Jaws - Third Victim Killed in Shark Attacks

Amity, Mass. - A third victim was killed today in a pond near Village Beach, in what police are now definitely calling shark attacks.

James Park, 30, of Oak Bluffs, was in a small rowboat when he was attacked and knocked into the water around 1:30 pm. He was killed immediately, and most of his remains have not yet been found, according to Police Chief Martin P. Brody.

In a statement, Chief Brody urged residents to "use extreme caution and report any incidents to the police or Coast Guard." Amity beaches will remain closed until further notice, by order of the police department.

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Jaws - Amity Beaches Still Open After False Alarm

Amity, Mass. – Amity beaches are still open and considered safe after a false shark sighting today at Village Beach. Swimmers were rushed out of the water after a fin was spotted, but it turned out to be just an ill-timed prank by two young boys.

The town has been on edge over the past week after two Amity youths were killed, reportedly from shark attacks. 16-year-old Wendy W. Watson and 10-year-old Alex Ferguson died earlier this week, and while the exact causes are as yet unknown, police suspect shark involvement.

The beaches in Amity had been closed for the past few days, but reopened today after fisherman caught a giant killer shark believed to have been the cause of the earlier deaths.

The day began as a celebration for Police Chief Martin P. Brody, Amity Mayor Bob Farley, and the citizens of Amity. “I am delighted to report that the giant killer shark that has been blamed for two deaths this week was caught and killed in waters one mile south-southwest of Amity,” Brody said in a statement.

The fishermen who caught the shark wish to remain anonymous, but will receive a $3,000 reward for their help. Matt Hooper, a marine biologist from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, identified the 16-foot killer as a nurse shark.

People were visibly relieved at the news, and flooded the beaches, seeming eager to resume their usual summer activities as normal.

Beach-goers were understandably hesitant to enter the water, despite Chief Brody’s assurance that he and his staff “believe that the danger of further shark attacks has passed,” thanks to the capture of the killer shark. Once one family ventured in to swim, however, people began to follow suit.

Farley was in the middle of telling reporters the good news about the shark capture when the false shark sighting occurred. The swimmers began fighting to get back to shore, causing chaos and an atmosphere of fear.

Patrolmen in boats surrounded the shark fin and were prepared to shoot it when the two young boys behind the prank revealed themselves.

Despite the hoax, the beaches of Amity are still believed to be safe. “Armed shark spotters will continue to patrol the waters off the beach,” Chief Brody said in a statement, and “any shark sightings should be reported immediately to police or Coast Guard. We wish everyone a safe and happy 4th of July.”

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Shark attacks: Could they happen in New England?

It’s a nice sunny day at the beach. Children are playing, people are laughing, and a great white shark is swimming nearby, just waiting to catch and devour an unsuspecting swimmer who ventures too far out in the water.

Could that really happen here in New England? Not likely, according to one local shark expert.

“Shark attacks are essentially a non-factor in New England,” said Tony LaCasse, spokesperson for the New England Aquarium. “It’s one of the last things you have to worry about here.”

To put it in perspective, LaCasse said that there has not been a fatal shark attack in New England since 1936, when a 13-year-old boy was killed just south of Cape Cod. In contrast, two people in Massachusetts have died over the past 10 years from digging in sand pits.

LaCasse said the iconic movie Jaws plays a big part in the media interest about possible shark attacks that inevitably sparks up every June. “Ironically, Martha’s Vineyard would be one of the last places [shark attacks] would happen.”

This is not to say that sharks don’t live in New England waters, however. LaCasse said that beaches in south Maine were closed down two or three years ago as a precaution after blue sharks were spotted nearby. The sharks were following bait fish, and did not bother any humans.

What most people don’t realize, according to LaCasse, is that there are several hundred different species of sharks, with only about a dozen that are vicious to humans. “Only about 3% have historically had a problem with people,” LaCasse said. “New England doesn’t have a species of shark vicious to man.”

Of course, LaCasse did note that there are some exceptions. “We do have some great white sharks, but historically they have been more off-shore,” he said. “We are not on the menu.”

The cold New England water is another factor that makes shark attacks unlikely. “Places with shark attacks usually have warm water with lots of people in it,” LaCasse said. “We don’t have a lot of people in the water here.”

On top of all of this, LaCasse said that sharks have had a devastating worldwide population decline over the past decade or so. Some species are down as much as 90%.

LaCasse suggested that New England beachgoers focus their worries on other, more pressing issues, such as keeping your lunch refrigerated. “You’re more likely to die of food poisoning from bad mayonnaise on your sandwich than from a shark attack.”

For those still worried about becoming the second New England shark fatality in over 70 years, check out this useful website with tips on how to prevent a shark attack.

Jaws - Update on Situation

Amity, Mass. – A 10-year-old boy was killed today while playing in the waters of Village Beach. This is the second beach death in three days, and police now believe sharks may have played a part in both deaths.

The young boy was identified as Alex Ferguson of Mayfair Court in Amity. His mother, Marian Ferguson, is currently being treated for shock at Amity Hospital. She is reported to be in fair condition. No one else was injured in the attack.

