Since Oct. 2, eight people have been shot to death and two others wounded while doing such mundane chores as getting gas, mowing the lawn and going to school. Posted on 10/13/2002 2:26:47 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Serial sniper investigators are defending their limited release of information in the Washington-area sniper probe, saying they must strike a balance between enlisting the public's help and revealing too much to the killer.
Montgomery County, Md., police Chief Charles Moose has refused to answer questions about any investigative detail. He says if authorities have something they think the media can help them with, it will be released.
Since Oct. 2, eight people have been shot to death and two others wounded while doing such mundane chores as getting gas, mowing the lawn and going to school.
The latest victim, Kenneth Bridges, 53, (pictured, right) was gunned down Friday morning while pumping gas at a gas station in Fredericksburg, Va.
On Saturday, Moose expressed new concerns about the media's coverage of the investigation.
Moose said some media organizations may have decided to follow investigators and may even be stationing people at locations where they expect investigators to go.
Moose appealed to news outlets to consider that they may be jeopardizing the investigation, risking the safety of investigators and compromising witnesses.
He said if witnesses believe their safety or their reputation may be jeopardized, their willingness to help law enforcement may be at risk.
Moose said he knows he cannot make the media stay away, but he asked reporters to appeal to their sense of "the greater good."
Earlier this week, Moose lashed out at media coverage of leaks about evidence and the employment of retired officers -- who aren't close to the case -- as media consultants.
Police have confirmed the existence of the only apparent communication from the killer -- a tarot card with the words "Mister Policeman, I am God" -- after it was revealed in the media.
And on Saturday, they released two composite graphics of a white truck seen by witnesses.
Moose also said investigators remain very interested in a white Astro minivan seen near Friday's fatal shooting in Spotsylvania County, Va. But he was unable to determine when a composite of that vehicle would be available for the public.
However, police have not commented on everything from whether surveillance cameras have spotted the killer to a Time magazine report that the FBI has asked the Pentagon to search its records for recently discharged G.I.s who had gone through sniper school.
More Tips Flow In After Release Of Truck Images
The composite of the white box truck distributed Saturday has prompted a flurry of calls, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose said Sunday.
Moose said a similar sketch of a white Chevrolet Astro van with a ladder on top, reportedly seen at the latest shooting on Friday, may be on the way.
Moose unveiled the images at a 5 p.m. press conference Saturday, emphasizing the graphics -- showing two angles of the truck -- are composites, not photographs.
"It is not a photograph of the truck. It has been modified. It has been retouched, and it is very close to what witnesses tell us from their memory," Moose said.
Moose says the truck was described as having white, oxidized paint, rather than a glossy finish. That leads him to believe that it may be an older truck.
There is also damage to the right rear bumper that doesn't come out clearly in the composites, Moose said.
He says there is large lettering on the side of the truck, but he says none of the witnesses could recall the exact wording. The truck was first reported by a witness at the scene of shooting at a Montgomery County post office on Oct. 3.
However, Moose said the composite was developed after talking to several witnesses from more than one shooting location.
Witnesses were unable to remember a license plate number, Moose said.
Moose hopes the release of the truck graphics will help jog the memories of potential witnesses.
So far, they are determined to do it 'their way' and they are not any closer to stopping this madness than they were last week.
. . .when the Chief Moose was irate about the Tarot card and message; because the killer did not want them to 'talk'; could only wonder beyond bad judgement, why they would choose to empower the 'terrorist'.
They have come up with the most off the wall explanations for their rationale on this case; and I think these investigators will be slammed in the end for their decisions.
Time to move this case to more competant hands and minds. . .
I sincerely hope, he will be corraled soon. . .
You can say that again, so I did for you.
Could hypnosis help with recall? Or is that just movie/TV mythology that a witness can recall information under hypnosis? I do know that it may taint future prosecution, but lets face it, the shooters are unlikely to wind up in front of a jury. I see them going out in a lead storm.
Jack
. . .well, yes it could 'lead' him to the possibililty of making a mistake; sure. . .but why 'up the ante'; why gamble, when it is the public at large who is at risk?
I would offer, that cutting this 'empowerment' at the knees,so to speak, when time is of the essence makes more sense.. . .get the info out there and let the people know what the heck and who, they should in fact be on the lookout for.
Times are a little different today, what with everyone being at the least, 'armed' with cell phones and easy communication - The 'Amber Alert' worked; the case of Elizabeth Smart; the handling of which bears some correspondence to this investigation - did not work.
:*). . .and how about those video games? Just heard that there is a video game where at the end, and all the people have been killed, a Tarot card comes up and/or, is it just a note. . ., that just says 'I am God'. . .
Just heard this from my sister who lives in the area of these terror/sniper crimes.
Can anyone verify this out there? This could be something about to join the 'urban legend' category.
I hope that is the case; the idea of justice in a courtroom seems beyond their 'just desserts'. . .
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