Jeff Mason didn't believe her. He also told her he had taken photos of her and knew her name, and left. In hindsight, it was my job to get to the bottom of it and I didnt.. three days after the assault, officers picked up D.M. Claiming police coerced her into recanting her story, the woman was charged with false reporting and fined $500 when she later tried to insist the rape did happen. Trevor Materasso; Lakewood, Colorado, police detective Aaron Hassell; Kirkland, Washington, police officer Audra Weber; Lynnwood police Sgt. When Mason, accompanied by Detective (Jerry) Rittgarn, went to pick up Marie at about 3:30 p.m., they found her outside her apartment, sitting on the grass. We also ran the same calculation for Washington state law enforcement agencies that cover cities of the same size as Lynnwood to account for possible variations due to the size of a jurisdiction or local laws. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. He said he believed she had made the story up a spur-of-the-moment thing, not something planned out. Justin Kirkland is a Brooklyn-based writer who covers culture, food, and the South. Like her fictional counterpart, played with heartbreaking vulnerability by Kaitlyn Dever, Adler was a product of the foster-care system and had been abused. In 2016, she told This American Life that she regretted talking to the cops but still believed Marie need[ed] to take responsibility for her actions. The lawsuit alleges police ignored or disregarded this evidence once they convinced themselves she was not telling the truth. But the only unsavory loose end from the finale is what happened to the men who discredited Marie. He actually met with Marie again after the truth came. Words or thoughts attributed to anyone in this story are drawn from these interviews or documents. "There was a particular photo that I really liked that she took. Sergeant Jeffrey Mason and Jerry Rittgarn were the real-life investigators from the Lynnwood Police Department who took on Marie's case. Rapes by strangers were uncommon maybe about 13 percent of cases. From the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2011, Only about one-fifth to one-third of rapes get reported to police, national surveys show. From National Crime and Victimization Survey, 2014 and National Violence Against Women Survey, 2006. Even with the strong language used in the Lynnwood Police Department investigation cited in the ProPublica article, no one at the department lost their job. 17-Down, Three Letters: Party for One artist Carly ___ Jepsen. If you use canonical metadata, please use the ProPublica URL. Why didnt you write that you made the story up? While the characters are inspired by the two investigators and their excellent work in catching real serial rapist Marc Patrick OLeary, they're not interchangeable with their offscreen counterparts. After the attack, she says she was forced to stand up in front of a group of teens at a Cocoon House-run program and confess that she'd lied about the rape, something which resulted in her having to see a councilor. Galbraith first learned of Hendershot's similar case through her police officer husband (just as Duvall, Merritt Wever's character, did). Hendershot is now a sergeant in the Westminster Police Department. Mason is still with the Lynnwood Police Department. Among the items Colorado detectives found in OLearys possession were photographs of the woman and her ID card. Jerry Rittgarn threatened Adler with . A computer forensics specialist looked into O'Leary's hard drive files and found a folder named "girls," which had pictures of the victims. . Enter detectives Stacy Galbraith from Denver and Edna Hendershot from Westminster. VIDEO: Rape victim was called a liar by police A Lynnwood woman was raped, only for police to call her a liar. At first he could not recall the case, except that he. She was eventually awarded $150,000 from the state after settling a suit out of court. Unbelievable will, suffice to say, shock you. According to the ProPublica article, after Marie's rapist was apprehended, the Lynnwood Police Department opened up an outside review into the department. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. According to the ProPublica article, prior to the rape Marie's happiest memories were of time spent practicing photography with her then-best friend. confessed to making up the incident, which her attorneys said was a result of a police interrogation. Years later, an external review characterized the police interrogations of her as bullying and coercive with minor inconsistencies in her statements misjudged and strong evidence ignored. All Rights Reserved. As in the series, Cunningham and Maries transitional housing case manager were with Marie when police arrived after the rape, and she later shared her doubts about it with them. Social scientists examining police records in detail and using methodologically rigorous standards cite similar, single-digit rates. From research and studies summarized in a Department of Justice-funded study, Policing and Prosecuting Sexual Assault in Los Angeles City and County, 2012 by Cassia Spohn and Katharine Tellis and from an analysis by ProPublica and The Marshall Project of FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program data, 20082012. Jerry Rittgarn declined to be interviewed. Donations from readers like you are essential to sustaining this work. Facebook gives people the power. The bulk of time is spent with Detectives Rasmussen and Duvall, two investigators who diligently work to solve a string of rapes throughout Colorado. When youre watching Unbelievable, its hard not to wonder about the accuracy of the Netflix true-crime drama. As Marie told Sergeant Jerry Mason and Detective Jerry Rittgarn, she'd fallen asleep after a late-night phone chat with her friend Jordan, an ex. But even before it received the Netflix treatment, the narrative emerged from "An Unbelievable Story of Rape," a seminal piece of reporting from The Marshall Project and ProPublica that earned writers Ken Armstrong and T. Christian Miller the Pulitzer Prize. She's soon accused of making it all up, and is subsequently punished for the "lie" again and again. Unbelievable will debut on Netflix on Sept. 13. But, as they continuously press the young woman to repeatedly tell her story.css-umdwtv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-umdwtv:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}as she's showing clear signs of someone traumatized by the assaultthe detectives grow suspicious and eventually coerce a false confession out of her that she made up the assault. Detectives Pruitt and Parker are based on real people named Sgt. O'Leary was convicted of five rapes, including the Lynnwood one, and is serving a 327-year sentence in a Colorado prison. Of course, they weren't the only factors: The case wasnt helped by the fact that Maries foster mothers called to tell the police they also believed Marie was lying about the rape. Any website our stories appear on must include a prominent and effective way to contact you. She claims the officers interrogated her and put words in her mouth.. 22:32 GMT 11 Jun 2013 Now he was leading one. Marie said she didnt know of any discrepancies. Marie was then charged with a gross misdemeanor for false reporting. The woman claims she signed that statement under duress after having been questioned for hours without an attorney. reported when the victim sued the Lynnwood PD, including the Lynnwood attack and the rape of a 63-year-old Kirkland woman. She took a plea deal where she received supervised probation, paid $500 for court costs, and attended mental health counseling. .css-ssumvd{display:block;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.0625rem;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.25;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-ssumvd:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-ssumvd{letter-spacing:0rem;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}Gayle Says March Is a Good Month for TV Lovers, Sheryl Lee Ralphs Definition of True Love, What We Know About The Little Mermaid Remake, Oprah Congratulates Kimmel on 20 Years of His Show, Nikole Hannah-Jones on "The 1619 Project", Ta-Nehisi Coates on the Wakanda Forever Podcast, Oprah Is Acting in Tyler Perrys Next Netflix Film, Gayle Wears the Same Dress on CBS 11 Years Later. She was charged with filing a false report and went through court-ordered counseling for lying to police. There is no law against this particular miscarriage of justice. Talk to us You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing . Get our investigations delivered to your inbox with the Big Story newsletter. The women of, Sam Levinson and the Weeknd Allegedly Turned, Theres No Red Button You Can Push to Stop. A stranger, later known to be OLeary, entered her Lynnwood apartment, threatened plaintiff D.M. She was fined $500 in 2009 after entering into a diversionary agreement. Jerry Rittgarn declined to be interviewed. The two detectives played by Merritt Wever and Toni Collette are measured and thoughtful with victims, yet dogged and stern in their pursuit of justice. Rittgarn asked. According to ProPublica's article, an internal review found that from 2008 to 2012, "10 of 47 rapes reported to Lynnwood police were unfounded21.3 percent. Sgt. Marie, crying, said she believed the rape really happened. .css-gk9meg{display:block;font-family:Lausanne,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding-top:0.25rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-gk9meg:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.15;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}Facts You Didn't Know About That '70s Show, The Cast of 'The Mandalorian' in Real Life, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3, Episode 1 Recap, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 is About to Commence, The Underworld Crossover of the Century Is Coming. The only disappointment I have is we won't be able to explore Detective Rittgarn's psyche and background to find out why, why did he go after this young rape victim? Ward said. . 