NEVER FORGET: #JUSTICE4AREANAH

By Erin Geary

May 26, 2023

There is something primal in us. When there is an accident on the highway, traffic slows as drivers crane their necks to see what could be something gruesome. Streaming services like Netflix have the popular shows “Conversations with a Killer” and “Monster.” Horror stories and murder mysteries have been genres of fascination even in the days of Edgar Allan Poe. Blood and guts sells because human beings are interested in the minds of remorseless murderers.

Currently, the obsession on social media centers on the Smiley Face Killer.

There have been 14 bodies of men found in the Chicago River since last year prompting social media to buzz about a serial killer on the loose. The claim is that somewhere near the bodies is a spray-painted smiley face. Never mind that police and autopsy reports have thwarted these rumors. Instead, those who spend hours watching shows about John Wayne Gacy or Jeffrey Dahmer are frantically connecting with other enthusiasts trying to crack the case.

I am no detective, but when even Newsweek says that in 2022 the bodies of 11 were found in the river and they were “mostly men,” that depiction already puts a dent in this serial killer theory. Add to it the facts that those found were of various ages and careers, and you get no links other than they were found in the river. It’s Chicago. Lots of things are found in the river.

A naturalist kayaking on the Chicago River came across a 60-pound snapping turtle he lovingly named “Chonkosaurus.” There’s no mystery regarding what things that snapping turtle has seen and eaten over its lifespan. If only she could talk!

What’s worth noting is the fact that this online community of amateur detectives is more interested in what they believe to be a serial maniac while overlooking the numerous shootings and murders that occur and go unsolved every weekend in Chicago. Those have become so commonplace that few are interested—unless, that is, it happens to their loved ones. Chicago recently lost a promising, 24-year-old police officer who would have received her Master’s degree from Loyola University’s School of Law. Lost is such an innocuous word. Let’s be more descriptive. She was ambushed and shot multiple times by craven teens with zero morals.

Officer Aréanah Preston was a three-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, and she was dedicated and driven. Her mother, Dionne Mhoon, did everything right. They were a close family and Mhoon promoted education. She knew where her kids were and who they befriended. She was a responsible parent who raised responsible children.

Ms. Mhoon couldn’t have done more, so let’s pray she does not have the “what ifs.” My goodness, she has two other daughters graduating from college this month. With heartbreaking grace, she claimed to sympathize with the boys who murdered her daughter. Ms. Mhoon said, “I felt sorry for them because nobody, obviously, didn’t pour into them. Nobody told them they were loved. Nobody told them that you could do anything, like I constantly preached to my daughters.”

The word that stands out in this statement to me is constantly. You can have the greatest teachers working with impoverished youth telling them daily that they can be more, that they can dream big dreams. But kids are only at school six hours a day, are shifting between classrooms, and are in attendance with numerous teachers throughout their day. Until parents give constant, encouraging words balanced with consistency in punishment when their child steps out of line, lessons will fall on deaf ears.

Parenting is more than the birth of a child. So much more. It’s pathetic hearing media excuses for why Chicago’s teens are destructive, listening to activists preach about how hard life is for South and West Side kids, and politicians using race baiting every time youths lacking a moral compass lash out against others. Additionally, let’s skip the articles about how difficult it is to be a single parent.

Guess what? No one can juggle everything without a partner or family support. If you choose not to have that, it doesn’t excuse you from your duties as a parent. Either be ready to handle the responsibilities of parenting or don’t have kids.

There is a lack of discipline, generally, in society. But, specifically in Chicago, there is a belief that you take rather than earn what you want because you are somehow owed. Aréanah didn’t believe this. Instead, she put herself in a position to help serve justice in a city she loved. As Ms. Mhoon described Aréanah after the court appearance, “Criminal justice was her background. She graduates May 13th from Loyola. Education is what we preach.”

Yet here we are with a family that did everything they were supposed to do, no matter the struggle, and wound up with an accomplished daughter, sister, co-worker, and friend who was senselessly killed.

She was buried on May 17, just days after she’d been scheduled to receive her Master’s Degree in criminal justice. Two 19-year-olds, an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old were charged with her murder. Under questioning they were asked about their two-hour crime spree. Then they cornered Officer Preston at her home in Avalon Park with a weapon drawn before shooting her and stealing her gun. Afterward, they quickly sold the gun and set ablaze the stolen Kia they were driving. We don’t have to use social media amateurs to find the killers. The four of them are in custody and were arraigned.

The youngest’s mother turned him into the police—thank God for small favors. I’m assuming she was equally aghast at his crowing about the crime. Regardless, Ms. Mhoon was left wondering why this tragedy occurred in the first place. The basic answer, according to Fox News, is the teens needed money for a barbecue. But that doesn’t really answer the deeper question, does it?

