Investigative Journalist? (Not!)

What a big surprise to learn that writing in the "true crime" genre is not the same as writing in the memoir/non-fiction genre! One would think I would have known that but, as usual, I let my romantic notions get in the way of reality.
Facts are facts and truth is truth; therefore, writing true crime is just like writing other non-fiction. What a mistaken assumption that was (is) on my part. What I discovered and continue to discover is that when fear and mistrust enter in, the normal good nature and sound judgement of human beings become clouded with suspicion and wariness.
I am not a trained investigative journalist, the Mike Wallace type that exposes fraud and lies and corruption. If someone tells me something, I tend to believe it. Writing about the Stacey Burns case has taught me some hard lessons, which is a good thing because a hard lesson learned is not forgotten. Perhaps the most significant lesson, so far, is that people who expose themselves by speaking out tend to absorb the most criticism, often being the target of accusations that are not always based on fact but on emotion.
There can be only one truth. There are not degrees of truth, as in, "his statement contained a degree of truth."
If his statement had just a degree of truth, wouldn't that necessarily mean that it also had a degree of untruth?
We know there is only one truth about what happened to Stacey Burns and her killer knows that truth.
I'm not an investigative journalist but I'm trying like so many others to discover that one truth through writing this book.
Duker  

Another reason:Re: Stacey Burns

OK- I admit it! Another reason I was drawn to writing this book is because I lived a half mile from Nancy and Norm Vittum and have known them since we moved to Tuftonboro in 1970. Imagine, forty years as neighbors and friends! I've respected and admired them for every one of those years, even as we drifted apart a bit in the latter part of our time in Tboro.
Now, imagine knowing Jim Vittum, their son, for every one of those forty years: having him in a class; seeing him in our beloved church; watching his children grow up; thinking for sure that there is no way he could ever have done this horrific crime. Then, imagine that you begin to think that maybe he could have done it
Now, imagine that you decide to write the book and you talk to agents about it and the first thing they say is STAY NEUTRAL!! So, you do and decide to "let the chips fall where they may" to fall back into the cliche trap!
That's what this book is hopefully ALL about! Just the truth- which shouldn't be that hard but believe me, it is! Anyone who knows me hopefully will believe that. Just the truth-someone, even it is only the killer, knows who it guilty. If you have the least bit of conscience left, give it up and let people move on.
My heart aches for Nancy and Norm. They are wonderful, caring people.
Duker

Why a book about Stacey Burns?

Via the infamous and cliched "grapevine" I hear the legitimate question asked enough that it should be answered. This blog will be Part I of the answer to the question: Why would you write a book about the Stacey Burns case? This question is the kind that is usually asked when the person asking already has a pre-conceived notion about what the answer should be but that does not make it any less legitimate.
Unspoken most of the time but always lurking is the follow-up question: How could you think of making money on such a tragedy?
Let's answer the follow-up first. Should this book ever be published in any format, I'm not planning on benefiting financially. If anyone does benefit, it will be the children of Stacey Burns through the foundation which has already been established for them. With that out of the way, let's move on to the question of why would I write this book.
We lived in Tuftonboro, New Hampshire for forty years. I taught in the Governor Wentworth School District for sixteen years and in Conway for ten. The area is home to us despite our retirement move to Arizona. We were still in NH when Stacey Burns was murdered. I saw first hand the pain, anguish and impact her death had on people I knew very well. I have written memoir and non-fiction and thought I could do the research this book and present an impartial, fair and accurate picture of the events connected to this horrendous crime. From everything I had heard about Stacey Burns and the incredible positive impact she had on so many people, I thought she deserved to have her story told as well.
I am a writer and writers want to write.This story ached to be told and I thought this was a chance to follow that writing passion for a good cause.
Part 2 of why I am writing this book will be the subject of the next blog.  

