Have you tried to get the word out?

[1990 UM fan]

Have you shared any missing persons and/or fugitive cases from the show with other people on other social networking sites? I am gradually sharing different missing persons and wanted cases on my Facebook every day in hopes that others will share the stories I have posted so perhaps someone might possibly recognize them. I have the whole album set to where everyone can see it so they can share it. It's kind of sad though, when only one or two people ever share any given story you post. With all the technology and social sites we have, I'm surprised that more people haven't been getting these cases in the public eye again, unless they have and I just don't know it yet.

[TracyLynnS]

I haven't used FB or anything else specifically to raise awareness, but I have commented on other sites (like a news article or personal website) when there seems to be a connection or similarity between a case I know about and something that other people are discussing.

One thing I've noticed about cold cases is that most people seem to have an attitude like, "That's so old, that missing person is probably dead, and nobody living cares about it anymore so why bother brining it up." They want to ignore it specifically because it's old, hard to solve, and basically not interesting to them. They prefer the newer more sensational stuff like Caylee Anthony's murder or the discovery that Jaycee Dugard was alive. And in her case, all they want to know about is the sex. Fewer people seem to care about how she managed to hold up emotionally until she was finally rescued or why a very dangerous federal parolee wasn't monitored more closely by the system. Just tell people the lurid disgusting tabloid stuff and they're satisfied.... the end.

In real life, I don't know anyone who is a UM fan nor anyone who even likes the basics of true crime. Writers like Ann Rule and shows like Dr. G and Disappeared have been very popular for years, but I haven't even run into anyone who likes those kinds of things.

The people who are closest to me and know I'm a UM fan who wants to find answers to a lot of cold cases just think I'm weird. Some even seem to equate it with a morbid death obsession or think I'm some kind of bizarre goth granny minus the black lipstick. They tolerate it if I bring up a case in conversation but not even the most intriguing cases spark an interest.

Since this site is still fairly active (even though it's existence relies completely on the fans of a television show that's been out of production for years) and sites like websleuths and doenetwork have heavy traffic, there's obviously an interest out there. Maybe we're just running into the wrong kind of people.

[1990 UM fan]

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

I haven't used FB or anything else specifically to raise awareness, but I have commented on other sites (like a news article or personal website) when there seems to be a connection or similarity between a case I know about and something that other people are discussing.

One thing I've noticed about cold cases is that most people seem to have an attitude like, "That's so old, that missing person is probably dead, and nobody living cares about it anymore so why bother brining it up." They want to ignore it specifically because it's old, hard to solve, and basically not interesting to them. They prefer the newer more sensational stuff like Caylee Anthony's murder or the discovery that Jaycee Dugard was alive. And in her case, all they want to know about is the sex. Fewer people seem to care about how she managed to hold up emotionally until she was finally rescued or why a very dangerous federal parolee wasn't monitored more closely by the system. Just tell people the lurid disgusting tabloid stuff and they're satisfied.... the end.

In real life, I don't know anyone who is a UM fan nor anyone who even likes the basics of true crime. Writers like Ann Rule and shows like Dr. G and Disappeared have been very popular for years, but I haven't even run into anyone who likes those kinds of things.

The people who are closest to me and know I'm a UM fan who wants to find answers to a lot of cold cases just think I'm weird. Some even seem to equate it with a morbid death obsession or think I'm some kind of bizarre goth granny minus the black lipstick. They tolerate it if I bring up a case in conversation but not even the most intriguing cases spark an interest.

Since this site is still fairly active (even though it's existence relies completely on the fans of a television show that's been out of production for years) and sites like websleuths and doenetwork have heavy traffic, there's obviously an interest out there. Maybe we're just running into the wrong kind of people.

Oh my gosh, we relate so well. I hate it when people are like that about old cases. Once on Nancy Grace's Facebook page, she posted Jodi Huisentruit's story and some people were like "put a newer case on" and just really had that "no care" attitude that I despise. So what if it's an older case? If people knew better, the people involved in these cold cases investigate until the very end (as one of the detectives in Veronica Jefferson's case said). Sadly it's more about who gets their face on TV more than actually looking at all the aspects of a case and getting it solved anymore.

I am probably the only one in my family who finds Unsolved Mysteries cases and other cold cases fascinating. They should know though that with me heading for a forensic career in college, that these stories would become apart of my interests, but they just have no interest in them like I do (*sigh*). I am glad though that we have this forum, Websleuths, Doe Network, Charley Project, etc. to discuss these cases, I just wish other heavy-populated sites like Facebook and Twitter would get these cases out there instead of focusing on what celebrity is dating who or who's eating what food at wherever or something.

[WishfulDreamer]

It's sad to hear that people dislike hearing about old missing persons cases. This makes me have more respect for the Charley Project than ever before. I have been looking through that site for over a year. It's sad, but these people, even if deceased, lived once. And many of them disappeared because of foul play and still deserve justice and their family members deserve closure. Just because it happened over fifteen years ago doesn't mean Jodi's family, for example, doesn't need resolution. I feel ashamed for the person who wrote that. The bigger social network sites and news sites should do something about this and put up older cases, too. ANY cases.

1990 UM Fan, we're the same age so it's really a relief to see you on here, too. Except for CuriousMind90, I don't know many others our age who have an interest like this. It's nice to know there are others out there even if on the internet. Perhaps we can better help spread the word that way

[ms_bates]

People want sensational stories, and that is what the media feeds into. What bugs me the most about this, is that the cases that do get all the air time are usually ones that the public could do little to help solve.

