Wife Eaten Alive by Maggots…Punctuation and Spelling Go Out the Window

I think there might be something wrong with me.

Not ten minutes ago, I came across this highly-disturbing, real-life tale about a husband who allegedly allowed his bed-ridden wife to be eaten by maggots–while she was still alive, no less.

And even as I read this utterly repulsive story, I proofread.  Check out this quote by Julie Wilson of the county prosecutor’s office:

“They thought from the condition of the body, she had been dead for about a week…when the coroner’s office investigated it, their examination of the body, they said no she had probably been dead that day.”

When writing news articles, is it really a good idea to make someone from the county prosecutor’s office sound like a preschooler?

A little punctuation would have gone a long way here.  There should have been at least a comma before “she had probably been dead…” But actually, the best correction of the quote might be, ”…they said no. She had probably been dead that day.”  That version forces the reader to pause even longer before reading the final, chilling proclamation that the wife was actually alive while covered with maggots and flies. Hence, more impact.

Finally, check out this quote by the accused husband’s surprised neighbor:

“I like him. We talk everyday and waive at each other. No, no, no. He took care of her. He did. He did. He took care of her,” said Thompson.

That’s right. They waived to each other.

So…is it weird that I can read such a bizarre, disturbing story as this one, and find myself utterly appalled by the writer’s apparent inability to proofread?