Do police sketches ever help? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

isotope · 08-19-2013, 12:20 AM

Is anyone aware of a case on UM where a police sketch has been instrumental in catching a perp?

Many of the sketches presented are VERY generic looking and cannot possibly be of any help to LE, while on a number of occasions (principally the Unabomber and the Original Night Stalker), I've found myself looking at sketches of masked/hooded/partially identified figures and asking why the police even bothered releasing them.

wiseguy182 · 08-19-2013, 02:37 AM

I don't know, but Jeannie Boylan is a very accomplished sketch artist who has been on the show a few times.

1990 UM fan · 08-19-2013, 03:18 AM

Look up the name "Lois Gibson". She is a renowned forensic artist. She has drawn many sketches of suspects and unidentified victims to critical acclaim.

Jediknight1823 · 08-19-2013, 04:03 AM

Not a sketch and not on Unsolved Mysteries, but the bust of John List is what got him recognized and caught, after 18 years on the run. The bust looked exactly like List.

WishfulDreamer · 08-19-2013, 05:31 AM

I believe the composite of John Burns also is what got him caught.

wiseguy182 · 08-19-2013, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jediknight1823

Not a sketch and not on Unsolved Mysteries, but the bust of John List is what got him recognized and caught, after 18 years on the run. The bust looked exactly like List.

Yes. John Walsh was so impressed by it he even had it in his office for quite awhile.

amandab1234 · 08-19-2013, 04:33 PM

I don’t remember but was Ann Sigmund ever found? Because those sketches were horrible and would not have helped! I don’t know why they actually showed them. They look like cartoons!

RobinW · 08-19-2013, 05:59 PM

While he hasn't been charged for the crime yet, Jeanne Boylan's composite sketch for Rodney Stanger, the prime suspect in Molly Bish's murder, is pretty dead-on.

SheRaaa · 08-19-2013, 06:40 PM

There's also the notable differences in the different police sketches of the Son of Sam that feuled the "more than one gunman" theories.

Mace Dolex · 08-19-2013, 06:53 PM

I don't know how accurate they can be, the sketch for the UNA bomber was a joke that anybody with a pair of sunglasses could be mistaken for him.

And someone had mentioned the Night Stalker Richard Ramirez who by police sketches made him out to look caucasian like Gene Wilder.

isotope · 08-19-2013, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

I don't know how accurate they can be, the sketch for the UNA bomber was a joke that anybody with a pair of sunglasses could be mistaken for him.

And someone had mentioned the Night Stalker Richard Ramirez who by police sketches made him out to look caucasian like Gene Wilder.

The Ramirez one is pretty bad, but I was referring to the ORIGINAL night stalker back in the 70s (who is simply, one of the worst, most terrifying criminals in US history - I cannot believe he isn't more notorious) - the sketch for him is literally a guy in a ski mask! It could be literally any caucasian male between about 16 and 60!

In fairness, I did find out that a police sketch was instrumental in bring Polly Klass's killer to justice

wiseguy182 · 08-20-2013, 12:45 AM

One additional thing to consider is that a lot of times, witnesses unfortunately remember things wrong. I can't imagine that helps any.

WishfulDreamer · 08-20-2013, 01:24 AM

There are several sketches for the EAR/Original Night Stalker. Some of them do show his actual face (with his mouth wide open, scarily enough). I agree that just showing a guy with a hood is not going to help. That's how I feel about the sketches from the Garnier segment with the women shown from the back. That could be anyone!

nohwheregirl · 08-22-2013, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

And someone had mentioned the Night Stalker Richard Ramirez who by police sketches made him out to look caucasian like Gene Wilder.

I actually don't think the sketch is that far off, but this made me lol.

Someone posted a whole bunch of EAR/ONS composites on this board, and I remember thinking that there weren't even 2 of them that looked like the same person.

IIRC, a combination of the composite sketch and a publicized handwritten note got Oba Chandler nailed.

kolson82 · 02-15-2014, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amandab1234

I don’t remember but was Ann Sigmund ever found? Because those sketches were horrible and would not have helped! I don’t know why they actually showed them. They look like cartoons!

It's been a long time since I've commented on here, but I just watched the Sigmin segment today, and oh man, I forgot about those sketches. I was searching around the forum for any resolutions in regard to this case, and my search led me to this thread. Here's the sketches for reference.

I honestly don't know how ANYONE could see these and think they would be able to identify the person they're supposed to resemble.

08-19-2013, 12:20 AM	#1
isotope Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 09, 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 287	Do police sketches ever help? Is anyone aware of a case on UM where a police sketch has been instrumental in catching a perp? Many of the sketches presented are VERY generic looking and cannot possibly be of any help to LE, while on a number of occasions (principally the Unabomber and the Original Night Stalker), I've found myself looking at sketches of masked/hooded/partially identified figures and asking why the police even bothered releasing them.

08-19-2013, 03:18 AM	#3
1990 UM fan Unsolved Mysteries fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2011 Location: United States Posts: 2,510	Look up the name "Lois Gibson". She is a renowned forensic artist. She has drawn many sketches of suspects and unidentified victims to critical acclaim.
	__________________ Join my Unsolved Mysteries page (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unsolv...899616?sk=wall

08-19-2013, 02:37 AM	#2
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	I don't know, but Jeannie Boylan is a very accomplished sketch artist who has been on the show a few times.

08-19-2013, 04:03 AM	#4
Jediknight1823 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 07, 2006 Posts: 283	Not a sketch and not on Unsolved Mysteries, but the bust of John List is what got him recognized and caught, after 18 years on the run. The bust looked exactly like List.

08-19-2013, 05:31 AM	#5
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	I believe the composite of John Burns also is what got him caught.

08-19-2013, 04:33 PM	#7
amandab1234 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 17, 2011 Posts: 573	I don’t remember but was Ann Sigmund ever found? Because those sketches were horrible and would not have helped! I don’t know why they actually showed them. They look like cartoons!

08-19-2013, 05:59 PM	#8
RobinW Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2010 Posts: 1,874	While he hasn't been charged for the crime yet, Jeanne Boylan's composite sketch for Rodney Stanger, the prime suspect in Molly Bish's murder, is pretty dead-on.

08-19-2013, 06:40 PM	#9
SheRaaa Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 30, 2009 Posts: 421	There's also the notable differences in the different police sketches of the Son of Sam that feuled the "more than one gunman" theories.

08-19-2013, 06:53 PM	#10
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,668	I don't know how accurate they can be, the sketch for the UNA bomber was a joke that anybody with a pair of sunglasses could be mistaken for him. And someone had mentioned the Night Stalker Richard Ramirez who by police sketches made him out to look caucasian like Gene Wilder.

08-20-2013, 12:45 AM	#12
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	One additional thing to consider is that a lot of times, witnesses unfortunately remember things wrong. I can't imagine that helps any.

08-20-2013, 01:24 AM	#13
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	There are several sketches for the EAR/Original Night Stalker. Some of them do show his actual face (with his mouth wide open, scarily enough). I agree that just showing a guy with a hood is not going to help. That's how I feel about the sketches from the Garnier segment with the women shown from the back. That could be anyone!