.....as last year was for UM case updates and some even being solved (ie James "Whitey" Bulger caught, Robert Arcieri caught).

What gives? Should we just be thankful that there seemed to be an unusual amount of new information last year or is this decline in info. due to the workings of a one Christopher Chichester?

Yeah, 2011 was an abnormally high year for cases getting solved, and this year has paled in comparison, but at least there has been some promising leads in a couple of them.

A police officer named Leslie Duncan was recently charged with tampering with evidence in the Kentucky bordello murders, and I have a feeling that case might blow wide open soon:
http://www.kentuckynewera.com/web/news/article_fc1c6d6a-cd77-11e1-98a7-001a4bcf887a.html

Also, after Loren Herzog's suicide earlier this year, a lot of people started to wonder if he was responsible for Michaela Garecht's abduction, and his accomplice led authorities to a set of remains belonging to about twenty people. If any of them belong to Michaela, this will hopefully provide closure.

due to the workings of a one Christopher Chichester?

YES.

Yeah, 2011 was an abnormally high year for cases getting solved, and this year has paled in comparison, but at least there has been some promising leads in a couple of them.

A police officer named Leslie Duncan was recently charged with tampering with evidence in the Kentucky bordello murders, and I have a feeling that case might blow wide open soon:
http://www.kentuckynewera.com/web/news/article_fc1c6d6a-cd77-11e1-98a7-001a4bcf887a.html

Also, after Loren Herzog's suicide earlier this year, a lot of people started to wonder if he was responsible for Michaela Garecht's abduction, and his accomplice led authorities to a set of remains belonging to about twenty people. If any of them belong to Michaela, this will hopefully provide closure.

Wow, that is some good information. I never knew that Tammy Papler and her husband were charged with prostitution either. They should do another segment on this story on another crime show. As for Michaela Garecht, I hope they find her, even if she is among the many remain recently found, so that at least some closure is provided.

.....as last year was for UM case updates and some even being solved (ie James "Whitey" Bulger caught, Robert Arcieri caught).

What gives? Should we just be thankful that there seemed to be an unusual amount of new information last year or is this decline in info. due to the workings of a one Christopher Chichester?

It's good timing and professional investigative work that makes cases blow right open. A cluster like the one we had last year and in 2005 with alot of UM cases being solved is rare but a breath of fresh air. Speaking of Chichester, real name Christian Gerhartsreiter, judges ruled back in March of this year that they have enough evidence for a trial. His trial date is next January or February.