CrimeShadows News

CrimeShadows News Has Its Own Domain!

2008-05-08T01:14:00.006-05:00

CrimeShadows now has a site at CrimeShadowsNews.com. All the content from this site has been imported into an all new format at our new site. All sites in the CrimeShadows Network will be connected, so no matter where you are, you can find what you are looking for.

While everything seems to have transferred smoothly, there may be some glitches. I will address all issues as soon as possible and get everything optimized for reader's convenience.

The older content will remain in place (without Google indexing), so links on other sites will continue to work. I hope to reach a wider audience and promote the existing sites in the CrimeShadows Network.

CrimeShadows.com

CrimeShadows News at CrimeShadows.com

CrimeShadowsNews.com - NEW!

Parkwaykiller.com

ZodiacKillerTRUTH.com

Notice: For the time being, I am disabling the redirect to the new site so visitors won't have to search for the story they clicked on. To get to the new site just click on the main page logo. To get to the new site now, just click here.

Police Hunt Stabbing Suspect in Colorado

2008-05-07T20:22:00.004-05:00

Police have released a composite sketch of a man who stabbed a woman and left her for dead. According to police the woman met the man in Denver on April 26, 2008. The woman was stabbed repeatedly by the man and left in a field near Denver International Airport. Wounded, she made her way to 56th Avenue where someone drove her to the airport to call police. The suspect is believed to be in his 20s, with a mole beneath one eye. He has thick, dark eyebrows. He is believed to still be in the Denver area.

If you have any information concerning this case, please, call the Aurora Police Department at 303-739-6064.

Sources and Related Sites:

Sketch released in search for attempted homicide suspect

Sketch Of Attacker Who Left Woman In Field Released

Woman Assaulted, Left In Field

Billboards To Help Catch the Daytona Beach Serial Killer

2008-05-07T19:49:00.007-05:00

A local advertising company in Daytona Beach, Fl is helping in the search for a serial killer. Lamar Outdoor Advertising has donated space on two electronic billboards in the area. Police are hoping the billboards will lead to break in the case of the Daytona Beach Serial Killer. The billboards feature a hotline number (1-800-277-TIPS) and the photos of the four known victims. The four women whose deaths have been connected to one unkown suspect are Laquetta Gunther, Julie Green, Iwana Patton, and Stacey Gage. if you have any information related to the deaths of these four women, please call 1-800-277-TIPS.

For more information on this case, please visit the Daytona Beach Serial Killer Website.

Source:

Police Try Billboards To Catch Serial Killer

Notice: There is NO Daytona Beach Serial Killer Composite

2008-05-07T14:26:00.009-05:00

Jerrold Ecklind looks like the sketch, yes indeed --but the sketch is not of the serial killer!

I have been noticing a mistaken assumption on various message boards and blogs around the web. My April 20, 2008 post, The Doctor's Orders - Dr. Ecklind's Agenda was quite popular among amateur crime researchers. The post was about Dr. Jerrold Ecklind's intentions on the day he drove off with a woman and allegedly made her place handcuffs on herself. The Ormond Beach doctor was arrested last month for impersonating a police officer, among other charges. At the end of the post, I attached a press release from the Volusia County sheriff's office containing a sketch of a suspect from an unrelated sexual assault (unrelated to the serial killer, as far as we know) that occurred in New Smyrna Beach. I would like to make sure that readers understand that this is not a confirmed sketch of the serial killer. Having read the post carefully, the reader would know that this case is completely unrelated, as far as we know. Because of the misunderstanding, readers will now see various posts on blogs and message boards referring to the composite as that of the serial killer. Please, I hope this post makes clear that this is not the case, and has never been presented as such on this site.

That being said, I find the two images to be very striking in their similarity. For this reason, and the strange behavior exhibited by Ecklind, I believe the doctor should be investigated thoroughly regarding unsolved crimes in the area. It is no secret that police are looking closely at Jerrold Ecklind regarding the serial murders of four area women. We are still awaiting their conclusions in that matter.

For the convenience of readers, I have re-posted the press release of the new Smyrna Beach Incident:

SHERIFF’S OFFICE RELEASES COMPOSITE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT SUSPECT

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office released a composite sketch on Thursday of a man wanted for abducting a 26-year-old woman at gunpoint earlier this week and sexually assaulting her in a remote, wooded area near New Smyrna Beach. When the suspect took off after Monday’s attack, the victim walked about a half-mile before flagging down a New Smyrna Beach police officer.

The victim told Sheriff’s investigators that she was walking along U.S. 1 in Port Orange Monday afternoon when a newer model, white minivan with tinted windows drove by several times and the driver tried to convince the woman to get in the vehicle. When she refused, the victim said a white man in his late 30s got out of the van, pulled out a handgun and ordered her to get into the vehicle. Fearing for her life, the victim complied and the suspect got back into the van and drove southbound towards New Smyrna Beach. The victim said the man rolled up the windows and locked the doors to prevent her from escaping.

The suspect drove to a secluded area near New Smyrna Beach, sexually battered the victim and then left the woman in the woods while he drove off. The attack occurred off of a dirt road off of S.R. 44, west of I-95 not far from New Smyrna Beach’s municipal water treatment plant. The suspect was described as approximately 6' tall and weighing about 250 pounds, with black and gray, scruffy hair and no facial hair. The suspect has a small scar on his chin and was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Sheriff’s Investigator Cynthia Gambrell at (386)-423-3301 or Crime Stoppers of Volusia & Flagler Counties toll-free at 1-888-277-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.

