Silence not always golden

After three long weeks of almost complete silence, Maryland State Police made an arrest in the murder of Nicole Bennett.

As it turns out, the man they charged, Matthew Burton, had been a suspect from the beginning, but until his arrest, Maryland State Police released no information about him.

Burton was initially arrested on charges Delaware State Police called unrelated: The church where he worked, and where he apparently met Bennett, laid him off, and as a sex offender, he failed to report his change in employment.

Burton quickly made bail on that charge and was released.
After that, a family dealing with grief also had to deal with fear of a second attack, and an entire community questioned whether Bennett’s killer was a stranger or someone still walking among us.

When police release no information, it creates a vacuum that the internet and social networking are quick to fill, often with unsubstantiated comments, rumors and misinformation – some of it jarring and hurtful for a family struggling with immense tragedy.

When the Cape Gazette learned of Burton’s prior arrests, it was apparent that information was important to the community and had to be reported, even though he had not been charged in the murder case.

It is understandable and necessary for crime details to be withheld as police investigate. At the same time, police must be mindful that a complete lack of facts gives free rein to misinformation.

To date, several questions remain unanswered: Has a motive been uncovered? A cause of death has finally been released, but where and how do police believe Bennett died?

Privacy concerns and the integrity of an investigation are critically important. Still, these concerns must be balanced against the public’s need to understand what has occurred among us.

By declining to provide at least minimal details on any of these issues, police encourage a rumor mill that generates fear and anger that can only make this terrible crime more difficult for the entire community.