From the Heart of David Brollier | Jesus Christ the Author and Finisher of our faith

Priest Slain in Chinatown

    New Yorkers were stunned this morning when Father Reirdon, a local parish priest, was found slain near a bowling alley in Manhattan's Chinatown. A spokes person for the NYPD said that everything is being done to identify and apprehend the person responsible for this senseless killing. Detective Nathan Adams of the 5th Precinct, heading the investigation refused to comment, as did Crime Scene Investigator May K. Wish. A reliable source has told this reporter that the weapon used for this murder was a World War II issue bayonet, and that it was still found in the victim's chest when his body was discovered.

    Father Reirdon has been influential in many social reforms within the City. The mayor's office said, "He will be sorely missed. Few people have their hand on the pulse of society as did Father Reirdon, and fewer still are brave enough to step out and do something about it."

    You can feel the tension down here. It's like a living, breathing thing. The question on everyone's mind is "Why did this happen?" The unspoken question, however, seems to be "Is this the end of something, or the beginning of something worse?" All this reporter can say is if is the end of something, it will surely be the beginning of something else. Whether for good or evil, I cannot say.

Police Mystified in "Bayonet Murders"

    Police are now facing a possible serial killer, sources say, following today's discovery of the 2nd victim killed with a bayonet.  Dennis Houston, Assistant District Attorney, was found a mile or so north of the UN complex, on the park-like sidewalks that ran across the East River.  A World War II bayonet sticking out of his chest.  This reporter has has learned that this was the same weapon used to kill Father Reirdon two nights ago.  An unknown white female, presumed to be the ADA's girlfriend, was found with her throat slit not far from where ADA Houston lay dead.  The possibilities that so similar a weapon was used in so short a timespan seems to point to the work of the same killer.
     A spokesperson from the NYPD stated, "The homicides of two individuals, using the same, or similar weapon, does not, we repeat, not constitute a serial killer.  New Yorkers are asked that they be cautious, but also not panic.  There is, we believe, no reason to think this person or persons will strike again.  While it is significant to the investigation that a bayonet was used in two of the three deaths, there is no further evidence to link the two crimes."

It is evident, that police are working hard on this case. Tempers are flaring, citizens are scared, despite the statement from the NYPD. Yet, sources have told us that evidence uncovered at the crime scenes are baffling Detectives Adams and Wish. We can only pray that if there is a God somehow He will help the investigating officers, because it sure looks to this reporter that they don't have a clue as to where to go with this.

Ex-Con Suspect in "Bayonet Murders"

    Dr. Greysen has become the 4th victim of the bayonet murders, the 3rd to be killed with a bayonet. The time of death seems to have been only hours ago, late at night. It is believed that Dr. Greysen had been exiting the Roosevelt Hospital after his shift and was killed in the employee parking lot. Police were immediately dispatched to the scene. A police sketch artist is trying to create drawings of 2 men seen in the vicinity shortly after this attack. Why he was chosen, in fact, why any of these victims were chosen, seems rather bizarre. Some serial killers will hunt down prostitutes. Others government officials. This killer has chosen people who have had no contact with each other, are Middle to Upper Class, and whose names have received at least some degree of notoriety. Dr. Greysen was know for his work above and beyond the call of duty. Much of his time was spent in helping police officers who had been wounded in some way or another, and even went so far as to provide personal counseling.
    One of those Dr. Greysen counseled was NYPD sketch artist, Teri Graham, who is working on a sketch of two possible suspects. Nothing is conclusive at this point, but an inside source said one of her drawings looks like the ex-convict Adam Deveraux, a.k.a. "The Bishop". Not much more to report other than the dismissal by the NYPD that this is not the work of a serial killer seems to be wrong. Not only is it wrong, but any of us could be the next victim. We all fall within the parameters of the prey he is after.
    Now that police have a name, maybe they can finally light a fire under this investigation and protect the rest of us.

Cult Link to Bayonet Murders?

    Less than 24 hours after Dr. Greysen was found murdered, in the same grizzle manner as two previous victims, a man grabbed a woman off the streets and dragged her into the Lotus Flower Restaurant in Chinatown, holding the woman, restaurant staff and customers hostage. This in itself is newsworthy. The man appeared to be in a state of panic, and suspicions are that he was a drug addict in dire need of a "fix".   The the situation which was resolved in a blaze of gunfire, when NYPD's Hostage Negotiating Unit's deadly force response team breached the restaurant. No one was hurt except for the hostage taker who died.
     An interesting fact turned up when things calmed down.   The hostage taker's name, it turns out, was Miguel Garcia, former cell-mate with Adam Deveraux. Furthermore, police sketches released just this morning, identify Garcia as one of two suspects in the death of Dr. Greysen. NYPD has quickly linked the two incidents and are now looking for a religious cult they say Deveraux and Garcia were a part.
    During the standoff between police, Garcia reportedly claimed to have killed Dr. Greysen, although he made no mention of anyone being with him at the time. The ACLU is looking into the shooting to see if it was justified, which seems to be only proper. However, it should be noted that the lives of over 10 people hung in the balance. To this reporter, any force deemed necessary to stop that man from killing others would be justified.
    In another twist to this story, the woman grabbed off of the street was Susan Adams, wife of the lead investigating detective in the Bayonet Murders. It is also rumored that she tried to talk Garcia into giving himself up, which bought police time to close in. Also, another report claims that she tried to save Garcia's life by knocking him to the ground, then actually cried over his death. Do we really need an investigator working on this case whose wife seems to have sympathy for its members? This report believes the Commissioner should pull Detective Adams off the case. It seems altogether possible that he has connections to the very people he is supposed to be investigating.

Cult's Far-reaching Tentacles?

