DGO - The Downfall of Satan's Den

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DGO The Downfall of Satan’s Den 17 years after his death, the Toy Box Killer’s accomplice is free from prison

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STAFF

What’s inside Volume 4 Number 28 Thursday, September 12, 2019

Editor

4

Crimes at Elephant Butte Lake

Angelica Leicht aleicht@bcimedia.com 375-4551 Staff writer

5 Eat

Elephant Butte Lake inside of Elephant Butte State Park in Elephant Butte, New Mexico, is one of the places law enforcement have searched for the Toy Box Killer’s victims.

Amanda Push apush@bcimedia.com Sales Chandler Sommerfeldt csommerfeldt@bcimedia.com 375-4553 Contributors Erin Brandt Katie Cahill Hunter Harrell

Story on page 14

Jon E. Lynch

From the blog

BK’s Impossible Whopper 5

Funnel cake

6

Elotes

7

8 Drink

10 Events 11 Get Outta Town 19 Weed

Lindsay Mattison

Sour Beer Fest 8

9 Film

Review 19

20 Classifieds

Design/layout Tracie Louck

22 Sex & love

Reader Services

23 Puzzles/horoscopes

375-4570 Chief Executive Officer Douglas Bennett V.P. of Advertising David Habrat

DGO is a free biweekly publication distributed by Ballantine Communications Inc., and is available for one copy per person. Taking more than five copies of an edition from a distribution location is illegal and is punishable by law according to Colorado Revised Statute 18-9-314.

DGO Magazine is published

by Ballantine Communications Inc., P.O. Drawer A, Durango, CO 81302

5 The Impossible (Whopper) is possible, apparently

19 MK Ultra, the weed ... not the LSD Much like the LSD of the 1950s, MK Ultra – the cannabis strain – is a rush to the brain. It’s known for hitting you like a ton of bricks with a euphoric, trippy brain high that’s not for the faint of heart.

We unwrapped the Impossible burger like it was Christmas morning and took a bite, but immediately began to panic. It tasted so much like the Whopper we remember from our meat eating days that we were worried they swapped them out.

7 Elotes at Switchback are a thing of corn wonder

/dgomag /dgomag

Given that elotes aren’t exactly a staple of Colorado menus, I was surprised to find them on the menu at Switchback, the new taco spot on Main that sits where Mountain Taco once stood.

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The Dow nfa f ll Sato an’s Den

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FREE Septe ! mber 12-25 , 2019

17 ye ars aft er his dea th, the Toy Box Kill er’s acc om plic is fr e ee f rom pris on

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ON THE COVER David Parker Ray may have died in prison, but his accomplice is out on the loose.

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Live Music 9/14 Hal & Mel (vocal duo) and 9/21 Profectic Calaveras Band (latin funk)

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[news]

FROM THE BLOG

»» News from our site on the interwebs you may have missed Hit us with your best shot, gamble away?

oradoans for thinking the Pueblo chile even holds a candle to the Hatch.

Do Coloradoans want to gamble on sports? That’s the question us Mile High state residents are going to have to ask ourselves this November 5.

This ad campaign, which will run through October, get exceptionally petty in a glorious way, as these ads aren’t just going to be showing in New Mexico.

On no, friends. There are billboards in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo to rub it in our faces.

According to Westword, legislators passed a bill legalizing sports betting in Colorado and in May, Governor Jared Polis signed it. However, it’s up to the people via Proposition DD as to whether or not to enact the law. (The Taxpayer Bill of Rights calls for the approval by us Coloradoans for any new bills involving new taxes cuz, yeah, Proposition DD will involve taxes.)

How it will work is this. Gamblers will be taxed via a 10 percent tax levied on the sports betting revenues of casinos and mobile app companies authorized to allow such bets.

We have no doubt there will be fiery repercussions. Coloradoans will not stand for this insult.

—— Amanda Push Medicine Man money moves Kind Hemp Co., courtesy

»» Hemp farmers like these will soon have access to insurance.

After recently announcing its buyout of Dabble Extracts, Medicine Man is enveloping several more Colorado cannabis companies.

And where will all this money go, you ask? Good question. We wondered, too.

The money collected from this tax will go toward Colorado’s water plan. And – get this– generated revenue from this measure is expected to be around $10 million for 2020-21, and between $13.5 to $15.2 million for 2021-22, according to the fiscal impact statement for the measure.

Starbuds, one of the biggest dispensary companies in the state, sold stores in Louisville, Longmont, Pueblo, Niwot, and Commerce City to Medicine Man for more than $31 million in cash and Medicine Man Technology stock shares, according to Westword.

While we’re not exactly on the front lines of what’s worth betting on in the sports world, we do like a good slot machine. Maybe Colorado could use some extra dough.

—— Amanda Push

Visit New Mexico/YouTube

»» The New Mexico-Colorado chile war continues with an ad campaign.

program insurance. The program will cover up to $8.5 million in hemp, fiber, Now that hemp is federally legal (since flower, and seeds – a relief, we’re sure, for the hardworking farmers just trying it is, ya know, NOT marijuana!), instito make a living tutions are starting to unlock access to basic business necessities, like insurance “Numerous producers are anxious for for hemp farmers. a way to protect their hemp crops from Hemp-surance

In the past, hemp farmers haven’t had access to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation because, well, marijuana, according to Westword. The 2018 Farm Bill, however, changes things for some farmers. In 2014, a pilot program was enacted to allow farmers in certain states to grow hemp (but just for research). Starting in 2020, those who were involved in the pilot program may sign up for the United States Agriculture’s Whole Farm Revenue Protection

Medicine Man Technologies doesn’t dance. It makes money moves. Big money moves.

natural disasters,” USDA Risk Management Agency administrator Martin Barbe said in a statement. “The WFRP policy will provide a safety net for them.”

Fiery repercussions The brutal war between New Mexico and Colorado as to who has the best chile continues.

Just a few months after the respective states’ governors had it out via social media over the Hatch chile versus the Pueblo chile, a New Mexico ad is stirring the pot again.

New Mexico True, the state tourism department, launch a new ad boasting of Hopefully, we’ll see those opportuNew Mexico’s #blessed green chile and nities expand since, AGAIN, hemp is a their “less fortunate neighbors to the legal plant and is NOT marijuana. It will north,” according to 9News. Perhaps the not get you high. It’ll only get you some best burn, though, was flashing a shot of really nice lotion or paper products. a Subaru, the unofficial vehicle brand of —— Amanda Push Colorado, with a Colorado license plate.

The 30-second TV ad chastised Col-

On top of that, the massive cannabis company also announced it will acquire Colorado Harvest Company, a business with three dispensaries in Denver and Aurora. The deal is going down for $12.5 million in cash and stock.

“The acquisition of these dispensaries operating under the prestigious Starbuds brand will truly be a transformational corporate event for us,” Andy Williams, co-founder and CEO of Medicine Man Technologies, said in a statement. “Adding these five dispensaries to our Colorado operations will make our vertical supply strategy more efficient and help us grab additional market share through added retail capacity. The Starbuds dispensary operations are truly top-tier in terms of brand, revenue-per-location, and profit across the cannabis retail industry.”

