He is a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. He also has specialized training in installing and detecting various covert devices to include cameras, microphones, and global positioning systems (GPS). Its not until three years and many more rape victims later, that Maries original claims are investigated and her attacker is brought to justice by a couple of amazing female detectives. Join Facebook to connect with Jerry Rittgarn and others you may know. This unique agency reported to both the Secretary of Defense and Department of State, conducting oversight reviews and investigations which were related to the combined U.S. efforts in Iraq and the Middle East. Find Jerry Rittgarn's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. I'm torn all over again," another said. A black-masked man jolted awake a 59-year-old woman, tied her up, and took pictures of her. He has testified in hundreds of criminal and civil cases at all levels of both state and federal courts. The following article contains discussion of sexual assault that some readers may find upsetting. Mr. Crumb investigated or oversaw numerous investigations concerning complex financial crimes and fraudulent activities. All the while, OLeary was secretly operating a group of specialized porn sites. When Marie asked for an apology, he showed up and said he was sorry; she found him sincere. Ken Colby spent over 41 years in federal and state law enforcement as an Investigator. Its gripping and needs no dressing up. "I just started watching #Unbelievable and am already so angry. He told Miller and Armstrong he would talk to them only if. 12 Likes, 0 Comments - Jule Saynes (@resident_of_collinwood82) on Instagram: "Happy Birthday Actor Jerry Lacy, he played Private Investigator Tony Peterson, Reverned Trask," Neither he or Manson were ever investigated for the way they mishandled Maries case. Marie herself also found some peace of sorts as she ventured off to start a new life with $150,000 awarded to her by the state after settling a lawsuit out of court. Johnson has over 30 years of experience in Federal and State law enforcement as a senior investigator and also as a manager. Because I feel that if I would have shut my mouth, she said. During his time in the St. Joseph FBI Office, Mr. Aubermann led the Benton Harbor, MI, Gang Task Force and he served as the FBI Crimes Against Children Coordinator for West Michigan. I am having to explain to someone how rape cases are handled so insensitivity by police in America," one viewer tweeted. Sgt. $28. Another woman close to Marie, a second foster mother, was also uncertain. And that moving phone call between Marie and Duvall at the end of the series? In an effort to close and lock the lid on the event forever, she accepted. Detective Parker is the first detective to question Marie at the station, in real life and this mans name is Sgt. He's declined to speak with any outlets and told Miller and Armstrong he'd only discuss the case if they paid him towhile maintaining his non-factual beliefs about "victims who lie" and a "biased story." The Bureau Group is an alliance of retired FBI Special Agents and retired command officers from the Michigan State Police and West Michigan County Sheriffs Offices. After weeks of running into dead ends, detectives Galbraith and Hendershot decide to broaden their scope. As an adult, he came to treat rape like a hobby, stalking victims via their social-media profiles and studying their routines for months before an attack. Rape Crisis Scotlands helpline number is 08088 01 03 02. You also know who you are hiring when you hire the Bureau Group. A woman had been attacked at knifepoint, tied up, and raped in her home in Golden, Colorado. The Police Departments in the three places in Colorado (Aurora, Golden and Westminster) pooled their clues and figured out they were probably looking for the same attacker. (Jerry) Alexander. RELATED: 10 Weird True Crime Stories Netflix Should Cover In A Documentary Next. She jumped from her bedroom window before she was raped in her home in Lakewood. Jeff Mason didn't believe her. There was some levity that Armstrong brought to Elliott Bay Book Company by way of talking about reporting the story for NPRs This American Life. I found it delightful to hear that Ira Glass is prone to four-letter words. Roy Johnson founded and created The Bureau Group in the Fall of 2010 and still remains the Managing Partner. Others were less willing to engage publicly in such self-reflection. Both Rittgarn. If you or someone you know needs help or has been affected by sexual assault, call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. * Use of the seal for the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI and the National Academy in no way are an endorsement of the Bureau Group. "We're just telling the story, and we are giving the facts," Kaitlyn says. When Cunningham received a call from a crying Marie, she recounted that it sounded like a lot of drama.. Again, no experience with sexual assault victims. But not one single officer in the entire Lynnwood Police Department was disciplined for their actions. Where you live in the country . You can read the full award-winning article An Unbelievable Story of Rape here. RELATED:Toni Collette: 10 Best Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes. "An Unbelievable Story of Rape" is a 2015 article about a series of rapes in the American states of Washington and Colorado that occurred between 2008 and 2011, and the subsequent police investigations. Her retraction came after detectives Sgt. He told Miller and Armstrong he would talk to them only if they paid him, while complaining about victims who lie and a biased story. The other officer, however, is introspective enough to be the books most complex figure. She