In a press release, Chief of Police Martin P. Brody announced the tragic news. “I join Amity Mayor Bob Farley in expressing the town’s deepest and most sincere condolences to the Ferguson family,” he said. “Now we know that these random acts of senseless violence, victimizing innocent, helpless citizens, do not just happen in the city.”

According to the police report, Ferguson had been floating on a rubber raft off Village Beach when what appears to have been a “vicious and unprovoked shark attack” occurred. Ferguson’s body has not yet been recovered, but his raft came ashore with what looked like a big bite taken out of it.

Ferguson’s death comes just two days after the death of 16-year-old Wendy W. Watson of 23 Sharkstooth St. After Watson wandered into the waters of South Beach, police discovered her mangled body washed up on the beach early the next morning. Her body was sent to the coroner’s office for an autopsy, but no results have been released.

“We now believe that it may be possible that the Watson death could also maybe have been linked to possible shark activities,” Chief Brody said in his press release, “though that investigation is ongoing at this time.”

In response to these shocking deaths, the mayor, police chief, and the Amity Board of Selectmen held a press conference at 5 pm today in Town Hall. The town officials discussed the state of the town, and Chief Brody admitted that he is planning to close the beaches.

After an uproar from citizens, fisherman Ben Quint offered to hunt down and kill the shark. Quint requested $10,000 to catch and kill the shark by himself – but said he will not do it with anyone else’s help.

Police said they would take Quint’s offer “under advisement."

Chief Brody urged citizens and the press to remain calm until there is definitive proof of shark attacks. “We hasten to caution the press not to jump to any conclusions.”

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Jaws - Girl Found Dead on South Beach

Amity, Mass. – A teenage girl was found dead on South Beach in Amity last night. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

The Amity Police Department identified the 16-year-old as Wendy W. Watson of 23 Sharkstooth St. According to the police report, Watson was last seen alive leaving a beach party at 11 pm with an unidentified male.

Witnesses at the party said both teenagers had been drinking, and Watson decided to go skinny-dipping at a remote section of the beach. After she didn’t return from the water, Watson’s companion notified police that she was missing at 3 am.

After searching for a few hours, police discovered Watson’s mangled body early this morning washed up on the beach. Her body has been sent to the coroner’s office for an autopsy. No charges have been filed.

While police continue their investigation into the incident and the possibility of a shark attack, Chief of Police Martin P. Brody urged residents to remain calm. “We want to assure all residents and visitors on our fine island that they are in no danger,” he said. “Our lovely beaches will remain open for swimming pending the outcome of the investigation.”

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Weather in Durham

A mix of rain and high winds led to dangerous conditions in parts of Maine and New Hampshire this morning, making it difficult for students commuting to campus and travelers heading home early for the holiday.

Power outages spread across New Hampshire in Bethlehem, Durham, Conway, Eaton, Madison, New London, and Tamworth, according to the National Weather Service’s update at 8:25 am. The next update will be available at 10:25 am. All UNH residence halls retained power, despite a few flickerings earlier this morning caused by the wind.

The National Weather Service announced a flood watch at 4:06 this morning for southern Maine and New Hampshire. One to three inches of rain are expected to accumulate throughout the night.

University officials decided against curtailing operations, instead continuing the school day as usual.

If these conditions continue through the night and into tomorrow, holiday travelers can expect delays and lots of traffic. Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, is traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Today’s winds are expected to reach 38 mph, but the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts that they could occasionally get as high as 50 mph. The rain is expected to taper off as the evening progresses, according to WMUR.

This November has been a little rainier than most in New Hampshire. The Farmer’s Almanac predicts an average of 5.5” of precipitation for November, two inches above average.

Technology as a Witness

In today's New York Times, the front page article "Murder Suspect Has Witness That Doesn't Lie: Subway Fare Card" caught my eye immediately. I was interested to find out what exactly that meant. Did his subway card prove he did murder someone, or that he was innocent? I was also curious to find out how exactly his subway card was a witness.

The article starts off with a blind lead, describing some background information on the case before revealing that the suspect's MetroCard has become a key witness. The rest of the article is organized around several main points:

• The details of the fatal shooting that happened in May
  
• The suspect (Jason Jones)'s alibi
• Why Jones and his brother Corey were arrested
• How Jones' lawyer got his MetroCard records, which support his alibi
• Other electronics that confirm Jones' alibi (the punch-clock at his work and a check-cashing outlet)
• What's happening with the case now

I think this article is really interesting. This man has been in jail since May, but he was finally released on bail thanks to the records from his MetroCard that show that his alibi is true. With all of the technology nowadays, it is sometimes a little scary to think that our every moves can be traced. (The article even mentioned the fear of a "Big Brother"-like society.) But then when something like this happens, it shows that the advancements in technology can be a good thing too, and help justice be served.

From this article, I learned a lot more about the tracking that exists in a lot of newer technology. I was aware of this, to an extent, but I didn't realize that it could be accessed by policemen or other professionals to use as a witness in a murder case. The article said that, if convicted, Jones and his brother could potentially face the death penalty. I think the fact that the records from Jones' MetroCard match up with his alibi and seem to prove that he's innocent is great. I hope that Jones, if he really is innocent, can go free and that the police can focus on finding the true murderer.