He had
it all. Few chatters could come across with such charm, wit, humor,
and, most of all, sensuality. In the real world he was Jake Kuchek.
In the dark back allies of Chatville, he was the weaver of webs; the erotic
enchanter; the setter of snares.
Jake ran his own accounting
business. His small storefront office was located in a small mountainside
town. Most of the businesses there catered to the tourist trade which
swelled during the winter skiing season. As a long time resident,
no one had any idea that the short round faced man with the thick eye glasses
was a ruthless predator. He lived alone and had no friends to speak
of. His only companion was an upright case that made clicking sounds
whenever he touched it.
Spiderman: I would love to be your prince.
Princess19: hi <s>
Spiderman: So, tell me, have you decided?
Princess19: still not sure
Spiderman: I promise you, we will have a good time.
Princess19: where would we meet
Spiderman: There's a little motel off of hwy. 66 at exit
3
Princess19: i don't know
Spiderman: I'll bring some good stuff if you like.
Princess19: what do you mean
Spiderman: You told me you liked pot.
Princess19: yes
Spiderman: You'll enjoy it...come on, baby <s>
Princess19: i don't think i should
Spiderman: Trust me, baby, I'll take good care of you.
Princess19: no, i better not
Spiderman: Awe, come on...you'll love it.
Princess19: sorry, i better go
Spiderman: You won't regret it.
Princess19: bye
Spiderman: Bitch!
He had started chatting with
her just a few weeks previously. At first, she was taken by his seductive
advances and especially his flattery. After several chats followed
by a secret phone call from him, he asked her for a meeting. She
was open to the idea at first but, after telling a friend about him, she
had second thoughts and decided against it. Something about him didn't
seem right. His last one word statement to her only confirmed what
she had suspected. She would never know how close she came
to being trapped in his web.
There are several rooms for
teens in Chatville. In fact, in the world of chat these rooms are
usually the busiest containing the greatest numbers, and all young people.
From shortly after school dismisses up through midnight, one can find scores
of teens huddled in various chat rooms designed for only them. For
the "Spiderman" they were easy pickings and well worth the monthly charges
he paid for three different Internet services.
Kuchek's methods were
simple. After entering a room, he would lurk for awhile in the shadows
of the attic and observe the chats. While there, he would check out
the various female nicknames including what each recorded in their membership
information. When the moment seemed right, he would jump in
to a conversation and attempt to make a connection with those names
in which he was most interested. It usually didn't take him too long
to get at least one of them to respond to his request for a private chat.
Once he attached even a strand of his web to a potential victim, it was
difficult to escape his grasp.
Sweet16: i can't wait for the weekend
Carissa: <—going to the mall on Saturday
Skater: yeah, to hell with school
Lauren 18: We don't have a mall in Evanston.
Sweet16: lol Skater
Hunk: I'm gonna party
all weekend
Greeter: "Spiderman" has entered the room
It's one of those nicknames that
automatically attracts the eye; especially the eyes of those who frequent
the teen rooms. Kuchek knew that.
Jeanna Farrell answered his
request for another private chat.
Sweet16: and hi to you too, spidey <s>
Spiderman: are you still my sweet girl <s>
Sweet16: yep, sure am
Spiderman: Well, if any other guys hit on you...
Spiderman: I'll just have to beat the crap out of them <g>
Sweet16: and i bet you would too
Spiderman: wanna spend a little time with me
Sweet16: i would love to <s>
The web was carefully woven strand
by strand. First, there was the innocent greeting and the little
flatteries that appealed to a young girl's vanity. Then he would
ask her when she would be on-line next and if he could chat with her again;
a kind of internet date. Soon, they would share their physical
descriptions with each other. He always made himself out to be a
little better looking than what he actually was. Once in her trust,
he would begin asking for little bits of information to find out where
her weak spots were. Even if she asked for an e-mail address from
him, he would refuse to supply it--too risky if she should decide to save
it.
As he continued to weave his
web, he would invite her into a special room especially created for the
both of them. There, he would teach her how to experience cyber sex
and afterwards, when her guard was down, ask for a real life meeting.
Spiderman: Jeanna, baby, did you like that?
Sweet16: oh, yes, very much <s>
Spiderman: Know what?
Sweet16: what, tell me
Spiderman: There's nothing like the real thing <s>
Sweet16: i can only imagine <s>
Spiderman: Jeanna, I would really like to meet you.
Like a little lady bug
that has gotten too close to the glistening threads of the spider's snare,
"Sweet16" had no idea how dangerously near she really was.
Spiderman: Wouldn't you like that, baby?
Sweet16: Mmmm, sure would <s>
What looked to her like shimmering
lace was really a meshwork of deceit.
After deciding on the following
Sunday afternoon, he suggested that they meet at a motel nearer her.
The obvious fact that he already knew of one and where it was located went
right past her. He asked her if she would be willing to take
a bus to get there and to also be sure not to tell anyone. She agreed.
It would be more than a four
hour, one way trip for Kuchek but, as far as he was concerned, it would
be well worth the effort.
The lady bug had been snagged.
As Jake Kuchek made his way down
the highway, his mind was completely focused on what he knew he had to
do. His experience with women nearer his own age had been a disaster.
He knew they were nothing but sluts–all of them. They were
only too eager to use him, his money, and all the attention that he lavished
upon them. All they wanted was a good time and then they would
run off with some jerk leaving him all alone again. That would never happen
again. Young girls loved him; they all loved him. They just
didn't know it yet.
He would take care of them.
Beware the "Spiderman."
"The younger the better" was his motto.
He preyed on innocense. Truth, as he saw it, was only a thing to
be twisted and used to trap the unsuspecting.
