Today, let us do some hypothesizing about when a murder case moves from open/unsolved to cold case.
It is now three years and sixty-two days since that horrible day when Stacey Burns was killed. Ample time has passed for a valid discussion of what constitutes a "cold case" to be held.
There are some police detectives who would argue that a case never goes cold; rather, it remains in the open/unsolved category. I truly don't know if this is true or not since the New Hampshire State Police do, in fact, have a cold case division and it apparently is active in this case as detectives from that division have interviewed at least one person in Wolfeboro of whom I am aware. There may or may not have been others.
Speaking in generalities, suppose a detective from a cold case division of a police department interviews someone more than three years after a crime has been committed. Does that mean that case has turned cold? Does it mean that other detectives who are not in the cold case division have stopped working on the case?
Do more recent cases with more current leads receive all of the attention of the detectives handling active cases and a case like Stacey Burns' keeps moving further down the list?
A police officer explained to me once that a cold case means there is simply nothing more the police can do in the present climate of information. Hmmm . . .
Just as in the last blog where I wondered when the killer finally will say to himself/herself, "I got away with murder," I wonder again when the authorities will say in reference to Stacey Burns, "this case is cold" or, perhaps more troublesome, have they already said it?
Just wondering . . .
Duker
Monday, July 16, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Murder, politics and dead ends
Recently, I had a conversation with a friend here in Arizona about the Stacey Burns murder case and my book. He happens to have extensive experience at the state level in a major crime unit in the Midwest (NOT IN N.H.) We touched on many different aspects of this sad story but three areas struck me as important-not necessarily new but important reminders as we enter the fourth year of the investigation.
1. Knowing only what I could tell him about the murder, he immediately said that whoever killed Stacey Burns must have really hated her. As Brad Garrett said in his 20/20 interview, this was "overkill." Maybe this is obvious to all but the savagery goes beyond simply killing someone.
2. Prosecutors have to be extremely careful. Much has been made of the double jeopardy issue and certainly no one wants to have a killer walk free because of a weakness in the case. Realistically, no prosecutor wants the political fallout from losing a case either. As my friend pointed out, any elected or even appointed official must be acutely aware of the power that placed them in office and they would not want to jeopardize that power base by losing what would surely be a high profile case. The political smart thing to do in the Stacey Burns case is wait and hope that something additional happens. Probable cause does not equal beyond a reasonable doubt.
3. Again, with just the knowledge that I shared with him, my law enforcement friend observed that the case is probably at a dead end now. Three plus years is a long time. I wondered at what point does the killer say to himself (or herself) "I got away with it!"
Duker
1. Knowing only what I could tell him about the murder, he immediately said that whoever killed Stacey Burns must have really hated her. As Brad Garrett said in his 20/20 interview, this was "overkill." Maybe this is obvious to all but the savagery goes beyond simply killing someone.
2. Prosecutors have to be extremely careful. Much has been made of the double jeopardy issue and certainly no one wants to have a killer walk free because of a weakness in the case. Realistically, no prosecutor wants the political fallout from losing a case either. As my friend pointed out, any elected or even appointed official must be acutely aware of the power that placed them in office and they would not want to jeopardize that power base by losing what would surely be a high profile case. The political smart thing to do in the Stacey Burns case is wait and hope that something additional happens. Probable cause does not equal beyond a reasonable doubt.
3. Again, with just the knowledge that I shared with him, my law enforcement friend observed that the case is probably at a dead end now. Three plus years is a long time. I wondered at what point does the killer say to himself (or herself) "I got away with it!"
Duker
Thursday, July 12, 2012
A new suspect?
I don't generally put much credence in the "talk on the street" because it is usually just that. However, in this case, there just may be some truth (or a degree of truth) to this.
Assuming my novelist mode with its perenial "what if" question, what if, just for the sake of argument/discussion, there is a third person out there? He/she might have fallen off the police radar as they zeroed in on the most logical suspects. What if, heaven befall us, it is a female? What if this person had the motive, means and opportunity to kill Stacey Burns? I assume that any of these "peripheral" people have been eliminated from consideration due to the careful, judicious and thorough investigation, but in my mind, wouldn't it be a huge suprise if Ed Burns and Jim Vittum suddenly were not suspects in the murder of Stacey Burns?
Sorry, I let my fiction writer take over there but as long as there are no arrests nor trial not convictions, we can speculate!
Just thinking but the "talk on the street is. . ."
Duker
Assuming my novelist mode with its perenial "what if" question, what if, just for the sake of argument/discussion, there is a third person out there? He/she might have fallen off the police radar as they zeroed in on the most logical suspects. What if, heaven befall us, it is a female? What if this person had the motive, means and opportunity to kill Stacey Burns? I assume that any of these "peripheral" people have been eliminated from consideration due to the careful, judicious and thorough investigation, but in my mind, wouldn't it be a huge suprise if Ed Burns and Jim Vittum suddenly were not suspects in the murder of Stacey Burns?
