First Amendment journalism can bring about immediate results. But sometimes results arrive years later -- illustrating why publishers must resist saving money by focusing only on work with potential for a fast payoff. Here's an example, from a 1996 Idaho Statesman series.
It was a story about shocking mismanagement within the Idaho prison system. The series focused on how government officials handled Steve Waddell, convicted when he was 19 of using a hunting knife to stab to death his girlfriend, 17-year-old Michelle Sebree. She was a daughter of a prominent emergency room doctor in a small farming town near Boise. Devastated, her parents committed suicide within a year of her murder, leaving behind their other two young children.
Waddell was to spend a minimum 20 years in the pen after experts warned he would kill again without proper care. I used public documents to show he was instead housed in a cozy county jail in Northern Idaho, where he roamed about town as a trusty, virtually unguarded. Unknown to the Sebree family, he had conned town officials into supporting his spirited bid for early parole. Prison officials threw him back in the pen before my project even ran, fearing public outrage over the paper's findings.
Waddell, now 38, completed his minimum sentence this year, making him eligible for parole. Three weeks ago today, he appeared before the Idaho parole board, seeking release. "The board took only a few minutes to decide he should remain in prison at least five more years,'' a Sebree family member told me, in a reference to my now 12-year-old series. "Reviewing the articles beforehand helped the family to address the board in a manner that quickly reminded them of the events of ’96. I just stumbled across your blog recently and felt I should let you know the articles still carry weight in Idaho."
[Image: this morning's Statesman, Newseum. Gannett sold the newspaper two years ago; it's now owned by McLatchy Co. The Statesman was a well-deserved Pulitzer Prize finalist last month for breaking news about U.S. Sen. Larry "Wide Stance" Craig.]
Your thoughts, in the comments section, below. Use this link to e-mail feedback, tips, snarky letters, etc. See Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
It was a story about shocking mismanagement within the Idaho prison system. The series focused on how government officials handled Steve Waddell, convicted when he was 19 of using a hunting knife to stab to death his girlfriend, 17-year-old Michelle Sebree. She was a daughter of a prominent emergency room doctor in a small farming town near Boise. Devastated, her parents committed suicide within a year of her murder, leaving behind their other two young children.Waddell was to spend a minimum 20 years in the pen after experts warned he would kill again without proper care. I used public documents to show he was instead housed in a cozy county jail in Northern Idaho, where he roamed about town as a trusty, virtually unguarded. Unknown to the Sebree family, he had conned town officials into supporting his spirited bid for early parole. Prison officials threw him back in the pen before my project even ran, fearing public outrage over the paper's findings.
Waddell, now 38, completed his minimum sentence this year, making him eligible for parole. Three weeks ago today, he appeared before the Idaho parole board, seeking release. "The board took only a few minutes to decide he should remain in prison at least five more years,'' a Sebree family member told me, in a reference to my now 12-year-old series. "Reviewing the articles beforehand helped the family to address the board in a manner that quickly reminded them of the events of ’96. I just stumbled across your blog recently and felt I should let you know the articles still carry weight in Idaho."
[Image: this morning's Statesman, Newseum. Gannett sold the newspaper two years ago; it's now owned by McLatchy Co. The Statesman was a well-deserved Pulitzer Prize finalist last month for breaking news about U.S. Sen. Larry "Wide Stance" Craig.]
Your thoughts, in the comments section, below. Use this link to e-mail feedback, tips, snarky letters, etc. See Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Is there anyway to access the old st0ries relatng to this case?
ReplyDeleteYou would need to contact The Idaho Statesman in Boise; these stories are not online.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work. I was the age of Michelle Sebree and lived in a nearby community when the crime occurred. Thank you for staying on this story and making sure justice is served.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to find this blog entry--why on earth isn't there more information on this case? I knew both parties involved, and it was so very devastating. Steve needs to spend the rest of his life in prison for his actions.
ReplyDeleteIt has been five years since the orginal post is there an update to this case? I was wondering if Steve was up for parole again and when?
ReplyDeleteI have not received update, but I will look into this.
Deleteup for parole April 18, 2013.
DeleteThe hearing is at the Idaho Prison April 18, 2013. Pray he stays in prison.
DeleteThank you for the update.
DeleteHe was passed over for 5 more years.