Since he was a solitary kind
of man, no one ever stopped by the house to visit him. It was quiet
in the country and the woods around the old house made it easy to
bring someone home without anyone noticing. He had blocked in the
basement room all by himself. It only took him one weekend to do
it and was as completely soundproof with a hidden door. He liked
to bathe them, dress them up, and spend the evenings hours making love
to them. The long days they spent chained to the bed in the little
room were worth, at least in his thinking, the wait for him to come
home each night. They wanted him and he knew it. They just
had to be taught how to obey. Once that was accomplished, the love
would come. Just ask the others. It's too bad he got
tired of them. Too bad for them anyhow.
The bus ride to the Starlight
Motel was only twenty minutes long. The cute little brunette was
noticeably fidgety as she sat on the hard seat facing the window.
Jeanna had told her mother that she was going to go shopping at the mall
with Julie and her family for the day. It was a good cover because
the Harris family was really out of town for the weekend. She would
be back home before her parents had a chance to find out otherwise.
In the meantime, Kuchek had
arrived early. It was important that he get a smoking room.
Although he didn't smoke, these rooms were usually located in the rear
of the motel and that was a requirement. A room with an outside entrance
was also a necessity. He would make sure that his van was backed
up as close as possible to the front door so that the distance between
the door and it was minimal.
The bottle of sweet wine was
carefully placed on the night stand nearest the bed. His portable
cd player sat on top of the television humming with soft romantic
music. He lit the little candles in the multi-colored glass holders
which he had brought with him and placed them all around the room.
When everything was ready, he turned off the lights and waited near the
door.
The trap had been set.
As the bus turned the corner
off of Main Street onto Dailey Avenue, Jeanna began to wonder about the
wisdom of her decision to meet "spidey." She almost told Julie about
the meeting with him but she was afraid that her friend might blab and
ruin the whole thing. The idea of meeting him at a motel made her
a little nervous but if he was anything in real life like he was in their
little chat room–wow! Her anticipation was building and it seemed
to her that there was no turning back now.
The bus stop was right in front
of a gas station at the intersection of the highway and the avenue.
As she stepped down from the bus she looked through the gas pumps at the
ageing two story buildings that housed the motel. Her pulse
quickened with the realization that she had actually made it this far.
When she signed on to the internet
that morning, he found her just at the time they had agreed upon.
He gave her the room number that the motel had provided him. Kuchek
also made sure that she understood that she was not to go into the office
and ask for him. Rather, she should walk directly to the back of
the motel and locate the room by herself. He would be waiting for
her there.
He also reminded her that she
was going to have a wonderful time; a time that she would never forget
as long as she lived. This was perhaps the only time he had ever
told her the truth.
The cold of late autumn drove
a chill through her as she walked the distance from the bus to the motel.
Traffic was light and she supposed it had something to do with it being
Sunday morning. Her heart began pounding as she rounded the corner
of the back of the motel. The sidewalk looked worn and cold.
Only a few cars kept vigil in the back parking lot. She wondered
if he would like the way she was dressed.
Jeanna took the note out of
her pocket on which she had written down the room number. It was
just a few doors down from where she was already walking. She noticed
the van in front of the door and wondered why it was situated so close
to the door. The window curtains were completely closed so she could
not see into the room.
There was a moment when she
hesitated and almost turned around to leave. After reminding herself
how sweet "spidey" always was to her in chat she took the last few steps
and stood directly in front of the door to room number 117.
At first, she just tapped lightly
on the door. There was no answer so she knocked a little louder.
The handle began to turn from
the inside and the door opened.
Jake looked just like he said
he did. He wasn't really as handsome as she thought but he was cute
in his own way. He was a little on the chubby side but had a kind
face and was wearing a big smile when he opened the door. She wondered
for a moment why he seemed to be squinting his eyes. Perhaps his
eyes were bothering him.
"Hi, baby. Gee, I'm glad
you are really here."
She immediately began to relax
as she entered the door. How could anyone be nervous around such
a sweet guy. As she entered the candle lit room she knew that she
and "spidey" were indeed going to have a wonderful time together that afternoon.
It was going to be just like their special chat room except that this was
going to be the real thing. She was feeling very anxious but it was
a good anxious.
Jake knew that he was going
to have a good time too–a very good time.
He closed the door and locked
it behind them. Then he reached out gently to take her hand.
She smiled and gave it to him.
Her body was found almost thirteen
months later in a mountain ravine some sixty miles north of Denver.
It was just about completely decomposed and, if not for her dental records,
it might never have been properly identified.
Further medical evidence indicated
that she had been battered and bruised but kept alive for some time following
her abduction. One could only imagine what she had been put through
before he finally killed her. Her life had been cut short at only
sixteen years.
If only she had known the warning
signs.
The Seven Warnings
1. Looks can be deceiving.
There is no such thing as a safe looking person. The person behind
the face is the one you are going to be meeting. How much do you
really know about that person?
2. Note any hints of an abusive
character. Strong language, displaying an attitude, or using violent
terminology should be considered as a serious warning signal.
3. Meet in a public place.
Avoid out of the way places where there are no other people nearby.
It is better to meet in a place where there are people close by who could
give you help if you need it.
4. Get a friend to help you.
It is wiser to have a friend go with you but you should at least advise
a friend as to where you are going, who you will be with (supply as much
information as possible), when you are going, and when you expect to be
back.
5. Copy to disk or print.
When chats become such that a meeting is requested, copy the text of the
chat to disc or print it and leave it in a safe place. Whatever you
do, copy the chat that gives the details of the meeting once the plans
for it have been finalized.
6. Be wary of offers of alcohol
and drugs. These things lower inhibitions and can leave you in a
state of mind where you are very weak or no longer in control of what happens
or where you are taken.
7. Trust your own common sense.
If a situation doesn't feel right, don't be afraid to bail out. Your
instincts may save your life.
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