1.) I don’t know how many of you are true crime fanatics, but I listen to all the podcasts and watch hundreds of youtube videos, and fall asleep every night to someone being murdered- a running joke for me has been that someone has to die for me to be able to fall asleep. At any rate, some pretty big news in a case that I have watched and heard umpteen shows about:
The burlap-wrapped bodies were unearthed near remote Gilgo Beach on Long Island’s South Shore more than a decade ago, terrifying residents and leaving the victims’ families bereft. In all, the remains of nine women, a man and a toddler were discovered.
Since then, investigators have tried to determine whether the killings had been committed by one person or by multiple killers. But for more than a decade the case went nowhere.
Then, on Thursday, Rex Heuermann, an architect who had lived most of his life in Nassau County and worked in Manhattan, was taken into custody, and a bail application said he had been charged in three killings and was the prime suspect in a fourth. Before his arrest, investigators had sifted through clues as simple as a monogrammed belt and as sophisticated as the electronic signals of disposable mobile phones.
By Friday morning, police officers had cordoned off Mr. Heuermann’s home, a small, one-story house with faded red paint, on a block of First Avenue in Massapequa Park, where vehicles and officers converged on the scene.
Obviously this is great news in general, but also great news for true crime nerds like me.
2.) I have been hit with a string of unexpected bills and am also concomitantly dealing with similarly unexpected loss of income. If you ever you were inclined to have the thought “hey, I think I will send John Cole millions so he can spend it on hookers and blow,” now would be an awesome time to do so. I regret to inform you that I have aged out of hookers and blow, but should you want to shower me with filthy lucre, here is the link.
Also, while posting this, it appears we do not have a true crime tag, which is interesting. Think over 20 years we would have accrued one.
OzarkHillbilly
Gotta watch out for them architects ( a ;-) for Suzanne)
trollhattan
“How can there be ‘true crimes’ when I’m always being accused of fake crimes?”
–Donald The Truth Trump
NotMax
Can see disclosing the village but IMHO the street ought to have been omitted from the reporting.
schrodingers_cat
@OzarkHillbilly: Actually I think doctors are the professionals I would be afraid of. Forget James Bond, they literally have a license to kill. That’s what my friend who has an MD joked when she got her license.
Gin & Tonic
Under the right circumstances I might confess to a lot of time spent getting high at Gilgo Beach.
trollhattan
Those who recall the Dixie Fire that consumed a million acres of California along with Chez Levenson West, it began two years ago on July 13 and was officially extinguished October 25. There’s still a lot of snow in the mountains ATM and that’s the difference between a wet year and a deep drought year. No fire.
Also, this being Bastille Day, sing La Marseillaise and toast France with a glass of something bubbly.
Kay
@Gin & Tonic:
Ha! I wouldn’t have guessed.
NotMax
@trollhattan
Lyrics are decidedly sanguinary.
;)
EthylEster
I thought Cole wrote: if you want to shower with me….
CaseyL
Never got into true crime myself, but I do like seeing cold cases get solved.
trollhattan
@NotMax:
To think our rockets merely glare red. :0
Almost Retired
@Gin & Tonic: My goodness we are learning a lot today about your mid-spent youth. In the last thread you mentioned spending time in Pahrump, which is famous only for its legal brothels…
Pennsylvanian
I think the true crime is that you were a Republican for so long! And naked mopping.
Kay
I like true white collar crime, so cases like Theranos and Alex Jones/Sandy Hook and Enron- that sort of thing. The True Crime industry should do more of it.
Dangerman
Anyone into True Crime probably would already know about it …
… but “Your Own Backyard” is an amazing listen. It’s about the disappearance of Kristin Smart from Cal Poly, SLO, and it was in the news about a year ago because the bastard finally got convicted.
In a strange twist given I live in one of most peaceful spots around, I used to visit “The Shack” when it was owned by Scott and Laci Peterson. Great place. I kinda remember her a little bit; I remember him a little bit more for some odd reason.
It was around for a while after them but it, like most eating places in SLO not named the Madonna Inn or McDonalds (which, curiously, is a short iron from the Madonna Inn) or similar, is no longer.
Brachiator
@trollhattan:
I always thought that the references were to the British rockets and bombs.
Hoosierspud
I love that true crime stuff, too. (I watch the Muder Channel as my husband calls it; Investigation Discovery). I blame my grandma and her detective magazines. I read about this particular case in Vanity Fair quite a while ago. They focused a lot on the escort who escaped in the middle of the night and pounded on neighbors’ doors screaming that someone was trying to kill her.