DeletePeople's ignorance never ceases to amaze me. While this is truly a tragic story for everyone involved including both families to blame Steve Waddell for the suicide of the victim's parents is ludicrous. We are all responsible for our actions and they were no exception. If they chose to take their own life knowing they were leaving behind other children then that is on them NOT Steve Waddell. There have been thousands of parents in this country alone who have tragically lost a child and have taken their pain and loss and channeled it into amazing accomplishments that has saved numerous lives. (ie Megan's Law and Amber Alert) They did not commit suicide and leave their other children to fend for themselves. Just another example of irresponsible journalism. Shame on the author and everyone who "buys" into it.
ReplyDeleteThere is a bright line directly connecting Waddell's murder of Michelle to the suicides of her parents. Are you really saying that Waddell had no role in their deaths?
DeleteBright line? Their suicides were almost a year apart and she had even re-married. Anyone who has ever been up for parole knows they would never even be considered without taking responsibility for their actions. Suicide is a choice, no matter the scenario, it's suicide because you took your life NOT someone else. The very definition of suicide is to kill oneself intentionally. At what point does society get to start deciding they can blame someone's conscious decision about anything on another person?
ReplyDeleteYou have not answered my question: "Are you really saying that Waddell had no role in their deaths?"
ReplyDeleteI believe that my position on the matter pretty much speaks for itself. If you would like me to come out with a direct answer that is fine. I do not believe that "Waddell" should be held accountable for their deaths. I believe the whole situation was tragic and I very much feel for the remaining children who undoubtedly were scarred for life but as I mentioned earlier of the thousands who have lost a child (under horrific circumstances) suicide was not their answer.
ReplyDeleteToday's hearing before the state Commission on Pardons and Parole was held by telephone, and I did not attempt to get advance permission to dial in.
DeleteFor that reason, I don't know whether the commissioners included the suicides of Michelle's parents in the totality of the case they considered when they rejected his parole request. It would be interesting to know.
The initial crime should have been enough to at least put him in for the rest of his natural life!! WTF was the SCSO thinking??? It baffles me every time I try to reason with their "logic". To house him under agreement with the state to do so is hunky dory. To allow him to exit the building for any reason is a dyslexic move, to say the very least. What! Was there an ulterior motive on their parts, to perhaps use him for their personal jester while performing their dastardly deeds? Ex: Mysterious disappearance of someone that sold a joint to a person that had a choice, and a dollar??? After reading the statements to the Parole Board, I am even more certain than ever my opinion of them was "SPOT ON" from the day I heard about the hole in the Center of the Universe. .They literally begged for his immediate release, because he's nice and he worked hard.... And, they wanted to keep him around after his release so they could continue sharing the love he induced in them.... Kiss my what?? Let him out so he can continue his life's purpose??? One more, this is even better.... Their reason for the desperate plea.... He shouldn't be serving such a harsh sentence for "one fit of rage". They expressed how they'd much rather focus on local drug activity in the community, and the buyers and sellers that are polluting thousands of lives here.... population 1000. Some of the signatures at the end of those petitions should have hit their crack pipe one more time before their hypocrite ass signed their life away to a guy that's bullying them for early release, because they have unclean hands. Makes me sick!!!
DeleteMurderers and other sociopaths are often very charming, which is why they often get away with so much.
DeleteSounds to me like the SCSO and the Board of Commissioners might be sociopaths as well. I don't find that very charming at all. I find it disturbing. Maybe Curt Kasten's of IBI, should reopen, and review his findings in this matter. 3 days is not enough time to cover decades of elected sociopath's and gross misconduct in this county.
DeleteStay tuned, there are some new developments in Shoshone County regarding their "inept" abilities to enforce laws according to protocol....
DeleteAnonymous - while I agree that suicide is not an answer please keep in mind that EVERY situation is different! Steve's actions affected numerous people with his selfish decision. Unless you know this case personally you have no room to talk. Shame on you for throwing your opinion in on a case that obviously you have no personal ties too unless it is a tie to Steve and if so then once again shame on you for siding with someone who had absolutely no respect for anyone but himself! Steve is the selfish one! It's been almost 25 years and I still relive that horrible day on a regular basis. I do not "buy" into anything - I experienced it and I blame Steve for everything bad that came out of that day.
ReplyDeleteThe circumstances surrounding this tragic event are confusing with the re-marriage and suicide of Michele's mother. However, she must have felt assured that the surviving children would be properly cared for by family and the overwhelming grief of losing her daughter was just too much to bear.
ReplyDeleteWithout taking sides, there is something very basic and yet critical to each of our lives that is being overlooked in all that has been said over the past 25+ years.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how heinous any criminal act, what’s done is done and can never be undone. Hatred will consume and destroy those who harbor it. We will reap the consequences of our choices. We are responsible for our own actions.
