Never Read the Comments

I posted this story the other day on my Facebook page and the subject line as, "Holy.shit."

I know Jonathan Harris. Scratch that...I knew Jon. I knew him for years, and it has been 10-11 years since I've spoken with him or his family. I used to date his older brother. Things obviously never panned out, I bowed out of their lives and they out of mine.

For a few weeks there was a story of a missing mother of 2, and her friends and family were desperately searching for her. Her body was found wrapped in a tarp down in a ravine...

I watch the news every morning before work, between 5:30 and 6am. I'm usually not fully awake. Wednesday morning was no exception. The first news story, I was more concerned with my cup of coffee than the news, a photo of a man kept flashing on the TV and they kept saying they had a suspect in custody and said his name numerous times, but I didn't really notice due to early morning grogginess- also, Jonathan Harris is a very common name. As the story was wrapping up, his photo flashed on screen again and I said aloud, "That looks like Jon". Then they said his name again and I realized it was him.

Instantly my stomach turned to knots. Regardless of how long it's been since you've talked with someone, the feeling that you personally know someone who is/was capable of doing something so horrible brings a range of thoughts between remembering when he was in my house, who he was when we last spoke, that poor woman and her children, and the hell all familes must be going through. 

I've been following this story pretty closely and you know, never ever read the comments. I will not defend Jon or his actions, but the things people say about his mother are deplorable. She didn't raise monsters. I remember her being loving and active in their lives, always concerned about their well being and always supportive as a mother tends to be. I can't speak for her now, but I'm sure she, like so many, never saw this coming. 

To be attacked as though she intentionally raised a killer breaks my heart for her. While I won't directly reach out to her, as I don't see that being a beneficial move, I will post this and ask that people stop putting blame on her. I know my blog doesn't get a lot of traffic, and not a lot of folks will see it, but a little compassion goes a long way. 

I wish justice for Nicole White and her family/friends and peace for both the White and Harris family.