Are there any losers in this scenario?

Both buyer and sellers seem to be raking in the cash, and, hey, marijuana isn’t going away any time soon.

—— Amanda Push

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[eat]

Burger King’s Impossible burger made eating fast food burgers possible » The fake meat burger was a huge win after years without red meat I haven’t had a hamburger grease my taste buds in over three years. Giving up beef was a personal choice I made after watching a news report featuring a skinny, dirty, shaking-from-fear cow just stand in the middle of a busy intersection after it escaped from a slaughterhouse in Queens, New York. QUEENS?! I had no idea there were slaughterhouses in Queens.

I went out with some friends for beer-and-burger night the following day, but when the server placed a big, fat, juicy burger smothered in BBQ sauce and topped with an onion ring in front of me, I couldn’t eat it. All I saw was the poor, frightened cow in the middle of the concrete jungle. I ended up having a beer and garden salad night instead.

Still, just because I no longer eat beef doesn’t mean I don’t miss it. I mean, just think about it: steak, hamburgers, pot roast. They’re all delicious and I know it.

I just can’t bring myself to do it. So when Burger King started to market their Impossible Whopper, a Whopper made with a fake meat patty that supposedly tasted just like the real thing, it got my taste buds in an uproar.

Could I really have a non-burger-burger and it would to taste like a REAL hamburger? I had to try this. A big part of the intrigue was that I missed hamburgers more than anything. I mean, burgers have become a culinary art these days thanks to the zillions of artisenal ingredients and accouterments chefs add to them, and when a server walks past me in a restaurant and there’s a burger on that tray, I find myself wishing I had never seen that cow news report. (Side note: that cow is now named Freddie and he lives peacefully at the Skylands Animal Sanctuary and Rescue in Wantage, New Jersey.)

Jamie Opalenik

I’ve tried to curb my burger cravings by stuffing my mouth with black bean or quinoa burgers, but those can only curb the craving for so long. They just aren’t the same, mostly because THEY TASTE NOTHING LIKE A HAMBURGER.

It tasted so much like the Whopper I remember from my meat eating days that I thought they gave me the wrong one.

This has got to be a beef patty, I thought.

I’m for sure going to get an upset stomach and be in the bathroom all night.

per.” As a matter of fact, the wrapper for the Impossible Burger is a vibrant teal color, which is much different from a standard Whopper wrapper. I’m assuming it’s a teal color so they don’t give customers the wrong Whopper by mistake.

So, the other day I headed over to the self-proclaimed king of burgers and ordered myself an Impossible Burger. After reading all the buzz and social media posts about taste tests, I had high hopes for this thing.

I began to inspect it. I studied it, smelled it, and then smashed a piece between my fingers. The texture was definitely different than I remember of ground beef. Could this really be the Impossible?

I unwrapped that burger like it was Christmas morning and took a bite. I immediately began to panic, though, and pulled the burger away from my mouth.

I took another bite. I tasted the flame grilled flavor, but I also tasted beef. I looked at my receipt and the wrapper.

Both clearly stated “Impossible Whop-

I finished my Impossible Whopper and then waited nervously for a rumble in my tummy, but it never came. I must have been given the correct burger. And if that was truly the case – and I have no evidence otherwise – then that dang thing tasted like a REAL beef Whopper, and Burger King has made the impossible, possible.

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[eat]

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It was a gloomy weekend in Durango, filled with rain, clouds, and next to no sun. Everything was wet and dreary, and it was a sad reminder that summer will be over come the end of September.

It was these conditions that inspired our trip to our neighbors up north in Silverton. If you’ve never taken US-550 N from Durango, you are missing out on some of the best views southwest Colorado has to offer. The jagged cliffs, endless amounts of trees, and dipping canyons are enough to make you almost forget that you’re driving on one of the most dangerous roads in the area. Just look down.

Needless to say, all that driving made us hungry enough to swing by Rocky Mountain Funnel Cake Factory in downtown Silverton before we headed back to Durango after a day of exploring.

Amanda Push/DGO Mag Before you jump in the car, though, you » » We pledge our heart and soul to this black forest funnel cake. should know that the aromas of this delightful eatery are intoxicating. The smell stopped breathing at one point. of fried bread mixed with powdered There are few foods in life more sugar, chocolate, peanut butter, cream pleasurable than bread – fried bread cheese, and fruit is enough to make you covered in sugar in particular. The crispy, salivate before your foot passes ever hot carbs were the perfect texture and through the front door. It’s overpowering, to say the least. struck a delicate balance between the viscous sauces and thick breading holdWhen we arrived, the shop was already filled with happy faced customers ing it all together. digging into their just desserts. Everyone Black forest is, in general, a great was leaned over, tearing at the cakes mixture of flavors, and this funnel cake with their knives and forks. A few less was no exception. The dark chocolate bashful were just using their hands. This paired well with the cherry sauce, and was clearly a judgment-free zone. There we couldn’t stop dipping the cake into was not one disappointed patron among the generous amount of sugary syrup them. You might go in tired and hangry, but it’s impossible, we learned, to leave heaped on top. Strawberry cheesecake the Funnel Cake Factory unhappy. was also a solid pick. Can you really go When we got to the register, the team wrong scraping up strawberry sauce behind the counter was anxious to share desserts. This isn’t like buying food at and cream cheese with your last bits of their treats, and boy, there are a lot of an amusement park. You won’t have to funnel cake? No. No, you cannot. them on the menu. Black forest. Cherry dip into your savings account to try one We left Silverton happy, and most cheesecake. Peanut butter cup. Pecans, of these delicious funnel cakes. It’s just likely weighing a few extra pounds of pralines, and cream. It took us a moment $7.75 for specialty cakes, while a classic, happiness – just like the other shop to gain our composure. They all soundsimple dish is just $6.25 a pop. ed too good to pass up. We eventually patrons. Farewell for now, Funnel Cake Dear readers, we cannot emphasize landed on black forest and strawberry Factory. We’ll be back soon to devour enough how much self control it took cheesecake. We’d heard good reviews the rest of your menu. not to rip our to-go boxes away from on the black forest cake, which included our funnel cakes and go at them like cherry sauce, hot fudge, and powdered hyenas over a fresh kill. We resisted, Rocky Mountain Funnel Cake Factory is sugar. Strawberry cheesecake came with though, and handed over our payment located at 1249 Greene Street in Silverton. a strawberry sauce, cream cheese, and while smiling like sane humans until we They are open seasonally from May until powdered sugar sprinkled over the fried set foot out of the shop. Then we went October. For more information, call 479cake. to town – as in we sat in our vehicle 739-0997 or visit their Facebook page.