UPDATE: Altus,OK Homicide - Body Identified

2008-05-06T19:59:00.004-05:00

Jackson County Sheriff Roger Levick said today that man whose body was discovered in a ditch Saturday (May 3) was Johnny Ray Lee Jr., 60, of Altus. Cause of death is still unknown.

Authorities are still searching for the pickup truck. (See Below)

The body of man was found in ditch south of U.S. Highway 62, southwest of Altus, OK Saturday (May 3). The body was found by an area farmer who called 911 about 9 a.m. Saturday morning. Jackson County Sheriff Roger LeVick says the death is being treated as a homicide.

Suspect Vehicle:

Red Ford F-150 pickup truck with a missing tailgate

Oklahoma License Plate JCV 565.

Anyone with information is asked to call the O.S.B.I. at 1-800-522-8017.

Sources:

Burned murder victim ID'd

Jackson County farmer discovers burned body

Man's Body Found Near Altus

Dr. Jerrold and Mr. Hyde?

2008-05-06T11:48:00.005-05:00

While we're waiting for DNA to exonerate Jerrold Ecklind, an Ormond Beach geriatric physician, from suspicion that he may be the Daytona Beach Serial Killer, there are still a few things to consider.

We have two people, strangers to Ecklind, that say he told them he was an officer of the law. He was no such thing.

Ecklind allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a man and told him he was "the police".

Ecklind had not one, but three, loaded guns in his car. According to his own attorney, these guns were "strategically placed" in his vehicle (one was holstered on his left hip).

Not only did Ecklind have three loaded weapons in the car, he had a pair of handcuffs!

The woman he allegedly "saved" said that when she got into Ecklind’s car, he made her handcuff herself.

He then drove around for 45 minutes telling her he was taking her to jail.

So even if Ecklind is not the serial killer, he's one strange dude that should be supervised closely.

Daytona Beach police will not comment on this case. Ecklind is cooperating with authorities according to his attorney.

Source:

Doctor Questioned About Daytona Beach Serial Killings

OSBI Releases POI Sketch -Tammy Harjo Murder

2008-05-05T21:36:00.004-05:00

OSBI Forensic Artist Harvey Pratt created a sketch of a person of interest using the input of several eyewitnesses. The unidentified man was seen walking up to the home of Tammy Harjo at 417 N. Bryan in Okmulgee, OK Thursday evening (May 1). Tammy Harjo, 43, was found dead 10:30 AM Friday (May 2) of blunt force trauma to her body.

If anyone recognizes the person in the sketch, or has any information regarding this crime, please, call either the OSBI hotline at 1-800-522-8017 or the Okmulgee Police Department at (918)756-3511.

Suspect Description:

American Indian, approx. 20 years old,
6 feet tall, slender build
medium complexion and short black hair

Clothing Description:

light red t-shirt
black shorts with a gray cuff
white tennis shoes

Source:

Sketch Released in Okmulgee Murder Case

Altus, OK Homicide Suspect At Large

2008-05-05T14:00:00.002-05:00

The body of man was found in ditch south of U.S. Highway 62, southwest of Altus, OK Saturday (May 3). The man's identity is still under investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Jackson county officials say they have a pretty good idea who he is but are awaitng confirmation from the family.

The body was found by an area farmer who called 911 about 9 a.m. Saturday morning. Jackson County Sheriff Roger LeVick says the death is being treated as a homicide.

Suspect Vehicle:

Red Ford F-150 pickup truck with a missing tailgate

Oklahoma License Plate JCV 565.

Anyone with information is asked to call the O.S.B.I. at 1-800-522-8017.

Sources:

Jackson County farmer discovers burned body

Man's Body Found Near Altus

Deadly Night for Club Patron - Killer and Friends at Large

2008-05-04T15:12:00.009-05:00

Obnoxious Behavior

A 28-year-old Oxnard, CA man was leaving Loffler's Sports Bar & Grill at Regal Avenue and Mac Street with his girlfriend and three other friends. As they left at about 1:30 AM, he noticed a young man urinating in public in the presence of women. Richard (Ricardo) Zarate expressed his indignation at the man's lack of civility and hygiene, unaware that he was speaking to a homicidal maniac.

Heated words were exchanged between the two, but no reported physical confrontation occurred. Zarate and his friends then proceeded to their car, which was parked on a nearby street. The suspect was too cowardly to confront the person with an old-fashioned assault & battery. Why risk a bloody nose he could do much better from the safety of his own car? Unfortunately, the obnoxious and cowardly behavior only escalates.

Horror

The suspects vehicle veered toward the party, running Zarate over, dragging him about 75 yards. To prove that this was no accident, the car then made a U-turn on the dead end street --and ran the man over again!

The driver of the car wasn't the only heartless dirt-bag, as the woman on the passenger side grabbed the Zarate's girlfriend by the hair as they drove by. She was thrown to the ground suffering cuts and bruises. No one, save for the suspects, knew that an evening of fun would turn into a night of screams and horror. Later on in the hospital, Zarate died from his injuries.

If you know anything about this crime, please help.

Contact the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000 or (949) 770-6011

Vehicle Description:

Light Brown newer model Honda Accord

"fancy" chrome wheels and tinted windows

Suspect Description:

Driver is Hispanic male in his 20s

female passenger front seat, male and female passenger back seat

License Plate begins with 1G or 1Q

If you know anything, please, help get this trash off the streets.

Toby Lee Lowry & Morgan Amanda Leppert In Custody

2008-05-03T18:02:00.006-05:00

Morgan Amanda Leppert, 15, and Toby Lee Lowry, 22, were taken into custody about 4:30 PM by police in El Paso, TX. According to police the two were found panhandling on the side of the road with a hitchhiker. The stolen truck was about 20 yards away.