Roger Moore
@Kay:
The thing about White Collar Crime is that there’s rarely a lot of mystery about whodunit. It’s all about whether anyone will bother to bring a case and if they’ll be able to convince a jury and appeals courts. That’s not to say it isn’t worth following, but it’s not as exciting, at least to most True Crime fans.
JPL
Although I like gritty mysteries, I’ve only read a few true crime novels. The one that I remember the most is the story about Candy Montgomery killing her friend Betty Gore with an ax. She pled self-defense due to some childhood trauma. When I moved to GA, I volunteered with a person who knew her from church. Candy had originaly moved to Marietta GA from Texas after the verdict.
trollhattan
@Dangerman: One of those cases I presumed would never be solved, good on the investigators who finally ran it to ground (and it’s not as though the only true suspect didn’t sound really, well, suspect).
Did not know the Scott Peterson angle, Sheesh.
OGLiberal
I’m with Cole…I fall asleep to true crime podcasts. I’m also in the NY Metro area, went to school on Long Island and worked at Jones Beach Theater for 2 Summers during my college time – just a quick ride away from where all these bodies were found. (The Oak Beach Inn was still open when I was there – I never went but “OBI” was locally famous) The LISK case has always been one I’ve followed. I’ve always suspected law enforcement. This guy isn’t law enforcement. But I think so many folks involved in the investigation early on and in the years that followed were so corrupt – including stuff with prostitutes – that they didn’t push too far with this stuff for fear of them gettting caught for their stuff by happenstance. And they were just prositutes so, whatever…right? Lots of dead bodies out there – my guess is that this guy is just responsible for the ones in burlap. He might be responsible for others but would have changed dumping location after the Gilgo four were found. His DNA was with at least one body, his wife’s DNA was with three of them, his car – which they just confiscated – was seen by a witness with one of the victims. Seems like lots of balls dropped here and for selfish, self-preserving reasons. Could be wrong. Anyway, new LE guy came in about 2-years ago – from NYC – and re-ignited the investigation. This guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_K._Harrison
Almost 100% certain he was not involved in anything to do with Shannan Gilbert, whose tragic death kick off the search that led to many, many other bodies but was likely not a victim of any serial killer. He’s also probably not responsible for some of the others found, either.
Gin & Tonic
@Almost Retired: My time at Gilgo was approximately a million years ago. I lived nearby, and it was/is a beach for locals. Pahrump was in this millennium; IIRC, it was pretty much the only place you can get something to eat within an hour’s drive of Badwater. I was there with my son, who was, I think, 19 at the time, so the other “pleasures” of that place were not savored.
Renie
@OGLiberal: I’m from LI too and I remember going to OBI West and East. I still think Burke had something to do with Shannon Gilbert.
Kay
@Roger Moore:
Agree. I like boring, dogged true crime. Paper crimes. Theranos was fun because there were (nerdy) “celebrities” in it – George Schultz! That old coot, making a fool of himself.
mrmoshpotato
@Pennsylvanian: And what happened to the mustard? (I’m just assuming crime was involved.)
schrodingers_cat
@Kay: Anyone with a few chemistry credits under their belt could have told you that what she was promising was impossible. But our TPTB are innumerate and science illiterate
Warrior monk also got taken in by a pretty (?) babe.
OGLiberal
@trollhattan: That was the thing about the Smart case. You had one dude you know did it but you didn’t have the evidence. When you have family helping you hide the body and whatever else (suspect that the help extended beyond dad, who was also convicted), killing somebody gets a bit easier. Plus, LE and campus officials being like, “oh, she’s not missing…she’s a college kid…she just went on Spring break/broke up with boyfriend and is upset/on her period”, sense of urgency didn’t help. Dude’s dorm room was sanitized before any LE did anything with it.
Yes, I am a true crime junky.
Roger Moore
@Dangerman:
Anyone who’s really interested in True Crime should give the LA Times Homicide Report a quick spin. It’s a fairly bare bones site, but it lists every homicide in LA County dating back to 2000 (though it seems to be a few months late in reporting recent homicides) with a map and some search tools. If you live in the LA area, it’s fascinating to see how many killings there have been in your neighborhood. While it wasn’t my main purpose in moving, I seem to have moved into safer neighborhoods over the past 20 years. It’s a great public service by the paper, and it seems like the kind of thing every big city newspaper should do.
