HOW MAY I HELP YOU?

When my late grandfather worked with trustees at the Jackson prison farm system in the mid-seventies, he would often tease my grandmother about her religious volunteer work at the county jail. “She’s cheering for the wrong team,” he’d say. I never questioned my grandmother’s intentions—I’m sure there are folks out there awaiting trial in need of prayer (currently she writes to an inmate who murdered his ten month old baby and is having difficulty coming to terms with what he had done)—however, my grandfather’s oversimplification of “us” versus “them” seems somewhat appropriate, to me anyway.

Speaking of people wanting to help the down-and-out, we had a middle-aged lady who donated her time and energy at our facility with the Catholic services and programs. From what I’ve heard, her daughter would sometimes accompany her. I’m not too sure what happened to this lady. It was rumored that she took a liking to a prisoner nearing his out date and that she disappeared shortly thereafter. Also, it was rumored that her daughter became romantically involved with an inmate of her own. You know what they say, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.

What is known is that this middle-aged woman’s husband, a successful businessman in the area, had been found in his vehicle with a zip-tie around his neck. His death was ruled a suicide. I guess he strangled himself because of his marital problems. I’m still unsure whether they found his wife. Or the ex-felon. The years have been rolling by and I guess it’s no longer newsworthy.

I wonder how long it will take for the media to lose interest in the disappearance of Tara Lynn Grant, the young mother from my area?