New here and have questions

[LissaLee]

Hello all,

I've sat on the idea of looking at cold cases for a few years now. After reading I'll be gone in the dark by Michelle McNamara, I've decided to leap into the rabbit hole that is cold cases. I'm interested in some famous cases such as Lizzie Borden, The Zodiac, Black Dahlia, the Springfield Three and the McCann case to name a few.

One of the things I want to focus on first, though, is looking at cold cases closer to where I live or closer to where I am from (Ohio and Indiana/Kentucky respectively).

The issues I seem to run into constantly are:

• Where do I start?
• What materials do I need?
• Who are some of the people I should talk to if the case is 50 or 60 years old?
• What did you guys find helpful when you started looking into cases?

I appreciate any and all input. Thank you!

 

[Laughing]

Check the forums for the states near you, pick a case.

Find the newspaper archive for that state. Often at a university, this specialty library may have a copy of every newspaper ever published in the state. Check maps for the towns nearest your subject case & keep track as newspapers merge over the years. Call or email ahead, go to the archive & carefully read the newspapers contemporary to the case you've selected, including the surrounding area. You can compare the stories, and may notice something else that provides clues or information, a personal ad or some other crime or event that seems to parallel the case you've chosen.

Those articles will include the names of law enforcement officers, neighbors, others involved. A local historical or genealogical society may have information about families or geography that is useful.

Plenty of material out there!

Of course remember to post here....

JMHO YMMV LRR

 

[swthsawr]

thanks for sharing, I had the same questions too