Martin
I can’t help but notice that true crime as a genre is typically ‘look what happened to these normal white people, wasn’t it weird?’ as told by a white director. It tends to try to establish a sense of understanding for a particular category of crime while completely ignoring all other crime and the reasons why most of that other crime happens, because, well, the audience tends to be at least a little bit complicit in it.
I find the whole category as it exists to be a bit unsettling.
dmsilev
@schrodingers_cat: There’s a reason that pretty much every single biotech-oriented VC firm took one look at Theranos and said “nah, we’ll pass”.
JPL
@Martin: OMG that is so right. The only book that I read on True Crime was about Candy Montgomery. I watched the first Mendendez brothers trial, and realized that there was something addictive about but not in a good way.
During the trump years I developed a habit of reading terror books in order to sleep. It was less horifying than what was happening all around us.
trollhattan
@dmsilev:
But George Schultz was impressed!
evap
I threw some scratch your way, John. This site keeps me sane!
Roger Moore
@schrodingers_cat:
TBF, it was more biology than chemistry that was the big problem with Theranos. My understanding from talking to people who know more about this than I do is that the biggest problem is that finger sticks just aren’t a good choice for a lot of diagnostic procedures. It turns out you get wildly varying results from stick to stick because it matters exactly where in the finger you sample blood from. Everyone who knew anything about blood tests knew this, which is why Theranos didn’t have anyone who knew anything about blood tests on its board. This seems like a good cautionary message anyone should get from the Theranos case: stay away from companies that avoid having subject matter experts on their board.
Dangerman
Yup. A weird case from the jump. Not every psychopath has parents similarly afflicted.
Everyone thought KS was buried at the Moms place (and I think some of her stuff WAS; her watch, an earring, I won’t share the story on either) …
… and, instead, she was almost surely buried at the Dad’s place.
Weird thing over the past couple of weeks is there is some evidence that something or someone is buried at the Mom’s place. Mom might end up in the slammer before this thing is done. Dad is home free literally.
As you might guess, the Dad was a serious POS for years, ruined them all.
schrodingers_cat
@Roger Moore: For me the big red flag was the diagnostics that Theranos was promising to do with an absolutely miniscule quantity of blood.
Alison Rose
Okay, I don’t want to sound like a shallow bitch, and also I’m the furthest thing from a supermodel so I don’t mean to throw stones here, but…the NYT article has a photo of the dude captioned “Prosecutors said Rex Heuermann took selfies that he sent to help arrange sexual assignations” and I’m like…and that photo worked? He looks like a semi-sentient potato in a toupee who is mentally undressing whomever might be viewing the photo. But I suppose if the women were escorts, that doesn’t matter as much.
(This is not me putting any negativity or victim-blaming on them for their work. I am pro-sex-worker.)
stinger
Chipped in. Or, as perhaps I should look at it, renewed my BJ subscription!
Kathleen
@CaseyL: I have a T shirt emblazoned with “Crime Shows And Comfy Clothes”. Actually it’s my preferred lifestyle. My daughter insisted that I buy it! We also have matching pink t shirts that say “Snacks!”. I’m all about The Priorities! I
phdesmond
on Paypal, one can specify that it’s a gift. there’s no tax on gifts.
Martin
@JPL: there is something normalizing (I think not in a good way) about a form of entertainment that is contextualized on actual people being killed. That they were killed is not the entertainment, I don’t mean to suggest that, but the entertainment doesn’t exist *unless* they are killed.
I mean, Ms Martin fucking LOVES these shows, so I’m not trying to look down on folks, but I decided I don’t want to be part of that economy.
Brachiator
@Roger Moore:
I recall one study of auto break-ins. One area where there were a lot was not a function of where people lived, but where they worked or often parked.
Similarly, in one city, there were a lot of cheap hotels and prostitution in one stretch of the city. There was a freeway on-ramp nearby. The area was the last stop before upper class guys got on the freeway to head for their homes in the suburbs.
Kathleen
@JPL: For some reasons I found Criminal Minds to be soothing during the Trump years, which for some reason disturbed my friends. I think “you get me”!
OGLiberal
@Renie: I remain mum on Jimmy Burke for fear of being beaten up.
Kay
@schrodingers_cat:
It’s a nice story too because in the book (less so in the HBO series) these health systems bureaucrats are the heroes. It’s people like the Medicaid/Medicare administrator in San Francisco and another in NY or a lowly army doctor who isn’t afraid to tell Mattis that Holmes is completely full of shit and dangerous to soldiers. It’s the “red tape” people that everyone wants to portray as getting in the way of innovation and disruption who ride to the rescue. Holmes herself actually does this – she does this thing where she insists the only reason they’re coming after her is they’re “incumbents” protecting the “status quo”. More bullshit that people like Schultz and Mattis swallow whole.
