Why I used information about burglary arrest in Wilmington victim's story
The comment below my story about homicide victim Cristian Alvarez stung.
"this guy seriously went through her record.... Peice off s---. Im her "brother jonathan" and she is beautifull and the best companion in life i miss my sister cristy. I love u sister see u soon."
The comment was from Jonathan Alvarez, whose sister was found dead on Jan. 2 in bushes off L Street and Hyatt Avenue in Wilmington. A few days later, I had interviewed him at the scene, where a memorial sprang up and residents were making donations to pay for her funeral.
I watched Jonathan place a cross in the blood-soaked soil where his sister died. Although Jonathan and I engaged in a cordial conversation at the crime scene, Jonathan's later anger with me was over a paragraph deep in the story, which largely focused on the brutal crime and the fact Cristy Alvarez was a mother who spent her life in Wilmington. That paragraph read as follows:
"County court records showed Cristy Alvarez was charged in July with burglary and theft. The charges, which stemmed from a Carson sheriff's station case, were dismissed without prosecution. No other details were available."
Plenty of people believe that paragraph was unnecessary and defamatory and have blasted me for it.
Louie Aguirre wrote: "What purpose does that quote serve in this story? Seriously! She's gone, she left 2 kids behind in a senseless attack and murder. Is it really necessary to bring this up?"
Said Ann Romanelli from Colorado: "Nice reporting Mr. Altman, as usual you don't fail to show what an absolute jerk you are. RIP to this poor woman and my prayers go out to her family and friends."
Another reader, Adrian Maldonado, wrote "May she R.I.P. hope they catch the sick fool that did it and DB so what if she was arrested what's that got to do with her murder she didn't deserve to die like that."
I also received a pretty anti-Semitic email.
Obviously, Cristy Alvarez did not deserve to die that way. No one does. That's why I spent 90 minutes at the crime scene on Thursday and called top ranking LAPD officials to try to get information about what happened to her. It's also why editors decided the story should appear prominently on dailybreeze.com and on Friday's front page.
The key to the Cristy Alvarez story is we don't know what happened to her and why. Was she killed by someone she knew like Lacy Peterson? Was she robbed on the way to work? Was she the random victim of a serial killer? As police investigate the crime, it's a reporter's job to ask those questions and to explore every possible angle.
Here's how I covered this case:
"this guy seriously went through her record.... Peice off s---. Im her "brother jonathan" and she is beautifull and the best companion in life i miss my sister cristy. I love u sister see u soon."
The comment was from Jonathan Alvarez, whose sister was found dead on Jan. 2 in bushes off L Street and Hyatt Avenue in Wilmington. A few days later, I had interviewed him at the scene, where a memorial sprang up and residents were making donations to pay for her funeral.
I watched Jonathan place a cross in the blood-soaked soil where his sister died. Although Jonathan and I engaged in a cordial conversation at the crime scene, Jonathan's later anger with me was over a paragraph deep in the story, which largely focused on the brutal crime and the fact Cristy Alvarez was a mother who spent her life in Wilmington. That paragraph read as follows:
"County court records showed Cristy Alvarez was charged in July with burglary and theft. The charges, which stemmed from a Carson sheriff's station case, were dismissed without prosecution. No other details were available."
Plenty of people believe that paragraph was unnecessary and defamatory and have blasted me for it.
Louie Aguirre wrote: "What purpose does that quote serve in this story? Seriously! She's gone, she left 2 kids behind in a senseless attack and murder. Is it really necessary to bring this up?"
Said Ann Romanelli from Colorado: "Nice reporting Mr. Altman, as usual you don't fail to show what an absolute jerk you are. RIP to this poor woman and my prayers go out to her family and friends."
Another reader, Adrian Maldonado, wrote "May she R.I.P. hope they catch the sick fool that did it and DB so what if she was arrested what's that got to do with her murder she didn't deserve to die like that."
I also received a pretty anti-Semitic email.
Obviously, Cristy Alvarez did not deserve to die that way. No one does. That's why I spent 90 minutes at the crime scene on Thursday and called top ranking LAPD officials to try to get information about what happened to her. It's also why editors decided the story should appear prominently on dailybreeze.com and on Friday's front page.
The key to the Cristy Alvarez story is we don't know what happened to her and why. Was she killed by someone she knew like Lacy Peterson? Was she robbed on the way to work? Was she the random victim of a serial killer? As police investigate the crime, it's a reporter's job to ask those questions and to explore every possible angle.
Here's how I covered this case:
I was off work for the Jan. 2 holiday when Cristy Alvarez's body was
found. That night, when I checked my emails, I found I had received one
from a Wilmington resident, who told me there was a rumor that the
victim was raped and had her throat cut.