Lowry is being charged with grand theft auto and interference with the custody of a child. Texas authorities may be charging the trio with panhandling.

Source:

Missing Putnam girl, boyfriend taken into custody in Texas

Previous Post:

Nationwide Search for Missing Child & 22 Year Old Man

Dr. Ecklind Questioned About Serial Killings; Reads Blogs

2008-05-03T11:40:00.006-05:00

According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Jerrold Ecklind, the physician arrested last weekend for police impersonation, has submitted a DNA sample and his home was searched for a .40 caliber handgun typical of those used in the first three serial killings. Ecklind's attorney, Mike Lambert said that no gun of that type was found out of the 40 to 50 guns in Ecklind's possession. Ecklind's DNA sample, which was not drawn at the time of his arrest, is still under examination.

Ecklind was also questioned regarding the four victims of the Daytona Beach serial killer. Ecklind is being cooperative, according to police, who will not divulge any other information.

Police have also obtained a wallet once belonging to Laquetta Gunther from her friend, Stacy Dittmer. Why police are requesting the wallet at this late date, and if the wallet has anything to do with the investigation into Ecklind remains unknown. The wallet did contain several pieces of paper with phone numbers of Gunther's associates, according to Dittmer.

Lambert contends that Ecklind never stated that he was a policeman, however, the presence of the handcuffs could not be explained. According to Lambert, Ecklind has a concealed carry permit and was only trying to help a troubled citizen. I guess he has never heard of a cellphone.

Reading the Blogs

"He's been reading the blogs and he sees that people think he's the serial killer," Lambert said. "But he has nothing to hide and he's been exonerated. He let the police search his home and they found nothing. They questioned him about the women who were killed and he told them he knew nothing about the murders."

Results of a Google Blog search reveals only CrimeShadows News (and a couple of other blogs containing stolen CrimeShadows content) refer to Ecklind and the serial killer in the same posts. There are other posts at various news websites (including the News-Journal) with comments from readers who believe that Ecklind and the serial killer may be the same person.

Ecklind and the Daytona Beach serial killer are mentioned in the same posts here because I provide coverage and a website dealing with the serial killer case. Ecklind has brought himself under suspicion with his behavior, regardless of his intentions. I have never said that I thought Ecklind and the Serial Killer are the same person. I do think he should be looked at closely regarding area unsolved cases and Daytona Beach police are doing just that. Heaven knows there are plenty of other strange characters in Daytona Beach besides Jerrold Ecklind.

What we are being asked to believe is that Jerrold Ecklind, a geriatric physician:

Happened upon a man and woman arguing decided to intervene with the threat of deadly force.

That it was only coincidence that he had handcuffs in the car.

That Ecklind never told the woman that he was an undercover officer.

That Ecklind never told the man that we was "the police."

That his guns were strategically placed in the vehicle for his own self-defense.

Well, maybe a jury will buy this version of events. Maybe it is the truth, which they say is stranger than fiction. We've been asked to believe things far less likely.

Nationwide Search for Missing Child & 22 Year Old Man

2008-05-02T12:37:00.010-05:00

A nationwide search is underway for Morgan Amanda Leppert, 15, who may be in the company of 22 year-old Toby Lee Lowry, The two may be in a silver 2003 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck with Florida tag 193 KLR.

Morgan is described as a white girl about 5 foot 1 with blond hair and blue eyes. Lowry is a white man about 6 foot 2 and 190 pounds with blond hair and green eyes.

Investigators believe Leppert and Lowry may be headed to Houston, Texas. The pickup has reportedly been sighted near Katy, Texas.

Anyone with information in the case can call the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at (386) 329-0800.

Lowry is a person of interest in the murder of 66-year-old James Thomas Stewart.

Sources & Related Articles:

Amber Alert issued for Putnam teen

Teen's Disappearance Linked to Murder of Senior Citizen

More on Toby Lowry:

Lowry refers to himself as the "Baddest mother----er" in palatka" on his MySpace page. His user name is "morgans_man." His marital status says that he is "Engaged." I guess he plans to marry the 15 year-old girl when she grows up. He posts on his own page saying, "F--k off all ya'll bitch ass hoes I'm Taken by Morgan Amanda Lowry." Lowry's mood today is "Excited." His page is covered with drug references and vampire imagery. He must identify with vampires. Last MySpace log-in for both Lowry and Leppert April 22, 2008, the day the two went missing.

A strange message appeared on one of the pages linked to Toby Lowry's MySpace page: "R.I.P TOBY LEE LOWRY MY BIG BROTHER WHO WAS SHOT BY THE COPS." Mood: miserable. The last log-in shows yesterday (May 1), before the Amber Alert was issued. This must be a display of concern for his safety, as Lowry is, as of this writing, still on the lamb. Hopefully, this won't end in violence.

I know there are a lot of people who will say this girl is "mature" or some other bullshit to that effect. This is a child whose childhood has been stolen. Lowry may not be the only person responsible for the wayward path of this girl, but that does not make him anything less than a predator. Many of our kids are growing up too fast due to the irresponsibility of their guardians. This fact, combined with the predators that lurk after these kids, make this world a very dangerous place to grow-up in. This child is not by any means "mature." She is a victim of those who have denied her her childhood. I'm not saying this girl is an angel who shouldn't have to face any consequences, I'm just hoping that she'll find the guidance she so desperately needs. For the time being, we can all hope for her safety until this ordeal is over.

