January 2006

Secret Keepers in the News

by John Prin
Addiction Counselor
Did you hear about the bank robber whose three sons turned him in? That's right, according to Monica Davey of the New York Times,* the robber's adult sons -- Garret, Jared, and Clay Ginglen -- recognized their father, William, 64, on surveillance video and notified the sheriff of DeWitt County in southern Illinois.

"It turned out that he was leading a secret, life, a double life," Sheriff Roger Massey said. For his secrets and crimes, this "pillar of his community"** was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $56,382 in restitution.

Like so many law-abiding Secret Keepers who eventually cross the line into criminal behavior (see Continuum of Secrets for details), William Ginglen showed the world a respectable side.

He worked as an industrial engineer at International Harvester, attended the same church since age 5, served in the volunteer fire department, and was a respected neighbor in his small town of 2,500 in Lewistown, Illinois.

But another darker side of Ginglen's awaited investigators. In a meticulously kept computer journal, Ginglen wrote down details of his "adultery with a girlfriend, (his) drugs use and drug parties, and the gruesome financial strain" that led to his committing the string of bank robberies. In other words, he kept his slimy side hidden and showed his shiny side to the world (see Book Highlights).

My newest book, Secret Keeping: Overcoming Hidden Habits and Addictions is designed to help anyone in Mr. Ginglen's situation before dire consequences such as his harm lives--his own or others (See John's Books).

Email John Prin your thoughts.

You can also reach me at 952-941-1870 or read my books, Stolen Hours: Breaking Free From Secret Addictions. and the sequel, Secret Keeping: Overcoming Hidden Habits and Addictions.

* New York Times, Dec. 29, 2005 via internet
** Mpls StarTribune, Dec. 30, 2005, p. A3