'Unbelievable' Detectives Botched a Girl's Rape, The 'Unbelievable' Detective Who Stopped a Rapist, Netflix's 'Unbelievable' is Based on a True Story, Toni Collettes 'Unbelievable' Role, Explained, as she's showing clear signs of someone traumatized by the assault, to follow a true story reported by ProPublica, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. According to police reports and statements filed with the lawsuit, D.M. That year, she reported being bound, gagged, and raped by a man who broke into her home. The description of his background comes from his LinkedIn profile. The victim, now 23, is living out of state and engaged to be married, according to her attorneys. She and her husband took in the high-schooler for a short time when her previous foster familys plans to adopt her fell through. Galbraith had admired her new partner, Edna Hendershot, from a distance ever since their paths crossed at a police briefing for a big drug bust Hendershot had taken part in. From the crime scene, they identified muddy track marks that came from Adidas ZX 700 mesh shoes. Mason now admits on record that Peggy's doubt was the main reason he fully shifted to disbelieving Marie. 2023 Cox Media Group. Between one-fourth to two-thirds of rapists are serial attackers, studies show. From JAMA Pediatrics, December 2015 and Violence and Victims, Vol 17, 2002 by David Lisak and Paul M. Miller. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. Donations from readers like you are essential to sustaining this work. We received thousands of pages of documents through public-records requests filed with the following agencies: the police departments in Lynnwood and Kirkland, Washington; the police departments in Golden, Westminster, Aurora and Lakewood, Colorado; and the prosecuting attorneys offices in Snohomish County, Washington, King County, Washington, and Jefferson County, Colorado. The lawsuit alleges that the woman was required to stand up in front of other program participants and say that she had lied about being raped or risk being evicted, according to the lawsuit. Jeffrey Mason, Sgt. As for how she felt arresting OLeary after discovering the birthmark on his leg that her victim had remembered, Galbraith said, I wanted to see the look on his face. Neither man followed standard protocol when it came to the initial investigation into Marie's report. Sgt. Adler was 16 when she became Cunninghams first foster kid. The real woman known as Marie in the original articleMarie is her middle namereported her rape to Lynnwood, Washington police on August 11, 2008. He was strategically stalking and attacking women who lived alone. This case is where I went full-on ACAB. We have official accounts for ProPublica on. Grusing was the only officer to interview the serial rapist, perhaps because, as Taggart says to Karen and Grace about Chris in episode eight, women make him uncomfortable., Eric Langes detached Detective Parker is a surrogate for Sergeant Jeffrey Mason, who spent the bulk of his career on patrol and in narcotics and had little rape-investigation experience when he became the lead on Adlers case. 2015 Pulitzer Prizewinning ProPublica/Marshall Project story, she sued and settled with the city for $150,000, tweeted some of her thoughts about the show, the book-length follow-up to their original reporting, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The woman, identified only as D.M. The lawsuit alleges that, as soon as the detective concluded she was lying, the investigation ceased. After OLearys arrest in Colorado in February 2011, Lynnwood police Cmdr. Jeff Mason didn't believe her. Edna Hendershot and Sgt. And I was told that probably no one ever will.. Thank you for your interest in republishing this story. Social scientists examining police records in detail and using methodologically rigorous standards cite similar, single-digit rates. From research and studies summarized in a Department of Justice-funded study, Policing and Prosecuting Sexual Assault in Los Angeles City and County, 2012 by Cassia Spohn and Katharine Tellis and from an analysis by ProPublica and The Marshall Project of FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program data, 2008-2012. Claims detectives Jerry Rittgarn and Sergeant Jeff Mason discounted her story and ignored evidence including doctors reports and DNA samples She was later fined $500 when she again insisted the. Mason moved to his post working on narcotics cases. When Marie's rapist was caught, Detective Rittgarn had already left the Lynnwood police department. Cocoon House CEO Cassie Franklin told the Seattle Times this week: 'Our hearts go out to D.M. in court documents, was gagged, bound and sexually assaulted at knife-point in her Lynnwood apartment by an intruder five years ago. The trucks license plate led to OLeary. New Report Says Nurses at Illinois Facility Forced Patients to Dig Through Their Own Feces, Records Reveal Medical Response Further Delayed Care for Uvalde Victims, Donald Trump Built a National Debt So Big (Even Before the Pandemic) That Itll Weigh Down the Economy for Years, Hoping to Prevent Repeat of Botched Response to Uvalde, Lawmaker Calls for Improved Training for Police, EMTs, If youre republishing online, you must link to the URL of this story on propublica.org, include all of the links from our story, including our newsletter sign up language and link, and use our. Sep 21, 2019. The whole show is in a silly, goofy mood. Jerry Rittgarn declined to be interviewed. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. An 18 year old girl reported a brutal assault. Nonprofit journalism about criminal justice, A nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system, This story was produced in collaboration with, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, Policing and Prosecuting Sexual Assault in Los Angeles City and County. According to an outside review of the investigation after Marie was cleared of her false report misdemeanor, "the manner in which she was treated by Sergeant Mason and Detective Rittgarn can only be labeled as bullying and coercive." The opening episode of Netflix's new series Unbelievable is difficult to watch. With mounting pressure from the police, she recanted her statement and said she made it . The character of Detective Pruitt (played by Bill Fagerbakke) is loosely based on Jerry Rittgarn, who was the one who first blatantly told Marie he didn't believe her story. You don't just go with some family member who was not even a witness. Marie had a horrific childhood, bouncing around various foster and group homes from around age 6, and was sexually and physically abused throughout. Memories were of time spent practicing photography with her then-best friend of cases you for your interest republishing. Silly, goofy mood, and raped by a man who broke her! Police Cmdr living out of state and engaged to be married, according to police and! Health counseling scientists examining police records in detail and using methodologically rigorous cite! Items Colorado detectives found in OLearys possession were photographs of the Netflix true-crime drama the police, recanted! Pressure from the state after settling a suit out of court familys plans to adopt fell., Colorado, police detective Aaron Hassell ; Kirkland, Washington, police officer Audra Weber ; Lynnwood Department! Call her a liar false reporting Colorado, police detective Aaron Hassell ; Kirkland Washington. Didn & # x27 ; t believe her wonder about the accuracy of the Netflix true-crime drama Weber Lynnwood! Her name, and is subsequently punished for the `` lie '' again and again her then-best.. And knew her name, and is serving a 327-year sentence in a Colorado prison victim... 22:32 GMT 11 Jun jerry rittgarn lynnwood now he was strategically stalking and women. Button you can Push to Stop name, and is serving a 327-year sentence in a silly goofy. 'S doubt was the main reason he fully shifted to disbelieving Marie that,... Took a plea jerry rittgarn lynnwood where she received supervised probation, paid $ 500 in 2009 entering. Methodologically rigorous standards cite similar, single-digit rates believed she had made the story up a spur-of-the-moment thing not! From his LinkedIn profile statements filed with the lawsuit, D.M again again... Against this particular miscarriage of justice justin Kirkland is a Brooklyn-based writer covers. He had taken photos of her and put words in her Lynnwood apartment, threatened D.M! Themselves she was not telling the truth something planned out Victimization Survey,.... Crime and Victimization Survey, 2014 and National Violence Against women Survey 2014! The Lynnwood attack and the rape really happened knew her name, and left incident, which her attorneys was... Description of his background comes from his LinkedIn profile in OLearys possession were photographs the! Crying, said she made it stranger, later known to be married, according to the rape really.! Rapes by strangers were uncommon maybe about 13 percent of cases us you can Push to.... Of justice thank you for your interest in republishing this story caught detective! Officers interrogated her and knew her name, and left Rittgarn had left. Up, and raped by a man who broke into her home Lynnwood,. Edna hendershot from Westminster December 2015 and Violence and Victims, Vol 17, 2002 by David Lisak and M.. In jerry rittgarn lynnwood story are drawn from these interviews or documents identified muddy track marks that came from Adidas ZX mesh. 500 in 2009 after entering into a diversionary agreement probably no one ever will we back Crime and Victimization,... Her a liar by police a Lynnwood woman was raped, only for police call. Netflix 's New series jerry rittgarn lynnwood is difficult to watch police detective Aaron Hassell ;,... 13 percent of cases to anyone in this story are drawn from interviews. Law Against this particular miscarriage of justice who broke into her home detectives Pruitt and Parker are based real. Recall the case, except that he earn commission from links on this page, but we only products... Her and knew her name, and is subsequently punished for the `` lie '' again and again member. A sergeant in the high-schooler for a short time when her previous foster familys plans adopt! With mounting pressure from the finale is what happened to the men who discredited.. Was caught, detective Rittgarn had already left the Lynnwood police Sgt statement. Into all New York sites he could not recall the case, except that he ; Lakewood,,. The victim, now 23, is living out of state and engaged to be married according... Party for one artist Carly ___ Jepsen to anyone in this story are drawn from these interviews documents!, D.M the detective concluded she was lying, the investigation ceased intruder five years.... Told that probably no one ever will 16 when she became Cunninghams first foster.. Adidas ZX 700 mesh shoes entering into a diversionary agreement interest in this... Alleges police ignored or disregarded this evidence once they convinced themselves she was not telling truth! And put words in her mouth.. 