Massachusetts Serial Killer Suspect in Custody

2008-05-02T11:24:00.007-05:00

Prosecutors in Worcester, MA have a "person of interest" in relation to the murders of several women in the area. Alex F. Scesny, 38, of Berlin, MA is being held on an unrelated charge of rape. Scesny has reportedly been linked via DNA evidence to the 1996 homicide of Theresa Stone, 39, in Fitchburg. He is currently being held without bond.

Scesny is being investigated in the murders of the following women:

Betzaida Montalvo

Carmen Rudy

Dinelia Torres

Wendy Morello

Lineida Olivera

Smiley Face Killers - Fact or Fiction?

2008-05-01T10:03:00.004-05:00

I have been pretty reluctant to blog about this story. I usually (not always) try to stay away from stories that get widespread attention. However, this is a story that is getting pretty high on the weird meter. I just thought I'd weigh in and share my own viewpoint.

I first heard about the story over at the ZodiacKiller.com Message Board. I followed the news stories just beginning to circulate, but I failed to see the connections that were being sold. As I've made plain before, I think speculation can be a good thing, provided there is a good foundation for it. There just didn't seem to be any foundation for this story.

You may have heard of the "Happy Face Killer, who signed his letters to the press with a smiley face. This is a completely different story. This is not a copycat type of thing. The "Smiley Face Killers" are, according to supporters of the theory, a gang of killers spread across multiple states that kill young college students. The killers dump the bodies into rivers, leaving a "smiley face" spray painted at the supposed site.

As a regular reader of the True Crime Weblog, I read Steve Huff's coverage of the story. He seems to share the same opinion and has outlined his reasons in his usual, eloquent manner. I also read many of the comments left by his readers, both pro and con. If you are interested in this story, I recommend you take a look over there.

Some have likened gang aspect of the so-called "Smiley Face" killings to the racially motivated Zebra killings of the 1970s. I fail to see the connection. The Zebra killings all occurred in the same general area. There was no ambiguity in the Zebra killings. Police knew they were homicides. There was no mistaking these crimes for accidental deaths. The killers were trying, very successfully, to strike fear and terror within the community. While the "Smiley Face" case brings a sense of fear and anxiety all its own, the cause of the fear may be owed to over-active imaginations.

One factor that should be considered is the ubiquity of the "smiley face." Is this not one of the most popular symbols, even on a global level? I don't think finding a smiley face in any place where graffiti is left would be that unusual. I bet if you went driving right now and examined bridges, walls, and road areas where teenagers are known to gather, you will find a smiley face. Since this story has hit the wires, you can bet you are only going to see an increase in such graffiti.

Can you think of any major body of water near you where a drowning hasn't occurred, even recently? Perhaps you can; I doubt it. Drowning is not that uncommon an accident. Couple that fact with the popularity of graffiti, and one could build their own urban legend.

Can anything good be gained by this idea of a serial killer network? Some of these deaths may get a little closer attention than they did initially. Maybe some truth will be discovered. If there is such a gang, they will definitely need to change their signature in order to be recognized. you can bet high school kids across the nation will be spray painting smiley faces to get their "lulz" for some time to come.

The Doctor's Orders - Dr. Ecklind's Agenda

2008-04-30T19:40:00.014-05:00

Yesterday, police arrested Jerrold Ecklind, an Ormond Beach geriatric doctor, for the false imprisonment of a woman, along with impersonating an officer and aggravated assault. (Story) What were "Dr." Jerrold Ecklind's intentions when he drove off with his prey? He certainly wasn't there to play hero, or he wouldn't have had her handcuff herself. He did have three weapons, all of them loaded. He told her that he was an undercover police officer (which he was not). He was driving to some unknown destination before he was apprehended. Where was going? What was he going to do when he got there? These are haunting questions that, in all probability, have some pretty scary answers.

The probable answer, at least according to what we have seen in similar cases in the past, is that he was planning to sexually assault her. Would he have then let her go, after her having seen his face, his vehicle, and possibly taking evidence with her her? Possibly. Ecklind was counting that the man he pointed the loaded .45 at would think he was a cop and be afraid to say anything. (He bet wrong.) He might have thought that a woman who lived the high-risk lifestyle of his chosen victim would also not choose to report his crime.

On the other hand, he might not have wanted to take such a chance. He does, after all, have so very much to lose.

Of course, he may have just been playing the hero. He might have handcuffed her for his own protection. He may have feared her getting a hold on one of the loaded guns he had stashed in his car. You have to be careful who you give a ride to these days.

I do hope police keep a close eye on this guy. I also hope that he loses his medical license. He has no business in the health-care profession.

Here is an April 10, 2003 Press Release from the Volusia County Sheriff's Department

Is it just me, or there is there a resemblance?

SHERIFF’S OFFICE RELEASES COMPOSITE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT SUSPECT

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office released a composite sketch on Thursday of a man wanted for abducting a 26-year-old woman at gunpoint earlier this week and sexually assaulting her in a remote, wooded area near New Smyrna Beach. When the suspect took off after Monday’s attack, the victim walked about a half-mile before flagging down a New Smyrna Beach police officer.

The victim told Sheriff’s investigators that she was walking along U.S. 1 in Port Orange Monday afternoon when a newer model, white minivan with tinted windows drove by several times and the driver tried to convince the woman to get in the vehicle. When she refused, the victim said a white man in his late 30s got out of the van, pulled out a handgun and ordered her to get into the vehicle. Fearing for her life, the victim complied and the suspect got back into the van and drove southbound towards New Smyrna Beach. The victim said the man rolled up the windows and locked the doors to prevent her from escaping.