I made this homicide a priority when I went to work Tuesday morning.
I called LAPD Deputy Chief Patrick Gannon, who is in charge of that area. The reader's information enabled me to ask questions about a sexual assault and the throat-slashing, which Gannon confirmed. I reported the information on dailybreeze.com.
At that time, Cristy Alvarez's name was not released. Although a photograph and her name appeared on a poster at the site, I waited until Thursday morning when the coroner officially released her identity.
Police investigators had not released any other details of the crime. All we knew was that a Wilmington woman was found brutally killed at the side of the road.
As I do with most cases, when I know little about the victim, I checked into her background. I tried to find her address through voter and other records.
I also looked in the Daily Breeze archives to see if we had ever written about her. Sometimes victims were once top area athletes and students. Sometimes they appear in crime stories.
I then checked into whether she had any arrests on her record because many of the people we write about have been convicted of crimes in the past. A couple weeks ago, I checked the background of Brayton Crumb, a Lawndale man shot to death on Mesa Street in San Pedro. Police said they were looking into whether the killing was narcotics-related.
I ran Crumb's name and found he was charged in August with methamphetamine possession and had faced charges in 2006 with possession of drug paraphernalia. Was that why he was killed? I don't know. But it was relevant information for the story.
I did the same thing with Cristy Alvarez. I ran her name and came up with the burglary charge. I called the District Attorney's Office and learned the case originated from the Carson sheriff's station. I tried to get more information about the case but was unsuccessful.
Did that case have anything to do with Cristy Alvarez's death? I simply didn't know. I didn't know a thing about her.
I then headed to L Street, where I spoke to Jonathan Alvarez. During the course of our talk, I raised the information about the arrest. He seemed to understand and downplayed the arrest, saying it was for a minor offense.
I returned to the office and wrote the article. I portrayed her as a mother, girlfriend and sister. I included the information about her arrest, again, not knowing if it was related in any way to the crime.
Once the article appeared online and in the paper, the angry emails and comments started flowing in. I started questioning myself. Was I wrong?
I didn't think so. We just don't know whether that information about the arrest is relevant. We don't know what happened out there, why she was there, who she was with. Hopefully police make an arrest that will explain this.
I contend everything is relevant until we know, including court records. Other people obviously disagree.
I never intended to defame Cristy Alvarez, upset her family or anger Wilmington residents.
Cristy Alvarez did not deserve to die that morning. And the impact of her death is not just limited to her and her grieving family. It has also shaken a working-class community with fears that a heartless killer is on the loose. Residents have a right to know as much as they can about a crime and its victim, even when that information might hurt those hit hardest by her passing.
I made this homicide a priority when I went to work Tuesday morning.
I called LAPD Deputy Chief Patrick Gannon, who is in charge of that area. The reader's information enabled me to ask questions about a sexual assault and the throat-slashing, which Gannon confirmed. I reported the information on dailybreeze.com.
At that time, Cristy Alvarez's name was not released. Although a photograph and her name appeared on a poster at the site, I waited until Thursday morning when the coroner officially released her identity.
Police investigators had not released any other details of the crime. All we knew was that a Wilmington woman was found brutally killed at the side of the road.
As I do with most cases, when I know little about the victim, I checked into her background. I tried to find her address through voter and other records.
I also looked in the Daily Breeze archives to see if we had ever written about her. Sometimes victims were once top area athletes and students. Sometimes they appear in crime stories.
I then checked into whether she had any arrests on her record because many of the people we write about have been convicted of crimes in the past. A couple weeks ago, I checked the background of Brayton Crumb, a Lawndale man shot to death on Mesa Street in San Pedro. Police said they were looking into whether the killing was narcotics-related.
I ran Crumb's name and found he was charged in August with methamphetamine possession and had faced charges in 2006 with possession of drug paraphernalia. Was that why he was killed? I don't know. But it was relevant information for the story.
I did the same thing with Cristy Alvarez. I ran her name and came up with the burglary charge. I called the District Attorney's Office and learned the case originated from the Carson sheriff's station. I tried to get more information about the case but was unsuccessful.
Did that case have anything to do with Cristy Alvarez's death? I simply didn't know. I didn't know a thing about her.
I then headed to L Street, where I spoke to Jonathan Alvarez. During the course of our talk, I raised the information about the arrest. He seemed to understand and downplayed the arrest, saying it was for a minor offense.
I returned to the office and wrote the article. I portrayed her as a mother, girlfriend and sister. I included the information about her arrest, again, not knowing if it was related in any way to the crime.
Once the article appeared online and in the paper, the angry emails and comments started flowing in. I started questioning myself. Was I wrong?
I didn't think so. We just don't know whether that information about the arrest is relevant. We don't know what happened out there, why she was there, who she was with. Hopefully police make an arrest that will explain this.
