Poll-ish: Missing persons

SarieP

Inspired by the search for Morgan Harrington who went missing during a Metallica concert right near my hometown.On Facebook there is a page to "Help find" Morgan Harrington.  There are a ridiculous amount of people speculating what they think happened to her and conducting their own sleuthing and posting it on Facebook.  Some of it is very emotionally charged and ridiculous, while some of it could be factual.Do you think in a person's disappearance that this sort of thing would help or hurt the case?

tidetravel

No one knows what actually happened in these cases, and the police have more information than anyone in the public (except, maybe for the person involved.)  In general, I think that all of the gossip hurts an investigation.  However, police do monitor these sites - and sifting through all of the BS has led to leads/arrests because people close to the case have been stupid enough to post on them.  So, I guess my answer is both?

SwedishChick2011

OK, this is really weird, but I think I had a dream about SarieP last night.  I don't even know what she looks like, so don't ask me how this is possible.

georgia_bride09

As far as the actual investigation, I think it probably helps and hurts; actual leads are helpful, but the BS just makes the process slower. As for her friends and family, I think it's only hurtful. Hopefully, they aren't getting their hopes up with anything on the page. Like tide said, only the person involved knows the truth, so reading everything else is not beneficial.

SarieP

coco, care to share the dream?

SwedishChick2011

Sarie - I can't even remember what it was, honestly.  Usually I just have really vague memories of my dreams.  They're really strange, though.  I don't think it was anything bad, just weird...as usual.

SwedishChick2011

Oh, and there were probably other Knotties in it too.  I think it had Tide in it.

SarieP

That's funny.  I have weirdo dreams all the time.  I think this is my first knottie dream

Pirata13

Hmmmm yeah, I don't know. You'd hope that anyone who might know something would call the police as opposed to posting it on a website, but I am amazed at people every day. Ugh, example: story on CNN yesterday about a girl who was gangraped during a school dance. As many as 15 people watched it happen (some "participated) and not one person felt compelled to help her.  Disgusting.

tidetravel

Sweet!  I've had knottie dreams before.  I only remember a fraction of one - a bunch of knotties were at a long table and we were having a tea party?  We were all wearing ridiculous wigs.  I specifically remember Mandy wearing a blonde beehive wig.

goheels05

Doubtful.A guy disappeared after leaving a bar in Charlotte at closing time.  The security camera there shows him leaving, alone.  Phone tower records show that he made two calls--one to his sister and one to his dad.  They didn't answer.  He was never seen again.  It's been over a year.  Oh, and if that's not sucky enough, his mom had breast cancer surgery 2 days after he disappeared. 

SarieP

Ugh, example: story on CNN yesterday about a girl who was gangraped during a school dance. As many as 15 people watched it happen (some "participated) and not one person felt compelled to help her. Disgusting.That story made me physically ill.  I can't believe someone would do this.

[Deleted User]

heels - I remember that story. Didn't they have a website for that guy? It was really sad.

SwedishChick2011

Tide, I actually remember part of the dream now.  I used to live in the DC area (till I was 18), so in the dream I asked you where you live.  I can't remember what you said, though.  :-)

tidetravel

Uh-huh.  Sure, Coco.  I can see through your thinly veiled attempt at getting me to divulge where I live.  Stalker :P

goheels05

heels - I remember that story. Didn't they have a website for that guy? It was really sad.Yeah, they had a facebook group and it's own website.  They were able to raise a ton of money so that the family could hire a PI, and Elon (he was an alum) was able to rent a ton of buses to take people to Charlotte to help with the search.  As far as I know, they found nothing.  Sad and bizarre.

SwedishChick2011

You got me, Tide.  I want to come over to your house and steal all your kitties.  :-)

tidetravel

PLEASE take them.  You can have the kittens.

SarahSmile23

i frequent true crime message boards, and crimes have actually been solved on those things. the posters are often retired investigators, etc, and i think it's great that they spend time discussing cases on line. i think ANY discussion at all helps.

[Deleted User]

Sarah - do you mind sharing the message board sites? I love true crime and would love to check those out.

missy68

I'd like to know them, too Sarah. I remember reading all about the story behind Amityville pre-Jay Olson's book online somewhere.  I've always enjoyed reading true crime novels.heels and cew, I remember that story.  I think it was right before I moved away. That's so sad they never found him.Remember the little African American schoolgirl who disappeared in that area (maybe even Gaston County), in the mid 90s - I think she was maybe 8? I don't think they ever found her, either. I remember they found a body in the woods and thought it was her, but it wasn't.

SarieP

Have any of you seen the show Crime 360?

SarahSmile23

my favorite is websleuths. prepare to spend hours upon hours there once you start reading! especially if you begin to explore cases like jennifer kesse's.

SarahSmile23

here is a thread on morgan.http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90674