The suspect drove to a secluded area near New Smyrna Beach, sexually battered the victim and then left the woman in the woods while he drove off. The attack occurred off of a dirt road off of S.R. 44, west of I-95 not far from New Smryrna Beach’s municipal water treatment plant. The suspect was described as approximately 6' tall and weighing about 250 pounds, with black and gray, scruffy hair and no facial hair. The suspect has a small scar on his chin and was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Sheriff’s Investigator Cynthia Gambrell at (386)-423-3301 or Crime Stoppers of Volusia & Flagler Counties toll-free at 1-888-277-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.

There's an interesting discussion over at the Websleuths Forum about this case.

To those concerned: I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in my observations. And to Filly - You're welcome! Thanks for the link.

S.W.A.G.

2008-04-30T17:11:00.004-05:00

I do a lot of speculating about suspects and unsolved crimes. Some might not agree with the practice. In my view, whether or not I am right or wrong in my guesses, unsolved cases, as well as dangerous people in current society, receive attention that would otherwise be focused elsewhere. I do try to base my conjecture on fact, and not characterize people in a manner completely dissimilar to what is known.

Essentially, if a subject displays certain factors and these certain factors are present in other unsolved crimes, let's take a look and make sure this guy isn't responsible for those crimes, as well. In the end, the person(s) I suspect may not be responsible for the crime(s). Still, some things are accomplished within the true crime community. Awareness of a known criminal is raised to some extent. Unsolved crimes also receive a little more attention. Discussion, including questions and criticism, help to establish truths and weed out garbage.

I am not alone in this practice, and others take a similar amount of heat for their decisions. I am not always right in my suppositions, but I am not always wrong, either.

This doesn't mean that I endorse slander or libel against innocent persons, I do not. I also don't believe in accusing someone of a crime without any proof. That is not my intention. I am not accusing anyone of anything they haven't been officially accused of.

I have written this post to try explain why I write some of the things that I do. Some may disagree, that is fine. I don't mind criticism, but I don't wish to be misunderstood.

As always, comments are welcome.

S.W.A.G. definition (for those who don't know)

Chris

Have Police Caught the Daytona Beach Killer? No, Not Yet!

2008-04-29T16:03:00.004-05:00

"The doctor is only a phone call away."

I've been following the case of the Daytona Beach Serial Killer for some time now. I also operate a website dedicated to providing information about the suspect and victims, in hopes that someone might know something. As I read the news today, I happened upon a story that sent an eerie chill down my spine. Not a chill of fear, but of excitement, as a potentially dangerous man has been identified.

The Daytona Beach News Journal reports today that Dr. Jerrold Ecklind, an Ormond Beach osteopathic surgeon, has been arrested for aggravated assault, false imprisonment and impersonating a police officer. It seems he interrupted an altercation between Ricky Wingate and Gina Oslizlo. Oslizlo willingly entered Ecklind's vehicle, whereupon she was handcuffed and driven around while being interrogated. Wingate was able to get the tag number of the car, and Ecklind and Oslizlo were later stopped, whereupon Ecklind was apprehended.

The reasons for my own reaction to this suspect, are the similarities that can immediately be noted:

The victims of the serial killer were prostitutes or women in high risk lifestyles. The woman found with Ecklind falls within that category.

Three of the victims were known to have been shot with a high caliber weapon (.40 caliber). Ecklind had a .45 caliber handgun in his holster.

The killing are believed by many to have been the work of a policeman, who the women would be likely to trust. Ecklind was impersonating a policeman.

The victims were believed to have been chosen at random. Ecklind appears to have chosen the woman at random.

The killer is believed to appear normal and have good verbal and social skills. Ecklind is a physician with his own practice.

Of course, this is just speculation on my part, I readily admit. This guy could just be another of the many dangerous nutjobs running around loose. Let me know what you think.

By the way, Dr. Ecklind is out on a $25,000 bond.

Daytona Beach Serial Killer

Doctor charged with impersonating officer

May 2, 2008 Update: It appears Jerrold Ecklind is just your run-of-the-mill police impersonator. If he was connected to any previous crimes in the area, police would surely have taken him in by now, or at least have made some kind of announcement. If he's lucky, he may not have to cancel any appointments.

Another Update: Bad Brad Brasher

2008-04-25T00:12:00.004-05:00

O.K., not really an update as much as a correction.
It seems there is some good news in the justice system as far as this case goes. The "no bill" on Brasher does not mean that he won't be seeing any justice at all.

In February of 2008, a Wichita County grand jury indicted Brad Neal Brasher on two counts of aggravated sexual assault and two counts of indecency with a child. As posted here earlier, grand jury also issued a no-bill on one count of aggravated sexual assault.

A search warrant issued at Brasher's home revealed his perverted activities. Brasher had installed hidden cameras and had made a recording of a child engaging in sexual conduct. Brasher told another party that he had destroyed the recording. He indicated several spots where he had placed cameras.

Several computers were confiscated during the search. A computer forensic examiner found several images of interest to police. The examiner found several JPEG files with images of juveniles engaging in sexual activity inside a bedroom. The room was recognized by police. The juveniles were both younger than 18 years of age. Brasher's wife sued for divorce in February.

Man faces child porn charges

Indictments - February 22, 2008

Mandi Alexander & Mary Drake

2008-04-23T16:39:00.003-05:00

CrimeShadows.com has added the case of Mandi Alexander & Mary Drake to the site. This still-unsolved double homicide occurred in Great Bend, Kansas in 2002.

Do you know this man?

