What shocks me even more is that I am acquainted with BOTH of the men who have been arrested for these crimes.
In fact, I have even let my daughter go on a sleepover to the house of #1. I know! EPIC. PARENTING. FAIL.
Of course, I didn’t know he was a murderer back then. When Miss 16 was in Year 7, she was best friends with his daughter so we knew and spoke with the parents several times.
The girls went to different high schools and mostly lost touch after that (except for Facebook). I did hear that the parents split up, but then the next thing I knew, was the media reporting a murder in Cleveland. MY SUBURB! When I heard the name of the accused, it sounded familiar but I didn’t really stop to think about it. It was only when Miss 16 alerted me to the connection that I realised.
I’ve written before about #2 and how the police came knocking on my door, enquiring about my “relationship” with the suspect. (Excuse me but I am a married woman – imagine how I felt when this was said in front of my hubster!)
Again, I was shocked to discover that somebody I knew has been accused of murder.
My heart goes out to the families of both the victims of these murders, the grief they are facing and the tragic and unnecessary loss of life.
But I must confess my heart also goes out to these two men, whether they are guilty or not. Because to me they are not just names in the newspaper, but real, flesh and blood people that have lived in my community. I know their personalities, how they speak, their sense of humour, what they look like, their children …
It just goes to show that we never really know what people are capable of.
Criminals are no longer scary looking people dressed in black and balaclavas, brandishing guns. No, they are ordinary people, just like you and me.
It’s Monday, so I’m joining up with Kirsty from My Home Truths for I MUST CONFESS, and Alicia at One Mother Hen for the OPEN SLATHER blog link ups 
DON’T FORGET to enter our competition to win a family pass to Room on the Broom, at Redlands Performing Arts Centre!