One of the suspects was carrying a weapon legally purchased in Indiana but had been passed illegally from one person to another. That gun doesn’t seem to be the one used to slay Aréanah but most likely was used in the teens’ crime spree. But, hey, additional gun laws will keep us all safe, right? Additionally, the individuals in this group already had long rap sheets and, yet, were still out on the streets. Anyone with sense has been calling for a working justice system since Kim Foxx took office and nothing was done. No matter. Outgoing Mayor Lightfoot issued this statement regarding the murder of Officer Preston:

I want to commend the Chicago Police Department and the hardworking detectives for working swiftly to apprehend and bring to justice the four individuals responsible for the heinous murder of Police Officer Aréanah M. Preston. Their diligent efforts have removed violent, repeat offenders from our streets. If you examine each individual’s history, it quickly becomes a case study on the failure of our criminal justice ecosystem to protect our communities from harm. It is unacceptable that it took the murder of a police officer for these individuals to finally be brought to justice. I continue to call upon the entire ecosystem of the criminal justice system to take the necessary steps to ensure that individuals with an undeniable history of violent and dangerous behavior are kept off our streets. The residents, brave officers, and victims of violent crimes who live and work in our city should not fear being harmed by people who are known to us to have committed violent acts over and over again.

Is this a joke? For four years Mayor Lightfoot watched as Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx released criminals. In 2020, Lightfoot supported Foxx’s re-election campaign by endorsing the incumbent and by tweeting, “We can’t go back to the bad old days…” during a period when tens of millions were paid out to those receiving wrongful convictions. Agreed. No one wants people in prison who don’t belong there. But a justice reform pendulum swing where no one is convicted is not the answer either. Mayor Johnson, what is it going to take for the system to stop protecting young people who perpetually commit crimes? You speak idealistically of ways to ensure people of color aren’t incarcerated disproportionately but never seem to worry about their victims. Your being “outraged and devastated” sound hollow in light of your defund the police mentality.

Meanwhile, Chicagoans would enjoy a dialogue with you regarding how social workers would have deescalated this surprise attack or how ridding the city of ShotSpotter would help get guns off the street. After all, there was a “backlog of calls” that kept police officers busy for 30 minutes before they could arrive on the scene.

We’ll wait.

Now that the group of perpetrators has been caught, no doubt, we will hear from “expert” psychologists and sociologists who will try to help us understand the root causes of heinous crimes. Officer Preston, already laid to rest, is becoming nothing more than a sad statistic to everyone but those who knew her. And the cycle will repeat.

Justice is supposed to be blind, but we have been making exceptions for those who fit a certain criteria in the name of reform or reparations. There can be no progressive nature to policing and prosecution; for, law and order is the only civilizing force in society. No, Brandon, this was not kids making silly decisions. Criminality is rising, and these young men didn’t need “assault weapons” to carry out their menace.

Because this murder, like so many others in Chicago, doesn’t fit the political narrative, it has been written off quickly. There have been no BLM activists’ outcries, no politicians using this tragedy for their political gain, nor any statues in her honor. It is yet another black on black crime that could have been avoided. And because they know their lives really don’t matter to politicians or seemingly their own parents, these crimes will continue.

The only image etched into our memories will be a mother’s calm demeanor, expressing her grief while leaving the courthouse. Our only hope is that justice will be served to all of these individuals who murdered a beautiful, young, black woman who wished to be the role model so many in her community lacked.

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Erin Geary is a writer, consultant, mother, wife, and volunteer. After thirty years of teaching, she left the profession to pursue her dream of writing. Her twice weekly articles on American culture and politics can be found at Commonfolk365.substack.com. She recently celebrated her first year writing and is thrilled to be a guest writer for John Kass. 

Comments 29

    1. She had an involved father as well. The entire family is impressive. We lost a wonderful officer. I have my doubts that the perpetrators are salvageable.

    2. Actions demand consequences…sometimes these are positive and sometimes they are negative. When there are no consequences to these actions the behavior remains status quo. If we do something egregious, it deserves to have consequences and they should fit the bad act. If we do something of value, there should be praise and congratulations. It seems to me that there are far too little consequences for the bad actors, so the behavior will continue. Human behavior being what it is, if one can get away with something, they will continue to do it. So, it is now the new mayor’s turn to come up with solutions but I believe the best thing he can do is to have consequences for bad behavior and not blame society, the police or institutions – that, and get a replacement for Kim Foxx.

