GUILTY WI - 12-Year-Old Girls Stab Friend 19 Times for Slenderman, Waukesha, 31 May 2014 #2

[tlcya]

I think it likely that with or without victim and family cooperation there will be a Dr. Phil episode.

I tend to agree that the victim family is best off avoiding extended interviews, special appearances, etc. I think the more that comes via a family mouthpiece or attorney as oposed to directly from the victim or parents the better. Which is why I have no problem with the parents having hired an attorney. I have hope that they will utilize the attorney for that function and keep life as behind closed door as possible while the victim recovers from the trauma of the attack.

I hope that some of the funds raised in the name of the victim are used to get her extensive counseling so that she can process the betrayal of trust and issue that this may raise going forward thanks to it.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

In the USA if someone is a victim of crime (especially a child victim) does the state offer any kind of support ie counselling?

 

[tlcya]

In general the states can't even afford to keep enough prisons open and staffed to house the criminals. So in theory, some basic services are allegedly offered, but for long term treatment if needed - not that I have ever seen or heard about.

 

[tlcya]

here are some that are apparently available in WI

most seem to be about emergency or crisis assistance but apparently there is a site at DOJ that lists resources by state


http://www.doj.state.wi.us/ocvs/victim-rights/victim-resource-center



ETA: this is interesting, these are tips found on that gov website for dealing with the press

http://www.doj.state.wi.us/ocvs/specialized-resources/tips-victims-interacting-media

Interacting with the Media – Tips for Crime Victims

As a victim of crime you may find media attention upsetting or helpful. You might be contacted by the media or
perhaps you would like to communicate with the media but are not sure how to do so. The press can be an
important ally in some cases. However, for victims seeking privacy, it can be difficult to know how to interact
with members of the media. Above all, remember the choice is yours. The following tips were developed to
give crime victims practical advice related to working with the media.

• If you do not want direct interaction with the press but find that it is hard to avoid the press, it might be
helpful to appoint a spokesperson who will speak on your behalf. A spokesperson can be anyone you trust
who is willing to protect your privacy and represent you and your family in a positive way. A spokesperson
can release statements at your request, respond to press inquiries or accompany you to interviews if you
decide to speak to the press.



the list continues with great info for how to handle the media


I never knew about this .gov resource. The state by state is very helpful. Thanks for your question MrsG, it caused me to go looking for answers.

 

[blue22]

The media do not care about victims, they are only interested in ratings and the advertising dollars that follow, any contact with media will not be helpful to the child, the best thing for them to do would be simply to say 'no' .. I think the way this is going with fundraisers and attention will only make her recovery more problematic.

Big mistake IMO.

I think it's pretty rude and callous to assume the family (who are VICTIMS) would go traipsing to Dr. Phil, to dangle their daughter in front of audiences.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

I think it's pretty rude and callous to assume the family (who are VICTIMS) would go traipsing to Dr. Phil, to dangle their daughter in front of audiences.

Actually it's the Dr Phil producers who will go traipsing to the family, offering them all kinds of incentives, without warning them of the downfalls.

 

[NancyA]

In the USA if someone is a victim of crime (especially a child victim) does the state offer any kind of support ie counselling?

No or at least not much to speak of. And there's the rub when we rush to judgment about families of victims who go the fund-raising route. They often have very little choice, it's easy to rise above all that and eschew the media payday when we have other financial options. Hospital stays and visits, medical treatments and the potentially longterm trauma counselling this child will need ALL cost money - lots of money. Thing is, even if the family has insurance, there are still co-pays and deductibles, coverage can and does run out so they could be facing enormous bills down the line with no means to pay them.

 

[Sunshine95]

Mrs. G it depends. There is a great program for children who witness domestic violence offered for free where I live, for example. There's an organization that comes on scene when a crime occurs around a child, or has potentially affected the child, that does immediate assessment and intervention, as well as follow up here as well. But a lot of people don't utilize all that's offered, and more rural areas are probably less equipped. What's it like there?

ETA and a sexual abuse assessment, documentation and therapy place for kids as well. One interview and examination, all done properly that is legally sound for court, and follow up intensive services for kids and families.

 

[seattlechiquita]

.... I raise the issue of how, then, otherwise sensible adult can believe in Xemu, or that if they kill themselves at the right moment wearing Nike tennis shoes, their souls will ascend into a comet which is taking them all to heaven. How do cognitively healthy adults come to *believe* the cray-cray stuff these cults have handed out, and hundreds of cults with stories just as crazy and obviously fictional?

They usually have help, is how. Cults are something I've studied for a long time, how they work. It doesn't take a sophisticated one, nor sophisticated tactics, to convince people to do some very strange and sometimes dangerous or harmful things.

