Kirkpatrick Murder and Lasting Effects Focus of New York Times Magazine Article

    10-year-old Joel Kirkpatrick was murdered in the early morning hours of October 13th, 1997, at the home of his mother, Julie Rea. Rea told police she discovered an intruder and struggled with the man, who then fled the scene.  But in 2000, after a lengthy investigation, it was Rea was charged with killing Joel. She was convicted of first-degree murder in 2002. Four years later, Rea was acquitted at a retrial. The entire ordeal and the lasting effects are the focus of a recent New York Times Magazine article. The article is available at