Height: Approximately 6' to 6'2"
Weight: 188 pounds
Hair: light brown to blond
Clothing: last seen wearing denim cut-off shorts, black to dark gray t-shirt, white socks, unknown footwear

On September 4, 2002, at approximately 7:55 PM, the Great Bend Police Department responded to a call at Dolly Madison Bakery, 1004 Harrison, Great Bend, KS. Upon arrival, officers found two deceased females, victims of an apparent double homicide. Police have never said how the women died. A delivery truck driver who found the bodies said they were located in a back office. A witness described seeing a white male, approximately 6'1"-6'2", weighing 175 lbs, having collar length light brown to blond hair, and a slight beard, walking away from the front door of the bakery. The murder weapon was never found, and no suspects have been arrested. Officials also aren't sure of a motive for the murders, although some money from the store was missing that night.

Mandi Alexander & Mary Drake at CrimeShadows.com

If you have information on this crime, or may have been in the area between 5:00pm and 6:30pm on September 4, 2002, contact the Great Bend Police Department, the Barton County Sheriff's department or the Kansas Bureau Of Investigation at 1-800 KS CRIME.

Other links:

MySpace for Mandi Alexander

Close This Chapter - The Mandi Alexander Story

A Friend Remembered

Tools of Silence -or- The Code of the Coward

2008-04-19T17:04:00.002-05:00

Everyone hates a snitch. That is what we hear all the time -in the media, in the music, in the movies. But what is a snitch? What is this code all about? Who does it serve? This post will examine the term and how it applies.

On TV, we have our lovable snitches, the fictional comic relief and plot-helpers of TV's crime dramas. The most famous was surely "Huggy Bear," portrayed by veteran blaxploitation film actor Antonio Fargas. Huggy Bear graced the screen on Starsky & Hutch with his jive-talking and flashy-threaded persona. "Hunter" had Garrett Morris as "Sporty James" to fill the comic-relief role of informant.

In real life, being an informant is a serious matter. Consider the case of Angela Dawson. She was killed for doing the right thing. She was not killed for snitching. She was killed because she was a witness to criminal activity.

In an ironic form of hypocrisy, certain sites have taken to "ratting out" the rats. One such site, Whosarat.com was founded by a man charged with dealing drugs. The site is a place where the names of informants are listed for searching by interested parties. In true snitch fashion, this information is not given for free, but for a price.

Snitching and witnessing are two different terms. An article at PopMatters.com written by Marc Lamont Hill explains the difference. He writes "While a witness is an asset to truth and justice, the snitch is motivated primarily or entirely by self-interest. While witnesses are committed to upholding social contracts, snitches inevitably undermine them. Given this distinction, it seems that the bulk of the public outcry in favor of snitching is actually a plea for witnesses." A snitch acts in his own interests. A snitch talks to get a lighter sentence or to grab a reward. If you provide information to authorities in the name of justice you are not doing so for yourself. You are not a snitch. Sometimes you are taking a big risk. Remember, you can remain anonymous in this day and age. There are hotlines and tiplines where you can give information about suspects without revealing your identity.

Here is my take on snitching and/or witnessing:

If you know of a crime, especially one in which harm has been or will be caused to a person or persons, and you do not act, you are a coward. You are not honoring something noble. You are not bettering your community. You are failing your neighbors, your family, and yourself. If you refuse to talk about someone's murder or other violent attack, you are not being straight. You are being a tool.

You may argue that the police cannot protect you or your family if you decide to talk. It may be hard to swallow, but that is cowardice. Soldiers fight for our freedom. We ask so much of them, but what do we ask of ourselves here at home? We live in a world where freedoms and protections are often taken for granted. We forget that it isn't just our men and women in uniform who have a responsibility. As Americans, we all must do our part for the country, for the society, in which we live. People do what they can to get out of civic duty. People cheat on their taxes. They weasel out of jury duty. They don't testify in sex cases because they don't want to sully their own reputation. Who wants to be associated with terms like "child molester" or "rapist?" Nobody --but think of the victims --think of justice. So people who know about these types of crimes, or can testify against an alibi or the like, avoid doing their part in helping to achieve justice. Being an American, being a good citizen requires more than just lip service. We cannot be afraid of these people. Someday it may be us who needs someone to stand up and speak. Let us hope they will have the courage. Let us provide the example by standing up for justice when and where we can. Do not be afraid.

Ohio John Doe Revealed - Joseph Newton Chandler

2008-03-25T21:55:00.008-05:00

James Renner of the Cleveland Free Times contacted me a little over a week ago with a few questions --and told me some fascinating news! Renner was working on a story about Joseph Newton Chandler, or, as we refer to him over here, Ohio John Doe. Renner has found some fascinating information about our mystery man that I'm sure most of you have never heard before.

Joseph Newton Chandler III was the identity this John Doe had stolen from a young boy that was killed in an auto accident near Sherman, TX. John Doe most likely copied the information from the boy's tombstone in the City Greenwood Cemetery in Weatherford, Texas. John Doe, using the assumed name, was found dead in his apartment on July 30 of 2002. When authorities tried to locate his next of kin, it soon became clear the man was an impostor.

James Renner has done an amazing job of gathering information on John Doe/Joe Chandler. He has also revealed more details about the man I suspected of assuming Chandler's identity, Stephen Craig Campbell. Campbell is wanted by the ATF for attempted first degree murder and possession and manufacture of a destructive device. A Federal Warrant was issued on April 25, 1983, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, charging him with manufacture and possession of a bomb.

You can read all of the chilling details here.

I'd like to thank Mr. Renner for providing this information to the public. He's done a fantastic job! I know a lot of folks still curious about this man will appreciate this new information.

