This recap of CCLiveChat is courtesy of Sue Carney.
Today saw a massive turnout of cold case live chat stalwarts, old and new, for a regular-style cold case brainstorming session. Sadly, just as chat began, Alice got the tragic news of the death of her friend Phillip Finch, staunch supporter in the Zeigler case. As Alice quite rightly bowed out to take the time to process this terrible disclosure (and I remind her here, she need make no apology for this — our thoughts are with her), @ColdCaseSquad valiantly led us in our musings.
Joe invited us, at the request of Mark Swett, (@marksme51) to review the 1987 case of Alice Hawkes, violently murdered in Westbrook, Maine. Those speed readers amongst us began discussion of various aspects of the case, and we were later joined by Mark who was anxious to provide further details and answered some of our questions. It seems that a key may comprise a vital piece of evidence (“the key’s the key’!) and the well-preserved crime scene evidence has been under review since 2009, not unexpected according to Alice.
For those of us unfamiliar with the case, Joe set us some ‘homework‘ to review the available information online. More details can be found here and here, and the crew agreed to pass on their thoughts and suggestions to Joe and/or Alice via email. An investigation into which local papers were reporting at the time was also suggested as a good starting point.
Joe reminded us of his recent post on the slow bureaucratic death of cold case units and invited guest posts on cold cases and investigation. Expect further developments later!
Finally @pwmullen popped in to tell us about a another live chat about the Shafia trial. Peter will be joining us next week to discuss postmortem toxicology and pharmacokinetics.
The full transcript of this week’s chat follows below and all of us here at #cclivechat send our thoughts, good wishes and respects to Alice and to the family of Phillip Finch.
The verbatim thread is below.
| bischofield | @ColdCaseSquad Well, I'm here, where is everybody? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:02:27 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | Afternoon #cclivechat! Who's here? | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:02:39 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | Hello @Miriamsaid @bischofield @LilacLounge #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:03:23 +0000 |
| miriamsaid | @ColdCaseSquad Hi Joe...Hi guys...:) #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:04:07 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @Vidocq_cc will be here shortly - just got off the phone-some stuff to discuss today #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:04:08 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @miriamsaid good to see you #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:04:43 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | I just now heard that a friend and partner in the fight for justice for Zeigler, passed away. Phillip Finch died. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:04:44 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @ColdCaseSquad @Miriamsaid @bischofield Hi everyone! #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:05:05 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @Vidocq_CC That's very sad news. Sorry to hear that Vidster. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:05:47 +0000 |
| miriamsaid | @Vidocq_CC That's really sad news... #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:05:47 +0000 |
| miriamsaid | Come and join us on #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:06:47 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | Good afternoon team we have a project that @Vidocq_CC and I need your assistance in #AliceHawkes @marksme51 #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:07:48 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | First follow @marksme51 and I give you the links to his website dedicated to #AliceHawkes #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:09:41 +0000 |
| iowa_card | afternoon folks #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:10:49 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @ColdCaseSquad @marksme51 followed! How can we help? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:10:59 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | We have been asked by @marksme51 to look into the cold case of Alice Hawkes http://t.co/IycHBHzd @bdnpolice @bangordailynews #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:11:25 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @Vidocq_CC and I need you guys to read the case and e-mail us your thoughts. We will put them all together and e-mail @marksme51 #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:12:50 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @IowaCard welcome back #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:13:06 +0000 |
| iowa_card | has this case been on a show that may have a recap or other information on it? like cold case files, ectc ? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:16:09 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | Does it sound like a plan? Thoughts and questions are what we need on #AliceHawkes #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:16:09 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @ColdCaseSquad Sounds like a good plan. Bookmarked for reading this evening! #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:18:21 +0000 |
| McVladie | Afternoon #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:19:17 +0000 |
| iowa_card | odd to me that "carl" has not been to the grave, ever, according to the blog. #alicehawkes #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:19:20 +0000 |
| iowa_card | @ColdCaseSquad alright, will be reading/researching #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:20:14 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @iowa_card those of the kind of thoughts we are looking for-so see what else you can come up with-Hi @McVladie #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:20:46 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @McVladie Good afternoon Carlota 🙂 #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:20:52 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @McVladie check out the link to a new case we would like to discuss on #AliceHawkes http://t.co/IycHBHzd #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:22:08 +0000 |
| firstforensic3 | afternoon all. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:25:42 +0000 |
| WardBlawg | RT @ColdCaseSquad: @McVladie check out the link to a new case we would like to discuss on #AliceHawkes http://t.co/PBxFlxap #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:25:57 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | The case is in Westbrook Maine so we need to find out what newspapers that were in business back then #AliceHawkes #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:25:58 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @firstforensic3 welcome to the #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:26:33 +0000 |