is now married and has two children. One person they didn't talk to was one of the two officers who were tasked with investigating the case, Detective Jerry Rittgarn, who looks to have scrubbed almost everything off of his LinkedIn . Mariewhich was the real victims middle namelived in Lynwood, Washington, where she bounced around from foster home to foster home and endured physical and sexual abuse, according to ProPublica. Jerry Rittgarn Detective at Lynnwood PD Lynnwood, Washington, United States 3 connections. Thats not me saying that they bullied this woman into confessing to a crime she didnt commit when one was actually committed on her. Police spent time following Michael around, eventually following him on a date where he threw out a cup he had been drinking from. In the Netflix series, the two women who work tirelessly to solve these crimes are named Karen Duvall (played by Merritt Weaver) and Grace Rasmussen (played by Toni Collette). While still dealing with the trauma of what had just happened to her, Marie eventually buckled under the pressure and retracted her statement in a desperate attempt to escape and return home. Manson has publicly and privately apologized to Marie for the way he handled this case and has since moved back to the narcotics division. He holds FBI certifications as a Police Instructor, SWAT Operator, Tactical Instructor, and Firearms Instructor. Rittgarn can only [be] labeled as bullying and coercive. Mr. Neil is a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. Detective Jerry Rittgarn, who declined to be interviewed for the original news story, said hed talk for the book only under monetary compensation contract a quid pro quo the authors rejected. That is, unfortunately by design, with Thomas Jefferson writing to James Madison in 1786, that he thought rape shouldnt be punished as severe as other crimes on account of the temptation women would be under to make it the instrument of vengeance against an inconstant lover, and of disappointment to a rival. Yikes. Our experience speaks for itself. On Friday, September 13, Netflix released a new limited series that truly adopts the definition of its title. In real life, however, the names of the two male officers are Sgt. For me, its the case even the most craven apologists for unrestrained police power cant explain away. There wasnt enough DNA to tell detectives exactly who the assailant was, but it was enough to tell them that it was a male in the OLeary family who had committed these heinous crimes. T Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, the investigators who broke the story for Pro Publica, also interviewed Steve Rider, the commander of Lynnwoods Criminal Investigations Division. Another detective in Aurora explains how he learned that there is no right way for a survivor to respond to an assault. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. After another victim had been attacked in a Denver suburb, detectives went through twelve hours of surveillance tape from outside of the apartment complex, which did eventually pay off. Mr. Colby has experience in school security audits, active shooter training and the development of threat assessment teams. Kayla Blanton is a freelance writer who reports on all things health and nutrition for Mens Health, Womens Health, and Prevention. Crying, said she was pretty positive the rape occurred, and that wasnt affirmative enough for the cops. One of the valiant detectives in Colorado (this is a book that turns law enforcement characters into heroes) explains that her rule isnt simply believe your victim; its listen and verify, which gives her space to refute or corroborate the account, depending on where the evidence takes her. We have one just like that, he said, perturbed. Yet she had indeed been raped, by an assailant who considered himself a student of the act and had been battling his demons since childhood. As a Tech Agent, he was responsible for the installation of the most cutting-edge electronic surveillance devices, which included cameras, microphones, telephone wiretaps, GPS trackers, and other devices. Marie realized that surrendering to a lie was her only way out, and wrote the following statement: After leaving the station, Marie told her case managers that the police accused her of lying and decided to go back and refute it. Peggy relayed her misgivings to the police, setting in motion a chain of disastrous decisions by the Lynnwood investigators that unraveled the life Marie was just beginning to make for herself, and gave T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong the title for their new book, A False Report.. Marie is a real person, and she was coerced into falsifying her rape report at 18 years old. Rape Crisis England and Wales works towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct. Marie (Kaitlyn Dever) is questioned by Detective Parker (Eric Lange) and Detective Pruitt (Bill Fagerbakke). The vehicle was registered under Marc Patrick OLeary. Mike Heffron recently retired from the FBI with 27 years investigative and coordinator experience. By contrast, Jeffrey had only taken on two rape cases before Marie's, while Jerry worked as a technician in the aerospace industry before becoming a detective. In the original story, authors Miller and Armstrong chose to leave out much of this information about OLeary, instead concentrating on his victims. Wesshe Montegumry. stevencrumb@thebureaugroup.com. '", Like in the ProPublica piece, the Netflix series compares Marie's police experience with another woman, Amber. The show Unbelievablepremieredon Netflix in 2019 to rave reviews from both critics and viewers alike, even earning lead actress, Kaitlin Dever, her first Golden Globe nomination. Thomas Jefferson writing to James Madison in 1786. At first he could not recall the case, except that. It was a complete failure for the Lynnwood PD and something that is absolutely impossible to defend or excuse. In the series, the character based on OLeary was called Chris McCarthy, but thats really the onlything thewriters changed about this guy. We know that Jerry's political affiliation is currently a . Peggy knew Marie to have a flair for drama, and she started to nurse doubt about whether her attention-getting tale was true. