IN THE PIPELINE:

As Valen Williams takes a seat in the family living room, B.B. King’s “The Thrill is Gone” plays on the radio. The song is apt, perhaps, because we are talking about the loss of her son, Dane Williams.

The 23-year-old local was reported missing in late January while attending a trade show near the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego. Several days later, Dane’s body was found in an alley in a downtrodden neighborhood about 7 miles from where he was last seen.

To try to describe the impact of this event on Valen, Dane’s dad, Jim, or sister, Hayley, (not to mention Dane’s many friends and associates) is simply not possible — it is just beyond words.

I’d never met Dane or his family (though as it turns out, we have mutual friends), but this case left me reeling. Though there are many horrific events these days involving young people, this one just seemed to combine all the most basic qualities and elements designed to break your heart.

A young man who, by every single account, was good-natured, hard-working, well-raised and a positive force on virtually everyone he came in contact with. A solid, tight-knit Huntington Beach family. And the fact that by all evidence, Dane was doing absolutely nothing wrong that night.

He wasn’t driving recklessly. He wasn’t making trouble. He was just probably trying to get back to his hotel room after a long day. But he didn’t make it. Something happened to him. And then, hours later, someone saw fit to leave his body, wrapped in an old blanket, in some nondescript alley.

I started following this case, and day after day a sickening feeling grew inside of me: A catastrophic crime was committed here.

And although it is unsolved, it had all but dropped from view. Sure, there was the recent tawdry headline in the OC Register: “Alcohol, prescription drugs found in Hurley intern’s body.” A quieter sub-head read, “Cause, manner of death remain unknown for Dane Williams of Huntington Beach, San Diego medical examiner’s office said.” So, why the misleading heading?

OK, he’d had a few drinks — but he wasn’t driving, and did not appear by anyone to be drunk. As Valen pointed out in a letter to the editor, “The Register stated that there was ‘quinine’ in his system along with the Valium; well quinine is nothing more than tonic water, period! Regarding the prescription drugs, Dane was found to have a small trace of Valium in his system. This could have been purposely put in one of his drinks. However, the dose that was found in his system was so insignificant that it held no bearing whatsoever on Dane’s demise.”

I think that’s what drove me to call Valen. To clear up some of the misrepresentation and, more importantly, to refocus attention on this case.

For about an hour last week I listened to Valen explain, in controlled (yet emotional) sentences, the many frustrations she and her family are experiencing. There is the investigation in San Diego, which to date, has yet to produce any concrete answers (what scant news there is cannot be discussed due to concern that it might impede the investigation). I called San Diego Police Lt. Kevin Rooney of the homicide unit to inquire about the case but have yet to hear back from him.

Valen describes the tortured hours soon after learning Dane was missing. The legal red tape needed to review hotel security cameras, the reluctance of some local store owners to let the family hang missing person posters, then more red tape in trying to gain access to her son’s cell phone records.

“So many things should change to make it easier for people who go through this,” she said. “We ask ourselves constantly, ‘How much time was lost to red tape?’”

Then there’s the people who write the story off to more crazy behavior from another out-of-control young adult. Problem is there’s no crazy behavior and no out-of-control adult. There’s just this good kid — and few answers.

Jimmy Parker, executive director of the Gaslamp Quarter Assn., is also frustrated by the lack of evidence and information.

“I’ve been here since 1998,” he said. “And while there have been crimes in the area, something like this is unprecedented. It’s very serious to us and we work closely with law enforcement. But up until now, there’s just been very little to go on.”

It’s the not knowing that most torments the Williams family today — coupled with the painful efforts to keep the word out that this is an open case.

What I’ve gotten to wondering is why isn’t this case a national story? Is it because we’re “just” dealing with a decent, middle-class, American male? If he were a blond girl instead of a guy, would it make a difference? What is it in today’s society that forgets to focus on males as victims?

We read of female teachers seducing young male teens and there’s rarely outrage — it’s sort of winked at and forgotten (and gently punished).

But when a male teacher does the same thing, it’s rightfully called what it is: abuse. Greta Van Susteren on Fox News has built a broadcast cottage industry tracking the cases of pretty, murdered blond females. Events deemed as “hate crimes” are another staple of the media.

But where does Dane Williams fit in? Where’s the ongoing public coverage? Where’s the outrage over what happened to him? Is he simply too “normal” to warrant coverage? Is there not enough of a “hook” to attract attention? Where is the outrage?!

I promise you, this column will follow the story, press for answers, and focus attention on what happened. It’s the least this good young man (and his family) deserves.

Anyone with information about Dane Williams can call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS. There is a $10,000 reward.

Does the lack of attention and/or misrepresentations regarding this case outrage you?

We want your thoughts. Post at In The Pipeline, www.hbindependent.com/ blogs_and_columns.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 11 books. You can write him at [email protected].