Think about it, we didn't even hear the name Caylee Anthony until her mom was already under arrest. The detectives knew she was lying to them from the very start, I'm confident they would have gone to trial even without a body. Countless hours of news coverage helped bring this case to a close, how exactly? Please note, I am not saying Caylee doesn't deserve justice or to have her memory honored. But I thought the media circus surrounding the whole tragedy was shameful.

In contrast, I think that cold cases have a better shot at being solved after some time has passed. People pass away, family dynamics change, maybe someone who knows something is less likely to keep a dark secret. Moreover, we have come so far in having databases of Jane/John Does. Someone missing a loved one from decades ago may not even know these resources exist! I've long believed that it would be wonderful if even a portion (it could be as short as five minutes) of some news/crime shows were devoted to highlighting cold cases. They could do a quick profile of a missing person or a Jane/John Doe each week.

[TracyLynnS]

Originally Posted by ms_bates

In contrast, I think that cold cases have a better shot at being solved after some time has passed. People pass away, family dynamics change, maybe someone who knows something is less likely to keep a dark secret.

Along this line of thinking... many times I've heard cold case detectives on TV make comments about how they feel confident that once a romantic relationship between a perp and their significant other ends, the SO (who often has info on the cold case crime) is finally willing to talk to police and tell what they know.

I'm not sure statistically how many cases are solved this way, but it must be pretty important since it seems to be brought up by cops discussing the cases. They know an acrimonious split in a relationship can be the thing that finally gives them the break they've been waiting for.

[ms_bates]

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

Along this line of thinking... many times I've heard cold case detectives on TV make comments about how they feel confident that once a romantic relationship between a perp and their significant other ends, the SO (who often has info on the cold case crime) is finally willing to talk to police and tell what they know.

I'm not sure statistically how many cases are solved this way, but it must be pretty important since it seems to be brought up by cops discussing the cases. They know an acrimonious split in a relationship can be the thing that finally gives them the break they've been waiting for.

Makes total sense to me! I'd also include children that were in the perp's life, who would be grown and on their own now. Who knows what young eyes may have been witness to decades ago?

[Orange_Sody_84]

I'm a total Goon... Anytime at work when something on the news comes up resembling a case I start in on telling the story of the case. *sighs* of course no one knows what the hell I'm talking about half the time. But people at work know I love "Unsolved Mysteries".

A frequent catchphrase of mine is "It sounds like a mystery... *dramatic pause* Perhaps... and Unsolved one!"

[unsolved88]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

It's sad to hear that people dislike hearing about old missing persons cases. This makes me have more respect for the Charley Project than ever before. I have been looking through that site for over a year. It's sad, but these people, even if deceased, lived once. And many of them disappeared because of foul play and still deserve justice and their family members deserve closure. Just because it happened over fifteen years ago doesn't mean Jodi's family, for example, doesn't need resolution. I feel ashamed for the person who wrote that. The bigger social network sites and news sites should do something about this and put up older cases, too. ANY cases.

1990 UM Fan, we're the same age so it's really a relief to see you on here, too. Except for CuriousMind90, I don't know many others our age who have an interest like this. It's nice to know there are others out there even if on the internet. Perhaps we can better help spread the word that way

I'm only two years older than you and feel the same way. I'm currently working on trying to locate 20-yr-old Johnnie Joe Herrera who has been missing since 1971 from Oxnard, CA. I put a post about him in the "All Other Cases" section and have a whole five-page thread about him on Websleuths. If I'm ever able to get more info, I'd love to eventually write a book about his case. Currently, I'm preparing a video about his case to put up on that evil site we can't mention lest we wake up with a horse's head on our pillow or something. LOL

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by unsolved88

I'm only two years older than you and feel the same way. I'm currently working on trying to locate 20-yr-old Johnnie Joe Herrera who has been missing since 1971 from Oxnard, CA. I put a post about him in the "All Other Cases" section and have a whole five-page thread about him on Websleuths. If I'm ever able to get more info, I'd love to eventually write a book about his case. Currently, I'm preparing a video about his case to put up on that evil site we can't mention lest we wake up with a horse's head on our pillow or something. LOL

I've researched the Evelyn Hartley and Paul Jean Welden cases extensively, but I definitely don't have enough info to write a book! Good job on stacking up all that information and I will definitely be looking into this case.

I know, can't we at least say the bad site's name?

[unsolved88]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

I've researched the Evelyn Hartley and Paul Jean Welden cases extensively, but I definitely don't have enough info to write a book! Good job on stacking up all that information and I will definitely be looking into this case.

I know, can't we at least say the bad site's name?

I can PM you with some of the information about Johnnie's case if you want. There's so many little details I was able to find via painstaking research that the Doe Network and Charley Project don't list.

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by unsolved88

I can PM you with some of the information about Johnnie's case if you want. There's so many little details I was able to find via painstaking research that the Doe Network and Charley Project don't list.

That would be great, thank you. I noticed his Charley Project profile was very short when the site-keeper is usually very good at putting up the information available. Bravo for your hard work!

[1990 UM fan]

Originally Posted by unsolved88

I'm only two years older than you and feel the same way. I'm currently working on trying to locate 20-yr-old Johnnie Joe Herrera who has been missing since 1971 from Oxnard, CA. I put a post about him in the "All Other Cases" section and have a whole five-page thread about him on Websleuths. If I'm ever able to get more info, I'd love to eventually write a book about his case. Currently, I'm preparing a video about his case to put up on that evil site we can't mention lest we wake up with a horse's head on our pillow or something. LOL

They should post an age progression photo of him on the Charley Project

[unsolved88]

Originally Posted by 1990 UM fan

They should post an age progression photo of him on the Charley Project

Actually, Johnnie is/was an identical twin. This article, which I helped with, but got no credit for, contains a picture of his twin brother Joe today.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/...se-still-open/