I have a friend (or previous friend now), that I knew had a less moral living style several years back. They recently told me that several years ago they were involved in drug activity, etc. During this time period they state that they had beat up several people so bad that they left them for dead, and did not know if they survived or not.
Now, I'm sitting here wondering if there is a possiblity that someone was beat so bad that they died. Wondering if somewhere there is a cold case file, and a family who wants to know who did this to their loved one.
How do you report something like this to authorities, especially since it has been several years?
Who would you report it to?
Serious answers only please.......
2006-10-21 18:06:54 · 15 answers · asked by star22 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Call the police department or the sheriffs department and tell them what you know and how you know it. If it is true, they will get more information from you later once they determine if there was a crime committed.
2006-10-22 06:02:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jeez, has no one here heard of an anonymous tip line?!!! You just call it & give as much info, as you can. Be as specific as you can re. possible neighborhoods where he hung out, who he ran with then, bars he drank at etc. If you wish to be able to speak more directly, & think it won't tip your friend off, you could leave a list of names of people who may have some awareness of his whereabouts & companions at that time & include your own name on that list.That way you can talk directly with someone just like everyone else who gets called in, so as to maybe avoid suspicion that you spoke up. Make sure you state that you don't believe they are neccesarily aware of his activities at the time, but that they could likely provide good interview info.
It's possible that some of these people would already be known to law enforcement, & that with enough names & interviews they could put together some pieces of a puzzle that has been set aside & is just waiting for a break like this.Good luck, you'll do the right thing.
2006-10-21 19:40:38 · answer #2 · answered by gettin'real 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did your friend name names? (i.e., say that he beat up Joe Jones, rather than saying he beat up 8 members of the Low Down Gang [just made those names up]?) If so, there would be some opportunity for the police to check what had happened to the victim(s) as a result of the beating.
I received some truly disgusting email (untraceable, of course). I called a local police department; they told me to call 411 (non-emergency reporting line). They also said I had to call 411 from home (I was calling them from work).
I would say the best thing to do probably is to call 411 from home. It's not an acute situation where someone is getting beat up now. They may refer you to another department or two (I was referred to the internet-crimes division and the Sexual Assault Unit).
It's possible that nothing may come of it. An officer called me back and asked me to forward the email, with headers (history of servers where it had gone; my email program provided these by default). The headers probably were spoofed. He said that if I didn't hear back from him in x number of days, I should just delete the email. I did not hear from him. I deleted the email.
2006-10-21 18:25:28 · answer #3 · answered by amy02 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your local Sheriffs Department should have a web page. That is how you should go about this by emailing one of the detectives on that web site. Chances are they are not cold case files but rest assure if you said nothing at all, there would still be the cause and effect law of life and they will have to answer to their mis deeds eventually no matter you say anything or not. But it is always a good idea to at least run this by the Sheriffs Department just in case. Good luck.
2006-10-21 18:18:55 · answer #4 · answered by soniaatcalifornia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ya plz tell some one you wont be able to live with your self.
And today you can do it unanimously. For crying out loud. get a spin and report it. you dont have to tell any one its you. But you should , because if it was my kid that got beat up to all most dead. You could be doing some one alot of good. Dont be scared. Do the right thing. ok Do it unanimously. plz. People do this all the time police will understand.
2006-10-21 18:15:54 · answer #5 · answered by Dorina V 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to the police in the jurisdiction where the alleged crimes were committed. Give them the details that you have. Do not call 911 as one person suggested.
2006-10-22 01:26:23 · answer #6 · answered by d b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call youe local police and explain to them that your x-friend recently told you this info and you thought someone should look into it. Tell them how serious the friend was when telling this to you.
But do call, don't let someones death go unsolved,(if it is true).
Family members do need to put the death of their loved ones to rest, the best they can.
2006-10-21 18:17:18 · answer #7 · answered by marvs36 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just go to the police and tell them everything, and that you wish to remain anonymous. If it has been several years, the people involved will not suspect you for putting them in.....it will relieve your conscious!
2006-10-21 18:12:53 · answer #8 · answered by ang_172 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Call the police station. They should have a non-emergency number listed. If they don't or you can't find it anywhere, go directly to the station and tell them what you said here.
2006-10-21 18:15:26 · answer #9 · answered by Cinnamon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I was you , I would just call the local police station and explain to them the way that you have explained it to me. Don't worry, you ARE doing the right thing. I wished that everyone had your conscience.
2006-10-21 18:12:51 · answer #10 · answered by poobear 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