    3. Rule # 1 in crime fighting, keep the criminals off the street, anybody who is charged with a violent felony, high bail. Anybody who is a repeat offender, no bail. No plea bargains. If a massive increase in law enforcement costs is needed so be it. When the damn is about to burst and you are running out of fingers, call in the Army Corp of Engineers, not hand wringers and what not.. Justice should be swift and punitive. It may have been Kennedy who said it but paraphrasing “We will bare any cost, bare any burden” to clean up our city. But this must also include an entire new type of Police Officer. Gone must be the days of the code of silence and other malfeasance. The CPD and the courts must be populated by people of unquestioned integrity. This part of Chicago and Cook County must be welcome and respected by ALL members of our communities be they from West Garfield ot Edison Park. If not, we are doomed to live this nightmare forever. No half measures !!

  3. Another great article by one of the best new writers I have come across in a very long time. John is lucky to have such talented and serious people writing for him during his convalescence.

  6. The decline of the black family started in 1965 with Johnson’s Great Society. It has been further abetted by the Democrats buying black votes with welfare. Throw in “progressive “ DA’s and the results are evident in the streets everywhere.

    1. It’s too easy to lay the blame this way I am a staunch Conservative and can clearly see how all of us in one way or another have brought this about. As a nation we have allowed the problems we see reflected in this criminal killing to fester and grow within our once great society. It will not end until we all become honest with each other that we share common responsibility for what we have all become. It has now progressed to the point that once repugnant behavior is socially accepted. Many have not only abandoned Christianity, they have turned to mocking it and those who continue to practice it. What we are experiencing is life without the God of Christianity. All we as a nation need to do is ….. turn back to God.

      Steve Baranyk

  7. Great column Erin….spot on. I’m tired of politicians and activists saying the Police need retraining…..who is going to retrain the community!!!

  8. Black Mayor, Cook County Board President, Attorney General, Chief Judge, Spearker of the House, at least a baker’s dozen Aldermen, and even more State Reps, but we are they racists who are responsible for the carnage of young, promising young black people. This young woman was working her behind off trying to make a difference, trying to make a life for herself, and her killers are the victims, no doubt.

    At CPS, you have virtually entire schools on the honor roll, and maybe 1 of every 5 can read, write, and compute at grade level. They “graduate” with a diploma that you can wipe your ass with. That’s about all it’s worth. They clamor for more money, and then keep the schools closed, let’s the kids run amok, and then elect another stooge, who is pushing reparations in a city that’s bankrupt, and where hundreds of young black kids are killed every year.

    Both right and left have their unholy alliances, hypocrisies, layers of grift, and just pain idiocy. Both sides have been mind effing gullible people for years, only now, “the left” has infiltrated the educated elites to such an extent, that they put even the neoconservatives to shame with their cruelty and intellectual contortionists.

    George Will calls it situational ethics and morality of convenience. We condone and vote for assholes like Trump and idiot corrupt fools liked Biden and Bush, and race hustlers like Obama, and wonder why things are so screwed up. Looking at the reports on the corrupt dealings of the FBI and the CIA both domestically and abroad, and the theft occurring with the war in Ukraine, Covid, the environment, military, every god game layer of government. And then there’s Illinois, where we celebrate the murder of babies and the death of children at the hands of other children, throw feces at the cops, and allow punks to target old people and women on public transportation and in the streets, but we have :systemic racism.

    We must come together to throw these bums out. The bureaucracy needs to by trimmed by 50%. Give the country back to the people. Get the homeless off the streets, off the CTA, get the panhandlers out of our faces. It’s cheaper to hours and feed them.

    1. Exactly. Look at the new stooge elected by other stooges to be Mayor. Instead of giving honest recognition and praise the an outstanding person, he makes excuses for the animals who took her beautiful life on such a cheap and heartless manner. Instead of encouraging more people to emulate Officer Preston, the “leaders” are still concerned with finding ways to keep her murderers out of jail.
      The insanity is unfathomable. Thousands of undocumented people walking into this country, actually welcomed after making their very first act here an illegal disregard for our laws. These aren’t doctors, scientists and teachers crossing our borders- the other countries are cleaning out THEIR prisons, their asylums and sending the worse of their people here, where they will be gifted copious benefits, many of which our own citizens are denied.
      And the reparations scam? How much of the reparations, if ever paid, will be put into trying to set up programs helping to resolve the problems of the at risk communities?
      The direction in which this country is moving guarantees that the problems will increase, all to the increased suffering of those who try to side with what is moral, ethical and kind, like Officer Preston.

  9. “There is a lack of discipline,generally, in society. But, specifically in Chicago, there is a belief that you take rather than earn what you want because you are somehow owed.” Great lines Erin G.