The best part? We didn’t have to and shoved so much funnel cake down —— Amanda Push break the bank to enjoy these delicious our gullets that we’re pretty sure we

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[eat]

R E C R E AT I O N A L D I S P E N S A R Y

The elotes at Switchback aren’t the spicy corn snacks of my childhood, but they’re delicious anyway When I was a young kid growing up in deep south Texas, elotes were a staple of my diet. Many of my friends’ parents worked at the maquiladoras – American factories that are run just across the border in Mexico to get around things like environmental and labor regulations – so we’d spend a lot of time running around the streets of Reynosa with ears of sweet, white corn in our hands.

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Those weren’t just any ears of corn, mind you. They were elotes, or Mexican street corn, which is most Angelica Leicht/DGO Mag often covered in a hefty »» The Flaming Hot Cheetos elote. Hell yes. slathering of mayonesa – Cheetos. I opted for the one that was not mayonnaise; mayonesa, closest to the corn I grew up with, but mayonnaise’s lime-infused cousin – was quickly informed that the kitchen butter, powdered chile, lime juice, and was out of one of the main ingredients every once in a while, cotija cheese. I and didn’t want to serve it without all know it sounds like a lot, but it isn’t. It’s three components. So, I opted for the delicious.

Flaming Hot Cheetos version instead, I haven’t seen a street cart filled with as my hope for this corn crashed and elote in so long, though. The streets of burned in a pile of rubble.

Reynosa are long past being safe for My bright red corn emerged from the middle school children to run down, and kitchen quickly, and I when I lifted it to I haven’t been back to the Rio Grande my mouth, I was surprised to find that Valley in over a decade anyway. I’ve it was steaming hot. One bite and I was become a kitchen expert at making pleased with this new take on my old faelotes at home, but they just aren’t the vorite. Between the crisp crunch of the same. There’s something about having corn, the bite of the heat from the chips, that steaming hot corn prepared at the and the hefty dose of cilantro crema on hands of someone else that makes it top, this corn was a close runner up to special. my beloved childhood elotes. I shoveled Given that elotes aren’t exactly the rest of it down with the quickness a staple of Colorado menus, I was and had to talk myself out of ordering a surprised to find them on the menu second round. at Switchback, the new taco spot on Main Avenue in Durango that sits where Mountain Taco once stood.

We’d popped over to Switchback for a quick work lunch, and I was impressed to find that they had not one, but three versions of my favorite childhood snack up for grabs – one covered in chipotle mayo, cilantro crema, and cotija cheese, one with Flaming Hot Cheetos, and one with regular

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I won’t tell you that Switchback’s elotes are traditional or remind me of Mexico, but I will tell you that they’re good. I still miss those mayonesa, butter, and chile monstrosities I grew up with, and I probably always will, but these new elotes are proof that change isn’t always bad, especially when it involves corn and Flaming Hot Cheetos.

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—— Angelica Leicht

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[drink]

WildEdge Brewing kicking off fall with return of Southwest Sour Fest Is sour beer overrated? That question alone is enough to get you laughed out of the DGO Mag office, and maybe even get a few pens thrown at you as you see yourself out. We don’t tolerate that kind of talk ‘round here. Sour beers are a favorite among our staff, and we take them very (VERY) seriously. Just try prying a delicious sour out of our thirsty claws.

We dare you.

And that right there is why we’re psyched that the third annual Southwest Sour Fest is quickly approaching. It will help to properly kick off the month of October.

“We have multiple breweries from the Southwest on board for the tap takeover, bringing you an exciting range of sour beer,” the Facebook event page states.

On October 5, breweries from all over

Southwest Sour Fest is basically going to be a paradise for our sour-lovin’ beer-filled hearts, as we are going to miss the brew fests of summer. southwest Colorado will show off their tart brews from 2 to 10 p.m. at WildEdge Brewing Company Collective in Cortez.

Our glasses will be cheering (and filled with) the work of WildEdge, Steamworks Brewing Company from Durango, Ska Brewing Company from Durango, Chrysalis Barrel Aged Beer from Paonia, and Telluride Brewing Company from Telluride.

These local breweries are top notch when it comes to their suds, and this combo of beer-makers is gonna be killer.

It’s basically going to be a paradise for our sour-lovin’ beer-filled hearts. We

Angelica Leight/DGO Mag

»» Beers at WildEdge Brewing Collective in Cortez. sure are going to miss the brew fests of summer.

Little Brother will provide live music from 6 to 9 p.m. There’s a $5 cover charge from 6 to 9 p.m., which we think is more than reasonable to get your hands on some delicious sours. After all, is there a better way to kick off fall than with flavors capturing the essence of autumn? We certainly can’t think of anything, and we doubt you can either

(and if you can, hush).

Sour Fest will also take place the same weekend as Great American Beer Fest in Denver, so if you’re sad about missing the country’s largest beer festival, wipe those tears away! We Western Slopers got our own fall beer fest, and we’re not afraid to use it. Or, we’re not afraid to at least drink our sorrows away and be thankful we get to live in a community that loves beer so much.

BEER, BITES, BICYCLING can't be BEAT!

So, get cozy at WildEdge’s downtown brew hole, and go support your local breweries by downing the delicious tart brews they’ve been working so hard on.

Don’t pretend you don’t want to.

WildEdge Brewing Collective is located at 111 N Market Street in Cortez. For more information, call 970-565-9445 or visit wildedgebrewing.com.

—— Amanda Push

If you come by bike,you get a $1 oFf your first pint!

Pedal by and grab a pint!

3000 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301

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[film]

IT Chapter 2 can float, too...right into the garbage

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It’s interesting when a popular novel with a longstanding fan base just can’t figure out how to garner decent screen adaptations. The most famous example would probably be F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” a book which for some reason still struggles to get a proper cinematic portrayal, even 84 years later. A modern example would be Stephen King’s classic epic horror novel “IT,” which got a second shot at a film interpretation three decades after publication.

whole scary circus clown aspect is really a disguise for a paranormal demon, but on screen, it just feels silly to see a circus clown terrifying a group of adults.

Two years after “IT Chapter 1” hit the screen, we now have a sequel, “IT Chapter 2.” The members of the Losers’ Club of Derry, Maine, are now adults. They receive word that they must reunite in their spooky hometown to defeat the menacing, supernatural clown known as Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) once and for all. Bill (James McAvoy), Bev (Jessica Chastain), Ritchie (Bill Hader), Eddie (James Ransone), and Ben (Jay Ryan) have reservations about the task at hand, but Mike (Isaiah Mustafa) is confident with his plan.

In many ways, the newer, updated adaptations have the same problems as the old made-for-television version.

The special effects are slightly more advanced, but they still look and feel artificial, and director Andy Muschietti’s dependence on jump scares in nearly every horror sequence gets tiring. The kids and adults are allowed to swear this time around, but it feels like the filmmakers are just looking for excuses to drop a few f-bombs. And the comic relief from Hader and Ransone never really lands. On top of all this, it just feels long and overdrawn by the end of its nearly 3-hour runtime.

