Witnesses play a vital role in police investigations by sharing first-hand information about what they saw or heard. However, witness reporting is often conditional on a number of factors, such as overcoming the belief that their input won't be helpful.
"The victim had a very expensive watch and his identification, his wallet, $1,350, so robbery was ruled out almost immediately," said Brian MacLeod, a now-retired New York City Police Department homicide detective.
The daughters of Stefana Otilia Malinici, missing for over seven years, have publicly appealed for help in locating their mother and urging her to return home.
Homicide detectives later determined that the assailants entered Modebadze's home, assaulted him, held him captive and stole his property, according to a statement issued by LAPD.
The audit expressed concern about how Canton police handled evidence collection and witness interviews early on in the investigation, specifically noting the department's use of plastic Solo cups and a paper grocery bag to collect blood-soaked snow from the scene.