Kay
@phdesmond:
I also sent him the free Paypal “congrats to my favorite graduate card” just to be an idiot because it came up with “gift”. I think it’s Wonder Woman. Fitting!
You’re welcome, John!
Brachiator
@Alison Rose:
Maybe he looked harmless or like a typical John.
I didn’t know about this case before, but did a quick read of a CBS News article.
I see that a number of women were sex workers. Maybe they thought that the photo would help them weed out bad types.
Some of the cases were 10 years old. The families of those harmed had to live with pain for years.
JPL
@Kathleen: I’ll be 74 on Tuesday and trump was such a shock to my system, that it was a way to escape.
Skepticat
One of my aunts and and an uncle lived in Gilgo Beach, which is a lovely place. I’d never heard about this case (and yes, I am very into true and fictional crime). Their next-door neighbor was Robert Moses (urban planner, commissioner of NYC Parks and Recreation, and chair of NY State Council of Parks); he and my aunt shared a cat that went back and forth between the two houses, ruling both.
CaseyL
Damn! I didn’t think to mark mine as a gift. No matter: it can indeed be considered a subscription fee. I’ve been hanging out here long enough, more than long enough.
satby
Sorry about the drop in income coming on the heels of unexpected expenses, John. We’ve all been there. In memory of all the times I visited that vacation spot, and to thank you for this blog, kicking in a bit.
mrmoshpotato
@Alison Rose:
What did potatoes ever do to you? :)
Brachiator
@Roger Moore:
It’s more about how they almost got away with things. I don’t read books about white crime, but will sometimes follow news stories about cases.
Many corporate criminals, like grifters and con artists, think that what they are doing is all right.
@JPL:
I would read some true crime stuff as a pre-teen. I think part of it was that I wanted to try to understand how people could be so cruel and hateful.
I have never been much into true crime TV shows. But sometimes I get drawn in. I find the process of investigation interesting.
I don’t like the shows that have cheesey reenactments.
I also find fictional shows that make serial killers the protagonist or anti hero to be baffling. There’s nothing about these people in real life that is remotely appealing.
But I guess that people like to tame the monster through fiction.
OGLiberal
stinger
@Kay: I told PayPal it was a birthday gift to a friend. I have no idea when JG’s birthday is–maybe the same day as his graduation! ;-)
laura
My childhood neighbor grew up to be a serial killer (wayne ford). My classmate was one of many who were kidnapped from our bowling alley and then our Charles Schulz Ice Arena and who’s nude and partially decomposed bodies were found along the roadways near the petrified forest, and we had the Zodiak killer, and spouse had armed guards on his school bus that 4an through folsom prison after the Chowchilla kidnapping and underground school busing, and we were horrified to find out that one of our acquaintances was an early victim of the east area rapist. And yet, I too, find it easier to get back to sleep after watching a murder mystery. I think it’s the restoration of order that soothes.
OGLiberal
@Skepticat: Bob Moses was their neighbor? Fascinating. Also, he was terrible.
Kay
@stinger:
Good! We’re creating a digital defense trail for his (upcoming?) audit :)
One step ahead of The Man
Gin & Tonic
@OGLiberal: His primary residence, as far as I’m aware, was in Babylon Village, on the “mainland” (i.e. Long Island.) Gilgo is on Captree Island, and I suspect that was just a summer place.
Brachiator
@laura:
Yep. Many murder mysteries are about the disruption in society restored by the detective solving the crime.
Some mysteries like to uncover a rot that has festered for a long time, finally erupting into murder.
NotMax
Speaking of true crime, quote of the week?
“I’m an idiot, I realize that,” [he told the judge]. “I was stupid. I don’t know what came over me. … I apologize to you, the country and my family.”
– convicted January 6th participant Kevin Lyons (Source)
.
JPL
Manyakitty
John, what’s up with the Patreon? I scheduled a recurring donation there and the receipt now says Patreon user instead of your name. Should I redirect? Please let me know. Maybe email?
Thanks!
Another Scott
Hang in there, JC.
Sent you something via PayPal (making sure to check that it was indicated as a gift).
Thanks for keeping the lights on here.
Cheers,
Scott.
JPL
@Manyakitty: I didn’t notice a change. I’m anxious to find out though.
MazeDancer
No nice cards were offered at PayPal. Even though I typed in “gift”. They just offered to check the ‘Friends and Family” box.