970-259-9533

The fact that dozens of children go missing in this small town is another part of the general premise and it feels pretty ridiculous – even more so when the film is not centered around the kids.

Children are missing, but no one thinks to move their families elsewhere?

Maybe there’s something being lost in the transition to celluloid, but for the most part, I’ve just never really gotten the appeal of “IT.” The villain just feels goofy more than scary. It’s not even October yet and I feel confident that “Us” and “Midsommar” will be the best horror films we’ll get this year, with films like “IT Chapter 2” trailing behind by an underground sewer tunnel mile.

—— Megan Bianco

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The first adaptation of “IT” was a twopart TV mini-series that aired in 1990. It featured an effective, iconic performance by character actor Tim Curry as Pennywise. His delivery and presence are still frightening to this day, but everything else leftover from that version is dated, corny, low-budget, and frankly only scary to viewers under the age of 10. I haven’t read King’s original novel, but I’ve heard from readers and viewers that a big weakness in the story line is that the grown-up segments don’t live up to the quality of the kids’ origins. Sure, the

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»» A Three Springs Fall Festival attendee came in strong dressed as an old man unicorn. We stan.

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Summer is slipping away and fall is dropping in. While we are self-admitted autumn weather fanatics, we all know that precious time will last about two weeks before it starts snowing again.

We’re still so sick of snow.

Aztec

Anyway, time to dig out your flannel and head to these fall events in the Four Corners.

»»Aztec Highland Games and Celtic Music Festival; Riverside Park; 9 a.m., Oct. 5; $12-$20

Durango

»»Pumpkin Festival; Sutherland Farms; 10 a.m., Oct. 5; $5

»»Raven Narratives Dirty Work Story Slam; James Ranch; 7:30 p.m., Sept.

13; $12-$15 »»PowerFall Ball; The Powerhouse - Science Center/MakerLab; 6 p.m., Sept.

20; $75+

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»»Mountain Marmot Trail Run; Purgatory Resort; 9 a.m., Sept. 21; $69 »»30th Annual Fall Photographer’s Special; Durango Train Depot; 6 a.m., Sept. 21; $219+

10 a.m., Sept. 29; $149+ »»Three Springs Fall Festival; Three Springs Plaza; 11 a.m., Oct. 26; $15$20

Farmington »»Chile in October; Berg Park; 11 a.m. on Oct. 5; $10 »»Oktober-fest; Lions Wildnerness Amphitheater; 3:30 p.m., Oct. 19; $60+ Cortez »»Harvest Brew Fest; Parque de Vida; 4 p.m. on Sept. 14; $30 »»Southwest Sour Fest; WildEdge Brewing Collective; 2 p.m., Oct. 5; $5

»»Battle of the Bands Finale; Animas City Theatre; 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 21; $7-$10

Pagosa Springs

»»30th Annual Fall Photographer’s Special; Durango Train Depot; 9:30 a.m., Sept. 22; $219+

»»Mountain Chile Cha Cha Trail Races; Pagosa Springs Town Park; 8 a.m., Sept. 28; $25-$65

»»Durango Brew Train; Durango Train Depot; 10 a.m., Sept. 28; $149+

»»Pagosa Hot Springs Fest; The Springs Resort and Spa; Oct. 24-26; $25-$75

»»Wine & Rails; Durango Train Depot;

—— Amanda Push

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[sound]

GET OUTTA TOWN:

Route 66 is alive with the sound of music

Durango Diaries Season 4

HISTORICAL CRIMES Wednesday, Sept. 18 • 6 p.m.

Durango Public Library 1900 East Third Ave. Local voices. Local stories.

Welcome to Durango Diaries.

From a shootout on Main Avenue to interesting crimes from the early 1900s, historians take a look at some of the most interesting crimes from Durango’s past.

Storytellers include: Here we were thinking the saying “when roads sing” was the equivalent to “when pigs fly,” and now we’re sitting at our desk watching endless YouTube videos of drivers making their way down Route 66 as the road belts out “America the Beautiful.” It’s probably American drivers at their most wholesome, and it’s touching to see the surprised faces when the music starts.

A little background for you – the “America the Beautiful” lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates in 1895, and the music was composed in 1883 by church organist and choirmaster Samuel Ward at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey. The two works were eventually combined and published in 1910. And now a highway sings it.

Confused? So are we, but science, apparently.

Not going to lie – we thought this was all a heaping load of bull when we first heard about it, but after some quick Internet sleuthing, we discovered that this is indeed a truth. Turns out Route 66 is more musically talented than we are.

While most rumble strips are there for the sole purpose of yelling at you to pay closer attention to the road (get off your phones, guys!), the roadside grooves near Tijera, New Mexico, were engineered with a twist. For a quarter-mile stretch along the highway, you can slow to 45 miles per hour (the speed limit) and drive along the rumble strips, and you’ll be treated to the sweet tune of “American the Beautiful.” This ingenious method of getting drivers to actually follow the speed limit was created in 2014 by the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the National Geographic Channel.

Creating this musical highway was no small feat. In order to nail the song, the grooves had to be spaced certain distances apart from each other to hit all the right notes. We still don’t get it, but we a’ready told ya. Science.

It’s amusing, but after a while, watching vehicle after vehicle hauling down Route 66 as it belts out a few musical notes starts to sound like a middle school band painfully burping out a rendition of one our nation’s most patriotic songs so poorly that even their parents’ eardrums are bleeding from the stands.

Maybe we’re just cynical journalists because now we have “America the Beautiful” stuck in our heads, but aside from the notes getting really old really fast, we can see its amusing potential.

Perhaps this warrants a DGO Mag field trip down south to see this wonder for ourselves.

John Peel will share a story about a murder of a Secret Service agent in 1907.

Robert McDaniel will share a story about the 1922 shootout between two Durango newspaper editors.

Sharon Greve will share a number of interesting cases from over the years.

Durang

Diaries

TM

Presented By:

In Partnership With:

FREE. Kid-friendly. Info at durangoherald.com/durangodiaries

—— Amanda Push

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THE FBI BELIEVES SEX PREDATOR HAD A MANY OF WHOM W

David Parker Ray and Cynthia Hendy kid under the radar until one f

By Amanda Push DGO STAFF WRITER

Warning: This article contains disturbing descriptions of violence, sexual assault, and rape against women.

“Hello there, bitch. Are you comfortable right now? I doubt it. Wrists and ankles chained. Gagged. Probably blindfolded.

You are disoriented and scared, too, I would imagine. Perfectly normal, under the circumstances. For a little while, at least, you need to get your shit together and listen to this tape.

It is very relevant to your situation. I’m going to tell you, in detail, why you have been kidnapped, what’s going to happen to you and how long you’ll be here.