| McVladie | @iowa_card I don't find that odd maybe other actions suspect. I don't remember those I loved in that manner. They are not there #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:27:03 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @firstforensic3 Hi Andrew! Welcome back! #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:27:22 +0000 |
| McVladie | @LilacLounge Greetings " ) #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:27:28 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | For those that just joined us we have some homework on #AliceHawkes http://t.co/IycHBHzd to discuss next Friday? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:28:43 +0000 |
| iowa_card | @McVladie it comes across odd to me, since he says one day he will. something is keeping him away #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:30:07 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @iowa_card make notes of anything you find-we have just started to look into it too-e-mail me or @Vidocq_cc your comments #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:30:48 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @ColdCaseSquad I think it might be Peter Mullen's post mortem tox chat next Friday? @Vidocq_CC #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:31:54 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @LilacLounge I meant just to e-mail us your thoughts by next Friday if possible-don't want to mess up @Vidocq_CC schedule hehee #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:33:53 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | The themed schedule is on DCC's homepage. Sorry, folks, not in the mood. Vid out. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:34:52 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @marksme51 mark retweet ur posts using the #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:35:08 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @ColdCaseSquad Heaven forbid! In that case, excellent plan 🙂 #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:35:12 +0000 |
| miriamsaid | @Vidocq_CC *Hugs Vidster*.... #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:36:10 +0000 |
| bischofield | @ColdCaseSquad Don't feel I can contribute today until I have read up on case, know nothing about it #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:36:21 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @LilacLounge especially when the Vidster hasn't had coffee, wine, etc. 😉 #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:36:30 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @marksme51 all comments will come directly to you-via me or @Vidocq_CC so not to worry #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:37:17 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @bischofield don't worry-we are all in the same position #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:37:45 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @Vidocq_CC No apology necessary. I'm not surprised given what's happened. Take care. x #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:38:06 +0000 |
| bischofield | @Vidocq_CC {{{Vidster}}} #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:38:26 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | Remember team on #AliceHawkes e-mail me or @Vidocq_cc your thoughts and comments-we will put together one e-mail to @marksme51 #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:38:37 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @bischofield @Vidocq_cc is Vidster #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:39:40 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | Is there to make a group function on Twitter yet? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:40:24 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @ColdCaseSquad Any other current cases we can discuss in today's chat or does anyone have any news for the last 20mins? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:40:47 +0000 |
| McVladie | @ColdCaseSquad Will do. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:41:14 +0000 |
| pwmullen | #cclivechat Hi All - just checking in. BTW, FYI, there's a concurrent "livechat" re the Shafia case here in Can. See: http://t.co/fPnxkcNf | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:41:54 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @LilacLounge @Vidocq_cc is out of commission for the rest of the chat-so I am up for suggestions #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:42:02 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | I did post a new article on how Cold Case Squads seem to be dying a slow bureaucratic death http://t.co/KlGQ5pb3 #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:43:14 +0000 |
| miriamsaid | Was Alice's security lock key in the apartment or was it missing too? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:43:31 +0000 |
| iowa_card | @ColdCaseSquad wife and I are going to research and send our thoughts your way next week. thanks! #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:44:19 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @miriamsaid those are the kinds of thoughts we are looking for-gather them up and shoot us an e-mail #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:44:36 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | RT @pwmullen: #cclivechat Hi All - just checking in. BTW, FYI, there's a concurrent "livechat" re the Shafia case here in Can. See: http://t.co/fPnxkcNf | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:45:31 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @iowa_card thanks for the assistance #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:45:51 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @ColdCaseSquad Yes saw that. Upheaval in the forensic market and police cuts might affect us in the UK too... #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:46:54 +0000 |
| marksme51 | RT @miriamsaid: Was Alice's security lock key in the apartment or was it missing too? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:47:10 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | Throwing this out there-would like to have some guest posts on the #ColdCaseBlog from each of you on cold cases/investigations #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:48:11 +0000 |
| iowa_card | @ColdCaseSquad for those interested: http://t.co/i6R4LswU #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:50:13 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @LilacLounge unfortunately the same everywhere #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:51:37 +0000 |
