Trigger- murder from the 1980's cold case

[waverly]

I am looking for a starting place to incentivize police to further investigate a murder from the 1980's.  The police have told me it needs media attention to get a break in the case.  Any starting places to seek out media attention?  I was thinking a podcast?  I could reach out to local news outlets, but I am not sure what would catch their interest.  Just looking to gain traction on a long cold case.  Perhaps enough momentum to test DNA if there were any.  Sorry this is a weird question, but I thought I could send a couple of emails to podcasts and media, and at least say that I tried.  

[lauren170]

TikTok! There’s a lot of seemingly random people on there with a large following that cover cold cases/unsolved cases.

[glw]

For podcasts, I would start with the social media sites for:
Your Own Backyard
Hell and Gone
The Fall Line
True Sunlight


The Vanished
Dateline: Missing in America (these two are about missing persons, so may not apply)

ETA: Also a lot of unsolved cases have dedicated FaceBook groups (e.g., Justice for X, Bring Y Home). If there isn't one for this case, you could start one (but managing one is a lot of work).

[cleo29]

waverly, there are a bunch of podcasts that feature cold cases. I would try sending what info you have to a bunch of them and see if they have interest.

[waverly]

I'm not on Tik Tok, so if you have anything specific let me know. Thanks glw , that's what I was looking for was specific places because if I search online I know it will just take me all over the place. cleo29 , let me know if you have specific names of podcasts. Thanks everyone!  

ETA- I'm not sure there was enough interest/ attention in the past to have people join a FB group.  

[krystee]

Is there a milestone coming up like the 40th year? Sometimes that makes it headline-worthy for the media, like “40 years later, a family still waits for answers.”

[JayTea]

Does it have a thread on web sleuths? Or any crime boards? You could always bump it up and ask people that way.

[krystee]

Also, are you saying there is DNA and they won’t test it? Or you’re not sure if there is DNA?

[waverly]

Jun 8, 2023 11:48:28 GMT -5 krystee said:

Also, are you saying there is DNA and they won’t test it? Or you’re not sure if there is DNA?

Not sure.  All the police told me is that there is no leads, nothing.  And they suggested reaching out to the media. 

[waverly]

Jun 8, 2023 11:24:50 GMT -5 JayTea said:

Does it have a thread on web sleuths? Or any crime boards? You could always bump it up and ask people that way.

I doubt there is thread, but I will take a look.  

[brooke77]

I listen to true crime podcasts and agree that a podcast could give it more attention. There are probably others, but the two that come to mind are Morbid and Crime Junkies. They are both weekly podcasts. I think they are both also really popular, so not sure how successful you will be, but I think it’s worth a shot.

To suggest a case to Morbid: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAVIEPyzBf_kCEeOXnUc8pJJsiALpTU-s_QKsSIYEbfRadkw/viewform

To suggest a case to Crime Junkies:
crimejunkiepodcast.com/suggest-a-case/

[maudefindlay]

Are there any local TV reporters who just come across as very earnest and who have done stories you have appreciated? I'd reach out to them. Really appeal to them by putting together the info you have and a bio on the person to show they were a person who was loved and is missed.

Create a FB page.

[waverly]

maudefindlay, not really. I'm in another state from where the crime happened, so I assume that the news that would cover it would be from that state (Texas).

[letsgetweird]

I would check to find crime reporters in that area. Some are active on Twitter, that could be an option to try to get the case attention.

Do you mind telling what area of Texas? I'm in DFW. Feel free to DM me if you prefer.

[waverly]

letsgetweird, Arlington.

[1confused1]

Not an answer, but I’m reading a book about this exact same thing! It’s called Something Bad Wrong.

[waverly]

Jun 8, 2023 14:05:15 GMT -5 1confused1 said:

Not an answer, but I’m reading a book about this exact same thing! It’s called Something Bad Wrong.

Interesting.  Since I am not local, I figure there is not much I can do to investigate on my own.  And by investigating on my own would only mean going in person to the police station and going to the building that's about it.  I kind of doubt a PI would get anywhere.  So I figure I'll make an attempt to interest others that can help.  But it's nothing high profile so I'm not sure there will be much interest.  But I have the time to write a few emails and see what happens.  

[madringal]

A good friend of mine was recently reunited with a sibling that was kidnapped 51 years ago. The 4 remaining siblings created a FB group and just started sharing what they knew. Old articles, pictures, stories. It started to gain traction, was featured in People magazine, and then the Podcasts started to pick it up, then of course the conspiracy theorists. It got ugly for them for awhile as hundreds of thousands of strangers picked apart their stories. Ultimately what led to their reunion was a DNA match to the missing siblings children? grandchildren? I don't remember which. Thankfully, both parents are still alive and were able to finally reconnect with their missing child who had no clue she was kidnapped after 50+ years! It is an incredible story.