14 | Thursday, September 12, 2019 • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

S NM’S INFAMOUS AROUND 40 VICTIMS, WERE MURDERED

dnapped, raped, and tortured women fought back – and won

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“I don’t know the details of your capture, because this tape is being created July 23, 1993, as a general advisory tape for future female captives. ... Now, you are obviously here against your will, totally helpless, don’t know where you’re at, don’t know what’s gonna happen to you. You’re very scared or very pissed off. I’m sure that you’ve already tried to get your wrists and ankles loose, and know you can’t.

Now you’re just waiting to see what’s gonna happen next.

“You probably think you’re gonna be raped and you’re fuckin’ sure right about that. Our primary interest is in what you’ve got between your legs. You’ll be raped thoroughly and repeatedly, in every hole you’ve got. Because, basically, you’ve been snatched and brought here for us to train and use as a sex slave. Sound kind of far out? Well, I suppose it is to the uninitiated, but we do it all the time. It’s gonna take a lot of adjustment on your part, and you’re not gonna like it a fuckin’ bit. But I don’t give a big rat’s ass about that. It’s not like you’re gonna have any choice about the matter. You’ve been taken by force, and you’re going to be kept and used by force.

“What all this amounts to is that you’re gonna be kept naked and chained up like an animal, to be used and abused any time we want to, any way that we want to. And you might as well start gettin’ used to it, because you’re gonna be kept here and used until such time as we get tired of fuckin’ around with you. And we will, eventually, in a month or two, maybe three. It’s no big deal.”

I

t was an otherwise quiet afternoon in Elephant Butte, New Mexico, on March 22, 1999, when a woman was spotted running down Springland Boulevard.

She was a distressing sight – naked, clearly traumatized, and covered in blood. More jarring was the chain hanging from her neck, held by a metal collar that – hours later – had to be removed with bolt cutters at a hospital.

“She was just running around in circles,” one witness said. “At first I thought someone was chasing her, but I didn’t see anyone. She had blood on her face. It was quite a shock. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t make any noise at all. She just looked wild.”

Not long before – 3:22 p.m., to be exact – New Mexico’s Sierra County 911 emergency dispatch received a strange call from a residence at 513 Bass Road.

When the operator answered, no one spoke on the other end. All they could make out was what sounded like a scuffle. Then, the call abruptly ended.

Concerned, the operator called back.

This time, a woman answered and sounded agitated. She insisted the call was a mistake and hung up.

Sensing there was more to the story, the 911 operator radioed law enforcement to perform a welfare check, and Sierra County Deputy David Elston took the call.

The residence on Bass Road was unassuming – a single story, double-wide mobile home and a yard filled with junk.

“Beware of dog,” one sign read. The other announced the resident’s name: David P. Ray. No one was home.

Just behind the home was an innocuous-looking trailer – windowless, white, and 25-feet long. Its interior contents were inaccessible, protected by a steel reinforced double deadbolt that would have to be removed by a locksmith once law enforcement obtained a search warrant.

What lay inside was “Satan’s Den.”

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Desert predators

Three days of hell

David Parker Ray had lived since 1993 in a community of mobile homes in Hot Springs Landing, a town just across from Elephant Butte. He worked as an armed State Park officer and mechanic at Elephant Butte State Park.

Three days earlier, Jaramillo was looking to make some money. She was a sex worker who’d been navigating the streets of Albuquerque in hopes of finding a date when an acquaintance introduced her to an older, mustachioed man who sat behind the wheel of a motor home. The man immediately got to the point and discussed payment.

Like most New Mexico towns, Elephant Butte sprawls across a dusty, arid landscape. What was special about the town was that it bordered Elephant Butte State Park, the largest state park in New Mexico, which attracts 100,000 visitors annually to the community of just 1,000 people. The park is home to Elephant Butte Lake – the 84th largest man-made lake in the United States, and the largest body of water in the state.

Elephant Butte had been known for a quiet lifestyle, but all that was about to change once law enforcement entered Ray’s home, where the 911 call originated.

Inside they found a cache of torture devices: clamps, whips, pliers, sex toys, clips, chains, hooks, cameras, harnesses, muzzles, and handcuffs. Hardcore porn decorated the walls. Chains and hooks hung above the bed, and a box that looked like a coffin was placed nearby against a wall.

The curtains were closed, and in the corner of the living room was a bed with a mattress covered in blood. An altercation had clearly taken place. Next to the bed was a broken lamp and an icepick covered in dark, red matter.

The investigators searching Ray’s house had no idea at the time that the fight had involved the naked, terrified woman who’d been found running down Springland Boulevard earlier that day.

Cynthia Vigil Jaramillo

“I was talking to this guy thinking it was a date. He handed me the money and when I came up from putting it in my shoe, he put a handcuff on me and told me he was a cop,” Jaramillo said during an interview with the A&E show “The Killing Season.” “I tried fighting him but his girlfriend came out of nowhere and shocked me with a cattle prod.”

Hendy and Ray subdued Jaramillo, who knew at that point the duo were not cops. They handcuffed her, took away her clothes, and threatened to use the gun and cattle prod on her if she screamed.

They drove the frightened and disoriented Jaramillo 150 miles south to Elephant Butte, where they forced her into their home, chained her to the headboard and footboard of a bed in their living room, and clasped a collar around her neck.

That afternoon, Hendy got a phone call. She became distracted and carelessly left the keys on a coffee table.

Sensing this was perhaps her only opportunity for escape, Jaramillo slid her body and stretched to the coffee table to reach the keys. As she was doing so, Hendy returned to the room and caught her. The two began to wrestle for the keys, and Hendy beat Jaramillo with a lamp. In the midst of the struggle, Jaramillo was able to grab the phone and dial 911, but was unable to communicate with the operator. Hendy hung up the call, and Jaramillo used the momentary distraction as her golden opportunity. She grabbed a nearby icepick and slashed Hendy across the head. She unlocked herself from the wall and ran.

The toy box Crime scene investigators searched the Bass Road property thoroughly and found a cache of chilling tools and torture devices. Still, the worst was yet to come.

Law enforcement tried and failed to get into the large, detached semi trailer that had been sitting outside the resi-

dence, but it was locked up tight. It took a locksmith to break in.

What they found inside was Ray’s sexual torture kingdom, full of devices he’d rigged up himself.

There were cruel homemade instruments and devices used to restrain his victims, including a gynecological chair, surgical instruments, dildos with spikes, and syringes. A video camera was placed in the corner to record Ray’s sessions, and everywhere they turned there were drawings of Ray’s twisted fantasies portraying what he wanted to do to women, along with photographs of him carrying the acts out. He had books on female anatomy, a box he would lock victims’ heads in, whips, and chains. On the wall, a white sign in bold red lettering read “Satan’s Den.” The trailer was a vessel utterly dedicated to hosting Ray’s uninhibited, sadistic fantasies.

The others Jaramillo’s escape led investigators to Ray’s doorstep, but they were soon faced with the daunting task of digging through his past. Judging by the photos found at Ray’s house depicting Continued on Page 18

In the background, a tape played, outlining their plans to torture, rape, and humiliate her in excruciatingly specific detail. The recording started off with the greeting, “Hello there, bitch.”

