This comment may be coming in a little late, but a friend of mine was just assaulted by a bouncer two weeks ago for no reason. Apperently he just decided to take out a bad day on a girl who weights a third of his weight. That is absurd, everyone who was in shock about this murder story should write to your legislators. Some folks are trying to pass a law in Albany to rule that every bar/club should have a camera in the entrance and exit area. I don't think that's much to ask after these horrendous stories, and it's safer for all citizens.

This comment may be coming in a little late, but a friend of mine was just assaulted by a bouncer two weeks ago for no reason. Apperently he just decided to take out a bad day on a girl who weights a third of his weight. That is absurd, everyone who was in shock about this murder story should write to your legislators. Some folks are trying to pass a law in Albany to rule that every bar/club should have a camera in the entrance and exit area. I don't think that's much to ask after these horrendous stories, and it's safer for all citizens.

As a parent, that has to be your worst nightmare. You're right, this has absolutely taught me to cherish my loved ones even more. As Imette's mother said, you never know when... I feel that's one thing I can actually do in a situation that feels so sad, so hopeless.

Jane: I think most of us (both men and women) are on the same page of sadness and shock. Just that men have a different ways of expressing their emotions. If there are any implications of "blaming" Imette, it is out of love and care for her as fathers, friends, and even as strangers. Basically all of us feel deep empathy toward Imette and her family.

I have a daughter of similar age (younger) as Imette. That seems to be the reason that this news really hit home for all of us. Imette just could have been our schoolmate, friend, daughter... We all need to be more caring and loving toward our family, relatives, colleagues, friends, strangers among us, et.al from now on. That is what this news has taught me.

Best regards,

Henry

You're right, it shouldn't be a male/female thing. But I have little patience for men who blame Imette, less patience than I do for women who do the same thing. Men should be protective in these situations, not side with each other like it's a forth grade kick ball game. But I am astonished to see how many people (men especially)who have basically been attacking Imette, and showing little or no compassion. Thank you Henry, for showing how you really feel about it and not being accusatory towards Imette. That's all I was getting at. What you said.

This is not the battle between males and females.

1. We all agree that the murderer should die slowly and a thousand times to pay for this crime.

2. We all feel very very sad for Imette that such a young life ended so abruptly.

3. We all wish that we could go back in time that (1) she might be a bit more careful and alert, (2) her friend could have stayed with her and ensured her safety, (3) any person near her could have helped her to get home safely...These were just painful regrets, not blames from my perspective.

4. We all can be a little peaceful and considerate/respectful toward others and make this a better world.

I'm not focusing on rape here I'm talking overall. If you're sleeping soundly at home and a robber breaks in and overpowers you then there's not much you can do. It's through no fault of your own. If you head into danger even when you see it then who's to blame? What good is knowing and not doing? What good is seeing without processing through your brain and taking action?

True maybe Imette, though her own naivete, never knew how to spot or look out for these things, but if that's the case, then it's because she was never coached or taught properly. Then again maybe she was coached by her mom but never heeded her advice. So who's fault is that then?

That's cute, kick my balls, that's real constructive. Do me a favor and save the drama for your momma, don't take your anger out on me. Focus that energy when it comes to the real thing.

No shit shmuck. The self defense tips are most appreciated, but I am afraid that you haven't uttered a single thing that 99.9% of all women don't already know. The point, listen again, the point is who are you trying to BLAME. That's it. And if you're trying to blame Imette or any other woman for her so called "role" in being raped, then you deserve a good swift kick where your balls are supposed to be. It's cowardly and sick.

Responsibility for what?? For killing? Well no shit Shirley, that's why he's a convicted felon and of course he deserves to be electrocuted. We already know that part.

Women are usually raped more than men but that doesn't mean men get away either - men get severely beaten or killed. When you talk about a crime the target is usually one of weakness. Weak, easy targets, soft targets can be either men or women. There are weak men and women.

This isn't some incredible concept that MEN made up for women.

Going over this again and again is useless with you because you are so damn dense. If you don't believe me ask any police officer, law enforcement person, etc etc what is the proper way to protect oneself? What is the proper mindset one should adopt?

People talk about her resposibility blah blah blah, but never happen to mention responsibility of the ACTUAL PERPETRATOR! HELLOOO! What is up with that? Really.

Also, to the lowlife who called her a white princess... A) she was VENEZUELAN and B) grew up in Mission Hill, a big GHETTO. So take your retard-dumb, rapist mentality, white-hating ass out of here. Pig.

First of all, anyone who thinks rape is not a gender issue really needs to have their head examined. The men who aren't busy raping women, are those who feel the need to inform woman of the error of HER ways. Where did this woman go wrong? Those precious few men who actually know better are too lame to speak up anyhow. I'd like to hear from ONE man, just one who isn't willing to attack Imette in blame. Hello, anybody?

In general, parents do have the responsibility of educating, protecting, and warning their children on crucial matters like this (e.g., do not get drunk and leave alone in the middle of the night, for both men and women). It is entirely a different issue when parents allow freedom/independence for their children and when parents do not even impart some common-sense into their children. If the person does not listen to their parents at all, then the entire fault lies on such a person. You are right that the person is eventually responsible for his/her own behavior. Please read/understand what people are "actually" saying before you captitalize every word and launch emotional attacks (btw, regrets do not equal faults).

What part of men AND women did you not understand?

Did I say it was strictly a WOMEN issue? I said men AND women. Quit being so quick to focus on it as gender issue and look at it from a broader perspective.