[waverly]

madringal, good point that too much media might get ugly. All of us were living in another state at the time, but his ex-wife was there. I don't see why there would be blowback on us, but there might be on her and her family. And it's not like conspiracy theorists are rational.

[redheadk]

Maybe reach out to Ashley Flowers? She hosts several podcasts about cold cases, including Crime Junkie. ashleyflowers.com

[mofongo]

Jun 8, 2023 15:09:01 GMT -5 madringal said:

A good friend of mine was recently reunited with a sibling that was kidnapped 51 years ago. The 4 remaining siblings created a FB group and just started sharing what they knew. Old articles, pictures, stories. It started to gain traction, was featured in People magazine, and then the Podcasts started to pick it up, then of course the conspiracy theorists. It got ugly for them for awhile as hundreds of thousands of strangers picked apart their stories. Ultimately what led to their reunion was a DNA match to the missing siblings children? grandchildren? I don't remember which. Thankfully, both parents are still alive and were able to finally reconnect with their missing child who had no clue she was kidnapped after 50+ years! It is an incredible story.

OMG, I have so many questions! Can you share the story link? Or if not PM me? That is nuts! 

[heyyounotyouyou]

Start by telling the story here.

[lostrn]

I'm new to the true crime podcast scene but maybe also check out CounterClock?

[blondemoment123]

How about contacting Dateline?

[madringal]

Jun 8, 2023 16:07:08 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Jun 8, 2023 15:09:01 GMT -5 madringal said:

A good friend of mine was recently reunited with a sibling that was kidnapped 51 years ago. The 4 remaining siblings created a FB group and just started sharing what they knew. Old articles, pictures, stories. It started to gain traction, was featured in People magazine, and then the Podcasts started to pick it up, then of course the conspiracy theorists. It got ugly for them for awhile as hundreds of thousands of strangers picked apart their stories. Ultimately what led to their reunion was a DNA match to the missing siblings children? grandchildren? I don't remember which. Thankfully, both parents are still alive and were able to finally reconnect with their missing child who had no clue she was kidnapped after 50+ years! It is an incredible story.

OMG, I have so many questions! Can you share the story link? Or if not PM me? That is nuts! 

If you check out the IG Finding_Melissa you'll be able to find the details as well as her full name so you can google for more. It's a wild story. They really haven't talked MUCH about it since they found her other than she has reunited with everyone, changed her legal name back and is getting to know her family.  The statute of limitations on kidnapping ended like 20 years after Melissa tuned 18, so even though her kidnapper is alive and well, because she never took her out of her home state of Texas-there isn't much they can do. But I do believe they are pursuing other charges which is why they are staying quiet about her abductor. But she was NOT raised in a loving environment and it's all just really sad that she was taken from a family that loved her.

[sadlebred]

Do you have a contact with the local tv station? Maybe a friend of a friend of a friend or something? Put something out on social media saying you are looking for a contact.

Has a local tv station done a story on a cold case before? That reporter might be a good place to start.

[RoxMonster]

I would consider starting a Websleuths thread if one doesn't already exist. Anyone can start a thread as long as you have an MSM (mainstream media) link as evidence of the case (they are very big on only allowing MSM links and credible sources. They do not allow rampant rumor, Reddit threads, etc on the page). WS has hundreds of thousands of users. They also have their YouTube show that gets many viewers. You could reach out to the owner, Tricia, and see if she'd cover the case on her show to get it some visibility.

[waverly]

Jun 8, 2023 16:13:05 GMT -5 heyyounotyouyou said:

Start by telling the story here.

I'm going to do some thinking on the possible unintended consequences of media exposure.  I don't want to negatively affect the family in Texas.

I appreciate everyone's ideas, and I am going to take them and put them in a document to refer back to if I decide to move forward. 

[redraider523]

Jun 9, 2023 8:36:04 GMT -5 waverly said:

Jun 8, 2023 16:13:05 GMT -5 heyyounotyouyou said:

Start by telling the story here.

I'm going to do some thinking on the possible unintended consequences of media exposure.  I don't want to negatively affect the family in Texas.

I appreciate everyone's ideas, and I am going to take them and put them in a document to refer back to if I decide to move forward. 

Look at Gone Cold - Texas True Crime. Vincent and his team take case suggestions and only focus on Texas cases. He’s very thoughtful towards victims and their families. He’s very much an advocate — he’s helping getting word out for searches, calling LEO to take action etc. He was involved with the Carla Walker case.

[Pom]

You have gotten such great ideas!

I just wanted to say I hope that you and loved ones find some closure or peace. Good luck on this journey.