Finally, it’s coming to an end. The Jerry Sandusky child-sex abuse case is expected to be completed as soon as tomorrow. Closing arguments were made today for both sides, and the jury should reach a verdict as soon as tomorrow.
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If convicted, it’s almost a certainty that Sandusky will die in prison.
These horrific allegations have shaken America over the past eight months, and rightfully so. With the compelling evidence and chilling testimonies from the alleged victims and former assistant football coach Mike McQueary, Sandusky has without a doubt become one of the most despised people in the country.
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Now with the defense at rest, we hope that America, too, will be able to rest with justice being served. And we’ll find out soon enough. But for now, Sandusky’s fate remains in the hands of the nine members of the jury. We hope they make the right decision.
Here’s a look back at ten key events of the unraveling of this case dating back to last November.
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November 5: Investigation Becomes Public
The investigation into Sandusky, Curley and Schultz becomes public, with prosecutors accusing the former assistant coach of making inappropriate sexual advances or assaults on eight boys, from 1994 to 2009.
Penn State’s former defensive coordinator is pictured above being placed into a police car Saturday, November 5, 2011.
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November 9: Joe Paterno Fired
After the Sandusky scandal became public, Joe Paterno began facing hordes of criticism and was pressured to resign as head coach. In response, Paterno announced he would retire at the end of the 2011 season.
However; only hours after the announcement, Penn State’s Board of Trustees announced the firing of Joe Paterno and school president Graham Spanier.
The decision to fire Paterno remains highly controversial. The firing resulted in mass student riots on the Penn State campus, as well as harsh criticism to the Penn State Board, whom were allegedly made aware of Sandusky’s antics by Paterno himself back in 2001. The Board has since been accused of failing to expose Sandusky, as well as attempting to keep the story under wraps.
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November 13: President & CEO of Second Mile Resigns
Jack Raykovitz resigned from being the leader of the charity Sandusky founded in 1977. Raykovitz had been president and CEO of the organization Second Mile for 28 years. According to prosecutors, Sandusky used this program to find his alleged victims.
This case has obviously dismantled the organization since its outbreak. On November 29, Second Mile urged supporters to make future donations to another charity, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.
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November 14: Sandusky Interviews with NBC’s Bob Costas
By this time, the ongoing investigation revealed over 10 young boys who may have been abused. In response, Sandusky had a telephone interview with Bob Costas wherein he admits to showering with young boys, but said he’s innocent and that he only “horsed around” with the boys.
Anyone who has seen the interview knows how creepy it was, and how unconvincing Sandusky sounded. If you’re curious and have not seen it, we highly suggest you take a look at the full length interview above.
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November 15: Mike McQueary interviews with CBS
A day later, former assistant coach Mike McQueary had an interview with CBS where he described an incident in which he claims to have caught Sandusky raping a young boy in a locker room shower back in 2001. McQueary was placed on administrative leave by Penn State, November 11, saying it was in their best interest considering threats McQueary had been receiving.
McQueary is said to have approached Coach Paterno making him aware of what he saw at the time in 2002. Paterno then told higher Penn State authorities, who subsequently chose not to open up an investigation on Sandusky.
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December 7: Sandusky is Arrested
Sandusky is arrested and charged with abusing two more boys. The new cases mean that the former coach faces 52 charges in the abuse of more than 10 boys. Like the other alleged victims, the young men say they first met Sandusky through his charity.
The arrest came a week after a Civil Lawsuit was filed against Sandusky on November 30. There, Penn State and the Second Mile claim Sandusky assaulted the plaintiff more than 100 times when he was between 10 and 14 years old. The plaintiff here is not among the eight alleged victims of the grand jury’s report.
Additionally, on November 21, Penn State announced they’d hired former FBI director Louis Freeh to investigate the alleged abuse allegations.
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January 22: Joe Paterno’s Death
It was a tragic and depressing day for the Penn State community and America. Roughly 10 weeks after his firing, Paterno passed after a long battle with cancer; he was 84 years old.
“Joe-Pa” had been the head coach at Penn State since 1966 and was beloved and worshipped by those in Pennsylvania. Furthermore, he was an icon in college football, and a prime example of what everyone would hope and expect for in a coach, teacher, mentor, father, husband, and more.
It is a shame Paterno’s life ended in such a manner.
Penn State will, and should, continue to be criticized for this move. That is because their selfish antics likely killed Joe Paterno, who may have died from a broken heart.
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June 6: Jury Selected
Voir Dire has been conducted and concluded. A nine-member jury consisting of five men and seven women is chosen for Sandusky’s trial in Pennsylvania’s Centre County. Several of the jurors have ties to Penn State, as either professors or students.
Note that the image above is not of the actual jury selected for the Sandusky trial.
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June 11: Trial Opens
The trial opens with prosecutor Joe McGettigan telling the jury that Sandusky is a “serial predator,” and shows them photos of the alleged victims, taken when they were children. Defense attorney Joe Amendola tells the jurors that the accusers in the case are seeking financial gain.
Above is a drawing from the courtroom picturing Sandusky, left, beside his defense attorney, Joe Amendola, right.
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June 21: Closing Arguments
This comes a day after the defense team rested their case, and two days before Sandusky’s wife Dottie took the stand defending her husband.
Additionally, other defense witnesses included friends and young men who said Sandusky had helped them personally and through his charity. Despite anticipation, Sandusky was able to get through the ordeal of his trial without taking the stand. Sources say he wanted to, but was talked out of it by his attorneys who suggested otherwise.
With closing arguments ending today, all of us who have been following the case can do nothing but wait. Public consensus strongly indicates that most Americans want to see Sandusky punished. However; we’ll have to see if the nine jurors think Sandusky’s “case” of Histrionic Personality Disorder is enough to get him acquitted. After all, it only takes reasonable doubt from one of these men or women to let Sandusky walk.