    While yesterday's fiasco in Chinatown unfolded, leaving Miguel Garcia, dead, NYPD investigators were off in Pennsylvania. You heard me right. The unofficial word is that the Church of the 3rd Covenant reaches out to the Keystone state, where police hoped to arrest the leader of this alleged cult, Adam Deveraux, in connection with at least 4 murders in less than a week.
    Is it just me or does this sound like the NYPD grasping at conspiracy theories to cover their backsides? To this reporter it seems that while Detective Nathan Adams and Crime Scene Investigator May K. Wish were on a holiday out to Pennsylvania, the detective's wife was almost killed in an exchange of panic and gunfire.
    No official word has come about this trip, although they seemed to come up empty-handed. Coincidence that Det. Adams and his cute partner decided to take a roadside tour out of state while his wife was taken hostage? This reporter doesn't believe in coincidences. At the very least the two main people in charge of this investigation seem to have taken a bit of a vacation while the rest of us lay in the shadow of a dangerous killer. This is taxpayer money that is ill-spent and these two investigators should be brought up on charges of misconduct, obstruction of justices and just plain laziness.
    I wish I could say that this surprised me, but covering the crime beat in Manhattan for the better part of 10 years I'd have to say I wasn't in the least bit surprised.

Editorial retraction: Re: "Cult's Far-Reaching Tentacles"

As senior editor of this paper I wish to retract most of what was said in the above mentioned editorial by our staff. I take full responsibility for it getting past me and into print. The article was clearly inflammatory and totally devoid of facts. On behalf of myself and this paper I offer my sincerest apologies to the families involved in that article.

Midtown Manhattan Mayhem

    After a brief period of quiet New Yorkers, myself included, had hoped the bayonet murders had come to an end. We held our collective breath in such a hope. Today, around 6 PM that hope was shattered by 3 separate events, that may or may not be related.
    These events, a murder, an attempted murder and a kidnapping all took place on the corner of Lexington and East 42nd Street. In what order we can only guess.
    The murder was that of the proprietor of a woman's dress shop directly across from the Chrysler Building. She was found near the back of the main floor with a bayonet in her chest. I'm guessing that with all the clothing in there finding stray fibers on the weapon is going to be nearly impossible.
    The attempted murder was that of a security guard in the Chrysler Building itself. Sources say that he was stabbed from the back with a knife that could possibly be a switchblade or some other small knife leaving a very thin entry wound. Although his diaphragm had been pierced by the knife the guard is still alive. He is listed in serious condition, but is expected to make a full recovery. The miraculous part of this story is that his attackers had dragged his body behind the security counter and left him to die. The guard, a WW II veteran with the Marines, grappled with the SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) to force air into his lungs, then pushed down on his own chest to expel the breath. In doing so he was able to keep alive until medical professionals arrived. I tell you, that man is a true hero.
    Police have also released a statement saying that a tall Asian woman was placed into a waiting vehicle and driven away. Witnesses say she seemed to be drunk, passed out or in some serious physical distress. They are withholding her identity for the time being.
    It seems probable that these three incidents are somehow related, as they all took place within 15 minutes. Dets. Adams and Wish were unavailable for comment.

NYPD Wife Pawn in Deadly Game

    First, I want to apologize for doubting the integrity of NYPD Det. Adams. I was out of line, as further investigation has proved. And I want to offer my heartfelt sympathy to Det. Adams as his wife has now become a pawn in this deadly game being played by The Church of the 3rd Covenant and it's leader, ex-convict, Adam Deveraux.
    In my previous column, Midtown Manhattan Mayhem, I spoke of a murdered woman, yet another victim of the Bayonet Murders. I spoke of a security guard who was wounded and left for dead. Those of you wondering about him, his condition has stabilized and he is doing well, although still in guarded condition at the hospital. I also spoke of a woman who was taken hostage. At that time the identity of this woman was unknown to me.
    As the police began to release facts I realized that the Asian woman seen being abducted in front of the Chrysler building, was Susan Adams, wife of Det. Nathan Thomas Adams, lead investigator in the current Bayonet Murders. The identity of the "Bishop", the ex-convict leading a cult called The Church of the 3rd Covenant, has also been made known. Adam Deveraux, recently released from prison for the brutal assault on a Catholic nun, is indeed the head of this dangerous cult. Although little is known about this group, it has come to my attention that they have filed with the government and are recognized as a 501c3 tax exempt corporation. That's legalese for church.
    Pondering these matters it became clear to me that the police had, all the while, been following proper leads, which I had ignored or claimed to be ridiculously stupid. It seems it was I who was stupid, for Deveraux apparently felt the pressure closing in on him and for that reason kidnapped Det. Adams' wife. This was done, as far as I can tell, to derail the investigation. He knew that in doing this one of two things would happen; either Adams would be taken off the case, or Adams would be too emotionally driven to think clearly. Either way Deveraux would be able to distance himself from the trap being set for him.
    The NYPD has allowed Adams to pursue the case and, remarkably, has shown little signs of loss of focus. If anything, Adams now has an agenda, fueled by Deveraux, to remain focused. Instead of checking the leading investigator, it seems that Deveraux may well have set himself up to be mated by the powerful forces of the NYPD.
    CSI May K. Wish, has also been busy gathering, sorting and inspecting evidence. It has been through her diligence that The Church of the 3rd Covenant evaded capture by mere minutes only days ago. Between the newly galvanized will of Det. Adams, and the care taken by CSI Wish, one can only believe that capture will be only a short ways off. Praying people are asked to pray for a speedy resolve. I for one, would rather go back reporting on the mundane, aleit deadly, crimes of our street gangs. For in comparison, they are mere child's play.