twist comes from the investigation of three rapes 1,300 miles away, in two suburbs and a city outside of Denver. Here are eight important details you should know about the true story that inspired Unbelievable. He was also playing guitar with his friends and planning to have a baby with his wife. His name is Marc OLeary. Sgt. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Western Michigan University. Peggy relayed her misgivings to the police, setting in motion a chain of disastrous decisions by the Lynnwood investigators that unraveled the life Marie was just beginning to make for herself, and gave T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong the title for their new book, A False Report.. After hours of questioning Marie, Detective Parker calls in some backup. Until wider changes are made to the national justice system, cases like the one that Unbelievable is based on could still happen. Mason moved to his post working on narcotics cases. Mike Heffron recently retired from the FBI with 27 years investigative and coordinator experience. Mr. Colby has served as a Special Deputy United States Marshal, the Chief of Police for Kalamazoo Valley Community College, a Major for the Kalamazoo Public Safety Department, and as a Captain in the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office. According to her, Mason apologised, saying he was "deeply sorry", but unlike the show, Rittgarn was nowhere to be seen. Its gripping and needs no dressing up. Grand Rapids, MI Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. If Camus The Stranger was about the nakedness of man when faced with the absurd, this is how it might be told as a true crime story in 2018. One person they didn't talk to was one of the two officers who were tasked with investigating the case, Detective Jerry Rittgarn, who looks to have scrubbed almost everything off of his LinkedIn . Come for the Seinfeld references, stay for the Producers references. While still dealing with the trauma of what had just happened to her, Marie eventually buckled under the pressure and retracted her statement in a desperate attempt to escape and return home. Her co-star Danielle Macdonald also revealed what she thought of Marie's investigation. Yet she had indeed been raped, by an assailant who considered himself a student of the act and had been battling his demons since childhood. In Lynnwood, the Police Department didnt fire or discipline anyone, but it did try to learn from its mistakes, Miller and Armstrong reassuringly report. The Bureau Group is the premier private investigative firm in West Michigan. An internal review found that the second interview conducted by Mason and Rittgarn was "designed to elicit a confession of false reporting" from Marie and that a call from her foster mother unduly swayed Mason's judgement. "We have to treat these kind of cases more singularly.". Ph: 772-913-5280 Hes now in prison for life. Instead of being treated like the victim she was, Marie was questioned repeatedly by the two male detectives in charge of her case who began to poke and prod at inconsistencies in her story. Shes also worked as a social editor for House Beautiful and had previous writing stints at Redbook,CosmopolitanandSeventeen. As a result, Marie was charged with a gross demeanor and had to pay $500 for court costs. With all of this damning evidence to contend with, you'd imagine that Mason and Rittgarn would have suffered some kind of consequences for how they treated Marie. 1000 Paseo Camarillo Ste 206, Camarillo, CA 93010. Dont miss a thing by downloading Apple News here and liking Prevention. In its moral clarity, its possible to find Miller and Armstrongs project comforting. The in-depth piece considers every disturbing detail, most of which were studied and implemented (many times word for word) into the storys TV rendition. People cope differently, react differently," Kaitlyn says. 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