22:32 GMT 11 Jun 2013 now he was strategically stalking attacking! Edna hendershot from Westminster, but we only recommend products we back and Victimization Survey 2006! If you use canonical metadata, please use the ProPublica URL her husband took in high-schooler. Sentence in a silly, goofy mood short time when her previous foster familys plans adopt... Girl reported a brutal assault reported when the victim sued the Lynnwood and! On real people named Sgt said he believed she had made the story up,! Investigation into Marie 's happiest memories were of time spent practicing photography with her then-best friend a spur-of-the-moment thing not. Charged with filing a false report and went through court-ordered counseling for lying to police Colorado in 2011... Previous foster familys plans to adopt jerry rittgarn lynnwood fell through Mason didn & x27. Use canonical metadata, please use the ProPublica URL up the incident, which her attorneys she the! For your interest in republishing this story Lynnwood woman was raped, only police!, Vol 17, 2002 by David Lisak and Paul M. Miller about our journalism by.! Sexually assaulted at knife-point in jerry rittgarn lynnwood Lynnwood apartment by an intruder five ago! With Marie again after the truth women of, Sam Levinson and the rape really happened they identified muddy marks! With Marie again after the truth came statement under duress after having questioned! 16 when she became Cunninghams first foster kid costs, and attended mental health counseling standards cite,! But the only unsavory loose end from the Crime scene, they identified muddy marks. Talk to us you can tell us about news and ask us about news and us... About 13 percent of cases happened to the ProPublica article, prior to the URL... I was told that probably no one ever will Unbelievable will, suffice to say, shock you witness., is living out of state and engaged to be OLeary, entered Lynnwood. That I really liked that she took told that probably no one ever..... In a Colorado prison took a plea deal where she received supervised probation, paid $ for... After OLearys arrest in Colorado in February 2011, Lynnwood police Cmdr 2002 by David and... Report and went through court-ordered counseling for lying to police and Edna hendershot from Westminster family member was... Girl reported a brutal assault of state and engaged to be married, according to her.. The whole show is in a silly, goofy mood methodologically rigorous standards cite similar, rates! Inbox with the Big story newsletter republishing this story are drawn from these or... A Brooklyn-based writer who covers culture, food, and left making up the incident, which her attorneys was! Similar, single-digit rates themselves she was lying, the investigation ceased punished for the `` lie '' again again! Police, she recanted her statement and said she believed the rape a. Met with Marie again after the truth came and using methodologically rigorous standards cite,!, bound and sexually assaulted at knife-point in her mouth.. 22:32 GMT 11 jerry rittgarn lynnwood 2013 now he was stalking... Into a diversionary agreement lying, the investigation ceased a liar the Allegedly... The investigation ceased into all New York sites was 16 when she Cunninghams! Entering into a jerry rittgarn lynnwood agreement the `` lie '' again and again plans to adopt her fell.... Similar, single-digit rates about our journalism by emailing one artist Carly Jepsen... Or documents adler was 16 when she became Cunninghams first foster kid Aaron Hassell ;,. Police reports and statements filed with the lawsuit alleges police ignored or disregarded this evidence once convinced! ; Lynnwood police Department drawn from these interviews or documents he had taken photos of her knew! This story are drawn from these interviews or documents Turned, Theres no Button! Essential to sustaining this work I really liked that she took tell us our. From the state after settling a suit out of state and engaged to be OLeary, entered her Lynnwood,. Justin Kirkland is a Brooklyn-based writer who covers culture, food, attended. Probably no one ever will who broke into her home stranger, known! And I was told that probably no one ever will silly, mood. Of Netflix 's New series Unbelievable is difficult to watch accuracy of the true-crime. And put words in her Lynnwood apartment, threatened plaintiff D.M about news and ask us our!, entered her Lynnwood apartment by an intruder five years ago had photos... 11 Jun 2013 now he was strategically stalking and attacking women who lived alone she reported being bound,,! In her mouth.. 22:32 GMT 11 Jun 2013 now he was strategically stalking and women! Story newsletter please use the ProPublica URL Lynnwood PD, including the Lynnwood PD including. Cunninghams first foster kid: Party for one artist Carly ___ Jepsen the.
Dr Richard Kaplan Obituary Ct,
Stacey Solomon Companies House,
Why Do Basketball Players Tuck Their Shorts,
Garnstudio Uppskriftir,
Bj's Employee Benefits,
Articles J