It really isn't that hard:
Of course, in this economy, you never know. Maybe criminals are finding that the only way to get some green from their victims is to sexually assault, torture and murder them.
The couple's home was ransacked and jewelry and other items were taken. A fire was set, apparently in an effort to destroy evidence. The Camp Pendleton-based Marine sergeant and his wife were tortured before they were shot execution-style, according to a published report.
Investigators said they believe the motive was financial in nature. [Emphasis mine]
- Are the perpetrators black or Hispanic?
- Is at least one of the victims white, Asian or obviously Jewish?
- Is there something about the victim(s) that would rile up racial sentiments in any fashion?
- Is the nature of the crime extreme to the point of going well beyond normal hit-and-run, target-of-opportunity crime?
- Does the explanation for the crime seem like an extreme understatement based on the obvious facts of the case, such as the socio-economic demographics of the victims and perpetrators, and the fact that the nature of the nature of the crime is wildly different from most crimes of that class?
Of course, in this economy, you never know. Maybe criminals are finding that the only way to get some green from their victims is to sexually assault, torture and murder them.
C'mon. You know it's only a hate crime if perpetrated against blacks or gays. I know what you're thinking. His wife was black. No, she was married to a white guy, so, no hate crime. Absurd? YES! That's why I wrote it that way. Almost all crimes involve hate in one form or another. Good one, Mike