No Day in Court

I'm not here to debate whether Bruce Ivins, a research scientist and leading suspect of the 2001 anthrax attacks, was guilty or not. However, I do believe he should have had his day in court. On July 29, 2008, I imagine Ivins felt himself and his career beyond repair: humiliated, alienated, annihilated, and crouched upon. So much so, that he chose to take his life at a Frederick, MD hospital on that day rather than face his accusers in court. Ivins opted for a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

The irony of the matter came out in news tidbits over the last few days. The "evidence" gathered against him was largely circumstantial. Ivins was not the only person with access to the deadly anthrax spores. The science tracing the anthrax strain to the lab was still uncertain; the science simply does not incite the comfort that a fingerprint test or DNA test offers to a unique source. It would have been an "interesting case for debate," so say the subject expert pundits.

Interesting? Hello!? It seems like there is no justice or accountability for character assassination in today's news media. It must pay the bills and feed the news frenzy. Granted, in the news, there's not much room for sadness, remorse, or forgiveness.

Now the question stands what of his family and loved ones? What of those left behind? His family, church home, community, etc.? If there is one thing I've learned from experience is that when someone dies by suicide, everyone is affected whether you think you are or not. Everyone.

The Afterw@rd