The recording was of Ray’s voice, a cold drawl with no sympathy and spiked with a twang. It came across as sickeningly giddy.

“You’re going to be kept chained in a variety of different positions,” he said. A chilling chuckle followed.

After a separate set of police tracked down the terrified, naked woman, who’d gone inside the home of a couple and hidden under their table, they took her to Sierra Vista Hospital and called in the New Mexico State Police. She told law enforcement she’d fled from the torture home on Bass Road.

Judging by how he spoke, Jaramillo was certain she was not the couple’s first victim.

A short time later, police apprehended Ray and his girlfriend, Cynthia Hendy – who was covered in blood from a gash on her head – after they were spotted driving around Elephant Butte. They were charged with kidnapping and aggravated battery, among other charges, and held on a $1 million bail each.

True to his word, Ray and Hendy implemented their vile plan, torturing and raping her for days, with Hendy as involved in the torture as Ray. They used electric shocks on her until she passed out and fed her very little.

Cynthia Vigil Jaramillo, the 22-yearold woman who escaped from Ray and Hendy’s deadly grips, went on to tell investigators her story.

removed the handcuffs and shackles before he left, but kept her chained to the wall.

“He told me I was never going to see my family again. He told me he would kill me like the others,” Jaramillo later told reporters at a 2011 press conference at FBI headquarters in Albuquerque.

“I was shocked, raped, hung by the ceiling, drugged – everything he thought of was done to me,” she said.

After three days, Ray returned to work. Believing that Jaramillo was too exhausted to cause any issues, he

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The Alternative Resource

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From Page 17

of photos are potential clues solemnly waiting to be identified.

other captive women, along with how well-prepared the duo was for Jaramillo’s kidnapping, police knew there had to be other victims, and potentially more conspirators. Hendy revealed to investigators that Ray often took photos and videos of his victims to keep as mementos.

Investigators discovered a video from 1996 in Ray’s possession that depicted another victim and publicized her ankle tattoo in hopes of identifying her. A woman came forward identifying the tattoo as belonging to her ex daughter-in-law, Kelli Garrett. Garrett was indeed alive and living in Colorado. She’d once lived in the area and had been a friend of Ray’s daughter, Glenda Jean “Jesse” Ray. Garrett told police that on July 24, 1996, she’d gotten in a fight with her husband and decided to hit the bars with some friends to blow off steam. That night, Jesse Ray met up with Garrett at the Blu-Water Saloon in Truth or Consequences, just 5 miles south of Elephant Butte. At some point during the night, Jesse drugged Garrett’s beer.

She was taken to Ray’s trailer, where he attached a dog collar and leash to Garrett.

Like Jaramillo, she was drugged and tortured for two days before Ray dumped her. No one, not even her husband or police, believed her strange, horrific story.

Her husband divorced her, believing she was cheating on him while she was missing, and she moved to Colorado with no answers for what actually happened to her during those two days.

Angelica Montano, an Albuquerque resident, also came forward about her experience after a long period of terrified silence. A friend, one of just two people she’d revealed her ordeal to, convinced her to go to the police after news of Ray’s arrest hit national headlines.

Stranger still was the story of the other person Montano told her story to.

On Feb. 21, 1999, an off-duty sheriff’s deputy had been driving north along the long stretch of Interstate 25 when he came across a hitchhiker outside of Truth or Consequences. He pulled over and offered her a ride. She was headed to Albuquerque – roughly a two-hour drive. Montano, most likely in shock, began to tell the officer about how she’d just been kidnapped, raped, and tortured by a couple. Her captors agreed to let her go on the condition that she not tell anyone what happened to her.

She agreed, and the captors set her free by dropping her off on the side of the road. The officer, skeptical of her story, offered to take her to the police station, but she refused. She had already broken her promise to her captors by telling

Not without a fight While the life of Cynthia Vigil Jaramillo hasn’t been easy, it’s clear from her escape from the nightmare on 513 Bass Road that she won’t go down easily.

She spoke publicly about her ordeal for the first time in 2011 to help encourage other victims to come forward. Her voice was soft voice, but there was no mistaking the strength that cut sharply with each word.

“This was a very sick man. ... The only thing that gives me any comfort is that he’s gone. If I didn’t get away, I wouldn’t have my three wonderful boys. I wouldn’t be here,” Cynthia Jaramillo said. him her story.

It was only after Ray and Hendy were in custody that she felt safe enough to come forward.

‘A sick man’ It was decided that Ray would face three separate trials, one for each of the identified victims.

The first trial – for the crimes against Jaramillo – ended in a mistrial, but when he was retried, Ray was convicted of all 12 counts he’d been charged with.

Montano died before her trial.

During his second trial, Ray cut a deal with prosecutors to keep his daughter out of prison for her role in drugging his victims. Under the plea agreement, he was given 223 years and was sentenced to die in prison, while his daughter, Jesse, was given two and a half years in prison and five years probation for helping to drug and collect victims for her father.

Another accomplice, Dennis Yancy, was also questioned about his role in Ray’s crimes, and eventually copped to strangling Marie Parker, a former girlfriend. Ray had kidnapped and tortured Parker, and allegedly instructed Yancy to kill her when Ray was done with her. Though her body was never found, Yancy was convicted of second degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder, and was sentenced to two 15-year terms.

The justice of Ray’s sentence was short lived, however. On May 28, 2002,

Ray died of a heart attack at the Lea County Correctional Facility at 62 years old, right before he was to be transferred to the general prison population, and just a year after he was sentenced.

“This was a very sick man. ... The only thing that gives me any comfort is that he’s gone. If I didn’t get away, I wouldn’t have my three wonderful boys.

I wouldn’t be here,” Jaramillo said at the 2011 press conference at the FBI Albuquerque office.

Hendy was sentenced to 36 years in prison for kidnapping and torture.

She served only half of that because legislation at the time allowed for early release. The law was amended just three months after Hendy was sentenced and rewritten to require criminals to serve 85 percent of their sentencing, She was released in July of 2019.

According to KRQE News 13, rather than getting out on parole, Hendy served her two years of parole in prison. Because Hendy wasn’t released on parole, she is under no stipulation to answer to the State, and is not required to tell officials where she’s living or what she’s doing.

The case has since gone down as the most infamous in New Mexico history, but it’s far from over. The FBI still believes more of Ray’s victims are out there – some of them alive, many of them murdered. The FBI has set up a page displaying the jewelry and clothing articles found at 513 Bass Road that they believe belong to Ray’s other victims.

Sprawled across pages and pages

“Please you guys, come forward. This man was a very sick man and these families need the closure,” she said, at times wiping away tears.

During the press conference, the FBI released a photograph of a woman that authorities took from a fake driver’s license found in Ray’s possessions and a photograph of Jill Troia, who was last seen on Oct. 1, 1995, at the Frontier Restaurant with Ray’s daughter. Troia is still missing.

