Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Murder Mystery: Who Killed Yale Student Suzanne Jovin? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jeffrey S. Mitchell who wrote (3)	12/4/1999 2:58:00 AM
From: Jeffrey S. Mitchell	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1397

Re: 12/3/99 - A letter from James Van de Velde to Yale and New Haven A letter from James Van de Velde to Yale and New Haven Prepared Statement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Published 12/3/99 Speculation, malicious police leaks, false statements and a lack of good investigatory work have marred the investigation into the murder of my student, Ms. Suzanne Jovin. It has been nearly one year now, and not surprisingly, nothing has linked me to this horrific crime. The New Haven Police, in concert with Yale University, labeled me a "suspect" in the crime last January. Notwithstanding the complete absence of supporting facts, they refuse to retract this destructive label. The police have yet to make a coherent assessment of or comment on the case. The police refuse even to tell me why I was singled out as a suspect in the first place. I am astonished at how gullible and unquestioning the Connecticut media has been in examining this case, when nearly 12 months of investigation has produced no evidence to link me to the murder of my student. I view with contempt the trial by innuendo that has ruined my life and remain appalled that many in the Connecticut community sit silent while a murder investigation is mired in that innuendo. The media appear obsessed with perpetuating a sensational storyline, and wholly uninterested in any underlying facts. I remain astonished, even more so that some individual or institution would be so irresponsible, foolish and unprofessional to "leak" to the New Haven Register last December that I had been questioned by the police and was their "prime suspect." By doing so, they suggested -- falsely -- to the community that the case was soon to be solved and thus shut down any hopes of leads from the public. Yale and the police botched their own investigation. The case is a fiasco. The only chance for this crime to be solved now is for another investigative body, such as the state or the FBI, to assume control and start anew. A sustained, vocal press campaign throughout the state must be conducted, much like what was done last winter when a Hartford police officer was shot and killed, to elicit leads. If this is not done, and the case remains within the control of the New Haven Police, the murder likely will never be solved. If it is done, the case could very well be solved. But, of course, to do this the New Haven Police would have to admit that they erred last year, and the investigation is back to square one -- something the police are loathe to do for fear of criticism of the smear campaign conducted against me. Therefore, the case is now at a standstill. The citizens of Connecticut and the students of Yale have to ask themselves whether they are satisfied with insinuation as a form of justice in Connecticut, or whether they demand a minimum level of competence and professionalism from the police and a minimum amount of integrity from the media. So far, there has been great public complacency with the actions and statements of the New Haven Police and with their responsible conduct of the media. If allowed to continue, the result will be that a murder investigation will never be resolved, my life will remain destroyed and Suzanne Jovin's memory stained by the unaccountable actions of the New Haven Police, the current Yale administration and the Connecticut media. yaledailynews.com