Finally

In 1990, I started college at the University of Buffalo. I went to orientation and the first person I befriended was a young woman named Linda Yalem. She was upbeat, athletic and we hit it off right away. We talked about running together since I was a former track runner and she was training for the New York City marathon. I've never been much of an athlete though, and as college got underway, I kind of stopped hanging out with her as much and we never ended up jogging together. Then, on September 29, 1990, while jogging alone on the bike path near the college, Linda was raped and murdered.

I felt guilt the likes of which I had never experienced before or since. If she hadn't been alone, if I had been with her, maybe... I couldn't watch TV because they kept putting her face on the screen. I couldn't go to the bathroom because the composite picture of that bastard was on the back of every stall door. (I tore quite a few of those down - counterproductive, I know, but I just couldn't bear it). Throughout the past 17 years, I have periodically searched the web to make sure her memorial run was still happening and to see whether they'd found her murderer.

My best friend from college called me today and told me that it seems they've found him. His face looks a lot like the face on those flyers and more importantly his DNA looks like a good match. I'm glad they found him, though I'm not happy that Linda was not his last victim. I'm angry now, angry like I was back then - I can't believe it's finally over. I pray that Linda's family finds closure when they put this man away. I'll be keeping my eye on the proceedings, and hope that justice is served swiftly and with the steepest penalty allowable for such a miserable, heinous crime. God bless you, Linda.