Just How Violent Was The Fourth?
Violent Weekend Concludes
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Farmer's Market Roundup - Summer Harvests
The Sun-Times asks what we hope is a rhetorical question on the cover of today's edition; "How do you punish somebody for being so senseless?" The question was actually asked by Paul Dahlquist, father of one of three musicians brutally murdered* by Jeanette Sliwinski almost 2 1/2 years ago. She attempted to kill herself by slamming her car into a vehicle carrying Michael Dahlquist, John Glick, and Doug Meis while the three were out on a lunch break.
All three were prominent players in the local music scene, and to say they were beloved by family, friends, and fans would be a tremendous understatement. Personally, not a week goes by that we don't reflect upon this tragic loss, and not a week goes by that we don't wonder just what sort of punishment would be appropriate to mete out to Sliwinski. We can't think of anything appropriate that would balance out her selfish act that robbed us of Dahlquist, Glick, and Meis.
Well, we suppose we're going to find out soon what the justice system deems appropriate, since Sliwinski's trial begins today. The state is, surprisingly, not seeking the death penalty, and her defense team is expected to plea insanity. We're sorry, but while we agree it's insane to kill three innocent people, we also think Sliwinski knew exactly what she was doing.
*Yes, that's incendiary, and no, we don't care.
Illustration of Michael Dahlquist, John Glick, and Doug Meis from the 3 Friends Benefit poster.
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Lock her up forever. Then forget her.
This story is too depressing to even have a side on. I don't think any amount of jail time could make it any better. What a stupid, stupid girl.
This is small consolation, but less than 1% of insanity pleas are actually successful, so those are pretty good odds that she won't get off.
This brings it all back. I work in Skokie and have driven that very intersection (Niles Center and Dempster) dozens of times. When it happened, the tone around the office was "that could have been one of us." I hope she gets life. No parole. Those poor men and their families, I just can't imagine.
You might not care about due process, Tankboy, but I do.
Innocent until proven guilty--all the time for everyone.
And while you may think she knew exactly what she was going, the case has not been proven yet, not by a longshot.
I know how hard it is to lose friends and people whose work you respect. But that does not give any decent citizen the right to toss out due process.
After all, you never know when you will be on trial.
I remain constantly amazed by the inability of my fellow citizens to respect due process and all that due process requires. Yes, this woman appears to be--emphasis on "appears"--scum, but you already have tried and convicted her, and have taken up residence in her mind, apparently.
I don't see how it is surprising that the state is not seeking the death penalty, considering the valid question of whether or not this horrific, senseless act constituted "murder" (vs. manslaughter). I agree with matilda above, you have to respect due process here, and trust that 'the system' will work and justice served.
That actually wasn't the Sun Times' question. It was the victim's father who said it. He seems to be a pretty thoughtful guy.
I'm with matty. Just too horrible and depressing to even have a strong opinion about.
In any other instance, I would advocate for the death penalty. However, given that this woman was *trying* to kill herself, the best thing to do is deny her that option completely.
I think locking her in a windowless room with a 24/7 multimedia display of the men she killed is a fine way for this person to spend the rest of her life.
Slitting your wrists does not put other people in danger, planning to drive your car into a wall or into oncoming traffic, the risk of getting others killed goes way up.
I am not sure where in the article tankboy said he wanted to skip Due Process, matilda. In fact I think he said "we're going to find out soon what the justice system deems appropriate".
Pure speculation:
Is/was she insane? Semantics. You've got to be something to plow your car into a busy intersection. If sane, that's a very insane act for someone to undertake.
Thankfully we still have juries to decide what has taken place rather than subjective audiences that haven't let a week go by without thinking about punishments to dole out. (Blog says "personally, followed by "we." Not sure what the relation is). Which is not to sound heartless, but rather to say that victims and their families, et al, are understandably biased.
Personally, I don't see how killing this woman brings people back to life, reforms her (we're a Christian society, I'm told) or does anything less than punish her family in the same manner she punished the family/friends of her victims. Color me wishy washy but I'd much rather see her spend time in jail and then use whatever skills she has to the benefit of others in some way.
