Seeking Help On Cold Cases

As we began updating the www.snitchonmurder.com. Site information, I tried to make contact with people who should be in the know, Metropolitan Police Department, Synchronizes Operational Command Center, seem like a place to Start, the wording seems to have such control and command of things, when trying to find out about murder cases, this seem to be the place.

In January 2008, I called several numbers listed on the www.mpd.dc.com site, 202-727-9133 is understandable busy with so many unsolved murder cases, I got through after several tries, I spoke with a office Hives about getting any new information on the Mary Alice Pratt case, this lady was murder in her north east home in 1998. Office Hives said the case is still active, we were discussing it just the other day, I ask him had there been any changes/updates since the murder?, he said No, the information on the police site is still the same, and went on to give me the name of the Detective handling the case, Detective Ralph Durant, I tried several times to reach Mr. Durant, in late January, I was told it is Lieutenant Durant, I did get voice ( 2/698-0376) mail and left a message, re: the above case on January 23, although the voice machine announce another detective name.

I called Detectives Cradle and Young, 2/724-2482, 2/497-1504 and left voice messages for updates in the Donte E. Manning case, a young boy who was shot in north west and later died. I got no return call from the voice message, a few days later I reach Detective Young , he said: they are looking at a individual, working on new information, have nothing we can give to the public because it might hamper the investigation. I called about the Jamie Byrd case, murder in 2005, 2/727-9099 then 2/645-9600 that number ask for a mail box number or name to enter the system. I was getting no significant update information quick, I email a letter on January 6, 2008 to unsolved.murder@dc.com. Requesting any updates on cases listed on the police web site, I got a reply back January 14, saying my email had been forward to Detective Jim Trainum, head of the Violent Crime Case Review Project, who was out of the office but would get back to me. As of January 22, I had not heard back from Dectective Trainum so, I called (2/727-5037) him and left a message, to my surprise, a few minutes later, Detective Jim Trainum called saying he had my email on his desk and would get back with information in a week. Detective Trainum is no stranger to me, I had exchange emails/calls with him before, doing a development in our case, he sounds to be one truly involved.

Getting detailed updated information on unsolved murder cases is hard, families often hear no arrest have been made in their case, families and friends have no closure, little help, if any and not many places to turn, despite some broken promises from those charge with solving crimes, now nearly four thousand unsolved murder cases and the count adds up each year. Most cold cases will likely not be solved. Having said that Detective Trainum sent a email back within days saying no updates in the cases on the police web site and offer his help, which we plan to seek, without burdening his busy schedule.

During the summer of 2007, seeking more help on trying to root in some minds the pain, tragic loss and what if it happen to your mother, father, etc.?, we ask some business to display our flyer in their windows, most did for a while, some I’m glad to say are ( the flyer is on this site to print and post) still doing so. I sent letters out in December 2007 to several City Councils members, ANC members, whom I will not name at this time, as of today February 20, I have not heard from any of them.

If you have useful information/updates on any case, send it, so we may post, depending on contact with other sources. Names of those involved in a May 2000 murder case are to be posted on this site soon, if no new details/arrest are received by the end of April 2008. Some good news in the eleven year old murder case of Saquita Bell. Chief Cathy Lanier, mother brought her attention to the unsolved case as it was showing on a news program, Chief Lanier took action, reviewed details in the case, told detectives to again pursuit the case, which soon resulted in the solving as reported on the Washington Post web page, article by Candace Rondeaux. Mrs. Bell’s mother toil hard and long on the case. We can strive and hope more of these cases are solve soon, that seems a good note to end on.

Cherish Life,

Larry King Sr.
Snitchonmurder@yahoo.com

Friday, February 22nd, 2008, 3:01 pm. Filed under pages.