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. That included Maries, whose story is the central focus of the series due to the incredible lack of concern shown by police when she first reports her rape. Marie has remained anonymous from day one and her real name has never been revealed to the public. He also worked as an Undercover Agent. One of the many reasons this show was so well-received was that it took great care to protect the victims whose stories they were telling. Eventually, it was revealed that Jeffrey and Jerry's interactions with Marie included "bullying" and "hounding," and were nothing short of the victim being coerced into admitting that she lied about the rape.. DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK. Notably, these projects provide exposure to some of the fastest growing municipalities of Madrid, with strong employment creation . The most straightforward and specific you can be regarding your needs, the better you can nail down the actual cost. At 25, she is raw but also resilient. Ada, MI Interrogated as if she were a suspect and pressured to recant, Marie wound up facing criminal charges for lying to the police. It was only when two female detectives working on another case discovered new evidence that Marie's original claims were vindicated. It should come as no surprise, then, that Mason left that field behind soon after, returning to narcotics to lead his own task force. Jeff Mason didn't believe her. This content is imported from youTube. But which brother is the rapist? "It is showing Amber's detectives were educated about survivors, they understand these cases, and Marie's detectives never really had cases like this before, and they didn't know.". His LinkedIn page indicates he works for a private investigation firm in San Diego. In these units, Mr. Neil became well-schooled in the areas of both overt and covert surveillances and high level white collar crimes. The eight episode series, tells us about a girl named Marie, who is horrifically raped, but after police coercion and neglect, she recants her story. He retired from Amway in June 2017. He actually met with Marie again after the truth came. In the story, its Pruitt who initially accuses Marie of lying about her rape to get attention, which stays true to the actual story. Ive talked to Marie on time on the phone since this happened, Galbraith told CNNlast year. A serial rapist first attacks a teenage girl at home in Lynnwood, and then an older woman in Kirkland, before leaving Washington to continue his horrific exploits in Colorado. Seattleite, (mostly) retired arts/culture blogger. Speaking with reporters years later in the very same room where he had once confronted Marie, Mason admitted: "It wasnt [Marie's] job to try to convince me. Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673. In 2008, an 18-year-old named Marie reported that shed been raped. Claudia Rowe is a Seattle Times staff reporter and author of The Spider and the Fly, a memoir. He is an FBI-certified police instructor and has developed expertise in crisis management and the behavioral sciences. It broke me, she said of the doubt she was raped and its repercussions. Since I read it over two years ago, the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning story An Unbelievable Story of Rape has never been far from my mind. Mr. Alexander has been involved in numerous FBI investigations to include white collar crimes, violent crimes, crimes against children and the elderly, crimes against corporations, and crimes against federal/local governments. Ken Armstrong, a former reporter with the Seattle Times, came by Elliott Bay Book Company on Wednesday evening to read from, and talk about, his new book. Thats five times the national average. Miller and Armstrong teamed up for the project that became this book when they discovered they were working on it separately. Miller and Armstrong point out a pattern in Lynnwood. Armstrong said that this is the third different way the story has been told, first as the piece online that won the Pulitzer, then as told on This American Life. A fourth telling will be when its adapted into a Netflix series from Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant and married authors Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman. Theres a scene in the show where Merritt Weavers character, Duvall, comes home to her police officer husband and they begin recounting their days. Ph: 616-901-7796 The message could not be clearer: old theories on why to distrust women reporting rape still influence many of us today, which makes this an especially timely work. It took five-weeks for detectives to link this pickup truck to OLeary and one of the biggest breaks during this part of the investigation was that both OLearys truck and the one seen at the crime scene had broken passenger side mirrors. Unbelievable is available to stream on Netflix now. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. He also received an award from the Chicago Police Department for his work on a high-profile triple homicide case. Unbelievable is one of the most emotional and harrowing shows Netflix has ever put out. Parker and Pruitt portray real-life investigators Sgt. They moved from looking exclusively at unsolved rape cases to looking at home invasions as well, and they found an interesting case. Peggy disappointed Marie at first with her muted response but then expressed her intense regret and worked to repair their relationship. Jeffrey Mason (who was the lead investigator) and Jerry Rittgarn. A FALSE REPORT A True Story of Rape in America By T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong 291 pp. For investigative matters outside of your state or the United States of America, The Bureau Groups vast network of retired FBI Agents and our connections with foreign law enforcement graduates of the FBI National Academy make The Bureau Group the logical choice for your needs. It was an incredible, serendipitous moment both in the series and in real life and it is that conversation that sets the entire story in motion, eventually leading to Maries vindication and the capturing of a serial rapist. (Actually, 327 years, so several lives.). In real life, Jerry had already left the Lynnwood Police Department before Marie's attacker was convicted, and as far as we can tell, he has declined requests to be interviewed in the time that's passed since. And we dont want to see this happen to anybody ever again," but this probably won't be the last time that cases of this nature will be mishandled. There is a bad guy. When the woman reported the attack to Lynnwood police, she says detectives Jerry Rittgarn and Sgt. He also has provided training in identifying fingerprints and crime scene processing. The in-depth piece considers every disturbing detail, most of which were studied and implemented (many times word for word) into the storys TV rendition. You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat. Armstrong said that it was a coincidence that he (for the Marshall Project) and T. Christian Miller (for ProPublica) were reporting on the same case in 2015 and that they agreed to report the piece together when ProPublica could have rushed their story to print. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. What happens next is of monumental importance, and I hope the right people take the right lessons from this book. How can these cops not believe her? She was jolted awake by a masked man with a knife who tied her up with her own shoe strings, blindfolded, gagged, and raped her. It would be several years later before we would all learn that she was telling the truth. This story was reported by ProPublicas T. Christian Miller and the Marshall Projects Ken Armstrong, and their reporting was expanded into a book that came out this week called A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America. An external reviewer said that if the two police officers who interrogated Marie hadnt documented their own bullying and coercive behavior, he would have been skeptical that such conduct actually happened. Both former foster moms apologized for mistrusting her. Unbelievable is the story of a girl known as Marie who, in 2008, was victim-blamed and coerced into falsifying her own rape story. They remained truthful to the details and the investigation, but out of respect for all of the women, they changed their names. This content is imported from youTube. A native of West Michigan, he graduated from Aquinas College with a degree in business administration and accounting. The show is based on true events, and it is so crazy, that had it not really happened, every studio in Hollywood would have probably passed on it immediately, given the fact that this story is just so, well, unbelievable. Since September of 2010, he continues to be a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. It was Marie. Lynnwood added training on the effect of trauma, which can cause rape victims memories to fragment, and adopted well-respected guidelines, which train police officers not to doubt a victim because he or she doesnt behave as expected and crucially not to accuse one of lying without definite proof. When the woman reported the attack to Lynnwood police, she says detectives Jerry Rittgarn and Sgt. What's more, of the sexual violence crimes not reported to police from 2005 to 2010, 13% believed the police would not do anything to help, according to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Kayla Keegan leads Good Housekeepings editorial growth strategies in the partnership, news, social, branded, membership and newsletter spaces. Is longer actually better? Facebook gives people the power. 3 records for Jerry Rittgarn. The doubt that Marie confronted, on the other hand, leaves no trail of did he or didnt he. His investigative experience includes major crimes, fraud, larceny, internal investigations, and vehicle identification. When word got out, even Maries friends turned against her. In real life, Rittgarn left the department before Maries attack was caught. After the attacker left, Marie was able to get a drawer open with her feet and cut herself free using a pair of scissors. They won a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for an article that led to this book (a Netflix series is also in the works). Mr. Johnsons key skills lie in leading investigations of sophisticated organizations, uncovering facts through interview or interrogations and analyzing facts to lead to the resolution of the investigation. Hes now in prison for life. In the report, Rider says, "We learned a great deal from this. While with the State Police he was assigned to various MSP Posts across the State, as well as being assigned to the MSPs Organized Crime Unit and the Michigan Attorney General Office, Criminal Division. Dahmer What happened to real Glenda Cleveland? The Bureau Group is the premier private investigative firm in West Michigan. While it could be conceived that their genders made all the difference, for Danielle Macdonald, who portrays Amber in Unbelievable, it's more so about being educated. In