Some questions have answers. (Q: When will Joe Paterno's reign as Penn State's football coach end? A: Nov. 10, 2011.) But Tuesday's New York Times "Questions on Sandusky Are Wrapped in a 2005 Mystery" explores a question without an answer -- whatever happened to the local prosecutor who decided not to prosecute Jerry Sandusky in 1998 after reports about Sandusky's inappropriate conduct with a boy?:
Gricar went missing in April 2005. The murky circumstances surrounding his disappearance — an abandoned car, a laptop recovered months later in a river without a hard drive, his body was never found — have spawned Web sites, television programs and conspiracy theories. More than six years later, the police still receive tips and reports of sightings. The police in central Pennsylvania continue to investigate even though Gricar’s daughter, Lara, successfully petitioned in July to have her father declared legally dead so the family could find some closure and begin dividing his estate.
Yet as the Sandusky investigation moves forward, questions will be asked anew about why Gricar did not pursue charges against him 13 years ago. A small but strident minority believes Gricar did not want to tackle a case that involved a hometown icon. Others who knew and worked with Gricar say he was a meticulous, independent and tough-minded prosecutor who was unbowed by Penn State, its football program and political pressure in general.
For background on the recent indictments, download the grand jury report.
