A child's murder and common sense
As a parent of young children, I cannot imagine the horror that Skyler Kauffman's mother is experiencing since learning her daughter was murdered by someone living in her own apartment complex. However, given the reported facts, her directing blame solely toward the police seems disingenuous ("A picture of Skyler, the 9-year-old murder victim," Tuesday).Skyler is described as an extrovert who "had an independent streak" and "would sometimes run from unit to unit, knock on doors, and strike up conversations with tenants." On April 18, Skyler and her friend, instead of walking home, a stone's throw away, knocked on the wrong door to use a stranger's bathroom. The man who appeared reportedly locked them inside and released them only after they screamed. Though details of that encounter now differ, what remains undisputed is that Skyler's mom was naturally upset and called the police, who investigated. Three weeks later, the man in that apartment allegedly murdered Skyler.