Chapter 15 - I make it worse online
My worst post went up after a local reporter called.
Someone had heard about the cage from police-radio chatter.
I was furious.
I wrote:
My daughter was locked in a dog cage while the man responsible tried to destroy evidence in a swimming pool. Anyone defending him is defending child abuse.
I did not name Derek.
Everybody knew.
Then comments.
Hundreds.
Someone found Derek’s business page.
Reviews flooded.
His former customers posted addresses.
One person threatened to:
“teach him cage life.”
I deleted my post.
Too late.
Rebecca called.
“What did you think this accomplished?”
“I wanted people to know.”
“Police know.”
“Laura’s family was already saying—”
“Stop.”
I did.
Derek’s lawyer later argued:
Michael contaminated witnesses and orchestrated public harassment.
Did that erase evidence?
No.
Did it complicate things?
Yes.
I issued a short statement through counsel:
I would not discuss an active case publicly and did not condone threats or harassment.
Then shut up.
May you like
Fear and anger had made me want a crowd.
Crowds are bad at precision.
