Scarlet murder

Want a definition of suburban arrogance?

That evangelical-infused egoism that leads people to believe the world revolves around them and their kids--that terrorists and molesters spend all their time plotting to get them in particular and that in response no distortion of public policy or values is too great?

The belief that all actions are justified if in their amateur judgment their family is at risk? The philosophy that allows for multiple-SUV garages and category-defying consumption of energy? A lifestyle that holds personal whims above others' evidence?

A world view that thinks the babblings of a two-year old girl justifies taking the life of a man?

Girl Was Not Molested by Neighbor Her Angry Father Killed, Police Say

The Times: The police in Fairfield said on Thursday that they had concluded that a 2-year-old girl had not been molested by a next-door neighbor who they say was stabbed to death by her father after he was told she had been abused.

The father, Jonathon Edington, 29, a Fairfield patent lawyer, broke into the home of his neighbor, Barry James, on Aug. 28 and repeatedly stabbed him, just minutes after his wife told him that Mr. James had molested their daughter, according to the police.

But on Thursday, police Capt. Gary MacNamara said: “We are confident in our investigation that Mr. Edington did in fact kill Mr. James. We’re confident that Mr. James did not molest the Edingtons’ daughter. We’ve concluded that no molestation occurred.” ...

Mr. Edington, 29, who is free on $1 million bond, has been charged with murder and burglary in the attack. He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Mr. James, 59, worked part time at a funeral home and lived with his elderly parents. The family urged the police to examine Mr. James’s personal effects to rule out any suspicions, said Richard T. Meehan Jr., a lawyer representing Mr. James’s family.

AP photo of Jonathon Edington, left, arriving at Superior Court in Bridgeport, Conn., Sept. 12, 2006, with attorney Andrew Bowman by Bob Child.