I actually find you quite reserved in your jugement and open-minded about other's opinion, even if you don't accept anything for face value (which is a good thing).
I am as biased as they come, but like I said, I hate being wrong.
A big part of it is having a bunch of aunts and uncles who forward everything sent to them without checking. I love a good slam as well as the next guy, but I sure do not want to slam on false pretenses. So I have become the "authenticator" of internet Myths. 
You can see from my past articles where I really got it wrong (and had me head handed to me), so I strive for accuracy these days. But then it is not like you have to look hard for something you want to slam. As Nitro indicates, there are plenty of examples where the story is true (just not in this case).
Had the OP been the MSM, the retraction, if any, would have been buried on page 12.
Maybe in Podunck News and reports, but the NY crimes would have it on page A31 (and the section would stop at A30).