Do you suppose that this is of any concern to God and that He might have something to say to us? Ignoring God is a matter of great importance. I would rather trust God and be right than not to believe and be wrong.
Sin and evil are synonymous. There is no degree of sin in God’s sight and we are all guilty. All sin is a reproach to God, and if not dealt with in God’s way it will condemn us to hell. Who wants to end up there for all eternity? Certainly not I, nor do I wish that on anyone else. According to God’s plan as revealed to us in His word, He has provided only one way of escape. The choice is ours.
Matthew 6:14-15 – “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Romans 3:23 – Everyone has sinned.
Matthew 7:13-14 – Jesus said, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”
Romans 6:23 – The consequence of sin is hell, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
The first step is to recognize that we are sinners and unable to save ourselves. Second, we must sincerely repent of our sin, ask Jesus Christ for His forgiveness, and turn our lives over to Him.
Isaiah 55:7 – Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
John 6:37 –I will certainly not turn away the one who comes to Me.
Make the right choice. You can be forgiven and your spirit set free.
Forgive, maybe, forget, never!
ReplyDeleteWas February 26 the only day that your series was printed? Did you finish your project without it being printed? Curious why a book has not been published.
ReplyDeleteThe series was published over eight days. I wasn't interested in writing a book.
DeleteAre the others in the series online?
DeleteThe Statesman didn't have a website in 1996 when the series first got published, so I don't think any of it's online.
DeleteHave you seen an installment online? Got a link to it?
http://stevewaddell1988.com/index.html
Deletehttp://stevewaddell1988.com/960225E-72.html
I am not sure how I came upon these but there is an Editorial and Chapters 1 and 2.
Now I understand. Those are scans of two of the series' parts, posted to a website. They're not links to actual digital versions of the series.
ReplyDeleteI've not seen the stevewaddell1988.com website before now. All I can tell is that it was created May 8, 2007. The administrative contact is being kept private.
For some reason, the administrator only posted those two scans, and listed the titles of the other installments.
Someone needs to finish posting the whole series to this website or elsewhere. The Boise public library has the story on microfilm only. Getting it elsewhere in the country involves loaning the microfilm to another library facility or having copies made and sent. This is not nearly as accesible as it should be. As a public service, this story should be re-told on a massive scale.
DeleteI am Happy I found this subject online. It matters to me. I believe I know why, and who Is behind the crusade to "glorify" the future of Steve Waddell, by justifying or minimalizing the heinous nature of his actions.
DeleteSteve Waddell , while an inmate at the Shoshone County Jail, was witness to an event that occurred in the Dispatch area on August 27, 1993. The events that took place on that day were Horrific, at best. Because of safety concerns I can only give details that support the concerns of the public and their inquiries regarding why, and how the details of his conviction could be overlooked.
This scenario is a perfect example of what happens when there is a miscarriage of justice, by a group of individuals that have been trusted to serve and protect. This group of trusted people that did not serve , when pleaded upon to do so, committed an unthinkable action upon a person that had a right to protection, under the law, if he was deemed to be a threat to himself or others. This person was educated, hard working, intelligent, respectful, and proud of his country and his contribution as a US Navy Seal and his 2 tours in Vietnam, and Korea.
I will revisit this forum at a later time, God willing I am still able to. This has to be acknowledged as the horrible injustice it is. I am sickened by the lack of moral character of these "trusted" individuals. However, I'm not surprised to learn that they have stuck their donut encrusted necks out to see that they are forever free from prosecution for something that was equally, if not MORE heinous, than the details of Waddell's deed's.
I'm sick of the Good ol' Boys playing Grab Ass at the expense of at least one GREAT MAN.
I happended to be cleaning out some old boxes last night and ran across a hard copy of the series that I saved from 1996 when it was originally published. Jim Hopkins if you are interested in my hard copy, its yours.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for that offer. But I have a complete set already.
ReplyDeleteAfter 25 years they have finally put a name on the mental phenomenon which touched off all of the tragedy involved in this case. CBS's 48 Hours recently did a show on "Breakup Violence" about a case in Massachusetts similar to this one. It exposes this behavior to a mass audience and does a public service in alerting parents what to look for. Perhaps it could have saved Michelle's life and saved this family all the misery.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure about the father, but I cannot believe that the mother would have committed suicide and left the two younger children without any parents. She was not the type of person to do that. Was her supposed suicide thoroughly investigated or did law enforcement and the coroner jump to the conclusion that she killed herself?
ReplyDelete