| marksme51 | #cclivechat Authorities believes they know who assailant is. Family and I also know and have known for years. | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:51:42 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @ColdCaseSquad Would love to do that Joe! Can I have a think about that and get back to you? *idea forming* #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:51:43 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | RT @iowa_card: @ColdCaseSquad for those interested: http://t.co/OMp2GLIA #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:51:59 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @LilacLounge great Sue thanks for the help #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:52:26 +0000 |
| marksme51 | #cclivechat Want to be careful to not step on State Police toes | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:52:45 +0000 |
| miriamsaid | What did Mr & Mrs Friend hear/see in the 24 hours before alice was found? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:52:49 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @marksme51 So it is a case of finding some evidence against this person then? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:53:32 +0000 |
| iowa_card | NH/VT/ME Unsolved Homicides: NH/VT/ME UNSOLVED HOMICIDES http://t.co/M7rGd051 #cclivechat another site mentioning alice | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:53:40 +0000 |
| marksme51 | #cclivechat tate Police Detective assigned in 2008. Boyfriend still refuses to assist - defers to lawyer. | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:53:58 +0000 |
| marksme51 | #cclivechat Crime scene evidence carefully preserved. Now in MSP crime lab for forensics. Family frustrated in length of time. | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:54:29 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | @LilacLounge evidence, ideas or whatever we can pass along to @marksme51 #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:54:49 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | RT @marksme51 Crime scene evidence carefully preserved. Now in MSP crime lab for forensics. Family frustrated in length of time. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:55:16 +0000 |
| marksme51 | #cclivechat mportant - dead bolt locked boyfriend sya he does did not carry key - in house waits 24 hrs. | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:55:34 +0000 |
| marksme51 | #cclivechat We have a saying - the key is the key | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:56:24 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @marksme51 How long have the crime lab been reviewing the crime scene evidence for this time around? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:56:41 +0000 |
| iowa_card | Who Killed Alice Hawkes? http://t.co/4enftfbK #cclivechat alice | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:58:23 +0000 |
| marksme51 | #cclivechat - reviewing evidence we believe for almost three years | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:58:24 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | RT @LilacLounge: @marksme51 How long have the crime lab been reviewing the crime scene evidence? May be we can push it along! #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:59:09 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | Cold Case Team I will be signing off-when you get a chance forward me & @Vidocq_CC your thoughts on #AliceHawkes #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:01:01 +0000 |
| iowa_card | Can You Help With This Unsolved Westbrook Homicide? http://t.co/veE63RVm #cclivechat alice | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:02:04 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @marksme51 According to article http://t.co/Hsww4eyq boyfriend went to a friend's house so why do you tweet "in house?" #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:02:17 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @ColdCaseSquad Thanks, Joe. I needed a moment. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:03:04 +0000 |
| ColdCaseSquad | #FF @Vidocq_CC @LilacLounge @iowa_card @evie_G_L @McVladie @bischofield @miriamsaid @wardblawg @Katcop13 @bluedog89 #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:04:17 +0000 |
| miriamsaid | Who was this supposed "friend" her boyfriend thought Alice had gone out for the day with when he found door security locked? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:04:18 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @marksme51 3yrs for checking cold case evidence is not long at all since all open & active cases get priority. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:04:38 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Anyone willing to write a recap? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:04:52 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @marksme51 @ColdCaseSquad this seems too long! I will read more details and give this case some thought. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:04:56 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @Vidocq_CC I was going to ask if you might need that! Can your tech guy produce the verbatim thread after the recap? #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:06:21 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @LilacLounge It seems long but not out of the ordinary. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:06:54 +0000 |
| marksme51 | #cclivechat understand measured in years - increasing violent crimes - staffing - budgets - need to do what I can to push. | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:07:56 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @LilacLounge I do that! Can you write a short summary then I'll get the verbatim thread. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:08:19 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @Vidocq_CC Yes maybe so. Perhaps I have my forensic blinkers on... having said that will depend on the evidence types. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:08:35 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @marksme51 Not much, I would not push the authorities unless there is clear evidence that they are not even making an effort. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:08:55 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @Vidocq_CC Consider it done! I will email you in due course. (Just have to drive home first. Couple of hours ok?) #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:09:38 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @LilacLounge No problem at all! Thanks, Sue. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:10:24 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Sorry for missing the chat, folks. Big THANK YOU to Joe for handling this and to Sue for helping with the recap. Will post later #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:11:19 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @Vidocq_CC Very welcome 🙂 Signing off & be in touch later. #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:11:44 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Next week a themed chat with @pwmullen on postmortem toxicology! See you then! #cclivechat | Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:11:53 +0000 |