Sorry, I let my fiction writer take over there but as long as there are no arrests nor trial not convictions, we can speculate!
Just thinking but the "talk on the street is. . ."
Duker
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Time To Repeat
It is time to reiterate some of my own "truths" for those who have been following this blog. These are my opinions formed while working on Murder in a Small Town: The Tragic Death of Stacey Burns.
1. I began this blog with the best of intentions. Simply put, I thought it might help to keep interest in the case alive. I'm not sure if it is accomplishing that purpose.
2. Naively, I thought that people would a) be truthful, b) be enthusiastic about this project and c) be open-minded. I should have been more realistic.
3. I still feel quite strongly that the authorities could be more forthcoming without jeopardizing the investigation, thereby relieving some of the stress and frustration found in the general public.
4. I also feel quite strongly that supposed details of this crime have somehow "leaked" into public knowledge, leading to potentially damaging rumor, innuendo and speculation.
5. Finally (for today) I will say that this has, by far, been the most difficult challenge I've undertaken as a writer but I enjoying it and am determined to see it through to its conclusion.
Duker
1. I began this blog with the best of intentions. Simply put, I thought it might help to keep interest in the case alive. I'm not sure if it is accomplishing that purpose.
2. Naively, I thought that people would a) be truthful, b) be enthusiastic about this project and c) be open-minded. I should have been more realistic.
3. I still feel quite strongly that the authorities could be more forthcoming without jeopardizing the investigation, thereby relieving some of the stress and frustration found in the general public.
4. I also feel quite strongly that supposed details of this crime have somehow "leaked" into public knowledge, leading to potentially damaging rumor, innuendo and speculation.
5. Finally (for today) I will say that this has, by far, been the most difficult challenge I've undertaken as a writer but I enjoying it and am determined to see it through to its conclusion.
Duker
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Conspiracies
People love conspiracies. Sometimes conspiracies seem to be the only way to make sense of an otherwise senseless world. They can provide reason where there is no reason, logic where there is no logic, and hope where there is no hope. By spreading the blame around, a conspiracy can explain away the awful truth that there are evil, amoral and depraved individuals in the world, individuals who are more than capable of wreaking havoc all by themselves.
Here are just a couple of the conspiracy theories I've heard that concern the Stacey Burns murder. Remember, by its most popular definition, a theory is a hypothesis or unproven statements. Maybe that explains why they are so much fun!
1. What about the "theory" that there will never be a trial in this case because there are influential people living in Wolfeboro who will not let that happen for fear of what will be exposed?
2. What about the "theory" that the investigation was botched from the very beginning and the reason why there has not been an arrest is that mistakes were made early on, mistakes that would allow a guilty person to "walk" if a trial was held.
3. What about the "theory" that at least three people, maybe even more, had the motive, means and opportunity to carry out this horrendous crime?
Many of these "theories" could be immediately dismissed by the authorities who have chosen to remain pretty much silent. Whether any of them have a "degree of truth" or no truth whatsoever remains to be seen.
Visit the many blog posts (not here) that talk about the murders of Bobbie Miller and Stacey Burns and you'll find more theories. The trouble is that speculation, hypothesizing and flat-out guessing about who did what generally does not help the cause. What will help this cause is the truth, told by people who know it.
Here are just a couple of the conspiracy theories I've heard that concern the Stacey Burns murder. Remember, by its most popular definition, a theory is a hypothesis or unproven statements. Maybe that explains why they are so much fun!
1. What about the "theory" that there will never be a trial in this case because there are influential people living in Wolfeboro who will not let that happen for fear of what will be exposed?
2. What about the "theory" that the investigation was botched from the very beginning and the reason why there has not been an arrest is that mistakes were made early on, mistakes that would allow a guilty person to "walk" if a trial was held.
3. What about the "theory" that at least three people, maybe even more, had the motive, means and opportunity to carry out this horrendous crime?
Many of these "theories" could be immediately dismissed by the authorities who have chosen to remain pretty much silent. Whether any of them have a "degree of truth" or no truth whatsoever remains to be seen.
Visit the many blog posts (not here) that talk about the murders of Bobbie Miller and Stacey Burns and you'll find more theories. The trouble is that speculation, hypothesizing and flat-out guessing about who did what generally does not help the cause. What will help this cause is the truth, told by people who know it.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Murder in a Small Town
Enough people have asked me to update them on the progress of "Murder in a Small Town: The Tragic Death of Stacey Burns" that I feel I should do just that.
First, a correction: I believe in my last post, I made an error with the name of Ed Burns' alibi person. It is Michael Brabant, not Bravance. If this is not right either, I'm sure someone out there will let me know.