the early morning hours of this victims attack, a white Mazda pickup truck is spotted ten times in the lot, raising suspicions. He told her that if she failed, she could be jailed, and her housing assistance pulled. williambylnn@thebureaugroup.com. (Marie, meanwhile, received a $150,000 settlement from the city of Lynnwood and $500 to reimburse her court costs.). He also served as a Supervisory Special Agent at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C. in the Intellectual Property Rights Section. I think it came across beautifully because Armstrong laid out his case in a very matter-of-fact sense and let the facts speak for themselves. If youve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. In recreated flashbacks that rely on phrases like the beast wouldnt rest and the monster would gather strength, the authors show him stalking women and breaking into their homes by night. Detective Stacy Galbraith (portrayed as character Karen Duvall in Unbelievable, played by Merritt Wever) sat on the couch across from her husband, also a cop, and described her work day in detail. The co-author of A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle (206-624-6600 or elliottbaybook.com). Galbraiths real husband was indeed a police officer in another county and made the connection between the rape case his wife was investigating and another a detective at his station was handling. Crown Publishers. Sgt. View Linet Jose Perez's business profile as Investigator at Community of Madrid. Like what you just read? Miller and Armstrong interviewed OLeary in prison but it seems, understandably, as if it was hard for them to get into his head. He is a member of the state and federal bars of Wisconsin, and he is a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. He earned his Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice and Business Administration from Grand Valley State University and he is a licensed professional investigator in the State of Michigan. Go here to subscribe. Previous to Jerry's current city of Menifee, CA, Jerry Rittgarn lived in San Diego CA and Poway CA. He was charged with multiple counts of rape, and shortly thereafter, plead guilty and was sentenced to the maximum. Come for the Seinfeld references, stay for the Producers references. Find Jerry Rittgarn's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading online directory for contact information. She lost her subsidized apartment and many of her friends. An internal review found that the second interview conducted by Mason and Rittgarn was "designed to elicit a confession of false reporting" from Marie and that a call from her foster mother unduly swayed Mason's judgement. Jeffrey Mason, a detective on the case, the day after the assault occurred to report that Marie had a past history of trying to get attention and she was unsure whether or not the attack actually took place. At one of the crime scenes, detectives found some touch DNA. During his 25 year career with the Sheriffs Office, Mr. Crumb served as a detective and as the command officer in charge of the departments Investigative Services Division. Gerard B. Alexander is a graduate of the American University in Washington D.C. They would have done their job., .css-el2e3v{background-color:#44C1C5;border-radius:0;color:#000;display:inline-block;font-family:AvantGarde,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:0.75rem;font-weight:700;line-height:1;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-transform:uppercase;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;-webkit-transition:background 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:background 0.3s ease-in-out;width:auto;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-el2e3v{padding:0.625rem 1.25rem 0.75rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-el2e3v{padding:0.8125rem 1.25rem 0.75rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-el2e3v{padding:0.8125rem 1.25rem 0.75rem;}}.css-el2e3v:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}.css-el2e3v:hover{color:#fff;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:#088092;}STREAM 'UNBELIEVABLE' ON NETFLIX. Netflix After seeing the series, many Unbelievable viewers became upset with how the police dealt with . Even after everything she had been through, Marie still found her happiest years when she was 16 and 17. Like her character in the show, Galbraith is a strong Christian and admired Hendershots work for years before actually working with her on this case. Mr. Vander Vliet is a graduate of Calvin College and the University of Wisconsin Law School. gerardalexander@thebureaugroup.com. Clearly,. Jerry Rittgarn is on Facebook. Mr. Heffron was individually selected on two separate occasions to be part of an elite group that targeted terrorism matters in Afghanistan. Coloma, MI Three weeks prior to the Lakewood victims attempted rape, a 1993 white Mazda containing a mysterious man was parked near an empty field diagonal from her backyard. Holland, MI Marie went on to say that "[Mason] was rubbing his head and literally looked like he was ashamed about what they had done". According to the ProPublica report, Marie spent most of the night on the phone with her friend Jordan before finally dozing off. In its moral clarity, its possible to find Miller and Armstrongs project comforting. Mr. Vander Vliet was selected to receive highly specialized training in Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM), more commonly referred to as sweeps, and he has done TSCM examinations of FBI facilities throughout Michigan, the United States, and at US Embassies around the world. The average American guy is, Capitol Hill Block Party announces lineup for summer 2023 its 25th year, Tenn. governor vows to sign anti-drag bill as photo surfaces.