I lived in the section of Staten Island where this documentary took place for 19 years. By the time Id moved there in the late 90s much had changed and I didn't know about the history of missing/murdered children. I didnt know the College of Staten Island was once the infamous Willowbrook. I didnt know that the cops tracked down Andre Rand buying baby food in the same Shop Rite I bought my son's baby food years later. And I didn't know that Jennifer's Park, the playground next to my son's school where he spent a great deal of his childhood was named after Jennifer Schweiger, the only murder victim who's body was recovered. I do know having lived there for many years and raised a child there that no murders or abductions have occurred in the area since Andre Rand went away. So for those on this board who have been speculating on a possible innocent man being convicted, I am happy to report that much to you.
My personal experience aside, the documentary does a very effective job building a darkly fascinating narrative, weaving an urban legend with the real life case of Andre Rand. Everyone likes a spooky story and the filmmakers do a terrific job keeping us spellbound by the story of the missing children in the 70s and 80s. While some of the witnesses may not have been presented as credible in the documentary I doubt we saw all the evidence the jury saw. One of the more compelling eyewitnesses was the guy who said he and a group of his friends were kidnapped by Rand when they were very young and they were let go because Rand realized he couldn't complete his mission under those circumstances he had to come up with a different method of operation. If Rand were truly railroaded by a kangaroo court he surely could have told the filmmakers or anyone else in all these years. An innocent person takes any opportunity they can get to proclaim their innocence. Rand wasn't just a poor, random homeless guy who looked different that a hysterical gang of white trash and dirty cops pinned the rap on (which is what was presented as an option by Zeman and Brancaccio) he was an orderly at Willowbrook for years during the height of the abuse and horror that was happening there in the 1960s. Some may have been left with lingering doubts, however, I was satisfied in the end, the cops, prosecutors, and jury ultimately got it right.
Ive already watched the film several times over the years and its still spine tingling. I only wish more fact based information was included instead of the merry go round of alternative theories. It leaves you wanting for more.
My personal experience aside, the documentary does a very effective job building a darkly fascinating narrative, weaving an urban legend with the real life case of Andre Rand. Everyone likes a spooky story and the filmmakers do a terrific job keeping us spellbound by the story of the missing children in the 70s and 80s. While some of the witnesses may not have been presented as credible in the documentary I doubt we saw all the evidence the jury saw. One of the more compelling eyewitnesses was the guy who said he and a group of his friends were kidnapped by Rand when they were very young and they were let go because Rand realized he couldn't complete his mission under those circumstances he had to come up with a different method of operation. If Rand were truly railroaded by a kangaroo court he surely could have told the filmmakers or anyone else in all these years. An innocent person takes any opportunity they can get to proclaim their innocence. Rand wasn't just a poor, random homeless guy who looked different that a hysterical gang of white trash and dirty cops pinned the rap on (which is what was presented as an option by Zeman and Brancaccio) he was an orderly at Willowbrook for years during the height of the abuse and horror that was happening there in the 1960s. Some may have been left with lingering doubts, however, I was satisfied in the end, the cops, prosecutors, and jury ultimately got it right.
Ive already watched the film several times over the years and its still spine tingling. I only wish more fact based information was included instead of the merry go round of alternative theories. It leaves you wanting for more.