In cemeteries all over, victims lie sleepless in their caskets, waiting for somebody to bring their killers to justice.

How To Run Your Own Cold-Case -TOP 11

John Allore has written this up, with some input from me and Bill Widman, and suggested that we all post this in our blogs.

Indeed!

I made an interesting comment recently that I was equally dialed in to
unsolved cases in the Montreal region from the 70's. I have been
advocating a long time for a resolution to the unsolved death of my
sister, Sharron who was murdered in 1975. As well as me. John Allore,
and Bill Widman know the process that one must go through,
heartaches,sleepless nights, trying to find the truth. Bill Widman has
been actively seeing to solve the murder of his friend, Debbie
Key. John Allore has been working endlessly trying to find out who
killed his Sister, Theresa in 1979..

In the interest of helping other families who may be trying to conduct their own investigations, John, Bill and I offer these top ten suggestions for conducting your own cold-case investigation:

1. Information Management – The Internet: If you can afford it, get a subscription to Lexis-Nexis. This will allow you to data mine old newspapers back to the early 80s. There’s gold in them hills.

2. Information Management – Your local library: Most major libraries keep copies of all regional newspapers on microfiche. For Theresa’s case I was able to have the Provincial Library in Quebec mail me microfiche of old newspapers like the Montreal Star, Photo Police, Allo Police to my local library in North Carolina! I know Doreen Prior also accessed local libraries for Sharon’s case. Newspapers offer you good information about activities in the area of investigation leading up to, and immediately after any murder.

3. Google is your best friend: I have Google Alerts set up for all key words associated with my sister’s death (names of regional towns, suspects’ names, the name of each regional police force). This is a good way to stay a step ahead of anything that may be relevant to your investigation.

4. Accessing public records: Things like medical records and autopsy reports… these are public information and readily available from your local medical examiner or coroner.

5. Makes friends with the appropriate law enforcement agency: In many circumstances a case grows cold due to perceived ineptitudes of the investigating police force. Despite the frustration you must ultimately make peace with the investigating force. Ultimately they are the only body that can bring the case to justice. Despite friction, you must work to find an understanding. This doesn’t mean you can’t continue to challenge the force, just realize that you must retain balance. Crime scene reports? Evidence? Primary information? All of this is in the hands of the investigating force. You must make amends if you hope to gain access to this information.

6. Make sure your case is registered in the appropriate national police cold case database: In the U.S. they use either ViCAP or CODIS. In Canada the system is called ViCLAS (in French SALVAC) . Even though these databases are maintained by the RCMP and FBI, it is the responsibility of regional forces to be trained on their use and to enter the data. Contact your regional police force to ensure your case is in the system.

7. Psychics: Useful? As secondary evidence, possibly. Just realize that anything psychic / medium offers is not admissible as evidence. It can be a great resource (myself and Bill have used them), but be aware of their limitations. And don’t get strayed into kooky theories: you can see patterns in any amount of randomness. Remember that some things are a coincidence.

8. Network: Read everything. The internet is an incredible resource. Become familiar with advocacy and justice initiatives. Make friends, get educated, attend conferences.

9. Publicity: The media can be a great tool to get your story out. Remember one thing: ultimately they are exploiting you, so feel free to exploit them. “If it bleeds it leads”… and the stories the media usually are attracted to in cold cases are something gruesome or something very personal ( perhaps too personal for a crime victim… I always hated when they asked me about “closure”). Be professional, cautious and guarded. Don’t offer up anything you feel is crossing a line. You have a right to say, “no, that’s too far” with these people. Also, don’t feel bad if they don’t want to cover your story. I have spent many hours offering up angles to media (suspects, new information, a personal-interest moment, a tidbit that is relevant to a current case), if they aren’t interested, don’t take it personally. Move on. It’s a business. One of the main reasons myself, Doreen and Bill started blogs was to control the distribution of information. So you can start one too! That too is media attention!

