This segment of CBSs 60 Minutes is an interview with David Cash. Cash admits to seeing his high school friend Jeremy Strohmeyer grab and begin to assault 7-year old Sherrice Iverson in the bathroom of a Las Vegas casino. Cash did nothing to stop Strohmeyer, and did not report him to any authority, keeping quiet for several days, even after Strohmeyer admitted to Iversons rape and murder. Cash still contends he did nothing wrong in not acting to help Iverson in any way.
This piece is very effective in raising issues of bystander behavior.
Bad Man On Campus?
Most students wouldn't want to share a campus with David Cash Jr., the man dubbed the "Bad Samaritan" for doing nothing to stop his friend from strangling a 7-year-old girl at a Nevada casino in 1997.
One such student, a senior at the University of California, Berkeley, is disgusted that Cash, who is studying nuclear engineering, didn't try to stop his friend and that school officials said there's nothing to be done about it.
"It's an embarrassment that the university isn't doing anything."
He's not alone in his disgust. CBS News Correspondent John Blackstone reported that Cash had become the least popular person on Berkeley's campus.
Cash has been publicly scorned, even spit on at a convenience store. Some fellow students have launched a campaign of public humiliation and private snubs aimed at getting him to leave school.
Berkeley's students tried to force their student government to draft a letter telling Cash he was unwelcome on campus. "This is one of those times when we cannot maintain our neutrality," said student senator A.W.
The measure failed, but the contentious debate continued on the campus.
Cash has broken no laws. Nevada has no "Good Samaritan" law. And authorities say Cash won't be charged with anything. Nevada prosecutors and UC Berkeley administrators have made it clear they won't move against him.
His friend, Jeremy Strohmeyer, pleaded guilty to the murder, sexual assault, and kidnapping of Sherrice Iverson in May 1997.
While Strohmeyer has languished behind bars, the spotlight has glared on Cash. Two radio show hosts from Los Angeles chartered a bus to bring demonstrators to Berkeley.
"You do not need this guy in your school," Sherrice's mother, Yolanda Manuel, told hundreds of protesters. "You do not need him sitting next to you in class."
An executive vice president of the student government, said students have few options in dealing with Cash.
"A lot of students are trying to find ways to express their concerns but there really are none," he said. "What I hear is a lot of people stare at him, give him mean looks, don't talk to him."
Some are furious that Cash is taking up a slot at highly competitive Berkeley.
"I am totally giving him the silent treatment. I don't even want to have contact with him at all," said a freshman who lived in the same dormitory complex as Cash.
His troubles began May 25, 1997, the night he and Strohmeyer—both two weeks shy of high school graduation—went to the casino.
Cash told investigators he saw Strohmeyer follow Sherrice into a women's restroom and tried to get him to leave her alone. He said he left before the assault took place, though two friends say Cash told them he watched Strohmeyer sexually assault the girl.
Later that night, Strohmeyer told Cah he had killed the girl. Cash kept silent.
The two were turned in by other classmates who recognized them from surveillance tapes.
Strohmeyer was arrested May 28, moments after swallowing 37 Dexedrine pills in an apparent suicide attempt. He is to be sentenced Oct. 14 to life in prison without possibility of parole.
Cash told CBS News' 60 Minutes back in 1998 that he had no intention of leaving school and that he has no regrets about his inaction. "I don't feel there is much I could have done differently," he said.
Copyright 1998, CBS Worldwide Inc., All Rights Reserved.
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The Bad Samaritan Part 2 of 2by inothernews4ytube9,919 views
American fathers listen up now, train your sons to attack and destroy a child molester should they catch one in the act. Then to tell the cops that the monster came after them when they told the perv to stop and your son had to act in self-defense(this is so the investigator can justify self-defense) The perv should be left brain dead so the cops get your story and the childs story and not the pervs. "and they all lived happily ever after"
Fockersnextdoor 1 week ago
My law school case book brought me here, this case particularly bothered me.
CatooftheRepublic 1 week ago
HANG THEM BOTH
MrEDOG345 3 weeks ago
@KTF86Sabre The mother did not know that the father had taken the little girl to the casino. The mother was FURIOUS at the father for taking her there. Her older brother, was supposed to be with her, but he left her to. The disgraceful father died last year. The whole story is VERY sad all araound, bit to answer your question the mother did not know that the father had taken the childen to the casino.
chuck9788 1 month ago
@girlygirlyblonde Because they probably have a zero tolerance rule against bullying. Plus, this case is around 15 years old.
KTF86Sabre 1 month ago
@chuck9788 Nope.
KTF86Sabre 1 month ago
@queenahmose So the daughter could have stayed with the mother at home instead of the Casino?
Obviously NOTHING illegal goes on in casinos and the areas around them. /sarcasm
KTF86Sabre 1 month ago
@KTF86Sabre The mother was at home. So how could she be watching her? The father had sole custody.
queenahmose 1 month ago
Nobody asks where the mother was in this? Why wasn't she watching her, why wasn't her dad watching her. Why were they taking a 7 year old kid to a casino. That's like dropping off your child in the middle of a highway.
KTF86Sabre 1 month ago
@Scottwax Because he didn't do anything illegal.
KTF86Sabre 1 month ago