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Lansing Serial Killer Caught

Police have caught an alleged serial killer in my hometown of Lansing, and I feel I need to chime in. The man, Matthew Macon, has been accused of killing 6 women, one of whom was a good friend of my grandmother.

Also a little personally mind-bending is that two of the victims were found just a few blocks from where I went to high school, and one was found directly across the street from the church I attended while growing up. The Lansing State Journal has an interactive map, including some basic information on the victims.

It's strange that something like this can make me miss my hometown, but it does. I suppose when an event like this is hitting so hard, the distance becomes more noticeable. Everyone in that city has been following that news closely (especially because this year's murder rate is already more than twice that from last year), but to anyone outside of Lansing it's just another interesting, macabre news story on CNN.

I hope police arrested the right person, and that he never gets out of prison. I also hope people in power don't have a ridiculous knee-jerk response to this tragic anomaly (I've already heard cries of "reinstate the death penalty"). As terrible as it is, a string of killings is a bit like a plane crash. It makes huge headlines and captures attention, but it's extremely rare. Good criminal policy can't be based on the exceptions to the rule.

Full post as published by Clever WoT on September 01, 2007 (boomark / email).