John McAfee Launches Blog, Offers $25K Reward For "Real Killers" 377
An anonymous reader writes "The IT security pioneer John McAfee has launched a blog to document his life on the lam, as Belize police chase him down for suspicion of killing a neighbor. McAfee is using the blog to state his case, raise suspicions about Belize authorities and to offer a $25K reward to find the real killer or killers. From the article: 'McAfee writes that he is on run with a 20-year-old female named Sam, photos of whom are in the blog, along with a post from her. McAfee says a handful of friends and associates have been rounded up by police over the past week or so. His posts are filled with dramatic descriptions of his actions (including returning to his home in disguise to find police digging up his dead dogs and cutting off their heads) and lay bare his suspicions about Belize authorities. '"
Danger Signs (Score:5, Interesting)
When you start defending yourself with the same phrases as OJ Simpson, you might be on the wrong side of the law. Looking for the real killer...
thrill junkie (Score:5, Interesting)
His blog is www.whoismcafee.com and it's just bizarre. Here's a sample:
For a guy that thinks he's going to be falsely arrested by the Belize's prime minister's police minions, you'd think he'd want to just get out of the country. I can't imagine that it would be all that difficult. Yet, he keeps going back to his residence where he's most likely to arrested (Belize police must be idiots if this is all true) in these ludicrous disguises that just makes this whole story seem like a farce.
Perception of law enforcement (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm assuming that the vast majority of commenters are from the US, Canada, and western European countries where the rule of law is well understood and (mostly) enforced in a non-arbitrary manner. That's apt to color your reaction to a story such as this.
While I don't know the facts in this particular case, it is often true in many Central and South American countries (and Caribbean islands) that the rule of law can be enforced arbitrarily, and sometimes in response to the desire to acquire the wealth of an accused person. Presumption of innocence or even actual innocence does not matter in such cases; individuals have been known to disappear for years into Byzantine court systems, or found guilty without what we would consider to be sufficient evidence of guilt. I have a friend whose college roommate has been held as a political prisoner for well over a decade in a South American country; my sisters have both had to "pay tickets" to Mexican police to keep their passports from being impounded. So I don't take flight from authorities as an admission of guilt; if McAfee knows or suspects he's being railroaded, that's probably the wise choice.
For all I know, he may be guilty, but don't take his actions as an admission.
Re:Somethings amiss.... (Score:2, Interesting)
Not committing a crime != not guilty in the eyes of the law. If one is able to get the heck out, there are plenty reasons to do so:
1: Things happen in jails. Stuff that doesn't get caught on cameras, and word against word does not hold up.
2: Bail may not be possible for a lot of people. So, they get to rot in jail with no chance of researching a defense, compared to being on the outside and being able to get a suitable defense together.
3: Just an arrest is a career killer. Google "arrest electronic plantation" for a good description. Just a haul in that gets your fingerprints on NCIC's files with no charges can mean never getting a job in the banking industry.
4: Jails are not nice places. Some cities like Austin will place people in a waiting room and you have a good chance of getting out unscathed. Others like Chicago toss you in a bullpen where the local hoodrats on the intake will promptly relieve you of your shoes [1] and anything valuable.
So, if given the choice, then getting out if possible is likely a good thing.
[1]: The shoes get taken just to show who is boss in the cage.
Re:IANAL, but (Score:5, Interesting)
"He is a very eccentric person; there is no question. He is a very complex person. In fact, in one instance in August, I had heard a rumor that he had in fact killed somebody, and I asked him about that. And he says, “That he actively encouraged the rumors about him.” And I said, “Why would you do that?” He said, “Because I wanted people to be scared of me.” He said, “Remember I am living here, in a place where I feel very threatened. Where I think people are trying to harm me, and I want them to be afraid of me, and if they think that I am capable of some brutality, then all the better” So clearly he is living a life that most people would never choose, never even dream of. And yet, I asked him, point blank, “Why don’t you leave? If you think people are trying to kill you, why don’t you leave?” He says, “I love it here! What do you mean?” That’s why I said he is complex; it is very hard to figure him out."
There are some other interviews with or stories by Josh Davis who has interviewed him for over 100 hours over 6 months.
http://www.npr.org/2012/11/14/165160275/anti-virus-software-pioneer-on-the-run-in-belize [npr.org]
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/11/threatlevel_1112_mcafee/ [wired.com]
McAfee sounds crazy and paranoid, but that doesn't mean that people aren't out to get him.
Re:Somethings amiss.... (Score:5, Interesting)
people were rounded up and jailed with out charges for years
Oh, that's old-school. Now their children are assassinated by drone-strike.
To keep us safe.