Three men — two accused of conspiring to rob Krista Dittmeyer and one accused of killing her — are in jail. The next step in the story that began three weeks ago today is unfolding.

It’s a bit strange to consider this a story, and not a woman’s life, but that’s what it has been to me. And it has been a spectacularly interesting story to watch develop.

The first thing I’ve learned is that I have no interest in being in television news. TV reporters are vultures. Or maybe vulture-sharks. They can smell blood, and they stand in the background while they wait for their chance. When I walked out of the courtroom there was a semicircle of cameras waiting for anyone connected with the case to walk by. The reporters were kneeling down, holding out microphones while the camera operators stood. The reporters shouted questions as people walked by. They literally blocked the exit there were so many of them.

See the video:

I don’t begrudge them their job, but then I think of the newscasts. I’ve seen several errors in reports, and yet there have been no corrections. They just keep rolling on, like a piano player in a band who flubs a note. That’s not the type of journalism I do. I don’t pretend to be perfect, but when I screw up I correct it.

There are other things I’ve learned, like that people will overlook your drug-dealing if you are young, attractive and have a child. Would there be this much controversy if it was a 20-year-old black male who was killed when two people tried to steal his drugs and money? I’ve also learned that many people assume someone is guilty based entirely on what the police say, and not on the evidence. There is no public evidence in the Dittmeyer case, and yet lots of people seem to know these men are guilty. I have no clue what happened, so I’m reserving judgement. Maybe by the end of this we’ll find out.