It has been my universal experience, observing myself and others, that all professional reversals result in great things happening.
Time for a change it seems. You know a gazillion people, John, and two gazillion know you. The world is definitely your oyster right now.
sab
Oh dear. My impression was that Adam hates true crime stuff because it ain’t true. That was always my excuse for telling my spouse ” Could you please turn that crap off? It is all bullshit”.
Manyakitty
@JPL: yeah, it always came up as John Cole before. 😬
John Cole
Thanks everyone!
Miss Bianca
@Martin: It’s funny – I enjoy reading murder mysteries, but I have been known to question the morality of using even fictional murder for entertainment purposes. “Cozy” mysteries, oddly, are the ones that bother me the most on that regard – what’s “cozy” about murder?
In my dreams (literally) there’s an afterlife for all these fictional murder victims where they catch each other up on how they were killed.
SiubhanDuinne
@John Cole:
Just sent a little bit via Zelle. Or is that a verb, now? (“I just Zelled you some money.”)
Suzanne
@OzarkHillbilly:
I already sent this story to some of my colleagues, and noted, “An architect?! That tracks.”.
geg6
I am a Murderino. Loud and proud. I saw a little blurb about this online earlier today, but no details. This is a big one. Damn, but they’re getting good at this cold case stuff.
Sorry to hear of your troubles, Cole. I am having a bit of a rough patch, too. I think I’m dealing with some pretty worrisome memory issues with my John. We’re finally getting him checked, but I found out we have some outstanding bills on major things and I don’t have access to his bank account, so it’s coming from my funds until I can get a feel for where we stand. Meanwhile, he doesn’t know where his insurance card is and isn’t sure who his current insurer is. I found two cards from different providers today, but still don’t know which is the right one. It’s been a bad month. I don’t know if this is possibly due to his stroke a few years ago and/or perhaps he’s having mini-strokes. Maybe he has a brain tumor or Altzheimers. It’s been a lot of stress, so I can relate.
satby
@geg6: that sounds so tough geg6. I hope you can get it sorted out. Keep us posted, your pictures of John with Lovey were always so sweet. I’m hoping the best for you.
geg6
@Martin:
In general, that’s true but there are those in the genre who are trying to diversify the cases they present. Dateline has done good work on cases concerning Native American communities. There are podcasters out there who concentrate on cases in African American communities. I haven’t come across any specific to Latinx or API communities, but I’m sure they’re out there.
The thing is, serial killers are a huge draw in true crime and the sad truth is that they are usually white men. Their victims can be anything at all, but these fascinating sickos are white men.
Brachiator
@geg6:
Not sure if this thread is still alive…
And some aspects of the case was solved with new technology, or improved methods and techniques.
So, a murderer may think they are getting away with a crime because they have accounted for current investigatory techniques, only to be undone by innovation.
The key is preserving evidence, even stuff that may not be currently important.
Sorry to hear about your troubles. I hope things get better.
BeautifulPlumage
I read a lot of Ann Rule’s books, many of which were cases in the PNW. Ted Bundy was active in one of the parks we went to a lot, and my older sisters would have been his type. I didn’t otherwise follow true crime until the early Murdaugh murders podcast by Mandy Many. I was intrigued because it was current and involve a lot of issues with the judiciary in SC. I sometimes also listen to My Favorite Murder.
I stopped all my donations/subscriptions in May when I quit my full-time position. I will, in celebration of certain accomplishments, send in a bit. I hope to go back to a monthly “subscription” in a couple of months.
Leto
Watch Mike Pence get smacked in the head by a water balloon! That little girl has a cannon!
Geminid
@Suzanne: Charles Bronson’s character in Death Wish was an architect. Do you guys ever get together for Death Wish watch parties?
Asking for a friend.
frosty
I’ve been thinking about donating to B-J for a little while now, after reading TPM’s fundraising posts. I’m a member so they get something from me every year and i thought I should do the same here since this is the place I spend most of my time, and the commenters (no, really!!) help keep me sane.
Heading over to the link now.
raven
@Leto: Aw shit!
MazeDancer
@geg6: So very sorry.
May I suggest you have a Durable Power of Attorney drawn up that John can sign now. Plus a medical one as well.
With it you can go to his bank an have access to his account You can make his business and medical decisions.
It also puts you in control no matter what the future brings
While an actual lawyer may need to be involved, here is an online form. Probably need to get it notarized, but as his wife, it might be good enough for the bank, at least.
