I want to say, in answering this question, that I am not convinced RFG walked away, by a long shot.
The main problem I have with Ray being a walkaway is his being a law and order type guy (my perception from reading about him) and knowing that the investigation into his disappearance would take enormous resources away from real crime victims. Walkaway seems very narcissistic, especially in light of the pain caused to the folks left behind...Wouldn't that eat into his soul as a former district attorney? Did he have a strong personal conscience?
The very first thing that I want to say is that it breaks absolutely no law to voluntarily leave your life.
If Mr. Gricar walked away, his action was perfectly legal. It would no longer be a police matter.
Second, RFG, whatever happened to him, was in a financial position where he provided for his daughter and, to an extent his girlfriend. His daughter had access to his bank deposits (more than $100,000), and can claim his pension if she files to have him declared dead; she could do now if she wishes. He paid his girlfriends mortgage and the Mini Cooper, which he paid for fully and he drove principally, was in
her name, solely. He left no debt.
Three, if his daughter ever goes to court to have him declared dead,
she will have to swear she never heard from him. If he contacts her, he would be putting her in a position to commit perjury, a criminal act that, if caught, could cause her to do jail time. RFG was a good lawyer, and would realize this.
Four, RFG did absolutely nothing to make it look like suicide or murder; he easily could have done both, if his purpose was to walk away and he wanted to misdirect the police. He could have left a "suicide" note; he could broken his nonprescription sunglasses, his cell phone or his watch and left then in the Mini. He could have left his wallet in the Mini, minus credit cards and cash; making it look like robbery. He could have pricked his finger and left a smear of blood in the Mini.
He didn't do any of those things to make it look like suicide or murder (even during a robbery).
In that regard, if RFG did walk away, he did not attempt to mislead LE, or anyone else. He never did anything to say, in effect, **I'm a victim, look for me.** In other words, if he walked away, he didn't lie, he just didn't us what he was doing. He does not legally owe anyone an explanation and morally, he certainly does not owe most of us one, including me. The explanation to his family and girlfriend is to provide for them financially.
In terms of cost to the community, for more than a decade RFG was grossly underpaid. He worked 40-60 hours a week, but was treated as
part time. His first term began in 1986; I looked up his salary in 1987; he was making $27,742.00
gross. Despite the fact that he was working more than full time, had more than 15 years experience, and required an advanced degree to hold the position, he was making less than $28,000 per year.
Even though he begged the county to make the position full time; they declined to do so until 1996 or 1997. His pay increased as a part timer, but not anything close to what someone with similar experience.
Legally, this isn't a good argument, but
morally, maybe the county should give him the difference between the cost of the investigation and payment for the work he actually did. I'd have a feeling, he'd end up ahead of the game.