I'm angry at this moment.  A few days ago I first heard the story about a 20 year old female marine that was missing.  She had been missing for weeks and nobody took that seriously, even though she was about to testify at a trial. She was also 8 months pregnant with a baby boy.  Last year she accused a superior of raping her and has been harassed ever since.  Well into her pregnancy she was attacked from behind and then punched in the face but was unable to identify her assailant. More recently, her car was "keyed" by someone on the base.

During the past week, I've heard reporters quote her mother (turns out she is not her birth parent) calling her a "clingy child" who called several times a week. She also said she "didn't always tell the whole truth" and she was borderline "bi-polar." I will bet real money this describes a lot of people on Lottery Post too.

My question is, what does this have to do with the fact that a 20 year old pregnant woman disappeared from the face of the Earth?  Let's imagine that 22 year old John Smith is found murdered in his home. Would they say "He was clingy and called home every day" or "He was a wonderful son. He called home everyday to talk to his Mom & Dad." 

Whether a person is beautiful, plain, thin or fat, White or Black, young or old, male or female, when that person is a victim of rape or assault, he/she has been violated.  Yet when a woman is raped, beaten or stalked, in many instances her character is torn apart.  Her reputation is challenged.  A car theft is treated with more compassion.

Now that so much time has been wasted on deciding whether or not she "ran away" her charred remains have been found in a grave in the backyard of the accused.  Both she and the 8 month old fetus were brutalized and burned.

She asked for protection and she didn't get it.  A brave woman who stood up to the military and said, "I need to be heard" was silenced.  She and her son will never get their justice. So I guess she wasn't lying after all.   

Rest in Peace, Maria & Baby Boy