After the bodies of 11 women were found buried in the Albuquerque desert in a different case, Jaramillo connected with Christine Barber and the two commiserated about how violence against sex workers is often overlooked. Those who live “high-risk lifestyles” – sex workers, the homeless, and addicts – are often seen as much less sympathetic victims, especially if they are people of color. The violence they experience is often brushed off, and their murders go unsolved.

“All I want is for there to be a group that pays attention to the women on the street,” Jaramillo said.

The two founded Street Safe New Mexico in 2010, a volunteer-run nonprofit that provides support to women living on the streets who struggle with homelessness and addiction, and/or have been victims of human trafficking.

You won’t find them in an office making calls or conducting studies, though.

The nonprofit works on the street with these women, passing out nonlethal weapons to them for free. They also put together a Bad Guy List of violent men that they hand out to the women.

The nonprofit’s website ends with this description: “This is how we advocate. Hard.”

Anyone with information about David Parker Ray or any potential victims should contact the FBI at 505-8891300. To support Street Safe, visit streetsafenewmexico.org.

18 | Thursday, September 12, 2019 • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[weed]

MK Ultra, a strain named after the 1950s LSD experiments, is a serious rush to the brain MK Ultra: the name may sound familiar, and for good reason. Project MK Ultra was the name of a 1950s mind control experiment by the CIA, and it was basically focused around the use of LSD to alter the mind.

That’s the short answer.

The long answer is much longer, much more convoluted, and if you’re unfamiliar with it, you should read about it.

shortly after, things go blank.

Luckily I have my trusty stoner notes to help guide this review. (Side note: I’d normally smoke a second bowl after the whole “life goes dark” thing, but I honestly can’t find where my stoned ass put the container, so I can’t. Sorry I’m a mess.) Here’s what they tell me.

1. I’m high super fast and it’s like a melty feeling on my face.

Anyway, as you’ve probably guessed, this 2. I hate the movie isn’t an LSD review, and “Sing” yet I’m sitting here MK Ultra isn’t only the Details staring at it, mesmerized, name of a 1950s CIA Where to find DCC’s for no effing reason. experiment. It is also the MK Ultra Strain: The 3. I keep forgetting name of the strain we’re Green House, 730 S. Camithat I’m taking notes and reviewing this week from no del Rio, Durango, 970end up staring off into the The Green House in Du247-2420, greenhousepanetherworld instead. rango. The Green House gosa.com 4. Dog Impossible looks got their sticky icky mitts so depressing. on this strain courtesy of Price: $25 a gram Durango Cannabis Com5. I can’t even read a pany, which is the baller weed wholesal- few words. er that grew it. And, much like the LSD I *think* I remember staring unconof the 1950s, MK Ultra – the cannabis trollably at the TV while that pig couple strain – is a rush to the brain. on the horrible movie “Sing” was belting I’m getting ahead of myself, though. out some song, but it could just be that Let’s back up. I picked up this strain from I think I remember it because of my the new Green House location – it’s notes. I don’t remember being hungry, open, by the way, but they haven’t had or thirsty, or even stoned, though. I their official grand opening yet – and I’ll remember naught. tell you, I was pretty excited to check it On the upside, there’s nary a mention out. This strain is a 50/50 hybrid – so a of the horrible stomachache or headstraight split of indica and sativa – and ache I was rolling with prior to smoking, was created by crossing an indica variety which means that this stuff must have of G-13 and a sativa variety of OG Kush. knocked that right out with the quickIt’s known for hitting you like a ton of ness. I’d imagine this strain would be bricks with a euphoric, trippy brain high good for chronic pain management. that’s not for the faint of heart. I hadn’t Even if it didn’t knock it out, I don’t smoked MK Ultra prior to this review, remember feeling crappy after I smoked, but I’ve been pretty darn impressed with so that’s a win.

DCC’s other strains, so I knew this one Listen. This stuff is strong. It is not would probably be a good’n. for beginners. But if you’re a seasoned And, surprise! It was! I lit up a bowl smoker who wants to be knocked into of this super potent bud shortly after next year, MK Ultra is your new best I picked it up, and that’s basically all I friend. I’m pretty sure I liked it, and know. It was sober, sober, sober, sober, I’m very sure it knocked out my stupid STONED. Yes, it happened that quickly. I stomachache, which isn’t easy to do. If vaguely remember being shocked by the you smoke some of it, though, just make fact that this bud was harsh as hell, even sure you put the container of weed in the dry herb vape – usually I can’t away BEFOREHAND or you’ll never find even tell if anything is emitting from it again. Trust me. I know. the damn thing – and it made me cough —— DGO Pufnstuf something fierce right off the bat. And ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, September 12, 2019 | 19

Each week, sports editor John Livingston dives deep with some of Durango’s favorite athletes on The Durango Herald’s new podcast.

Learn what mountain enchants pro skier Sven Brunso, what inspired pro cyclist Payson McElveen to set the fastest known time record on the White Rim Trail in Moab and hear world class mountain biker Christopher Blevins perform some of his original poetry.

Find us on iTunes or on the Podcasts app on your iPhone, just search Living Sports & subscribe today!

DON’T USE PODCASTS? NO PROBLEM.

Join us each week online at durangoherald.com/living-sports 20 | Thursday, September 12, 2019 • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Personals

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[love and sex]

Rape is not about sex, orgasm, or pleasure

»» It’s about power and domination In this edition of the Sex & Love column I will be talking about sexual assault and abuse. Please take care of yourself and skip this column if you need to.There is 24 hour support for survivors through Durango’s Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO) at 970-259-3074 or nationally through RAINN at 1-800-656-HOPE. Rape is not about sex, orgasm, or pleasure. Rape is about power and domination.

Serial Rapist A serial rapist is someone who seeks out people to assault. The vast majority of serial rapists are male-bodied people who perpetrate against female-bodied victims. The Toy Box Killer sexually assaulted womxn who were vulnerable in some way – drunk, drug addicts, sex workers, hitchhikers, etc.

This is common among serial rapists – victims who are vulnerable in some aspect of their lives. They are easier to control and less likely to be believed.

Organizational Rape Governments, militaries, cults, religious institutions, fraternities, and more use rape as a tool to control groups of people – control of the organizational group itself or control of another group the organization is trying to subjugate. The goal is fear and collective liability.

Date/Acquaintance Rape There is no excuse for any type of rape. In date/acquaintance rapes the cause is most likely rooted in lack of communication, alcohol or drug abuse, or ignorance of consent. It is important to discuss this type of rape because it is nuanced. Perpetrators of date/acquaintance rape do not have the same pathology as a serial rapist. The intent to do harm is not the driving reasoning behind these types of rape. However, the harm done is no less than any other kind of rape. These types of rape are more closely connected to the work of sex education and teaching about consent. If there is hope in any of this, it is that we can shift the culture to respect bodies, ask for consent, and to openly talk about sex and pleasure. This creates knowledge and awareness that can help people stop behaviors before they happen – e.g. no sex when we are drunk; asking for clear, verbal consent before and during sex; and calling out bad behaviors rather than being a silent bystander.

