Christine Young
Encyclopedia
Christine Young is an award-winning American investigative journalist
and author of the book A Bitter Brew: Faith, Power and Poison in a Small New England Town, which documented the largest case of criminal arsenic poisoning
in American history.
, from which she received a Master of Science degree. She holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Southern Maine
.
affiliate in Portland, Maine
, where her reporting, profiled on A&E's Cold Case Files and TruTV's Forensic Files
, led police to the remains of Pearl Bruns, a South Portland grandmother who was found buried in the basement of her home after she was beaten to death by her husband.
In 1996 Young led the first television camera crew into the world's largest brown egg production facility, Decoster Eggs, where she documented dangerous and inhumane conditions for migrant workers. Later, Young's reporting exposed financial skullduggery and illegal election practices of the Christian Civic League of Maine, a conservative lobbying group responsible for overturning Maine's gay rights law.
Young's 2005 book, A Bitter Brew: Faith, Power and Poison in a Small New England Town, documented a 2003 arsenic
poisoning that took place at a small Lutheran church in New Sweden, Maine
, killing one church member and making 15 others critically ill. While Maine State Police
and many church members theorized that someone had helped the poisoner, lifelong church member Daniel Bondeson, Young's book rejected the conspiracy theory, revealing that Bondeson, who shot himself at his family farm five days after the poisoning, left a note taking sole responsibility for the crime. In 2006, the Maine Attorney General
agreed that Bondeson had acted alone and closed the case.
In 2006, Young began investigating the facts behind the 1987 Hell's Kitchen
murder of a young prostitute from Buffalo, New York
, Michaelanne Hall, and the conviction of a mentally challenged security guard, Lebrew Jones. Suspecting Jones had been wrongfully convicted, Young convinced New York County District Attorney
's Office to reopen the case, and Jones was freed from prison in 2009.
In December, 2009, Young's series of multimedia stories on the Jones case was highlighted in testimony before the Federal Trade Commission
by Karen Dunlap, president of the journalism think tank Poytner Institute. Jones, the son of Count Basie
and Duke Ellington
jazz drummer Rufus "Speedy" Jones, served 22 years in prison before winning an early release that legal experts attributed to Young's work.
As of the spring of 2011, Young was working on a book, Slaves of Hell's Kitchen, about the Lebrew Jones case.
for Investigative Reporting, the 2008 Online News Association
's Online Journalism Award, and the 2009 Excellence in Criminal Justice Reporting Award from John Jay College of Criminal Justice
. She has also been awarded the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, National Headliner Award, the Clarion Award, and an Edward R. Murrow Award
.
Investigative journalism
Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism...
and author of the book A Bitter Brew: Faith, Power and Poison in a Small New England Town, which documented the largest case of criminal arsenic poisoning
Arsenic poisoning
Arsenic poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the element arsenic in the body. Arsenic interferes with cellular longevity by allosteric inhibition of an essential metabolic enzyme...
in American history.
Early years and education
In 2009 Young received a Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism from Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, from which she received a Master of Science degree. She holds a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
.
Career
Young began her career at WMTW, the ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, where her reporting, profiled on A&E's Cold Case Files and TruTV's Forensic Files
Forensic Files
Forensic Files is an American documentary-style series which reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and even outbreaks of illness. The show is broadcast on truTV, narrated by Peter Thomas, and produced by Medstar Television, in association with truTV...
, led police to the remains of Pearl Bruns, a South Portland grandmother who was found buried in the basement of her home after she was beaten to death by her husband.
In 1996 Young led the first television camera crew into the world's largest brown egg production facility, Decoster Eggs, where she documented dangerous and inhumane conditions for migrant workers. Later, Young's reporting exposed financial skullduggery and illegal election practices of the Christian Civic League of Maine, a conservative lobbying group responsible for overturning Maine's gay rights law.
Young's 2005 book, A Bitter Brew: Faith, Power and Poison in a Small New England Town, documented a 2003 arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
poisoning that took place at a small Lutheran church in New Sweden, Maine
New Sweden, Maine
New Sweden is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 621 at the 2000 census.-History:Starting in 1870, a Swedish-immigrant colony was established by the State of Maine in Aroostook County. The State of Maine had appointed William W...
, killing one church member and making 15 others critically ill. While Maine State Police
Maine State Police
The Maine State Police is the state police agency for Maine, which has jurisdiction across the state. It was created in 1921 to protect the lives, property, and constitutional rights of the citizens of the State of Maine.-Vehicles:...
and many church members theorized that someone had helped the poisoner, lifelong church member Daniel Bondeson, Young's book rejected the conspiracy theory, revealing that Bondeson, who shot himself at his family farm five days after the poisoning, left a note taking sole responsibility for the crime. In 2006, the Maine Attorney General
Maine Attorney General
This is a list of Maine Attorneys General...
agreed that Bondeson had acted alone and closed the case.
In 2006, Young began investigating the facts behind the 1987 Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West, is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City between 34th Street and 59th Street, from 8th Avenue to the Hudson River....
murder of a young prostitute from Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Michaelanne Hall, and the conviction of a mentally challenged security guard, Lebrew Jones. Suspecting Jones had been wrongfully convicted, Young convinced New York County District Attorney
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
's Office to reopen the case, and Jones was freed from prison in 2009.
In December, 2009, Young's series of multimedia stories on the Jones case was highlighted in testimony before the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
by Karen Dunlap, president of the journalism think tank Poytner Institute. Jones, the son of Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
jazz drummer Rufus "Speedy" Jones, served 22 years in prison before winning an early release that legal experts attributed to Young's work.
As of the spring of 2011, Young was working on a book, Slaves of Hell's Kitchen, about the Lebrew Jones case.
Awards and honors
Young is the recipient of the 2007-2008 New York State Associated Press Association writing award, the 2008 Sigma Delta Chi AwardSigma Delta Chi Award
The Sigma Delta Chi Awards are presented annually by the Society of Professional Journalists for excellence in journalism.- History :The Awards, according to the SPJ, did not begin in 1932 when the society chose six individuals for their contributions to journalism. In 1939 the awards program began...
for Investigative Reporting, the 2008 Online News Association
Online News Association
The Online News Association , founded in 1999, is a 501 non-profit organization made up of more than 1,800 members. Its mission: Inspiring innovation and excellence among digital journalists to better serve the public....
's Online Journalism Award, and the 2009 Excellence in Criminal Justice Reporting Award from John Jay College of Criminal Justice
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a senior college of the City University of New York in Midtown Manhattan, New York City and is the only liberal arts college with a criminal justice and forensic focus in the United States. The college offers programs in Forensic Science and Forensic...
. She has also been awarded the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, National Headliner Award, the Clarion Award, and an Edward R. Murrow Award
Edward R. Murrow Award
The Edward R. Murrow Awards are presented by the Radio-Television News Directors Association in recognition of what the Association terms "outstanding achievements in electronic journalism."-Judging:...
.