In reading the reward document, the intent is clear: a private investigator hired by the family, may be part of the decision process in determining reward eligibility.
Mr Retke, in his volunteer status, has no employee (hire) status with the family. He's obviously put in hundreds of manhours and investigated many tips, many (obviously) uninformed.
My definition of an "uninformed" tip: MY identity was sleuthed out and my name was then submitted as a suspect in the disappearance of Steven Koecher. Whoever did that, obviously had no real knowledge of me, my whereabouts, my nonconnection with any family member, or my ability to overpower a man half my age.
IMO, of course.
ETA:
My reaction to being named a suspect by a tipster? Gut-wrenching laughter (and probably the same on the other end, in the fifteen seconds it took to figure what had gone on). But it's a waste of valuable resources that could have been used productively.
