Where do you find information?

[LisaEm]

Hi, /thanks for having me!

I did a search but couldn't find anything, and I hope this is the correct place to post.
If I'm interested in researching a cold case, how do I do it? Is there a way to access files/information/data bases? Thanks so much!

 

[WingsOverTX]

What kind of case? What info do you have to start with? Have you checked to see if any threads about it already exist here? Has LE stated it is "cold"?

Your local library may offer access to newspaper & other databases with articles. Is it an old case?

@Laughing might be able to direct you if genealogy is involved.

If you are willing to share some details, I have a general research background. Many members here have specialized knowledge.

The answers to your question depend on known facts & the information you are seeking.

Best of luck. I hope WS can help!

 

[bettyboop]

Hi,@LisaEm ! Welcome to Websleuths!! When I first joined, I was so intimidated I didn't post for YEARS, lol. This site can be a bit overwhelming at first, but stick with it, I think you'll get the hang of it. Are you interested in a specific case? Tell us what it is and I bet we already have a thread on it. If we don't there are plenty of people here who can help you start one. ( Not Me,unfortunately,as I've never done one). If you just want to start anywhere , go right ahead and pick a new case, cold case, we even have fun, non crime stuff! I'm sure you'll love it here!!!

 

[LisaEm]

What kind of case? What info do you have to start with? Have you checked to see if any threads about it already exist here? Has LE stated it is "cold"?

Your local library may offer access to newspaper & other databases with articles. Is it an old case?

@Laughing might be able to direct you if genealogy is involved.

If you are willing to share some details, I have a general research background. Many members here have specialized knowledge.

The answers to your question depend on known facts & the information you are seeking.

Best of luck. I hope WS can help!

Thank you. It's Wanda Lee Walkowicz. She's part of the Alphabet Murders here in Rochester, NY in the early 70s. Homicide Victim: Walkowicz, Wanda Lee
She was 11 years old and did not return home from the grocery store. I policeman found her body in a rest area a day later.
I'm curious how to find detailed information on the case or if that's possible. For example, I read she was raped. This was 1973, so obviously no dna matches, but what about now? Did they do a rape kit and save the evidence? Can it be tested now? Thanks!

 

[LisaEm]

Hi,@LisaEm ! Welcome to Websleuths!! When I first joined, I was so intimidated I didn't post for YEARS, lol. This site can be a bit overwhelming at first, but stick with it, I think you'll get the hang of it. Are you interested in a specific case? Tell us what it is and I bet we already have a thread on it. If we don't there are plenty of people here who can help you start one. ( Not Me,unfortunately,as I've never done one). If you just want to start anywhere , go right ahead and pick a new case, cold case, we even have fun, non crime stuff! I'm sure you'll love it here!!!

Thanks! It IS intimidating. There are so many different sections of the site and things to read. This was the case: Homicide Victim: Walkowicz, Wanda Lee
I will look it up. I think here has the same info as everywhere.....nothing new since 1973 when her body was found. I was wondering if it was possible to read the case information the police had. She was raped and I wondered if there was a rape kit and evidence that could be tested for dna now. Thanks!

 

[Eli9]

Thank you. It's Wanda Lee Walkowicz. She's part of the Alphabet Murders here in Rochester, NY in the early 70s. Homicide Victim: Walkowicz, Wanda Lee
She was 11 years old and did not return home from the grocery store. I policeman found her body in a rest area a day later.
I'm curious how to find detailed information on the case or if that's possible. For example, I read she was raped. This was 1973, so obviously no dna matches, but what about now? Did they do a rape kit and save the evidence? Can it be tested now? Thanks!

Click the magnifying glass in the upper right corner and type in her name. I just did and there are multiple threads that mention her - too many to link here.

 

[Laughing]

Check for newspaper articles. For this case, newspapers would (likely) send a reporter, so different papers could have different information:

The NYS Historic Newspapers

The NYS Historic Newspapers

nyshistoricnewspapers.org

The NYS Historic Newspapers

The NYS Historic Newspapers

www.nypl.org

New York State newspapers on microfilm and in print | NYSL

www.nysl.nysed.gov

LibGuides: American Historical Newspapers Online: New York Newspapers

A guide to locating digitized American newspapers for the period prior to the advent of electronic newspapers (before 1995).

guides.library.cornell.edu

Which county? There will be other information here:

NYGenWeb: Your Gateway to New York Genealogy and History

and through the Historical Society of the county where the child lived, and the county of the crime.

IMHO -- the press circa 1973 may not report the rape of a child directly. The words assault, molestation, etc may be used, gentler, sometimes evasive terms?

Please keep us posted!

 

[Kathie Boire]

Hi I'm Kathie I'm a little nervous about being here and having a hard time finding my way around. I live in Alaska and I'm interested in the missing and murdered women here.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

Hi I'm Kathie I'm a little nervous about being here and having a hard time finding my way around. I live in Alaska and I'm interested in the missing and murdered women here.

Do you have a specific name or names?

 

[arielilane]

Thanks! It IS intimidating. There are so many different sections of the site and things to read. This was the case: Homicide Victim: Walkowicz, Wanda Lee
I will look it up. I think here has the same info as everywhere.....nothing new since 1973 when her body was found. I was wondering if it was possible to read the case information the police had. She was raped and I wondered if there was a rape kit and evidence that could be tested for dna now. Thanks!

Good afternoon, @LisaEm,

Welcome! There's a Alphabet Killings thread here and if interested, as you do your research you may want to post it at the link provided.

Wanda Walkowicz, 11, also went on an errand and never returned on 04/02/1973. A Sate Trooper on patrol discovered her little body at a rest stop at State Route 104 in Webster, New York. On 04/03/1973. She too had been raped , beaten and strangled to death.

NY - NY - The Alphabet Killings, Rochester

The Alphabet Killings or Double Initial killings as some call them occurred in the Rochester area in the early 70's. They are called the Alphabet Killings because all three victims had double initials. 10 year old Carmen Colon's body was found in Chili (Rochesterarians pronounce it Chy-lie), 11...

www.websleuths.com

 

[Freddie Horton]

Hi, /thanks for having me!

I did a search but couldn't find anything, and I hope this is the correct place to post.
If I'm interested in researching a cold case, how do I do it? Is there a way to access files/information/data bases? Thanks so much!





Hello! In fact, all of the above tips seem very appropriate. Did they help you find what you needed? I think it would be very helpful to look up genealogy services to find information about someone. For example, I once decided to give my grandmother a family tree, and in the course of the research, I learned a lot of nuances (both good and not so) about my family. I think such research is a huge source of information. Also, as a student, I found one service by accidentally coming across their blog at the link https://edubirdie.org/can-you-get-caught-using-edubirdie/ and then I liked the fact that I can not be get caught using it. However, when I needed some research, Edubirdie always helped me find information. I don't know where they get the information (maybe also from online libraries or archives). If you need to find out for your research about something that happened in the not-too-distant past, you can try. But if you still use genealogy services, keep in mind that it can take a long time.

Hello! In fact, all of the above tips seem very appropriate. Did they help you find what you needed?

 

[dmac55]

Hi I'm Kathie I'm a little nervous about being here and having a hard time finding my way around. I live in Alaska and I'm interested in the missing and murdered women here.

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