Grim Sleeper - Latest Reading
Newsweek has a new write-up on The Grim Sleeper investigation which is now gathering pace thanks to the ‘dogged’ efforts of Christine Pelisek of LA Weekly. The article poses an interesting question - Should the police be circumspect while investigating cases like this or should the public be kept in the loop? Does public awareness aid the investigation or can it hinder chances of catching the killer?
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It’s a hard question to answer and both options have benefits and drawbacks. In any investigation it is vital to create leads and collect fresh information and the best way to do this is by asking the community for help. People living, working and travelling through the area have expert knowledge that can crack a case wide open but they have no idea they possess this valuable knowledge until they are made aware of its importance. However, as soon as the investigation is in the public domain a huge advantage is given to the killer. S/he will be able to follow the story, track progress, cover tracks and generate false leads, create alibis, scupper potential leads, change MO, change location and generally do anything possible to thwart capture.
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Opening the investigation to the public also poses problems created by the shear number of leads generated. The public likes to help but too much help is sometimes more damaging than no help at all. The investigators have extra work (and wasted man hours) sifting through the information, picking the useful stuff out from the pile - the tiny amount of wheat in a huge pile of chaff! Conversely an investigation that is conducted behind-the-scenes attracts less new information but the quality of any new leads is possibly higher and ultimately more useful. Isn’t it? it’s a tough call.
5 Responses to “Grim Sleeper - Latest Reading”
August 6th, 2009 at: 3:47 pm
It’s going to be difficult either way. I, for one, feel that the LAPD should not have kept the survivor (Enietra Margette) in the dark about their suspecting that TGS was (is) a serial killer as the information she provided could have helped capture him–instead, they felt she was “traumatized” and could not be trusted. What’s really tragic about this is that her description of him as he was back in 1988 is probably useless today because of how much time has passed. On the other hand, it’s a safe bet that TGS (almost certainly) knows that the LAPD is looking for him and that may explain why he switched his M.O. from shooting to strangulation. In any case, it’s a “damned if I do, damned if I don’t” situation for law enforcement agencies as both options have their own inherent benefits and drawbacks.
August 6th, 2009 at: 6:26 pm
The cops had their chance…Years actually, lets take a gamble on this one case and turn over more details to the public (maybe the cops don’t really want to pay out that 500K reward?). If nothing more than to keep the story front and center! We all agree that someone could remember that Orange Pinto, someone may come forward (only if it is in the public eye). I strongly think this website (www.thegrimsleeper.com ) needs to allow a donation site to be proactive (that is going one step beyond just sharing details with the public, that is letting the public get involved to help). Yes, I can appreciate the Cops won’t want (or admit they need) any help…and there are just as many folks that intend well, but would prove a hassle to the cops, but again, they had their chance!! Look what the Cops did with all the rape kits when they had DNA and never had it anylized or put into the computer network where it could do some good ( http://www.laweekly.com/2009-03-19/news/dna-deep-feeze ). I don’t see this as a 50/50 issue at all, I see this as a 80/20 with 80% going to turning over details to the public. One good example that is proven would be the http://www.amw.com America’s Most Wanted TV show. They simply use the power of TV to help catch criminals and get the public involved to turn over tips (http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=60381). There is arguably only one more powerful medium than TV…the internet, so lets put that power to work (please). Here is a sample of a donation website for someone with a great personal cause http://www.active.com/donate/lv09national/LNoyes3 why can’t we do this same thing for catching the Grim Sleeper??
August 7th, 2009 at: 1:02 am
This link was posted by another reader, and I found it to be interesting:
http://newnation.cc/forums/showthread.php?p=298224
Highly doubtful it pertains to this case, but it peaked my interest. How old is the suspect their hunting in NC?
Also:
To the GRIM SLEEPER, who no doubt checks in on this site and follows the progress of the manhunt…
…How does it feel? How does it feel knowing you’re being hunted? Do you worry about it? Do you stay awake at night thinking of the women that you have slaughtered?
It’s only a matter of time before they catch up with you. Take heart, they will find you….eventually. You’re DNA will land on someone’s desk and then….the game’s over.
Whatever puppet show of a life you’ve rigged-up for yourself is going to SNAP loose, and the only thing left hanging will be your neck.
Good luck with that…
September 21st, 2009 at: 4:55 am
…Jack…I think they have caught the NC guy you listed a link for above…his picture looked young and I think they only have him linked to one of the 6 NC deaths at the moment, but expect more soon (so not our GS killer). I liked your other post..was well written (Loved the Lethal Weapon reference). As the lone survivor helped detail the killer in the NC case…Had me thinking that I would like more info and details from the GS survivor (I think she is the key and best resource to catch this guy. Can she make a sketch?..did she ever make one and where is it?). Can she make a sketch also of that car and put those 2 sketches up on a billboard to catch GS??
September 29th, 2009 at: 2:04 pm
…thought this was interesting… cnn article on iPhone aps
In February, the FBI worked with NIC Inc., a contractor that develops Web pages for the government, to construct an app that provides updates of the 10 most wanted fugitives and terrorists. So far, there have been more 541,000 downloads in 170 countries since the app was released in February.
This month, Intelius Inc., a company that provides public records online, is launching an iPhone app called Date Check, which is “like having a private investigator in your purse,” company officials say. During a blind date, the Date Check user can snoop right away by punching in the stranger’s name. Within seconds, users can read records showing whether their date is a convicted rapist or owns a million-dollar property.
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