Candyman - A Murder in the Projects

Murder Files Unsealed

This source is a lengthy and detailed account of the murder of Ruthie Mae McCoy, a mentally ill woman living in Chicago's Abbott Homes, a high-rise housing project. The article chronicles McCoy's struggles with mental illness, her attempts to improve her life, and her eventual death at the hands of intruders who entered her apartment through the medicine cabinet. It also explores the dangerous living conditions in Abbott Homes, characterized by poverty, drug addiction, and widespread crime, and highlights the failure of both the police and the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) to adequately protect its residents. The article ultimately points to the systemic disadvantages and injustices faced by residents of these projects, highlighting the need for change in how we address the needs of vulnerable communities and ensure their safety.