10. Get support: Guess what? You’re only human. And very quickly you will reach a burnout threshold. Get help. Find something positive other than this cold-case that gives you energy ( a hobby, your family, a sport, your shrink). We’ve all been to the bottom. It’s no fun, but we will support you on your journey back up. One of the best things I did? Made friends with fellow victims and investigating colleagues on Facebook. At first this seemed counter-intuitive: I wanted to isolate my personal life from my cold-case life. In the end it was the right decision because it was healthy to see these people without the victim stigma, in a normal light: families, loves, interests.

11. If all else fails: Contact the Vidocq Society, a group out of the Washington area comprised of retired forensic and investigative experts dedicated to solving old cases. Slightly pretentious, but if you’ve exhausted numbers 1 – 9 at this point you have nothing to lose. A word of caution: Vidocq will only consider your case if you have support from your local police jurisdiction (so no coming here if you’ve got a beef with how the police screwed up your case).

Go forth and solve!

In Sharron's Memory



This year, on September 26, 2009 a young lady was awarded "The Sharron Prior Memorial Scholarship award" in the sum of $2,000.00

Our family were honored to present this award to Julia Munden, a beautiful young lady with bright dreams..and a wonderful smile!
Julia's Parents are very proud of her achievements, and we were thrilled.
"Good Luck to you Julia"
Follow your dreams.

Prior Family

Vigil for Murder Victims

A cold case murder, on the shelves for nearly half a decade, remains unsolved and the victim's family is left to wonder why. This, as family and friends of other murder victims gather to remember their loved ones.
In Niagara Square, a group of people come together who share one thing in common - they've all lost a loved one to homicide. The shoes of the dead stand empty next to photos at this vigil, a reminder of lives snuffed out by violence. "This seems to become sort of a public therapy opportunity where people get a chance to speak collectively, to tell what's on their minds.

This story is from Buffalo New York...

But Here in Montreal/Quebec there are Many UNSOLVED homicide cases..and families are waiting for their loved one cases to be solved...Many empty shoes...

There are flyers being distributed throughout Point St. Charles. Sharron Prior Coldcase. If anyone has any information please do the following.

email information at http://www.blogger.com/ OR
send your information to this address.. C.P. 28550 CSP de Verdun
Verdun H4G-3L7

we DO NOT need your name just your infomation.

We will not rest, we will leave no stone unturned.

Sharron Prior was 16 years old when she left her Point St. Charles,Quebec home on March 29/1975, off to meet her boyfriend and friends at a local restaurant,only five blocks from her home.She never made it.Her body was found 3 days later in a field.

Cause of death was asphyxiation caused by blood in her lungs.Police believe this happened when her attacker crushed his knee into her chest.She had been raped and her autopsy showed she had several bruises on her face,two fractures on her jaw,on both sides of her mouth.A broken nose and a hole in one cheek,when a tooth come loose during her struggle.

Police believe Sharron had been kept alive for a time and disposed of in the field, in Lonqueuil still alive.When found Sharron was wearing her sweater,shoes & socks and a three quarter length brown suede jacket.

Her jeans and panties were found about 6 feet away from her body.

Also found near Sharron's body were tire tracks,a shoe print and a mans 3/4 arm length shirt,collar size was 17.The impression from the shoe print makes the man about 6' tall weighing about 200 lbs.

The police believe the killer knew the area well.

The field where he dumped her had a padlock which was locked.Only two people had the key,both were questioned by police but not suspected.The question has always been how did the person unlock the gate,the lock was left hanging on the gate afterwards.

The same evening of March 29th within a fifteen minute time span when Sharron left her house another woman was attacked,in the same area where Sharron was heading.Her attacker tried to drag her away,but was saved when some children heard the commotion and came running to help.He was scared off by the kids and ran away.He was described as being about 29 years old, 6'1, 200 lbs with blue eyes and a squared off cut moustache.The man was never caught.

someone knows something.... why can't you do the right thing..

34 years ago ... We Love You Sharron

TIME STANDS STill

To loose a child from murder
Is the hardest pain to bear
One falls in that dark deep pit
with nothing but despair

Drowning in your sea of tears
struggling with the shock
please, please, you beg
please turn back the clock

You think of her terror
and think of her pain
and can't bare the thought
of not seeing her again

This just could not happen
Why, Why, Why
She was only sixteen too
young to die.