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Post by Scumhunter on Oct 19, 2015 8:18:50 GMT -5
 (Pictured: Above: Sketch of unknown suspect from AMW archives). Unknown Suspect Profile as of October 19th, 2015: (based on 2000 AMW archives, please contact site if you have more recent information)
Age: 30's (at time of 1994 murder, D.O.B. unknown) Sex: Male Race: White Weight: 180 lbs Hair: Black Eyes: Black TIPS: Based on crime location, our advice for anyone with information would be to contact the Desert Hot Springs (California) Police Department. Information on how to submit an anonymous crime tip to them can be found at the following website: www.cityofdhs.org/Submit_an_Anonymous_Crime_Tip The unknown killer of Cheri-Lynn Russ was aired on the March 26th, 2000 episode of America's Most Wanted. Below is the archived description of the case: "On the morning of April 24, 1994, Cheri-Lynn Huss was found murdered in her Desert Hot Springs, California, townhouse by her parents. Police say the night before the murder Huss had called her parents in Los Angeles because she was concerned she would be evicted for not paying her rent. Huss’s parents drove to Desert Hot Springs to encourage her to move out of the area because they felt it was unsafe. During the police investigation, detectives learned that a man had reportedly told people he wanted Huss killed. One informant had told the police that the man, described as a “want-to-be-biker,” was willing to pay someone to kill Huss. Police do not know why this man wanted to kill Huss, but according to witnesses he said she owed him money. One witness reported seeing Huss with the suspect the day before at the Desert Moon Hotel in the North Palm Springs area. The suspect is described as a medium built white male with long hair and possibly a beard or goatee. More importantly, witnesses said the man was loud and obnoxious and he often bragged about having a metal plate in his head. He claimed he would move to warmer climates during the Winter months because the cold would make the plate hurt his head. Cheri-Lynn Huss was recently divorced and was the mother of three children." Thoughts? Unfortunately I don't have a picture of Cheri-Lynn which could also help with clues but there are some decent clues here despite this case being 21 years old. Citizens Against Homicide's website still has this case listed on their website with a 2015 time stamp so I am rather surprised it still hasn't been solved. web.archive.org/web/20040613022536/http://www2.amw.com/site/thisweek/20000325/huss20000325.html
Admin Note: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form |
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Post by Maddog on Oct 30, 2020 23:42:02 GMT -5
I never saw the telecast of this case, but it is fascinating. The composite was made with FACES composite sketch technology, and that started to come online in the late 90s, so they may have had a previous sketch they weren’t happy about.
I wouldn’t doubt that this person of interest had a metal plate in his head. Reason being, he was a biker: he may have sustained head trauma in a previous bike accident. It should be stressed that just because he was soliciting people to kill Cheri-Lynn doesn’t necessarily mean he himself is the killer. Nonetheless, police need to find him, as he either is, or knows who the killer is because he likely solicited the murderer. If I had to guess, I wouldn’t be surprised if he committed the killing himself. Reason being: Cheri-Lynn was stabbed to death. If it’s a hit, you’d think she would have been shot or something along those lines (it would probably have looked a lot less personal).
I do know that Schwarzenegger did authorize a $50,000 reward in this case. There was a proclamation issued by him authorizing it (which I cannot find). It looks like that reward is still there.
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Post by Scumhunter on Oct 31, 2020 0:03:08 GMT -5
You also have to wonder if a wannabe be-biker really has the money to pay someone to do a hit, hence another reason he could be the killer himself.
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Post by Maddog on Nov 1, 2020 1:55:29 GMT -5
You also have to wonder if a wannabe be-biker really has the money to pay someone to do a hit, hence another reason he could be the killer himself. Very good point, and I didn’t think of that. Here’s another question: do you think the suspect did have a metal plate in his head? I’m leaning towards yes, because he may have gotten into a motorcycle accident that resulted in a skull fracture. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t rule out that he may have been lying. Lastly: what could she have owed the suspect as far as money goes? I doubt it was drugs, as she was divorced with three children, and was probably having trouble with money as it was due to her eviction. Think the money angle could have been a red herring? |
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Post by Scumhunter on Nov 1, 2020 1:59:15 GMT -5
The metal plate seems plausible for the reasons you mentioned.
