Our view: Don't bea part of the rumor mill

One child gone. Another in the county jail. And our hearts and minds struggle to understand how this could happen here. It has been a long and trying time of uncertainty as a mother waited to find out the fate of her daughter and interested parties both locally and beyond followed media reports and rumors.

Only one question has been answered since the 23-year-old Crescent City woman disappeared on July 15. The body of Michelle Dickson was recovered. We and her family now know for certain that she will never return home. But how and why Ms. Dickson died is still a case to be solved by the professionals.

Human nature being what it is, it's impossible not to wonder about the events surrounding Michelle Dickson's death. But please don't invent scenarios and fabricate stories and then spread them around. Keep your amateur detective theories to yourself. Speculating on what happened to her and why it happened, at this point in the investigation, is reckless, insensitive and wrong. The Daily Triplicate staff reporting on this story has looked into numerous unfounded and often bizarre rumors and false information since Ms. Dickson's car was found burning on the morning of July 16.

Rumors about the circumstances of Ms. Dickson's disappearance and death spread faster than the wildfires that were front page news the week before. It seems that everyone has an opinion about what she was doing that night and what might have happened to her.

In the wake of the worst possible tragedy imaginable—the loss of someone's child—this community must stand together in solidarity for the family and friends left behind. We should mourn the loss suffered by the family of the victim, Michelle Dickson and acknowledge the pain of the family of the accused, Josiah Miller. We must be supportive and patient while law enforcement agencies attempt to uncover the truth. That's the only way to reach closure in the days ahead.

There is no excuse for the shameful behavior of those who have fueled rash and hurtful rumors. In our small town environment, what you say will likely reach the families, and these families don't deserve more grief. Stop the gossip and start the healing.