Calling all citizens

Please excuse a small bit of venting today as I express disappointment with those investigating the Stacey Burns murder case.
After over two years of exploring this case, interviewing any number of people close to it, researching all kinds of background material and writing fifteen chapters of a book about it, I recently offered to share and compare information I have with that of the investigators. I did this after attending the "walk for Stacey" in Concord on May 10. I did not ask to compromise their investigation; the offer was as an interested citizen who may or may have relevant information. I sent this offer via e-mail to the NH State Police with a cc to the Wolfeboro Police Department. Hearing only a "thank you keeping me informed" from the Wolfeboro Police Chief (who does not have jurisdiction in the case) I sent the same request to the NH Cold Case division which, I understand, has conducted interviews in Wolfeboro. To date, I've not had a response of any kind. I'm just wondering why? Would a thank you for your interest note or call be in order?
I just thought that there may be something in my notes or recordings that might help.
Has anyone else had an experience like this?
Duker  

Whom do you believe?

For of those anxiously awaiting the next question- here it is!
When two people whom you trust tell two different stories,which one do you believe? It happens all the  time in friendships, families and just acquaintances.
In the Stacey Burns case, it is imposing a monumental dilemma for me.
This is for information of anyone interested.
It is not an easy answer!
Duker

"We Know Who Did It"

During the two years I've been working on the Stacey Burns book, I've lost track of the times I've heard someone say "I know who did it." This statement comes from a wide variety of sources, including speculative blogs, hearsay rumors and unsubstantiated innuendo. These sources are easily dismissed. However, most troubling of all, there are indications from official sources that they "know who did it" but lack the evidence to make an arrest. What inference could we draw from what Jeffrey Strelzin, prosecutor for the Attorney General's Office, told the Keane family on the morning of the "Stacey Burns march" of May 10 that they are looking at "one guy" but "we haven't reached a point where we can make an arrest?" I guessing that it means the they do indeed know who did it. (At least, it seems that they think they know who did it!)
These are not just recent claims. I first heard a year ago last April that they knew who did it.
So, my question for today is just this: What exactly does it mean when we are told this is "still being pursued as an active case?" Does it mean ten hours a week? five? forty? Just curious . . .
By the way, for those who have wondered why I am doing this, I have a list of about nine reasons for a later blog. In the meantime, know that should this book ever be published, I plan on donating a substantial portion of any net proceeds to the foundation for Stacey's children.
Duker

Nothing new

Today's question will have to wait until tomorrow as I will hopefully be speaking with someone today who might trigger a fresh question for everyone.
To anyone reading this blog, I ask for patience if you came here expecting another question to be available but I will ask a little one and then tomorrow add something of more substance.
Does anyone out there think there is still a bit of a fear factor existing because the murderer of Stacey Burns has not been incarcerated?

A NH State Police question

First of all, thanks to Bob T. for the great explanation of the process following a 911 call. As I mentioned in the last blog, my question was not intended to reflect negatively on the wonderful officers and volunteers who  fulfill so well the responsibility to respond to emergencies. It is a difficult job and I respect and admire those who do it. I guess we must assume that all those well-thought out protocols were followed in the Stacey Burns case even during the chaos that must have been rampant at that scene.
My question for today seems to me to be an easy one to answer as well. It has to do with alibis and for today I'll raise the case of Ed Burns. Here it is with some background first. On 20/20, we see a video recording which seems to show Mr. Burns dancing at a party on Saturday night in a hotel in Massachusetts. That video is followed by a brief interview with a friend who says he was with Ed Burns all night through into Sunday morning. Hence, Ed Burns must have what is called in clicheville an "air-tight" alibi. I'll have more in later blogs about that Saturday night/Sunday morning with Mr. Bravance but for now, I ask this simple question to the authorities in New Hampshire: If Mr. Ed Burns has this fool proof alibi, why not let him and the rest of the population know that he is not a suspect in the murder of Stacey Burns? Declare him cleared and blow away the cloud of suspicion which remains over his head. Make an announcement that at least one "person of interest" is no longer in that category. Let Mr. Burns walk the streets of Wolfeboro without wondering if some people are still looking at him as a possible murderer.
This seems to me to make perfect sense if he is off the suspect list. It has been over three years, after all.  

First responders

In what must have been a horrific scene at the home of Stacey Burns on Sunday morning, Mothers' Day, May 10, 2009, one has to wonder how the first EMT's and other first responders reacted. With the highest regard and admiration for what they do, I am worried that today's question may be taken in the wrong way. It is not my intention to criticize or question what happened on that awful morning. My question is a simple one and, once again, because of the status of the investigation, no one will likely be willing to answer it but I'll raise it since there is a hole my description of Sunday morning in the book.
My question for today: Was everyone who arrived at the house that morning aware of what they were going to find or to what they were responding? I ask this only in the interest of establishing that all of the protocols for handling a crime scene were firmly in place before anyone entered the house. I'm sure they were. I assume the response to a medical emergency like a heart attack must be different than the response to a stabbing or murder.
Duke

An Ed Burns question

Although attention to this blog so far has been somewhat sparse, to say the least, I hold out hope that maybe someone is at least reading it, even if there is no comment.
My two questions today are really easy ones. One which I should have asked long ago is what is the name of the hotel in Boston where Ed Burns spent Saturday night, the night that Stacey was killed?
The second one could only be answered by Ed Burns but I sure there are as many opinions as there are people out there! Here it is: Why, after picking up the three girls on Friday then realizing that you had a prior commitment for the weekend, didn't you just return the girls to their mother for Mothers' Day weekend?
Wednesday's discussion and question will center on the first responders to Stacey's house after they received the 911 call.
Duker

A John Quinones question

On the 20/20 show of January, 2010, John Quinones interviewed a number of the same people I have interviewed. I sent Mr. Quinones a certified letter which was signed for in May, 2011. In that letter, I expressed my surprise that he (John Quinones) had been given a detail about the crime which I felt should never have been made public. I asked for a simple yes or no answer as to whether it was true that he told Jim Vittum about that detail during his interview. If he did, then he shouldn't have known that fact. If he didn't, then Jim Vittum's credibility suffers. Of course, he never responded. Once again, we are left to speculate rather than sorting out the truth.
So, here is my question for John Quinones: Did the police investigators provide you with information that you could use in the interview process, information which I've been told is off-limits to the general public? If so, why would they do that and jeopardize the investigation? If not, who did provide you the information?
It seems to me that these are legitimate questions, given that information coming forth from the authorities about the case has been sparse, to say the least.
Duker

Another question

As I interviewed various people for my book about the murder of Stacey Burns, I was struck by the positive impact she had on those around her. I also was intrigued by the variety of stories I was told regarding the interaction with the police investigators.
Today's question: How is it that so many people know or believe they know intimate details about the investigation, details which it seems to me only the police should know? A follow-up question could easily be this: Have the police inadvertently shared information that could compromise the investigation? During my two years with this project, any contact with authorities has resulted in being told that as long as it is an "ongoing investigation" they can share nothing. Yet, it certainly appears as though details have been shared with the public.
On Saturday, I will raise a question for John Quinones of 20/20, one I asked in a certified letter to him but received no response.

The Stacey Burns book issues

I am changing direction of this blog. For at least the next few weeks, I will be addressing issues pertaining to my current writing project entitled (tentatively) Murder in a Small Town: The Tragic Death of Stacey Burns.
Every other day, I will raise a question which I have encountered in the last two years of researching this project. Anyone who might have an answer is certainly more than welcome to respond.
Today's question: Why has Ed Burns not responded to my requests to tell his side of the story, even refusing to sign for a certified letter asking him to take part? I would love to have his input to find balance and fairness in the book.
Thursday's question will deal with my search for answers about a particularly sensitive topic.