Chris

Eugene Bennett - A Twisted Triangle

2008-03-20T22:30:00.004-05:00

In September of 2006, I wrote a post entitled "The Strange Case of Eugene Bennett." I told readers about this strange former F.B.I. agent and his hatred for homosexuals. I wrote about how he abducted and attacked his own wife (also an F.B.I. agent) and a pastor of a church, including his unwitting involvement of a young investigator. Bennett's story reeked of weirdness from all angles. In my own mind, I wondered if Bennett might have been involved in things even more sinister, but as yet, unrevealed. This is a man I want very much to learn more about. I, and others interested will soon get the chance.

In May of 2008, author Caitlin Rother's new book, "TWISTED TRIANGLE: A Famous Crime Writer, a Lesbian Love Affair, and the FBI Husband’s Violent Revenge" will hit the shelves. I first heard of Caitlin Rother when she left some contact information on CrimeShadows News while researching this very book. I have been waiting in anticipation ever since.

Caitlin Rother, a former investigative reporter for The San Diego Union-Tribune and Pulitzer Award nominee, has written the first complete account of the events that led up to that momentous night in 1996. The book covers the affair between Bennett's wife Margo and crime author Patricia Cornwell. Margo and Eugene's troubled careers with the F.B.I. and the abduction and attempted murder are detailed in the book, as well.

Margo Bennett currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she is a captain in the University of California, Berkeley campus police department. Eugene (Gene) Bennett is incarcerated in Virginia, not far from the Washington DC area, where most of the events of this incredible story took place.

Eugene Bennett is scheduled for release in July of 2017.

Following are some reviews of "TWISTED TRIANGLE: A Famous Crime Writer, a Lesbian Love Affair, and the FBI Husband’s Violent Revenge" by Caitlin Rother

“[Rother] has been able to tell a story that will reach those who need to hear that such pain can be endured and such terror can be overcome, that survival and even triumph over adversity are entirely possible.”
—From the Introduction by Margo Bennett

“A harrowing tale of one woman’s struggle to maintain a balance between being a mother, a FBI agent, and dealing with a corrupt husband also an FBI Agent. A must read.”
—Joseph D. Pistone aka Donnie Brasco

“This book will haunt you. It will move you to look at some of the harsh realities of life in a new way. A powerful story--and masterfully written.”
—Aphrodite Jones, best-selling author, All She Wanted and Cruel Sacrifice

CrimeShadows Podcast

2008-03-19T17:51:00.004-05:00

I've started creating podcasts for CrimeShadows.com using the service from MyPodcast.com.

You can listen to the CrimeShadows Podcast by clicking on the link in the sidebar (to the right). I'd like to remind those who listen that I'm no Bill Kurtis. I know everyone hates the sound of their own voice (almost everyone), but I almost chickened out altogether.

You can play the first few minutes of the podcast right on the page, but click the download button of each episode to hear the podcast in its entirety.

Anyway, I hope this help gets the word out about the cases we are covering. I encourage comments and response, so email me at chris@crimeshadows.com or click the "Call me" button on the contact page or at the bottom right of this blog. Be sure to note that your comment is for the podcast.

Thanks,

Chris

Hope Against All Odds

2008-03-19T12:09:00.004-05:00

I received the following forwarded email a while back. Like many emails that get forwarded along, it contained a tragic story with a glint of hope. I looked into the story, that of a young child gone missing, only to find that there was more to the tale than what was told in the email. In fact, the story has become what many consider an urban legend. But wait, this is no hoax. This is no trick played upon those who care about such things, those that many feel to be naive and foolish. This story has one thing that many sad stories often lack. This story has hope. Hope is expensive. It takes a lot from a person to have hope, especially when so many see that hope as fleeting or even desperate.

Below is the email I received. You have probably received one just like it. Perhaps you've already read about this case on the Internet. Regardless, take another look. It won't take that much time, and it would mean a whole lot to the family, I'm sure.

If this was your daughter you would forward it.

Missing 3 year Old Girl-
You never know, who knows whom

Hi guys, Here's another child missing.
Please forward to everyone you know..
Shes too precious to be absent from her family.

This is really sad that the family of
this young girl has to do this, but
others can get the attention of
mass media. Please pass this along
and say a pray for the Strong Family.

PLEASE HELP US BY FORWARDING THIS EMAIL UNTIL THIS REACHES A WORLD-WIDE
AUDIENCE AND JEWEL IS RETURNED HOME SAFELY

Racharel Strong (father) - 404-357-1881
Simona Strong (mother) - 404-313-4255
Tiesa Locklear (aunt) - 678-234-4902
Tramesa Locklear (aunt) 678-480-1635
Ursala Williams (aunt) 678-362-5246
GOD FIRST, PEOPLE ALWAYS

I titled this post "Hope against All Odds." The odds say Jewel was swept away with the currents after falling from a raft she was floating on with her aunt, who rescuers were able to save. It seems the two were carried out of the so-called "kiddie pool," an apparently calm-water alcove formed by a rock jetty at the entrance of St. Andrew Bay. The area of the jetty was searched with divers, boats and helicopters with no results. Authorities have presumed the child deceased, a victim of the turbulent waters.

But wait! Where does the "hope" come in? How can anyone have hope after learning of such devastation such a reasonable explanation and conclusion? We must remember that miracles have happened in the strangest of places. Sometimes serendipity plays a part in such things. Sometimes an opportunist sees a chance to gain from another's confusion. Herein lies the hope.

According to Snopes.com:

"The parents received their first solid piece of evidence when a customer at the Golden Corral on San Jose Boulevard thought she spotted the girl with three black women. The restaurant's surveillance video showed what the mother said are Jewel's unique mannerisms.