When I think of how to prevent rape, I always come back to communication and consent. Changing the culture around how we view sex and how we seek out pleasure is all about talking about “it” – you know, SEX. We have to bring sex out of the shadows, dispel the myths that sex is to be taken, lost, or freely given to a romantic partner. Is this going to prevent rapists like the Toy Box Killer from doing what he did? Not necessarily, because David Parker Ray’s sexual pathology was deeply rooted in violence. There is a part of my soul that aches for that little boy who was violently punished by domineering, abusive people who were

Kat Jayne/Pexels

supposed to care for him. However, not everyone raised in violence becomes violent.

The work to tear down taboos around sex is meant to create conversation and a clearer understanding about consent. It is commonly accepted that children are asked to be kind to others – don’t hit, don’t kick, etc. There are consequences in society to address when kids hit each other. It should not be such a leap to teach youth that touching another person without their consent isn’t OK. It is not such a leap to teach youth to say no to hugs, kisses, and touching. Your body is your body. Sexuality education needs to be taught to all youth to begin to change the secretive, shameful nature of sex, which only helps to hide abuses rather than stop consensual sex.

We have created narratives to explain away behaviors that we are uncomfortable calling out.

Boys will be boys.

She was begging for it.

She’s so lucky to have his attention.

Men can’t control themselves.

Beyond the obvious stereotyping and refusal of responsibility, these narratives are formed in a heterocentric vacuum. A space where men are encouraged to take what they want and never have to accept responsibility. Where womxn can do nothing right and their only recourse is to become the bitch who is uptight and prudish, or to accept the violations as their duty. In this vacuum there is no space for discussion, solutions, or justice for sexual assaults and abuses within LGBTQ relationships.

So much of this changes when we remove gendered language and we hold everyone accountable for creating discussions about consent. If consent is not given, then a person has to find pleasure somewhere

else, and I mean with themselves.

Masturbation can be more than just a physical release.

No one is entitled to another person’s body, ever. It must be repeated that sex is not meant to be taken, lost, or an expectation of a relationship. Consent requires all persons to engage in the discussion. There is no space for silence. Speak up.

Respect your body.

Take ownership for your actions. Ask for what you want and accept the answer you receive

in response.

If you are a rapist, accept responsibility for your actions and change your behavior. Some of you can’t – and we don’t know how to fix your compulsion to take what isn’t yours. Society is currently trying medical suppression of the libido, labeling offenders, segregation of offenders, and extending prison sentences into required holds in mental health institutions. Effective solutions? Fair and just solutions? Hell, I don’t know, and there are great, ethical minds working on this problem.

If you are a survivor, it is not your fault – speaking up, asking for what you want...everything I just stated above means nothing when someone takes from you. It is the rapist’s fault and theirs alone. It is not your fault.

It is not your fault.

This all feels bleak and depressing to me but I have hope. I look at the work to legalize sex work as a beacon of change and positive progress. I listen to survivors tell their stories and call out perpetrators despite the lack of accountability by the rapist and no path for justice. I weep when hundreds and hundreds of people stand up against an organization that aided childhood abuse for more than a century. I connect with other sex educators and know that we are making a difference. And I talk about communication and consent any chance I get, to all the people I connect with, in every space.

Erin Brandt (she/her/hers) has been a sexologist for 15 years. When she’s not spreading sexual knowledge, Erin can be found learning from her child, hiking with her partner, cuddling with her pitbull, knitting with her cat, dancing with friends, and searching for the nearest hammock and ocean breeze. Want more? Visit www.positivesexed.com

22 | Thursday, September 12, 2019 • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Horoscope ARIES (March 21 to April 19)

The Full Moon might create difficulties for you at work. It might even create confusing symptoms with your health.

Take it easy. It’s gone in 48 hours.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) This is an accident-prone day for your kids, so be aware of where they are at all times. It’s also a difficult day for romantic partners because of confusion and arguments. Chill out.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Issues at home might come to a head because of the Full Moon. Don’t agree to anything important, because things are confusing.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) This is a poor day to make important financial decisions. Things are confusing; plus, the Full Moon creates heightened emotional confusion.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) The only Full Moon opposite your sign all year is taking place. Tread carefully.

Forewarned is forearmed.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Things are confusing because of the Full Moon. Plus Neptune is in the picture, which always creates confusion and indecision. This is why you feel unsure about something.

This is a mildly accident-prone day, so pay attention to everything you say and

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21)

Murder and mayhem and more murder, oh my!

Bizarro

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

do. Don’t jump to conclusions, because things are not as they seem.

Your relationship with a friend or a

group might come to a head. It might feel like it’s now or never. However, with Neptune in the picture, you’re not seeing everything clearly. Do nothing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Do not overreact when dealing with parents, the police or bosses, because this is a confusing day. You don’t have all the facts, so don’t jump to conclusions.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) Do not be swayed by the rhetoric or snake oil of politicians and people pushing their own agenda. Only half-truths can be heard.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) This is a poor time to decide how to deal with shared property or inheritances. Do

not agree to anything this week, because you don’t have the full facts. Be smart.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) The only Full Moon all year in your sign is taking place. This creates a lot of feelings in you and too much second-guessing and self-doubt. Go slowly.

BORN THIS WEEK You have a modern, progressive outlook on life. You test boundaries. You are also warm, kind and charitable. This is a year of fast action, change and new opportunities! Expect to meet adventure and stimulating situations. You will have chances to travel and expand your world plus learn new things. Embrace change.

Let your personal freedom be your goal this year. (c) 2019 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Historic homicides Sure, it may seem like serial crimes are more of a recent phenomenon but they’re not. There are plenty of historical serial killers, like Matthew Hopkins, a selfstyled witch-finder who hanged more than 300 women, and Lord Lovat, a kidnapper and rapist.

Sad stats According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, only 42 percent of violent crime is reported to authorities, and of that 42 percent, only 46 percent of the cases are cleared.

What that means is less than 1/4 of violent crimes are solved ... and we’re not really sure to make that more palatable. Sorry.

Petty poisonings Back in 1922, 997 New Yorkers died of poisoning, and the likelihood that these were murders is pretty darn high. Back then, forensic testing wasn’t really em-

ployed by detectives, so it was possible to commit multiple poisonings without getting caught.

Ah, the good ol’ days.

Murder mania Our culture’s fascination of murder and mayhem might seem like it’s new but it certainly isn’t. In fact, when the infamous Bonnie and Clyde were finally caught and, in the process, shot to death, people flocked to steal mementos off the couple including locks of Bonnie’s hair. And the two supervillains are still mentioned in many a rap song, so there’s clearly still an interest in their mayhem.

When the murderous deeds of serial killer Belle Gunness were discovered, thousands flocked to her farm to watch investigators dig up the corpses in her yard.

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, September 12, 2019 | 23