I love how as soon as a women is viciously raped and murdered, men think it's a good time to start handing out safety tips. Like we didn't know she was in a dangerous situation. Gee, thanks for enlightening us! The thing is, what's your point? Are you trying to convict Imette? Okay, go ahead, dig up her tortured body, drag it up onto the stand and show us how smart you are "men". Convict the guilty, protect the innocent. She was young, naive and innocent of any crime, and she paid more dearly than any of us could possibly imagine. Let her rest in peace. Where is your distain or animosity for the rapists? Why do we hear nothing of that and just condemnation of Imette?

It isn't UP TO WOMEN, it's UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL. MEN AND WOMEN. Why don't you try getting the message across to men then? Think you can do that? You think you can cover every pocket of society and change that way of thinking? Unless you can zap everyone with a brainwashing ray of some sort it won't go away. This problem starts at home, with the parents, with upbringing and unless you can attack the root of that problem your suggestion to stop the madness at the source is simply impossible. You speak of fluffy theories and so forth while the problem is happening right now. You cannot count on that because change may never happen in your lifetime. You can only do what is right to safeguard yourself. Being a victim is one thing and participating in reckless behavior that could be endangering to yourself is another thing. Knowing how capable you are in handling yourself is important.

Reading these comments, I wonder, why is it all up to the women? Why can't a young women go out and go bar-hopping in what sounds like a good neighborhood? People have all these rules for women: don't drink, don't walk alone, don't leave your drink, don't flirt with a guy you don't know, don't wear short skirts, etc. Maybe if people spent as much time trying to get the message across to men that no means no, there would be less rapes and murders. Why should the people being victimized have their behavior judged instead of the people doing the victimizing?

Denise, there is no god so don't bother praying. As painful as it may be for her family, she's gone forever. No soul, no heaven, no hell, nothing. Thousands of people put themselves in potentially harmful situations everyday with drugs and/or alcohol and, as statistics will show, some suffer dire consequences. It is for this reason that I do neither. I want to be in control of myself at all times and not inhibited by their effects. Imette got herself into the position to have this crime happen to her by getting drunk off her ass, despite knowing the dangers of being out late amongst strangers without her friends around. Sure, it's a tragedy but put herself in that situation. Seriously, how many alcohol-related rapes are reported every year? Thousands and thousands. Still, these idiots succumb to peer pressure and spend half their time getting drunk or wasted. As intelligent as she was supposed to have been, she made some really stupid choices and unfortunately, she paid the price for them.

Denise (and others), I can't believe someone would say something like that about her. It's disgusting and not even worth arguing about. It's evil. But after reading the above post I see I am not the only one who still thinks about Imette, as I do every day. I don't understand why I am still haunted by this horrible tragedy. I wish I understood. Why do we? Do you know?

FIRST OF ALL YOU DON'T KNOW THIS GIRL TO BE CALLING HER A WHORE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A WHORE TO GET RAPED OK, RICK, WOMEN DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT AT NIGHT TO GET RAPED, YOU HAVE WOMEN THAT GET RAPED IN THE DAY TIME. IT IS NOT HER MOTHERS FAULT THAT HER DAUGHTER GOT RAPED AS SOMEONE STATED HERE, HOW CAN YOU BE SO IGNORANT, NOT ALL KIDS LISTEN TO THEIR PARENTS, SO THAT MEANS BECAUSE I GO OUT AND WANT TO HAVE A DRINK AND GET RAPED THAT'S MY MOTHERS FAULT , ARE YOU FOR REAL???!!! THIS IS A BIG CITY, NOT ALL CAB DRIVERS ARE CAB DRIVERS, NOT ALL COPS ARE COPS, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, AND I THINK HER FRIEND IS LYING, THER'S A LOT OF COVER UP IN THIS HORRIBLE CRIME, EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE BAR. I CAN'T GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, BECAUSE EVERY TIME I GO TO SLEEP I THINK IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO SOMEONE RIGHT NOW, AND IF THIS GUY WAS NOT THE ONE THAT KILLE HER, THERE'S A CRAZY PERSON OUT THERE KILLING PEOPLE RUNNING THE STREETS, SOMEONE OR IT COULD BE MORE THAN ONE PASSING RIGHT BY YOU, AND HAVE NO IDEA THAT IS A KILLER. I SEE HER FACE WHEN I GO TO SLEEP, I AM ALSO A FEMALE, I AM 24 YEARS OLD, AND LATELY I DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AT NIGHT, EVEN IF IS WITH PEOPLE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE WHEN IMETTE CARMELLA ST. GUILLEN WAS HURT , THEY HURT EVERY FEMALE IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING ME. I JUST HOPE THAT SHE'S IN HEAVEN, AND GOD IS HEALING ALL WOUNDS AND PROTECTING HER AND HER FAMILY, AND I JUST WANT TO TELL PEOPLE HERE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DON'T TALK BAD ABOUT HER, SHE'S A HUMAN BEING, SHE WAS A DAUGHTER, A SISTER, A GRAND-DAUGHTER, ETC... AND THEY SHE WAS KILLED I DON'T EVEN WISH THAT ON MY WORST ENEMY, SO PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT SHE'S A WHORE, STUPID, BECAUSE THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR MOTHER, SISTER, DAUGHTER, OR SPOUSE.LET US FEMALES WAKE AND UNDERSTAND THAT TRAGICALLY AND AS SAD AS IT MAY SOUND, WE ARE NO SAFE, ANYWHERE WE GO, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. LETS JUST BECAREFUL OUT THERE, AND PRAY TO GOD EVERY DAY THAT WE NEVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. REST IN PEACE IMETTE!!!

As someone else stated, I don't know why, but for some reason this story still haunts me. I don't understand it, because I never knew her. But I still think about it a lot. What's the deal with this? Anyone else feel the same? Maybe it's because of how horrific it was, I'm not sure. It's just so sad.