forensic art

An image of JonBenet Ramsey was created by forensic artist Stephen Mancusi back in 2002. With the countdown to the Aug 9 release of Thomas Pynchon's detective novel , Inherent Vice (wiki live 8/4), Mancusi's likeness of seclusive Pynchon is back in circulation. Mancusi's talent in forensic art has produced pieces on crime victims including Michael Jackson, Maddie McCann, listed here, worth a look --

Thomas Pynchon: What might he look like now?
by Thom Geier

About three years ago, EW commissioned New York forensic artist Stephen Mancusi — a guy who’s done deliberately aged likenesses of everyone from JonBenet Ramsey to Marilyn Monroe — to use his professional techniques to render what reclusive author Thomas Pynchon might look like now..."

"The general public has long been divided into two parts; those who think that science can do anything and those who are afraid it will." — Thomas Pynchon

tmi

Writing about how speculation after JonBenet's murder modified mainstream media reporting into sensational gossip about non-events for the voyeuristic audience, Waco Tribune-Herald writer John Young delivered a (delightfully cynical) spot-on Op Ed--

Too much information: Rage against the cable news machine.
By John Young

"WACO, Texas — Upon hearing of Michael Jackson’s death, two pained sensations struck me:

The first was sadness over creative brilliance being snuffed. The second was the knowledge that our celebrity construction/deconstruction machine was about to perform up to its usual, um, standards... Most of what passes as “news” is speculation....

This trend gained traction back in the sensational case of murdered child beauty queen Jon Benet Ramsey. The “coverage” of her case lasted just about as long as has U.S. occupation of Iraq, with barely any more light shown on motives and perpetrators.

Most of the news coming out about poor Jon Benet’s death wasn’t news at all. It was speculation, a direct kin to expectoration. In most cases, it wasn’t even well-informed speculation, the little girl’s harried parents becoming the focus of a nation of voyeurs. News “consultants” became career rumor mongers relative to her fate. One little girl’s death, one industry of info clutter...Not a word greeting our waiting ears altered her fate or helped catch her killer, whoever that is...

Tell us something we don’t know. That would be news."

easy marks

Just a few days past the one year mark after the Boulder DA announcement that foreign male DNA found on JonBenet's clothing was found, matching the other foreign male DNA found repeatedly at the crime scene. Back when the DA made that official statement of apology to John Ramsey for the years of persecution a riot of words ensued, and continues. Once again rather than directing one second of energy toward putting pressure on those charged with solving this heinous crime, lofty debates began over the precedence DA Lacy had undertaken in 'clearing' the Ramseys, media ethics and the well documented incompetence of Boulder police. Others, mostly those relying on creative media reports that launched the witch hunt to persecute the Ramseys, latched on to the word 'new' as associated with 'touch DNA testing' in order to justify denials of fact of science and evidence in order to keep feeding their gut feeling the Ramseys murdered their child. It is just not rational, I know, perhaps a reflection of easy marks and those more vulnerable to incorporate media sensation into real life, rather like the sincerely grieving fan who suspects Sarah Palin could have had something to do with Michael Jackson's death--

FEMALE CALLER (31:50): He (Michael Jackson) is truly the soundtrack of my life. I also have a theory about Sarah Palin as well and I’m going to put it out there on radio, hopefully someone can investigate.

But, I think maybe she did something to Michael Jackson. Maybe there’s a scandal there. Maybe she’s stepping down because something’s about to come out. I don’t know, but I’m gonna just put it out there on your show so we’ll see.


SHARPTON: All right, thank you for your call, Ashley. That’s interesting. I’ll put it out, we’ll see. I don’t know

the blunder club

The finger pointing has begun. As the DEA steps in to investigate the untimely death of Michael Jackson, LAPD is being put on the hot seat. Critics are begining to ask questions that are eerily similar to what is known about Blunder Police Department's mismanagement of the investigation of JonBenet's murder. --

Los Angeles police under scrutiny in Jackson death
By LINDA DEUTSCH and THOMAS WATKINS
July 2, 2009

"The investigation of Michael Jackson's death is widening as questions intensify about the drugs he took, the doctors who provided them and the actions of police.

Why didn't police seal the mansion where he had been living? Why were moving vans seen at the home, and were any items removed before police wrapped up their search? Why didn't they get immediate search warrants?..."