Hard on the heels of the article announcing the ID show about Lauren's case, The Telegraph/macon.com showcased a "special report" section about the case -- anticipating renewed interest after the show, I assume. It appears to be a collection of articles/videos mostly from toward the end of the case.
Since macon.com recently went through a site redesign, I'm not sure how many of our older links to its coverage still work, so thought I would bring the link to the recent "special report" section here:
http://www.macon.com/news/special-reports/lauren-giddings-murder/
I went through much of this collection last night before I watched the show, and was surprised to find some of it more disturbing in retrospect. The filming of Lauren's apartment with a camera taped to a stick...what can I say. It lingered on my mind for hours last night. The depth of McD's depravity is staggering. The allocution, imo, is a crock, a sterile version of the true events. For the sake of LG's family, I'm thankful there was no trial. On the other hand, it galls me that McD was spared a full exposure of his deeds. Thanks to Amy Womack and Joe Kovac at
The Telegraph, and the reporting by WMAZ, at least the local public -- and those of us who followed on the web -- got a close glimpse.
Which leads me to the program last night. I was a little bothered by the license taken with the timeline. McD was depicted as something of an afterthought. And all that focus on the ex-bf, and the suspected "love triangle", if LE was seriously looking at that angle, it was a well-kept secret. From what I recall, the lawyer was cleared pretty quickly, and I barely recall any mention of an ex-bf. McD obviously was a prime suspect from day one. But all in all, I'd say they did a fair job, sans sensationalism and gratuitous gore.
I enjoyed hearing from Amy, and Lauren's family of course. Not to mention the LE officers, particularly Chief Burns. LOL I've always liked him, ever since that interview when a reporter asked if McD was cooperating, and that sheepish grin came over his face. He couldn't hide it. And after viewing the interrogation videos, it was easy to see why!