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Editor:
There are only three people left alive who know what happened to Douglas Anderson-Jordet on the night of Nov. 25, 2013: Juan Ferrer, Nicholas Stoiber and Sophie Rocheleau ("Questions, Campaigning Follow Stabbing Pleas," Feb. 20).
Human nature dictates that Juan, Nicholas, and Sophie would say anything they can at this juncture to vindicate themselves and denigrate Doug. However, when it came to my attention that they've resorted to defaming Doug's character by claiming he instigated that night's altercation with homophobic and racist attacks, I became overwhelmed with the need to speak for him.
Doug moved to Arcata to live somewhere more progressive than his lifelong home in central Minnesota. He was in no way the bigoted, cruel or angry drunk that his killers have painted him to be. Doug was a quiet, 50-year-old man who had been through a lot in his life. He was probably not so different from his killers in that he was a devoted animal advocate and passionate about music. In the 10 years I had the pleasure of knowing him, Doug gave absolutely no indication of violent tendencies, even when provoked.
Regardless of whether or not the perpetrators "intended" to kill Douglas, they certainly did him no favor by beating, stabbing and leaving him to bleed to death in the street. We should now be questioning why they've been allowed to drag his name through the mud, persuading people to feel that perhaps he deserved it. Doug did not deserve to die, and I do not believe that Sophie, Nicholas and Juan deserve to freely walk our streets so soon after committing such a brutal offense.
It must also be noted how disappointed I am in the handling of this case by the deputy district attorney, Elan Firpo. The wellness of our community depends on better representation for victims of violent crime.
Benjamin Dale, Eureka