I contend everything is relevant until we know, including court records. Other people obviously disagree.
I never intended to defame Cristy Alvarez, upset her family or anger Wilmington residents.
Cristy Alvarez did not deserve to die that morning. And the impact of her death is not just limited to her and her grieving family. It has also shaken a working-class community with fears that a heartless killer is on the loose. Residents have a right to know as much as they can about a crime and its victim, even when that information might hurt those hit hardest by her passing.
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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Larry,
I agree with you. That arrest may turn out to have something to do with her murder and should be a part of the story. If it is unrelated then so be it. Either way, lets hope the LAPD can solve this one quickly.
I agreed with you, any information could be helpful in this murder cases. Let's hope that the police could find the killer. Keep up the good job.
Great and thorough job on the story as always, Larry. Of course you were correct to include the graf that created the firestorm. If journalists sanitize their stories, the public is potentially robbed of important information.
Larry,
I understand your reasoning for publishing that piece of information. I'm glad you posted a blog about why so the residents can see you meant no harm in any way. I personally appreciate the coverage the DB is giving Cristy Alavarez in hopes that it will assist in finding her killer. Our community is terrified, woman have stopped walking at any time of day. I've stopped walking and running at the park at night because I'm afraid. In my 5 years here in Wilmington, this has never happened to a woman. Thanks for all your hard work into this story. Please keep updates coming as you get new information.
Larry,
While I see your desire in trying to be detailed, I still disagree on the delivery. Part of me accepts your reasoning but in all honesty, the way you stated that final quote in that article it puts in her in a negative light. In previous articles I have seen where the DB places things "lightly" or in just plain bad timing. I felt this was one of those cases.
You have to remember we are part of the community the that supports and relies on your publication. I'm not asking you to sugar coat anything. I know we have troubled areas in the south bay. There's just better ways to deliver the intended meassage.
I would hope you keep interest in this story and publish any findings as the case evolves.
Regards,
L.A.
That was much better Larry. Plsz tell Michelle I said Hi and I miss her.
Your reporting is just fine Larry. Please don't worry about what these INTERNET people say about you. Just do you job, and always report what you know! It may hurt the feelings of some people, but you have to egnor that and report your findings. I respect people like you who report Everything you know/find out about ANY Story! It may hurt some people, but at least its the truth.
Mr.Altman
Now I understand your reasoning, thank for explaining yourself, and I'm sure you did not intend further pain to the Alvarez family.
when I read the story ,my heart ached for Christy's family,and was in disbeleif and sad,I also have two Daughters, and fear for their safety, as I continued to read the story I became upset and angry I thought to myself what does a "miner infraction" have to do with this poor womens murder,I found it unnecessary, with no connection to the story, I came away from your story feeling sad and angry.
I think your timeing/delivery was Terrible, you wrote/reported a heart wrenching informative story then torwards the end you droped a bomb,I beleive your "delivery" of her backround is what ticked off allot of people, it was blunt and to the point I felt like I got rear ended or T-boned in a car accident!,,I beleive you could have eased into her backround,maybe like "She was a hardworking good mother with minor infractions"I beleive it's not so much what you say, It's How you say it! I'm not suggesting you surgar coat anything, but it's just the delivery....I have lived in Wilmington 47 years and I Love Wilmington,,yes we have allot of issues to deal with but I know the good people of Wilmington far outnumber the bad.thank you for giveing me the opportunity to ex-press my feelings and opinion.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Alvarez family,May God bless the Alvarez family, and our community
Regards
P.s
All murders are a terrible and are extremely difficult, the familys are in schock and extremely sensative and somtimes angry, and "IF" the victims backround must be brought up in the article so that every possible angle can be explored by the reporter, Hopefully it could be done with a Proper delivery with tact and concern for the family of the victim.
Once again I beleive you Mr.Altman when you stated that you did not intend further pain to the Alvarez family.
God bless the Alvarez Family
The sad thing is Larry, Is that once a statement is reported about any idividual, the readers create their own opinions minimizing,things like the importance of ones life, such as Cristy's.
I truly believe that a persons information, should not be divulged, until you have a signature from the victims family stating that what you are to print is acceptable, Otherwise It should be a HIPA violation and remain private. You are a reporter, not an officer or investigator,in this case, so why even bring up anything that apparently had already been dismissed.
I am very saddened that this has happened, I hope that we can all learn on how to be mindful of the families that remain here to pick up the pieces of their broken hearts over this horrific event.Its nice that you are possibly appologizing although,I would hope that we all can learn from our mistakes..
I disagree with your rationale. The charges were dismissed. It has nothing to do with losing her life. If she had been living in Palos Verdes, would that information have been added to your report?