Now, to the progress on the book: Sixteen chapters are written. I am currently working on Chapter Seventeen entitled "Motive, Means and Opportunity," a fairly lengthy chapter which examines this mantra of homicide detectives in relationship to just two "persons of interest" although recently obtained information indicates that perhaps I should be including at least two others as well.
After this chapter is completed, there are just two left to be written: "Arrest" and "Trial and Conviction."
Obviously, revisions have been necessary and are ongoing as I gather new information or people who would not talk to me before have now done so.
Will a publisher handle the book without a conclusion? Probably not! Does that mean the book will never get published if an arrest is never made? Possibly, but I have an idea for releasing it chapter by chapter as an e-book if it has to go that route.
My integrity and credibility is very important to me. I have promised people I've interviewed that they will see what I've written and will be able to check everything for truth and accuracy before publication in any form. This is sometimes an unwieldy process as it involves communications back and forth but I feel it is worth it.
For those who asked (and even for those who didn't) this is where the book stands now.
To those who would like to provide information, I am very easy to find on this blog, on Facebook, on www.dukesouthard.com and in Green Valley, Arizona. There are some people out there who could help fill in the narrative and help me tell Stacey's story accurately if they chose to do so.
Duker
First, a correction: I believe in my last post, I made an error with the name of Ed Burns' alibi person. It is Michael Brabant, not Bravance. If this is not right either, I'm sure someone out there will let me know.
Now, to the progress on the book: Sixteen chapters are written. I am currently working on Chapter Seventeen entitled "Motive, Means and Opportunity," a fairly lengthy chapter which examines this mantra of homicide detectives in relationship to just two "persons of interest" although recently obtained information indicates that perhaps I should be including at least two others as well.
After this chapter is completed, there are just two left to be written: "Arrest" and "Trial and Conviction."
Obviously, revisions have been necessary and are ongoing as I gather new information or people who would not talk to me before have now done so.
Will a publisher handle the book without a conclusion? Probably not! Does that mean the book will never get published if an arrest is never made? Possibly, but I have an idea for releasing it chapter by chapter as an e-book if it has to go that route.
My integrity and credibility is very important to me. I have promised people I've interviewed that they will see what I've written and will be able to check everything for truth and accuracy before publication in any form. This is sometimes an unwieldy process as it involves communications back and forth but I feel it is worth it.
For those who asked (and even for those who didn't) this is where the book stands now.
To those who would like to provide information, I am very easy to find on this blog, on Facebook, on www.dukesouthard.com and in Green Valley, Arizona. There are some people out there who could help fill in the narrative and help me tell Stacey's story accurately if they chose to do so.
Duker
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Certainties: A Satire
Students in my English classes of years ago knew that I loved satire. (Perhaps some of them even remember that fact!)Iin keeping with my love of satire, I'd like to list a few certainties I've discovered regarding the Stacy Burns case.
1. The police have analyzed every surveillance recording with time of activity from the hotel where Ed Burns spent Saturday night with Micheal Bravance, including hallways, elevators, lobbies, parking areas and garages. Therefore, they are certain that his alibi is unassailable.
2. The police have cleared any potential female "person of interest," thereby negating any rumors and or gossip which continue to circulate through the town about possible female involvement in the crime.
3. The police thoroughly searched the houses of Jim Vittum's parents and his ex-wife along with his car, his lake barge and any aircraft which he may have able to access.
4. Any and all specific details of the crime have been kept under the tightest security, especially those details only the killer would know. No newspaper reporter, no television investigative reporter and certainly no writer has had access to any of those details. Certainly, neither has there been any sharing of anything that might impact the open, active and ongoing investigation with the public in general.
In a later blog, we'll hear about other certainties in this case.
Sorry to have missed my scheduled day with this blog. Yesterday somehow got away from me.
Duker
1. The police have analyzed every surveillance recording with time of activity from the hotel where Ed Burns spent Saturday night with Micheal Bravance, including hallways, elevators, lobbies, parking areas and garages. Therefore, they are certain that his alibi is unassailable.
2. The police have cleared any potential female "person of interest," thereby negating any rumors and or gossip which continue to circulate through the town about possible female involvement in the crime.
3. The police thoroughly searched the houses of Jim Vittum's parents and his ex-wife along with his car, his lake barge and any aircraft which he may have able to access.
4. Any and all specific details of the crime have been kept under the tightest security, especially those details only the killer would know. No newspaper reporter, no television investigative reporter and certainly no writer has had access to any of those details. Certainly, neither has there been any sharing of anything that might impact the open, active and ongoing investigation with the public in general.
In a later blog, we'll hear about other certainties in this case.
Sorry to have missed my scheduled day with this blog. Yesterday somehow got away from me.
Duker
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