Story Archive

The Flavor of Freedom

The press dubbed New York, N.Y., police officer Gilberto Valle, 30, “The Cannibal Cop” and breathlessly covered his trial, detailing his online posts where he said he wanted to kill and eat his wife. “I want her to experience being cooked alive,” he posted to another man in a fetish chat room. “She’ll be trussed up like a turkey ... terrified, screaming and crying.” Valle was convicted of several crimes, including conspiracy to kidnap; he faced life in prison and was fired from the NYPD. “Gil is guilty of nothing more than having unconventional thoughts,” says his lawyer, Julia Gatto. “But we don’t convict people, take away their liberty and imprison them for their thoughts.” Sure enough, a federal judge has reversed Valle’s conspiracy conviction and ordered his release from prison. “Gil Valle has been in jail for 21 long months, 7 months in solitary confinement, for a crime he absolutely didn’t commit,” Gatto said. “We’re relieved he will be free and incredibly grateful to Judge Gardephe for upholding the awesome and fundamental legal principles at stake here, including our core freedom to be able to think what we want free of government intrusion.” While awaiting his appeal, Valle worked as a prison cook. (RC/New York Daily News) ...His specialty, of course, was trussed turkey.
Original Publication Date: 06 July 2014
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 21.

Is There a Problem on This Page? Let Me Know using the Help button lower right, and thanks.

I believe humanity is held back by the lack of thinking. I provoke thought with examples of what happens when we don’t think, and when we do. This is True is my primary method: stories like this come out every week by email, and basic subscriptions are free. Click here for a subscribe form.


Search for:

Category: