| During the late 1980s, when Argentina experienced a great deal of political unrest, opponents
of the
government suddenly began to vanish off city streets. Frantic
relatives appealed to the authorities, who would do little or nothing
to help them. A strong suspicion developed that the government was
deeply involved in the abductions. In truth, these people were
kidnapped by the police themselves who frequently tortured or
murdered the unfortunate victims. Many were never seen again. They
were called “los desaparecidos,” the disappeared.
Something similar happened in Dutchess County in upstate New York
during the years 1997 and 1998. But “los desaparecidos”
in this case were not being abducted for political reasons. There
were much darker motives. And when the truth emerged, it would leave
in its wake at least eight women dead and a frightened, angry
community that was dumbfounded that a serial killer could live and
work undetected within their midst.
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