Discussion Week 6 - Felicia McCaw

Case of Matias Reyes, “iceman who confessed” to the brutal rape of “the Central Park Jogger” in 1989.

What can Reye’s background tell us about the development of criminality, if anything? What early life experiences might have influenced Reyes’s behavior later in life?

Tall, slim, hispanic origins, look of distraction in his eyes (unfocused) – not quite into reality look.

Based on the article it would appear that Matias Reyes is or was a sociopath. He was probably raised in an environment where he has been conditioned to be indifferent to criminal acts or even rape and murder. Bred into an environment that has a lot of crime a child adjusts to whatever is in his or her social sphere and accept this as a norm. Raised in a dysfunctional family life he was sold by his mom for $400 to his dad, raped at the age of 7 by two older boys and threw into a river. He was also raped in his home by other people as well. Further relayed that he was a cocaine use, illiterate and was tested for his level of IQ which was 76 (This is probably not a good figure since he is illiterate and unlearned and untrained.).

His early experiences of being sexually attacked at the age of 7 might reflect his level of indifference to the act of rape and his ability to negate this act as not being important. Further he was probably subjected to views of acts of violence since it was relayed that he savagely attacked his attorney (two attorneys) and has committed acts of thievery.

What does Reyes’s confession say about the quality of the police investigation in this case? About the decision to arrest and prosecute others? How could the police and prosecutors have been so mislead?

The quality of the police investigation relayed a distinct meticulous attention to detail to ensure the culprits were found, convicted and sentenced. All details were taken into account; evidence was gathered a compiled to prove that he did not act alone. Further, the decision to implicate the others in the criminal act and prosecute them was based on testimony, screening of findings at crime scene, interviewing neighbors and DNR sampling. This allowed enough evidence to convict them also.

The police and prosecutors were not mislead because all efforts were done to see the culprits be apprehended, convicted and sentenced.

References used:

New York Times Archives

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/07/nyregion/suspect-in-rape-absorbed-pain-and-inflicted-it

New York Times Magazine

http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/crimelaw/features/n_7836/