I noticed that the website for the Baltimore County Police Department’s Homicide Unit, Unsolved Case Squad has cases going back to the 1970’s. The picture is of Sister Catherine Ann Cesnik, a victim from 1970.  Perhaps her case is, realistically, still a long shot, but I like that her picture is up there and that the detectives are still trying what they can.

To go to their website, click here.

I’ve updated the software I use for this blog (thank you, Jackie Broner!).  This is my first post using the new software, I’m a little nervous.  You know how these things go.  Something is bound to go wrong.  Oh wow, I see it’s fairly easy to imbed video or music into my posts, not that I think I will have much use for that here.  But I’m using WordPress in case there’s anyone out there reading this who is trying to decide what to use.

Anyway, this is mostly a test post, just to make sure everything is working okay.  I should be back to posting real posts shortly. Ah, the text is not wrapping around the image. Problem one. Update! Jackie fixed it!

Last year I posted briefly about the Montgomery County Police Cold Case Squad’s efforts to solve the 1982 murder of Wendy Lou Stark. I just learned that they solved it. From the beginning of the Washington Post article about the case:

“Montgomery County Detective Joe Mudano was searching an evidence supply room late last year when, on a top shelf, tucked out of plain view, he found a box that apparently had gone missing years ago.

Inside were tiny pieces of evidence from a 26-year-old unsolved slaying.

Using DNA extracted from a cotton swab stored in that box, investigators say they have solved the 1982 slaying of Wendy Stark …”

Good work, Montgomery County, and thank you.

(The picture of Gerald A. Abernathy, the killer, is from the Washington Post article.)

I once posted about all the murder victim billboards across America. They’re generally put up by the families of the victim and they ask (beg) people who have information to come forward. Now people use the internet. I came across a blog called Who Killed Theresa? It’s about Theresa Allore, who was murdered in 1978, and it was put up by her brother John.

I’ve seen a lot of blogs (or websites) but this one stands out for me. I think it’s because you get a sense of who John is. He’s smart, articulate, open — he’s an impressive champion. There’s so much life there that the overall effect is: you feel the loss of Theresa more.

If I could give any advice to families putting up websites, it would be to put yourselves into your effort. And not just in relationship to the person who is no longer there. Tells us who you are. I know this sounds odd, but having more of a sense of you dramatizes better–and I hate to say it–the hole that is now there in your lives. (I’m sorry.) With John’s website I see him going on, living his life, but nonetheless haunted by the knowledge that Theresa didn’t get to.

Okay, more advice: good writing matters. Don’t overwhelm people with pages and pages of writing, and bad writing. You don’t have to be a great writer, I’m not a great writer, but just the act of trying and giving it some thought will help. Keep entries concise, and be as candid and frank and honest as you can. I think the more people feel they know you, the more they might be willing to help you.

(The picture of Theresa Allore is from the Who Killed Theresa? blog.)