BreakTheChain.org
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Cry Me A River, BabyDate Added: Feb. 15, 2003
Ripped from the headlines, this bit of recent urban legend is based on real events, but light on truth. Since we have the serial killer loose, I thought you all should read this. This was forwarded to me. I don't know if it is true, but it is something to think about, especially you girls living alone........ Joan just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "whatever you do, do NOT open the door." The lady then said that the baby had crawled near a window and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The police said, "we already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." he told her that they think the serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside of their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and do not open the door for a crying baby. Officials believe a serial killer has been operating in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, area since September, 2001. In November 2002, a fourth victim was attributed to this killer. This chain letter began circulating soon thereafter. As it circulates, the chain loses important facts that link it to the Baton Rouge killer, such as the author's name and references to Baton Rouge, both present in earlier versions. As a result, the tale above is applicable to virtually any location and, thus, being spread far and wide by people believing some sicko could be hanging out on their front porch with a cassette player. Even when tied to the Baton Rouge case, it doesn't match the facts. Officials have reported no such link of recorded baby cries and the killer. In fact, the Baton Rouge killer seems to be following no pattern and relying on a variety of tactics to lure and kill his victims, and thus not so predictable that police would be telling callers that this is how he operates. In fact, serial killer task force spokeswoman Cpl. Mary Ann Godawa has publicly denied that there is any evidence of the killer operating in this fashion. In fact, there have been no reputable reports of a serial killer anywhere using recorded cries to trap victims. The story has all the elements of an urban legend: It is an anonymous author's third-person account, no crime was committed nor harm done and the "damsel in distress" is saved by having the "secret" knowledge imparted in the story. The notion of killers or kidnappers using a baby (or in this case, sounds of a baby), or some other stimulus that appeals particularly to women has popped up in a variety of tales, such as mall abduction legends. Break this chain. References: Snopes.com, CNN.com, The Advocate |