Several times a day, the Associated Press will notify news organizations of breaking/developing stories by sending "news alerts" over the wire. Usually, the initial alert comes across with the generic slug of "AP News Alert". So, actually reading it is, to borrow a line from Forrest Gump, rather like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. Many times, you read the alert, expecting something big, only to find out that there's been, for example, a coup in East Jibip.
But, every once in a while, you are truly stunned.
Such was the case yesterday, when an AP News Alert revealed the arrest of a suspect in the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. In successive news alerts, more details were relayed, one or two sentences at a time: the suspect was captured in Thailand; he was being held on other sex charges; he had a previous conviction in California; he's a school teacher.
And, all the while, you're still thinking, I can't believe they finally made an arrest!
Ten years of seeing those home videos of JonBenet at her child beauty pageants; ten years of speculation about the mother being the killer, or the brother; ten years of tearful yet firm denials by the family; ten years of what appeared to be no progress.
After all that, there is progress. And, the prime suspect turns out to be some guy from out of the blue.
Wow.