I am wary of inserting what I believe is a voice of reason regarding a crime so violent, devastating, and disruptive to all of our sense of well-being. Yet, I must. I understand the equity and justification of charging criminal accomplices under the felony-murder rule, and pursuant to aiding and abetting principles for the heinous acts of their partners in crime, yet these laws have always struck me as being unjust and heavy-handed in some situations. They are principles that should be applied with great restraint and exercised wisdom, because there are circumstances when truly all parties to a crime, though technically culpable for acts of the group, are not justifiably guilty.
In this case, seventeen-year-old Meagan Grunwald, of Draper, is being charged as an adult for the murder of Sgt. Cory Wride, and the attempted murder of Deputy Greg Sherwood, in Utah County. This is despite the fact that it was her 27-year-old boyfriend, Jose Angel Garcia-Juaregui, who welded the gun and shot these men.
The reason given for her charges is because Ms. Grunwald was an active participant in the murders. She allegedly "already put her pickup truck into drive several minutes . . . waited until there was no traffic around" before her boyfriend shot the men. Apparently, she "stayed with [her boyfriend] when she had several chances to runaway."
This reminds me of another reluctantly famous Utah teen, Elizabeth Smart, who probably had a more enriching family experience, greater intelligence, and more sound foundation than Ms. Grunwald. However, this famous Utahan also found it difficult to runaway from a brutal man when "she had several chances" to do so. It is also telling that Ms. Grunwald is pregnant with the murderer's child. She was, therefore, statutorily raped by him, just as Elizabeth Smart was raped by her captor. What emotional turmoil and conflict did this cause Ms. Grunwald?
While I admittedly do not have all the details that may show greater culpability, I know, as an attorney and a human being who has represented and talked to numerous young women in such situations, that it is most likely this young woman was subjected to extreme coercion and duress.
Still, let me hasten to say that I am very sorry for the two officers and their families, and I am angered at this horrendous crime against all of us. I just hope that if the facts so demonstrate, there might be room for the understanding and possibility that this teen may also be very much a victim of this brutal man and may also merit our compassion.
Loren M. Lambert © February 20, 2014
In this case, seventeen-year-old Meagan Grunwald, of Draper, is being charged as an adult for the murder of Sgt. Cory Wride, and the attempted murder of Deputy Greg Sherwood, in Utah County. This is despite the fact that it was her 27-year-old boyfriend, Jose Angel Garcia-Juaregui, who welded the gun and shot these men.
The reason given for her charges is because Ms. Grunwald was an active participant in the murders. She allegedly "already put her pickup truck into drive several minutes . . . waited until there was no traffic around" before her boyfriend shot the men. Apparently, she "stayed with [her boyfriend] when she had several chances to runaway."
This reminds me of another reluctantly famous Utah teen, Elizabeth Smart, who probably had a more enriching family experience, greater intelligence, and more sound foundation than Ms. Grunwald. However, this famous Utahan also found it difficult to runaway from a brutal man when "she had several chances" to do so. It is also telling that Ms. Grunwald is pregnant with the murderer's child. She was, therefore, statutorily raped by him, just as Elizabeth Smart was raped by her captor. What emotional turmoil and conflict did this cause Ms. Grunwald?
While I admittedly do not have all the details that may show greater culpability, I know, as an attorney and a human being who has represented and talked to numerous young women in such situations, that it is most likely this young woman was subjected to extreme coercion and duress.
Still, let me hasten to say that I am very sorry for the two officers and their families, and I am angered at this horrendous crime against all of us. I just hope that if the facts so demonstrate, there might be room for the understanding and possibility that this teen may also be very much a victim of this brutal man and may also merit our compassion.
Loren M. Lambert © February 20, 2014
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