Guidelines for posting on bangordailynews.com

The Bangor Daily News encourages comments about stories, but you must follow our terms of service.

1. Keep it civil and stay on topic
2. No vulgarity, racial slurs, name-calling or personal attacks.
3. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.

The primary rule here is pretty simple: Treat others with the same respect you'd want for yourself. Here are some guidelines (see more):

It should be noted this is not a comprehensive list.

• Don't insult one another or the subjects of BDN stories. You may be ticked off at what someone did or said, but you can explain that without resorting to name-calling or obscenity. Remember that young people are on this site too.
• That nasty line that makes your buddies go "haw, haw"? You're better than that.
• Comments should be your own work, not copied and pasted from elsewhere, though brief quoted passages to make your point are fine. And please don't use all capital letters. There's no need to shout.
• Stay focused on the issue in the article. Off-topic posts will be deleted.
• This isn't a forum to chat about your personal life.
• Some ideas — the fate of the earth, abortion, gun control, the nature of God — aren't going to be resolved in a reader forum, so no need to get frustrated if others don't see your point of view. State your position once and leave it at that.
• If you mouse over each comment you will see a "Flag" button. Please use it if you feel comments on the site are out of line. Quite often, we won't see a comment until it's reported.
• Questions about why a comment was — or wasn't — deleted? E-mail us at web@bangordailynews.com and let us know your username and where you posted or saw the comment.

That's about it: Stick to writing about the stories; be civil; be kind; enlighten your neighbors. And we'll keep moderating posts to try to ensure everyone meets those standards.

• Anonymous

  “Open Secret?” It seems as if people don’t want to get involved. What a shame.

• Anonymous

  If its an open secret, and no one’s come forward, then the killer is someone that everyone is afraid of.. local crimelord or kingpin?

  • Anonymous

    I’ve lived near the Smith’s home for years and knew Darrel and can honestly say that I can’t think of anyone that fits the description of a crimelord/kingpin/or bully. And, the open secret theory  must be more secret then open because I’ve never heard a word. RIP Darrel and take care Barb.

• Guest

  More of the ‘Stop Snitching’ baloney? That’s been on a serious decline in Boston, but things change slowly in the County.  (I’m a native)

• Anonymous

  The person may be “known” but the police need that piece of evidence that connects the individual to the crime. To proceed without that evidence could lead to a not guilty verdict and once not guilty is rendered in a trial you cannot be tried again for the same offense. The Maine State Police will solve this case.

• Anonymous

  If you know, say.

• Anonymous

  We all know, hearsay is exactly that, hearsay.  HOWEVER, there are people that know precisely what happened that afternoon.  How they function, day after day, is beyond me.  I don’t think I would call it an ‘open secret’.  As with all ‘rumor mills’, there are bits and pieces that there are truth in.   I do believe that the SP have that much figured out.  But, as MikeCInMaine said, there are certain individuals involved that I feel, others may be afraid of.  To have done something as heinous as this act, who’s to say that any accomplices family members or friends may have been threatened with harm, if said accomplices came forward?  (which is part of my belief) Having witnessed or been part of this act, you ARE hurting so many innocent people with your silence.    Wouldn’t it be better to come forward?  Our family, friends and community would finally have some closure and feel a little more secure.  Your conscience(s) will be freed and no harm would come to any other innocent people.  YOUR family and friends included!    So please, if you even remotely think you know anything or heard anything, tell the SP and let them do their job and check it out.  It may or may not be something they have heard before, we don’t know that.  It may just be what is needed to bring this full circle and hold those responsible, accountable.   Lastly, thank you to Jen Lynds for your talented writing.  I hope the next piece you write will be the capture of those responsible!

• Tim

  There’s a difference between open speculation and open secret. If people knew, they would say because Darrel was a good guy who never hurt anyone. I hope thet catch the scum and hang him by the balls over an open fire.   

• ann hardy

  this is a terrible burden to carry for all this time.A thing like that must of changed the person or persons who  know who it is.I will pray that God will work His miracle of love and conviction on the person or persons.It will be a terrible thing to take it to your grave to think of  for eternity!