NYC Citizens Ignore Cries for Help Again

Very early in the morning, from beyond the windows, from behind thin walls, a woman cries out for help. Moments later, the woman screams in pain. For 30 minutes the woman cries for help and screams in pain as she is attacked and killed. The neighbor's sleep is no longer disturbed, all is quiet again. Only then does someone call police.

In the dull glow of streetlights police arrive to find a young woman bleeding to death from a dozen stab wounds. The woman died two hours later in a hospital with people paid to care.

No, it isn't March 13, 1963. No, it isn't Kitty Genovese killed in a 3 stage 30 minute attack. Thirty-eight citizens ignored the screams for a half-hour before anyone called police. Kitty Genovese died and left New York City with a reputation of being blind and deaf to the suffering of others. During the murder trial, frequently witnesses said, "we didn't want to get involved." Vincent Mosley, the killer, said at trial, "I knew they wouldn't do anything - they never do." One study found, on average, if there are more than 4 people witnessing an event, nobody will do anything. Each witness will say justify inaction by saying something like, "I don't have to get involved since there are other people here who can help."

Forty-four years later, some New Yorkers haven't learned to care enough to make an anonymous phone call, dial three simple numbers, to stop the pain.

At about 2:10 a.m. Saturday, police arrived to find 21 year old Ebony Garcia lying in a pool of blood. She was dying because of the dozen or so stab wounds inflicted during the half-hour attack. The noise only annoyed the neighbors. After the screams stopped, someone called the cops.

Look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed
They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends.

Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends by Phil Ochs

One neighbor said she thought Ebony Garcia had been drinking. Wouldn't that have been enough to call police for disturbing the peace? Selfishness of neighbors aided in the woman's death. Selfishness of neighbors could also have saved her life.




The life of Indigo Red is full of adventure. Tune in next time for the Further Adventures of Indigo Red.