There was a terrible crime committed in this state last week; a home invasion left a man and his 10 year old daughter in critical condition. It happened in central Maine, and investigators said that the public was not in danger (it sounded like there was probably a backstory) but I was on the phone with a student, or faculty member, or someone, when an email came across from the BDN, saying "suspect arrested" and because it's been a pretty publicized case, I was eager to see what the deal was. And I read the name, and my stomach just dropped, totally dropped. I knew the name.
It's Aton's brother. Aton, the dead ex-boyfriend, dead 10 years come August, the one I've written about, every few years, on the various iterations of my blog. The last time I saw Leo was at the funeral, he was 8 years old and in an ill-fitting goodwill (probably) suit. He had a camera, because he was interested in photography back then. An old film camera.
I don't know Leo, really, at all. But I knew his brother so, so well. I knew his sister pretty well too — her kids must be 10 and 8 or 9 now, and I wouldn't be surprised if she had more. I know that the family they grew up with was abusive and violent, and that's why Aton was his sister's guardian. We used my car to pick her up, one time. God, that would be 14 years ago now. 14 years. Aton wasn't much older than than his brother is now.
I've been reading the articles, though, and trying to piece together what's happened since. It sounds like he wasn't with his biological family, and hadn't been for a while. I wonder if that was his choice, or if, eventually, someone intervened. It doesn't mention his sister, or his other brother. I've been reading the comments, to see if there's more information there.
I was so distracted as soon as I saw the name, and then the picture, that I don't even remember talking to the student or finishing the call. As soon as I hung up, I burst into tears. The first picture I saw, he looks so angry. But he also looks so Aton. And today's story was about him going before a judge, and that video was even more Aton like — he didn't look as angry, he just looked… more Aton. And I know they aren't the same person, but it's just so weird and sad.
Today, the video of his hearing was on the news, and they zoomed in on his face, and Ingrid walked up to the tv, and patted him on the cheek. The picture disappeared, and she turned around, once again disinterested in the television. It was so out of character for her to even notice the news was on, and then to go over and do that… it just broke my heart a little bit. I can't believe it's been ten years.
