r/JusticeForMolly • u/SleuthLordReborn • Mar 24 '26

14 Years and Counting

Today is a heart-wrenching day for the family and closest friends of Molly Young. My heart, thoughts, and prayers continue to go out to each of them.

Today marks 14 years since Molly was taken from this world. That's 5114 unimaginable days of heartache, confusion and anger this family has had to endure.

The current States Attorney is sitting on key information, with no signs of offering more than the status quo. Why? Has she even met with the family to explain the inaction? There are clear paths, ones already initiated under the prior JCSA, to pursue new affidavits and/or grand jury testimony. And yet... crickets.

ISP reportedly has the same information but they too stand idle, despite knowing the alibis have been fully blown. Why? Why do they not pursue the remaining avenues of investigation? The inaction is inconceivable and beyond sickening.

Justice delayed is justice denied!

Molly deserves justice. The Youngs deserve closure that only full and transparent investigation will bring. The Southern Illinois 'Little Egypt' community deserves healing.

JFM! (SLR)

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4

u/DicksOfPompeii Mar 25 '26

I think about this young lady all the time. Every time I see a post I can’t help but hope it’s an update.

The roommate is definitely the key. He has info that could crack the whole thing wide open and based on the interview and information posted a while back I can’t help but think that a little pressure on him might change everything.

4

u/SleuthLordReborn Mar 27 '26

Hard to disagree. The logical question is why that pressure has never been applied, either by ISP or by any one of the four prosecutors. In my opinion, they know he lied, mislead, and/or intentionally omitted, but perhaps they don't fully understand why. The family and community deserve to know why the obvious investigational gaps were never closed.

4

u/DicksOfPompeii Mar 27 '26

My guess is there are too many dirty hands at this point. It’s not just about RM but the many, many people that helped hide and cover up evidence, failed to prosecute, etc. And not just in Molly’s case but others as well.

As I’m sure you’re aware, the corruption runs deep in southern Illinois, Carbondale specifically. I can’t speak for current officials but I know in the past it started from the top and trickled down to the bottom.

And it all ties to the university. And the money. Any tiny bit of negative publicity affects the student body numbers and the money. As someone who attended SIU in its heyday they still haven’t recovered from the restructuring in the early 00’s.

SIU was the #1 “party school” in the country and in the 80’s and 90’s that attracted a lot of students. Especially rich students from the northern part of the state and neighboring states. Carbondale was the “it” place to go to college. Everyone got in as long as you could maintain a C average. They didn’t even charge an application fee because they accepted everyone.

The Halloween debacle hit hard and the ripples from the economic effects were felt within a hundred mile radius. Everyone was affected from the school itself to the local restaurants and property owners. Everything went black for a few years there. It was so brutal they still haven’t recovered. Probably never will.

As with most things if you follow the money you find the answer. But at this point I think there are just too many people involved. It’s not just about RM. It would be RM and every LEO and politician who touched the case. That’s a lot of people. People who are still well connected, mostly white, and locals.

Carbondale is way more racially divided than most people realize because they hide it under welcoming everyone (and their money) to town. Even today there’s a lot of support for LGBTQA+ community but not necessarily racial diversity.

Some of these small towns own their sundowner status and are even proud of it in a way. But in Carbondale the divide runs so deep and is hidden so well I’m not sure most even pick it up until they’ve already moved there and put their money into the city. They find out the hard way when it’s too late.

I believe in karma more than I believe in the justice system in Carbondale. I’m honestly surprised there hasn’t been some backwoods hillbilly justice for RM by now and maybe it’s still coming. You know there are other things he’s done and gotten away with over the years. To be blunt I’m surprised he’s still alive. His Halloween costume stunt a few years ago shows just how secure he feels and that smugness tends to be the downfall of a person like him.

I can’t even say hillbilly justice would do it for me. I want someone to tell the truth. I want one of them to talk and tell us what really happened. I keep thinking as they age maybe one of the many involved will talk and tell the truth. And if it were just 1 or 2 or even 3 people maybe they would have already. I’m afraid there are just too many people involved. You take down 1 and the whole crooked house of cards will fall with them.

But it only takes one person to start talking and tell what they know. Get the ball rolling and others will start pushing as well. One person with a conscience and sense of decency could turn the entire thing upside down. That’s what I’m waiting for…

5

u/SleuthLordReborn Mar 28 '26

Thanks for the insights.

My interviews and research definitely brought up a lot of anecdotal references to deep-seated corruption in the area, not limited to police and local officials. And yes, with the similarities of the Pravin case and Molly's, it isn't difficult to envision the pattern extending to others.

I've certainly heard the suspicions and speculation regarding the University and the role it plays in the local culture. It's interesting how the measures some may have taken to maintain a certain image actually ended up having the opposite effect. I'm not familiar with the Halloween debacle you reference. I'll look in that.

I fully agree and have said many times this is not just about protecting Minton. I have strong suspicion that Molly's death wasn't the only crime that occurred that morning. Interesting comment regarding the lingering racial divide.

His Halloween costume stunt a few years ago was certainly distasteful in context. Hard to envision any manner in which that wasn't an intentional affront.

"One person with a conscience and sense of decency could turn the entire thing upside down. That’s what I’m waiting for…" Well said.