There's some more from Speatzel on there, including, unfortunately, an admission that the police believe the case cannot be solved unless someone with direct knowledge comes forward.
Here's what he had to say about Runkle:
"We have looked at him closely. We have done a lot of work regarding this individual. And, obviously, there's no indictment."
I still believe some good old-fashioned footwork can solve it. Test the right car. Search the places he would have gone. There's still more you guys can do.
13 comments:
Jim-
This is the first time I am writing. I have followed the case for years. I was 26 and living in Westlake at the time that Amy went missing. I lived just a few miles from Dover and Wolf roads. The story always intrigued me and my coworkers at American Greetings. We were a very creative bunch working in advertising. We would always wonder why the police and FBI didn't do a better job of campaigning to the "reluctant witnessess" as we called them. They did a great job of advertising the tip line, etc. But in my mind and in the mind of several of my coworkers,getting someone to participate who doesn't want to takes some creativity. After reading your book, and so many articles written about the case, I agree with the police that someone who truly knows something (has that smoking gun) needs to come forward!The question is how do you create that sense of urgency now to get that person/s to participate. I think that a better campaign is needed. I think that the media needs to convey the message to ACT RIGHT NOW! Not next week, next month, or next year,right now! Time has passed, people have died, people are aging who need closure to this. Do Not wait any longer. This is your time. Get this off your chest and tell what you know, show what you have ..get this over with!
I remember years ago listening to the news (can't remember which channel) and they made mention that someone, possibly a female relative (mother, sister, aunt, etc) may have seen something or witnessed something that they were not sure about. They asked anyone who had noticied something out of the ordinary to contact the police.
Could they have seen one of the "trophy items" that the killer may have kept?
Jim, have you questioned the police on any of these types of witnesses? Remember the Ted Bundy case? It was his girlfriend who went to police on a few different occassions just to ease her mind that her boyfriend wasn't the Ted they were looking for! Did Dean Runkle have any such female friends or relatives? Just a little food for thought.
Please keep updating. I find the entire case so interesting. Good Luck. Don't Give Up!
Spaetzel says, "Someone with direct knowledge is going to need to come forward and talk to us."
Rick Burns is that person and has done exactly that, and is blown off as "confused". Discounting a credible witness in this way should infuriate every parent Bay Village, especially those who went through this horrific time as I did.
If BVPD/FBI and the county prosecutor are afraid to indict, I would remind them that Scott Peterson was convicted on circumstantial evidence. If the "authorities" had the same determination as James and other members of the press have shown to bring this killer to justice, there would be an indictment.
This case has defined Mr. Spaetzle's career with BVPD. I think at this point he is more concerned with keeping his job in peaceful, quiet Bay Village than in doing the really hard work necessary to solve it.
Thank you, Rick Burns, for speaking out and not letting anyone tell you what saw or didn't see.
To James and Duane Pohlman: keep going. We're getting so close.
I still believe that the police and the FBI need to have someone go over all their notes. I think the BVPD hold some pieces of the puzzle and the FBI holds others and someone just needs to work the two. Now, do they have the manpower to do so?? Certainly they would not let volunteers do this but why couldn't a retired agent do it?
In a town where 20 years ago the biggest problem was probably teens out past curfew to be hit with an abduction - for sure, if they were to be honest, the PD would have to admit mistakes were made, they had no experience in this sort of thing. I imagine between PD and FBI some ego is involved too - it's time to set it all aside, admit mistakes and review the case in its entirety from the beginning.
I still also believe the fact that this occured right across from the police station was no accident - it was a direct slap to the police. He could have had Amy meet him anywhere - picked her up in the back of the school or side street, at the Dairy Queen plaza or even Nature Center - unless there was fear of recognition there but someone that frequented the Nature Center (if that's what Runkle did) should be afraid to be seen anywhere in Bay with a young girl.
If nothing is resolved by October, the 20th anniversary then a vigil/march should be staged up and down Wolf Rd. from the school to the shopping center - as many people as possible with calls to CNN, Fox National and MSNBC, etc.
That is a very good idea about the march for Amy if this isn't resolved by then. We should call it just that. "A March for Amy"
That is an EXCELLENT idea! I do PR for a living and would be happy to help make calls to media to make sure the march for Amy gets on the news.
Maybe hundreds of people with signs outside the BVPD being broadcast on national TV would light a fire under Spaetzel.
We could even invite Nancy Grace. She has a cold cases section on her Website.
"But Spaetzel said he checked police records of Burns' initial statements and said Burns never said anything about seeing Amy or a man that could have been her abductor."-from ABC article
How did Duane Pohlman discover Rick Burns? Did he have access to the intial police reports? I would love to see Burns original statement to police. Don't you think it's a distinct possibility that it's Spaetzle who's confused?
I am from New London OH. I was just wondering if anyone has interviewed people from here. We all know who Dean Runkle is, some of his family still lives here. We posted the picture in the New London Record and from what everyone is talking about, he was a very weird person. There is no question Amy was in New London. Her body was found here. There is also no doubt that everyone knows everyone here. If you come into our town and we don't know you we don't just pass on by. My point is someone here has seen or did see her at some point. There is a rumor going around that she was seen a week before she passed away sitting on the bench outside of The Box Office. I am not sure if that person even said anything to police at that time because we barely had any policemen. I just think maybe we are missing something or someone in New London.
That man was Hursel Case, he died. He did however contacted New London police.This was printed in the Plain Dealer 2/11/90
He claims he saw her 12/07/89
Liz Russ
Do you think they would have that in writting that he saw her?? Has anyone questioned any of his friend or family that he must have discussed this with at the time??? I was her age and recall some very disturbing phone calls that I got as well as a few other girls in my grade. I wonder if any of those calls could be related to the same thing? I remember our parents being very scared at that time and our parents thinking it could be related.
Hursel Case was a friend of mine. I recall him saying that the girl he saw had her hands tucked up inside the sleeves of her jacket trying to stay warm.
Hopefully this will be solved by the anniversary in October but if not we really should prepare for "A March for Amy." Protest style for sure and yes hopefully that will draw the attention to solving this case. It's a very unfortunate situation ,20 yrs later and no resolution, if we have to embarass people along the way of closing this then so be it!!!
I just wish he would crack. We are humans, suppose to have emotions, feelings and remorse. I don't know how this animal(s) can live their lives day to day and not have this slowly eating them alive. What if someone did this to your daughter? Mother? Aunt? We all know your keeping an eye on all of this! God REALLY does forgive. You may not have a life right now, but if you want, you can have the best life ever. It's your choice. Ask for forgiveness and turn yourself in already. Do it for your Mother.Good Mothers always want people to do the right things. Was your Mother a good Mother???
Jim, I have talked to you B4, I was called by ABC news on Monday March 30th to report what I knew about the case. You have been to my job in Bay, I think the mans name from ABC was, I'm not sure of the first name, Rich, I think, Michaels was his last name.
Jim, you are far smarter on this matter than most of us. Get to New London, that is where the answer will be. Get there quickly, every day that goes by a potential "case breaker" gets older and perhapd might even die. It's obvious it will take a private sector investigator to solve this. Too bad the FBI and BVPD just give lip service to this crime, please, please keep this going.
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