If the Hutus and Tutsis of Rwanda can have reconciliation we should be able to explore some more thoughtful solutions to our societal ills, however heartbreaking they (ills) might be.
Haven't we killed enough fckng people for one decade?
"If the Hutus and Tutsis of Rwanda can have reconciliation we should be able to explore some more thoughtful solutions to our societal ills, however heartbreaking they (ills) might be."
nicely put
Hugh, I don't remember advocating the death penalty, I was just surprised it wasn't being sought.
Tanky
It seems like you are never the less disapointed that the death penalty is not being sought.
Perhaps the prosecutors understand that while indeed this was a very brutal and reckless act, the woman had no idea who was in the car and was probably only concerned with killing herself as fast as she could at that tragic moment.
I’m just wondering if your dander is up on this because they were musicians? So I’m curious to how you view motorist that kill cyclists and pedestrians on the road and get simple tickets?
My feeling is that driving licenses should not be considered a right, but a true privilege.
And while honestly on this issue I’m not sure about specific policies, I do feel that as cars/trucks are potential deadly weapons, much better screening- including mental heath issues -should be part of the license process. I think communities would be much safer/better for all with far fewer cars including younger drivers.
This must be horrible for the families of the victims. I'm surprised the case took so long to go to trial.
Regardless of one's feelings about the case, it's unsurprising that the death penalty is not being sought. The prosecutors would have to conclusively prove that she intended to kill (someone other than herself), which doesn't seem easy to do under the circumstances. Then after that they'd have to fit her act in under the various special circumstances that determine whether a capital charge is proper.
None of which really apply to her. Is trying to kill yourself a felony in IL? I guess you could get a death penalty case in under the "in the course of committing a felony" provision, but that's clearly stretching it.
"I think locking her in a windowless room with a 24/7 multimedia display of the men she killed is a fine way for this person to spend the rest of her life."
I unfortunately did not know Michael or John, but I did know Doug. He was a good friend, an amazing drummer, and still ranks very high on my list of "funniest people I've ever known."
When this all happened it was an awful day of cell phone calls and emails and "did you hear?" and dark clouds looming over everyone you talked to. One of my bands played a benefit show at the Empty Bottle with the proceeds going to the families and I felt that it was the least I could do.
Doug, Michael and John are missed second of every day.
Jeanette, although in need of due process, needs to understand that if this case does not come out in her favor, she does deserve to sit in jail for the rest of her life and realize the loss she's put in the hearts of dozens, if not hundreds of people.
You guys are missed.
Suicide: not a crime in IL, it appears.
Hey spook:
And while honestly on this issue I’m not sure about specific policies, I do feel that as cars/trucks are potential deadly weapons, much better screening- including mental heath issues -should be part of the license process.
Welcome to the slippery slope. So if someone is depressed should we take their license away? If they are under medical care for any kind of anxiety disorder should they be banned from driving? At what level do you set the bar?
As a person who pretty much drives every few months anymore, and gets around by bike, cars and trucks are and can be deadly weapons, but mental health as a prerequisite for getting a license is a mighty scary thing to think about. I don't need the government prying any more into my life. The idea that if I might have a brush with any kind of clinical depression, and seek treatment for it, could have my license revoked, is horrifying. This could prevent people from seeking needed treatment. That just ain't right sir.
And further into the actual topic at hand, once due process has its say, I hope that she is found guilty of something along the lines of manslaughter or murder, and gets life. Having had a family member murdered, the knowledge that the person who did it (who *IS* mentally ill, actually) is off the street, being treated, and cannot hurt herself, anyone else, or her family any further is a cold comfort, but a comfort nonetheless.
While she will get due process (after all, she's white and good looking), I don't see why we shouldn't have opinions about the case. I don't think anyone is denying her that.
I think about this all the time. I felt a tremendous affection for Michael and his band, and though I knew nothing about the two other men, I mourn them, too.
We all know that driving at 90 mph into a standing car at an intersection is no accident. I don't care what weird drugs you may be on, which she wasn't, but that's no accident.