"(My) son has seen it, mother, sisters, aunts — everybody in our family has seen it. Everyone is completely convinced that it's her," Jewel's mother, Simona Strong, said. "We watched her walking around, dancing, bumping into people. We know our daughter."

The family expressed similar optimism about reports from Orlando, Florida, in August and September of 2007:
[T]he Strongs believe their daughter may be in Orlando. Over the past two months they received reports of Jewel sightings at Disney World and at an Orlando hospital. The latest clue that gives the family hope is an Aug. 22 video recorded by a security camera at an Orlando Walgreens store."

You can see the referenced video here.

I guess in a world where I see many give up their children when they're close enough to touch, or give up on them when the waters get rough, it's encouraging to see a family believe in something so strongly. I hope that you will share in in their optimism, fleeting as it may be to us skeptics.

Sometimes hope itself is the miracle.

Crime Blogger's Blues

2008-03-17T15:15:00.006-05:00

I have been doing this "true crime" blogging thing for a few years. Each month has been a lesson in human nature and the justice system. I have also learned a lot about myself along the way. I started out doing what I do because I felt a need to provide a voice for those who aren't able to speak for themselves. Sometimes I do it for those who can speak, but the people that should be listening are turning a deaf ear. My voice isn't really all that loud, but I believe it's better than less or nothing. I have always had a "complex" about being silenced myself, so I can be rather aggressive and defensive if I feel the pressure of someone trying to shut me up. I'm not always the "nice guy" a lot of folks take me for. Sometimes I think my hair-trigger responses have left me looking rather foolish in the wake of my overkill. I do, however, try to make amends for my mistakes. After all, I'm not the [what's a nice word for asshole?] that some people take me for, either. At least that's what I like to think.

Occasionally, I hear from victim's family members that have been affected by the crimes I write about. I listen and try my very best to put myself in their shoes --even though I will never feel the exact same pain that they are feeling. Hearing from these folks is what means the most to me. It's what keeps me going. While my concentration is a plea for justice to the actual victims, I feel a certain responsibility to make sure those left behind are also shown the respect they deserve, even if I don't always see things from the same perspective that they do. I realize that reading about the tragic events of one's family can extremely painful. I do not want to cause anyone any pain, above all those who have been through so much already. On the same note, I don't believe it's in anyone's best interest, save the perpetrator's, to keep silent about the crime. Sweeping it under a rug, or tucking everything away in a basement file cabinet may save someone some tears and the pain of a heart-ache. However, there are those who have lost much more than tears because of crime. There are those who lost their lives. There are those who died brutal deaths, often in the prime of their lives. These people deserve justice. They deserve to be remembered. They deserve to be avenged.

I titled this post "Crime Blogger's Blues," but I really love what I do. It's just there are times when the frustration of some injustice sets in and I let my emotions drive my actions and words that I feel the need to just "back-off" and let this crazy world spin on its own axis. I know I can't change a damn thing that's wrong with this world. I know my words are just words and my opinions mean little in the larger picture. Still, I find myself at times being so angry that I write more with the anger and disappointment than with what some would call "professional journalism," This is the dilemma that haunts many of us bloggers --and (though they may hate to admit it) many professional journalists. Not all bloggers, and not all journalists, but many, not few write more from their heart than their mind --not that it is always a bad thing.

In the past, I have condemned those charged with crimes against our children with what some interpret as "fire and brimstone." I don't go to to church and I'm no Bible thumping religious-right holy roller, or what have you. In fact, I consider myself semi-agnostic. It's just that the contemptible evilness of these crimes and the powerlessness of the victims outrages me. It outrages me that many other folks don't really seem to care --as long as it's not their child, their family. Yes, I admit, it makes me sick. It makes me angry. It makes me forget... These people, despite the news stories, despite the horrible allegations, are innocent until proven guilty. Sometimes that is immensely hard to believe, especially when a newspaper or anchor person describes the man's confession in alleged verbal detail. It's hard to believe a person is innocent when similar charges have appeared and keep appearing on that person's record, or when you hear or read words obviously from the person himself proclaiming his deviant beliefs and intents.

Sometimes events motivate me to edit or even pull a post from this site. I go through a process before performing any such action.

I ask myself a few questions:

Q: Am I considering such action for ethical reasons? Is my conscience bothering me?

If the answer is "Yes," then this is in favor of the action. I do not want to further malign a person who may be, despite all accusations to the contrary, an innocent man. However, I retain the right to republish, reinstate, and reiterate in the event that the person's guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Q: Am I doing this in fear of reprisal --from the suspect, his family, or his supporters?

If the answer is "Yes," then I must stand my ground and not make changes out of fear.

Q: Are the words that appear in the post truthful and is my opinion plainly distinguishable from the actual facts?

If the answer is "Yes," then I must stand my ground and not make changes where they are not really necessary.

Q: Am I considering this because of the threat of legal action?

If the answer is "Yes," then I must determine if I am truly within my rights and willing to stand my ground in a court of law.

I often write about the shared disappointment in the justice system and in law enforcement, in general. This may lead some in those professions to think I am against them --that I think I can do better than them. This is far from the truth.

I believe the American justice system, despite any inherent flaws, is the best justice system in the world. I believe the same of American law enforcement. It is American law enforcement that is ultimately responsible for the apprehension and prosecution of the suspects written about here. It is the justice system that has the power to deliver justice. My role is to simply keep the word out and make sure that these crimes are not forgotten. I'm not perfect, and I'm certainly not the best, but I'm still here and I'll keep on writing as long as I am able.

For those who will not be silenced.