Leto
@raven:
hahaha, I need to dig up his refutation of the fly :P
The Moar You Know
The “true crime” genre turns violence, death and tragedy into entertainment. You guys do you but at least think about what you’re giving free rent to in your brains. I find it beyond vile.
Brachiator
@The Moar You Know:
Do you play violent video games?
raven
@Leto: I ws wanting to find a YouTube so I could post it!
geg6
@MazeDancer:
We aren’t married, but I’m looking into those. Thanks.
Suzanne
@Geminid:
Who’s Charles Bronson?
I kid. Slightly.
No, architect fun is pretty limited to happy hours, and other hipster stuff. Some of the younger staff on my team occasionally take workout classes together. I have found a lot of architects to be runners…. whenever there’s a running event, every firm I’ve worked for has had a team participate.
Suzanne
@geg6: That sounds rough. Hugs, and best wishes for John.
geg6
@The Moar You Know:
There is an argument to be made that true crime podcasts and docs have either helped solve some cases, helped innocent people get out of prison or brought attention to cases that could possibly be solved or a victim identified by wider public recognition. It’s almost always less about the murder or murderer but in how the case is solved or presenting evidence in the hope of getting information and evidence in order to get it solved.
RedDirtGirl
@raven: Yeah, he looked too young and “not wooden” and there were no SS agents around.
SiubhanDuinne
@geg6:
Ah, jeez, geg6, that is sucky and scary. I hope you can get the paperwork (insurance, etc.) sorted quickly, and then find out what’s going on with your John. With luck, it will be identifiable and manageable. Thinking of you. Big, big hugs.
Odie Hugh Manatee
Paypal, via gift, John. I even included a card!
Warblewarble
Tfg. gets mentioned often enough, is that not “True Crime”?
Another Scott
@geg6: I recommend a Justice of the Peace. Ours was in front of his family Christmas tree. :-)
Strength and comfort and peace to you and John. Hang in there.
Best wishes,
Scott.
catbirdman
Just sent you a little bump via Venmo. I hope it helps you get through the rough patch!
UncleEbeneezer
@JPL: Have you watched HBO’s Love & Death? It’s really superb and Elizabeth Olsen really should’ve gotten an Emmy nomination for it.
Jackie
@geg6: Sadly, this is one of the situations when married vs not can be a sucky situation depending on what state you live in. Hope you can get legalities sorted out to help you help your John.
thruppence
I’m on the Patreon thing, but I’ll kick in some more when I get home tonight. Let us know how much it helps.
phdesmond
@Kay:
what a thoughtful gift!
Maxim
I worked for a while in the same office as a woman who listened to true crime podcasts all day. I hated it. Fortunately, I was able to switch to a different location and then to remote work.
I love watching fictional mystery shows; as others have said, solving the puzzle and the restoration of order are soothing. And I read mystery novels for years, too. But I don’t enjoy learning about real people’s suffering at all.
thruppence
Okay, home now, sent you some via Zelle. Hope it helps. Hope we all help.
lowtechcyclist
@phdesmond:
I recently signed up for Zelle. The one previous time I sent money via Zelle, I didn’t specify anything, but all the money got there.
Soprano2
@MazeDancer: I second, third and fourth this suggestion. When we had our first visit with my John at the gerontologist and he had taken the memory test, the doctor started asking us about durable power of attorney and living will, because my John scored low enough to indicate memory problems. It was kind of jarring. Lucky for us, we did that in 2014, so it’s already taken care of. I guess they want to shock people because they need to do the stuff while the person with memory problems can still make decisions. I’m not on his checking account (paranoia from a huge suit when he was married to his second wife re: his first wife and his kids), but with us that’s not a problem because I have plenty of money to pay bills. We sit down and pay bills together, plus I get the mail so I always know what’s coming in, so that helps.
I have a friend whose father died quite suddenly. He paid all the bills online from their credit union checking account; her mother had no idea what bills they even had (other than the normal ones everyone has), and no idea how much they were. They spent a few hours at the credit union getting it so her mother could pay the bills. People don’t think about this kind of stuff when they’re paying everything online; maybe they should.
Soprano2
Wanted to add, I finally got a chance to sign onto my home computer and sent some money, because I don’t want to do that from my phone. Hope it helps.
Gammyjill
I haven’t been a consistent reader of Balloon Juice for a few years, but I kicked $250.00 your way through PayPal. I appreciate your good work in the past and we have an interesting year coming forward, so keep it up.
hilzoy
@Martin: The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has a number of really good true crime podcasts about indigenous women.