Dear Editor:
This letter is in response to your article "Canton Shooting Claims One Life," which appears in your May 27, 2020 publication. I'm hoping you can help me to understand exactly why your article focuses more on Mr. Bierig's prior criminal record instead of the actual shooting incident, which ended the life of a 42 year old father, son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend.
I myself was fortunate enough to be able to call Casey Bierig my friend, and though I neither dispute nor deny any of the claims made in your article, it is my opinion that you paint a very unfair, unflattering picture of the man Casey was. Had you done your due diligence as a reporter, your readers would have learned that in his last year on this earth, Casey, who had been struggling with addiction his entire life, had completely turned his life around. He made the brave decision to get clean and in doing so he was able to mend once broken relationships, most importantly with his children whom he loved more than life and developed a relationship with God. Not only was Casey winning his battle with addiction, he was encouraging other addicts to start their own journey to recovery. In just a few short months, Casey helped over sixty people get in to rehab. He changed his own life for the better and wanted to help others change and, perhaps save theirs. He was leading by example, serving as a beacon of hope for those who wanted to give up and showing the world that recovery was possible, because if Casey Bierig could get clean and sober, anyone could.
In your article, you also make mention of a 2015 incident where in Casey Bierig was the driver of a vehicle transporting Caylee Massey and Christopher Blake Scruggs when Massey was shot and killed and Scruggs' remains were later found and his death was ruled a suicide. While those are both true and correct statements, they are also very misleading, as you fail to mention that Casey Bierig was neither suspected nor charged in either death.
Your article demonstrates what I consider to be the biggest problem with our community, as well as small town America in general. People are not allowed to make mistakes or have a past. One small lapse in judgment and you are unfairly labeled and ostracized until you eventually move or die...and even then, you're not completely safe. Your article and Casey Bierig prove that. Casey made his fair share of mistakes and then some; however, he was an incredible man with the biggest heart, and he will be missed. Despite his shortcomings, Casey Bierig left his mark on the world...one full of light, love and more than anything, hope.
In the future might I suggest that instead of focusing on the darkest days of an individual you remember that there are always three sides to a story.
Respectfully,
Kelli Taylor