But it's hard to imagine what to do to her. Death is what she wanted, and there's no justice in giving it to her. This case makes me despair of justice. There can be no justice for these three unfortunate men. I am scared of what I would do if I had the right to decide.
She appears to be poor girl in need of a mentor. May I suggest Patty Columbo? I think that they would make great cellmates.
I made no assumptions about one's stance for or against the death penalty. I simply took this opportunity to offer my own thoughts on that form of punishment. Naturally (I hope that's assumed) I feel for everyone involved (including the perpetrator). I personally don't believe, however, that killing another person makes the situation any more palatable. It would be more significant to me were the woman on trial brought to understand the sorrow she has caused and made to realize (and perhaps advocate against) the harm she has caused. That to me signifies progress as a society and represents the most productive outcome we can hope for. Revenge is a natural desire but I am in the enviable position at the moment to see beyond it given my distance from those involved.
She waived a jury trial, so a judge will make the decision.
She'll be found not guilty, it's just like celebrity "justice" in LA.
It's a lot easier to buy off one judge than a few jurors!
This is Crook County after all, the home of Greylord.
Judge Frank J. Wilson took a $10,000 bribe to find Harry Aleman not guilty of murder, even though there was an unimpeachable eyewitness.
Judge Thomas Moloney also took bribes as did a number of other judges.
Yea Biblio G
I'm not gonna win any Noble prizes for a cogent argument here.
I guess my general contextual point is cars have become second skin to the majority and too many people are dying because of this. Also the hate directed at this young woman gives me pause. While understandable for the parents, family and close friends of the three victims, for folks here to devise cruel torture for her leaves me befuddled.
I've no clue to what made her life so unbearable that she attempted to end it in such a violent way, luckily nor can I relate. I just can’t understand the "kill her like a cockroach" mentality that loses focus also on her humanity, the crisis of a growing mental heath problem and a lack of access to treatment. And I know this is gonna totally sound crazy, but the whole “wanna be model” thing screams of surface spiritless values and dipped in shallow materialistic female pipe dreams that might have contributed to this great sadness.
But I’m reminded of an interview of a grief counselor hired by anguished Amish community to work with the parents whose daughters were shot down in their school by an insane women hating gun man. The counselor said the parents were able to handle and better process their grief better than any one he had ever seen because the first thing they did was visit the wife of the man who killed their daughters to express their forgiveness. Well honestly this is bigger than me, but its now part of my intellectual lexicon (along with Mamie Till-Mobley’s I don’t have a minute to hate,) as uncomfortable as it might be for some one like me still lacking the maturity not to believe in the death penalty.
I hope she gets the help and justice she deserves
As much as I admire the men and their music, and grieve with their families, friends, and fans, I would have to agree with Spook.
Life is unfair, and I think we should all keep in mind that every action has a reaction. For example, some injustice-A totally out of Ms. Sliwinski's control may have happened to Ms. Sliwinski, which in turn drove her to decide suicide (injustice-B), and consquently affected the three men (injustice-C) who obviously had nothing to do with injustice-A? Ms. Sliwinski needs therapy, NOT punishment. Would a trial really give closure? We already know what she did and how does locking her up and executing her going to make anything better? The 3 families are still missing a loved one.
Those of you who advocate negativity are only perpetuating the cycle of negativity. Who knows, at one point you might have depressed your girlfriend, boyfriend, friend, family member to the point of their self-destruction too, and just because you did not directly damage something in the public view, would that make you any less of a criminal? I don't think we should judge one-sidedly and so superficially.
These men write beautiful sensitive music because they are just that: great people. I think they would be disappointed with all this hate.
Ms. Sliwinski walked away from that crash with little to no injury. Could she have been wearing a seatbelt? That doesn't fit with her story of attempted suicide.
Hey everyone,
The death penalty is not being sought, at least in large part, in accordance with the the wishes of Doug, John and Michael's families and friends.
No one thought Doug, John or Michael would want the death penalty, so that was decided in early meetings among friends, family and the prosecutors.
Take care.
Thanks for clearing that up, gabbles. That does make sense.