Looking at the depths to which the crowd who penned that letter linked above will sink for kicks, I honestly believe there's a good chance someone or a group of someones was messing with their head over time, so perhaps the girls -did- believe that crapola they were spouting.

Of course it's just as likely the whole story is a bald-faced lie designed to deflect from a perfectly rational, selfish motive (ie, jealousy) but there is, to me, just TOO many factors in place that could allow for them to be influenced by scum like those letter-writers to simply write it off as a possibility.

Thanks Ausgirl for this. Indeed, follie-a-deux (or a-hundreds) is not uncommon. People believe all kinds of frankly weird chit. I wish I could get into these gals' heads. This is bizarro.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

Mrs. G it depends. There is a great program for children who witness domestic violence offered for free where I live, for example. There's an organization that comes on scene when a crime occurs around a child, or has potentially affected the child, that does immediate assessment and intervention, as well as follow up here as well. But a lot of people don't utilize all that's offered, and more rural areas are probably less equipped. What's it like there?

ETA and a sexual abuse assessment, documentation and therapy place for kids as well. One interview and examination, all done properly that is legally sound for court, and follow up intensive services for kids and families.

Or victim support services are state based .. we have free counselling and other support services here .. I get the impression that in the USA support services are run by charities as opposed to the government, is that right? Perhaps selling the story IS the only way this family can afford ongoing care for her, if so that's a huge price to pay, so damn sad.

 

[tlcya]

yes, many resources offered to crime victims are not via the government or law enforcement but are charitable organizations who are subject to grants or private donations and whose services are often bound by budgetary restrictions for that reason.

LE simply puts families in touch with contact information for such organizations.

It is not a perfect system by any means and it leaves many needy for those services to fall through the proverbial cracks.

 

[NancyA]

There is state/county/government aid available depending on where you live but it's often a meagre amount, resources are finite and a nightmare of redtape makes it difficult to get. Charities do what they can but once again they don't have infinite resources so they have tough choices to make re who they can support and to what extent. Of course the family has the option of pursuing some kind of civil action against the families of the two assailants but once again legal advice costs money and litigation like that could drag on for years eventually yielding very little or nothing if those families aren't in good financial shape themselves.

 

[Ausgirl]

So those people posting back in thread #1 regarding the negative dynamics of *three* were spot on, good call there. It certainly seems to be in play in this case.

It's amazing how quickly super-duper friendship can turn to bitter enmity in -adults- let alone kids. In that age group, it can happen over a difference in opinion on hair styles.

It makes me re-think my perception of AW as the more passive element in the duo somehow.

 

[Ausgirl]

From what I've read, that information is not a secret. It's easily found.

Nowhere is it found, despite my somewhat prodigious ability to trawl through untold tons of crappy writing, that Slenderman lives in a forest in Wisconsin.

Nor is he generally regarded as needing 'sacrifices', he is not seen as a 'deity' but rather a mysterious force that comes and goes as it likes, quite unconcerned with how people feel about it.

Yet, there's people posting as 'Slenderman' in the comments and handing out directives, and the letters sent to the families by the 4chan trolls seem to be referring to a 'cult' which isn't actually canonical.

I'll not at all be surprised if there's been some 'encouragement' from some of these nasty little cowards on 4chan, or people like them. Whether that might be just an added factor to an already disintegrating friendship and whatever else.

Someone used the term 'perfect storm' back there somewhere... I think that's a good term to use in this case.

 

[tlcya]

I also have found nothing on the web that suggests those things about slenderman, and I have spend a good deal of time searching this past week.

 

[tlcya]

So either one or both were told that or they were taking a stab at helping add to the Mythos and wanted to become famous for having done so.

Or Slenderman has nothing to do with it other than he is a convenient excuse by two clever psychopaths.

I am still :fence: about much of this case.

 

[blue22]

I also have found nothing on the web that suggests those things about slenderman, and I have spend a good deal of time searching this past week.

Am I allowed to post links on that? I'm not sure I should be directing traffic that way. ?

 

[Mrs G Norris]

I still see Slenderman and the mythos as a conduit by which they allowed their feelings of hostility towards PL to flow, OR one of the girls manipulated the other using the Slenderman mythos, knowing full well it was baloney, but needing something to get the other girl on board with her plan borne of jealousy.

There may have been plenty of support for this online, which may have strengthened their resolve.

 

[tlcya]

maybe check with a mod first not sure what sites your links lead to or if they are no nos here.

If they are no nos to link it is generally acceptable to direct people how to find them I think.

Such as name the site but don't link.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

Am I allowed to post links on that? I'm not sure I should be directing traffic that way. ?

Yes, you can post links to forums etc, you just use what's posted in forums as necesarily factual as you can with MSM or court docs.