  10. Good column. The people in elected offices, are they living out their dorm room ideological fantasies are are they just stupid. I’ll go for both.

  12. Superb column. But cue the 8th grade graduation photos and “he was a good boy! He had hopes and aspirations.”
    At least the mom of the youngest turned her kid in. Agree with one response about how LBJ’s Great Society has crushingly damaged our families and communities. Your remarks are spot on.
    And it starts with the home and family structure. I weep for my city. Took the bus and L to high school from the 19th ward. I was lucky with a good family structure. Today I don’t even want to hop on the Blue Line to go downtown.

  15. Victor Hugo once wrote ” All the forces in the world are not so powerful as an idea whose time has come.”
    Well that idea is WOKENESS and the concept that rewarding bad behavior will change that bad behavior is absurd! We need to change this but how when only 33% of registered voters cast their vote in our last mayoral election. Sadly the future does not look good.

  18. Excellent, well-written column. She does a good job mentioning many of the issues that aren’t even on anyone’s radar to be even considered, much less solved.

    She rightly calls to mind the newest voice, that of Mayor Johnson, repeating the old trope: the idea that people of color are somehow incarcerated disproportionately. Maybe – just maybe – he’ll be the leader who has the courage to rather suggest that until we teach and the youngest among us learn the concept of C-O-N-S-E-Q-U-E-N-C-E-S!!!! I can remember sitting at a kitchen table in a little apartment on the south side of Chicago, a very proud first-grader, listening to my father explain the concept of CONSEQUENCES to me!!!

    Too many young people aren’t taught the concept, and too many of our adults either don’t understand it or don’t take the time to talk to kids about it. There are simple, basic real-life examples that are VERY easy to employ when teaching a small child. It isn’t even difficult! But – the later they learn, the harder it is to learn, and the more grave the results.

    We spend MILLIONS of dollars on programs that are supposed to ‘help’ those who are struggling. Who has the courage to realize and deal with the fact the probably 99% of those who do such sub-human things as we currently witness do not understand, nor do they care to understand, the concept of consequences.

    And – shame on us for allowing it to continue!!! How does it continue? Just listen to the current national discussion. Listen to those in Congress who are absolutely BESIDE themselves at the very IDEA that we would ask able-bodied, unencumbered people to do some kind of work for the idea that the government is going to hand them money that the government forcibly collects from people who ARE working, caring for their own family’s needs. Most of America is sitting at their kitchen table, stunned at the cost of food and clothing to be paid for what’s left out of a paycheck – but those who GET government money? Well, there’ll always be more, so……. What do they do all day? Hang out? Charge their phone? Play some games? See what kind of trouble they can find? Why not? There are NO CONSEQUENCES, and even better? YOU are paying for it!!!

    1. You are correct Karen, but as long as our public officials care about job preservation and self enrichment over doing what’s right, this is what you get. To put a biblical soi on it, I was referred to the Gospel and the temptations of Christ. When you worship things like money, power, status over God, you will have trouble.

      These people overlook outright carnage, deprivation, suffering that their corruption and the ineptitude their dishonesty foments. I know “the left” is popular canon fodder for the readers of Kasso, but I see it on both sides. The left is just more in our faces as they’ve captured the legacy media.

      “They”, meaning those in power have forsaken God as their guide. I find being an ideologue so constricting, I cannot see how people rely on organizations or individuals or political parties to control their thoughts and actions. Right is right and wrong is wrong, whether it’s Joe Biden, Trump, the Catholic Church, or the NRA.

  19. Great piece of writing Erin. Had an idea, coincidental to the start of Memorial Day Weekend. Someone in Chicago City Hall propose a second Memorial Day holiday. This would be to honor all fallen Chicago Police and Fire in the line of duty. Strictly for Chicago Police and Fire and make it a legal holiday on a date certain, annually.

  20. I’m not trying to rub it in but wait til your elected Democrats enact their “Safe-T” act law. This pile of stinking feces is currently tied up in the courts by, strangely enough, many Democrat elected state’s attorneys like James Glasgow who also agree that this law is a colossal mistake. It guarantees “Safe-T” for criminals not the citizens. This law guarantees Illinois place as one of the most criminal friendly states in the country. If you think things are bad now just wait. Its about to get worse. Much, much worse.

  21. BTW…this is a preemptive troll of renowned fake Baloney head Riga Tony. Yo Tee! If you ever had one intelligent thought in that vast empty cranium that is supposed to hold a brain, feel free to leave that thought here. No comment? THATS what I thought.

    1. Oh he will comment, Enrique. He can not abstain. He’s like an an opioid addict. He can not help himself. There is no way Phony Tony Baloney will not comment.

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