And yeah the owing money could have been a red herring, although it begs the question as to why he wanted to kill her. Perhaps she was a witness to criminal activity of his and he was afraid he'd get found out.
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Post by Maddog on Nov 1, 2020 14:11:08 GMT -5
The metal plate seems plausible for the reasons you mentioned. And yeah the owing money could have been a red herring, although it begs the question as to why he wanted to kill her. Perhaps she was a witness to criminal activity of his and he was afraid he'd get found out. I believe you may be right about the red herring. What I think is possible is that this may have been an ordered hit. The only person we know definitively that she owed money to was her landlord, but I doubt the landlord is involved, because his/her remedy is eviction and then subsequent garnishment. Either way, Huss doesn’t seem like a “high-risk” victim. There is one thing I am confident about: Huss somehow knew her killer. She wouldn’t have been with him in public had she not known him. Does anyone know if DNA was collected in this case? It’s certainly a possibility in a stabbing case. |
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Post by Scumhunter on Nov 1, 2020 14:13:14 GMT -5
No idea about DNA. Heck, I STILL can't find a photo of Cheri-Lynn.
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Post by Maddog on Nov 1, 2020 14:13:43 GMT -5
Another thing: I could see this case being solved in a way most might not expect: if there are any biker magazines or internet groups, I would think that could help catch this guy. There’s enough information there that someone could recognize him.
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Post by Scumhunter on Nov 1, 2020 14:15:35 GMT -5
Another thing: I could see this case being solved in a way most might not expect: if there are any biker magazines or internet groups, I would think that could help catch this guy. There’s enough information there that someone could recognize him. That's a great idea! Unfortunate if they didn't do it closer to 94. |
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Post by Maddog on Nov 1, 2020 14:50:53 GMT -5
Here’s my question: do you suspect the cops have any suspects? There have been some cases where there are composites and there are suspects: (I.e. There are primary suspects in the Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre and the death of Rachael Runyan). This may be more difficult in this case because the prime suspect would go from North to South during the year due to the weather. If this was a hit, and cops are proceeding under that theory, I could imagine they have an idea of who ordered the hit. I’m wondering though if they have an idea of who the man in the composite is.
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Post by Maddog on Nov 1, 2020 14:52:02 GMT -5
By the way: I’m wondering if they have sent out photos of the composite in this case to neurosurgeons here in the US. Someone may have installed the plate in the suspect’s head (assuming that story is true) and may recognize him.
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Post by Scumhunter on Nov 1, 2020 15:13:54 GMT -5
Here’s my question: do you suspect the cops have any suspects? There have been some cases where there are composites and there are suspects: (I.e. There are primary suspects in the Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre and the death of Rachael Runyan). This may be more difficult in this case because the prime suspect would go from North to South during the year due to the weather. If this was a hit, and cops are proceeding under that theory, I could imagine they have an idea of who ordered the hit. I’m wondering though if they have an idea of who the man in the composite is. No clue, I'm sure they must have questioned a few guys but no idea if they developed any suspects as a result. |
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Post by zekcat on Mar 8, 2022 20:23:35 GMT -5
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Post by outlawtaco on Mar 8, 2022 20:36:41 GMT -5
Well the composite sketch of the guy looks nothing like the suspect they have in custody maybe he was just a witness or something the guy they had in the composite sketch maybe he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time but glad they got the real killer after all
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Post by Scumhunter on Mar 8, 2022 20:39:28 GMT -5
Well the composite sketch of the guy looks nothing like the suspect they have in custody maybe he was just a witness or something the guy they had in the composite sketch maybe he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time but glad they got the real killer after all Eyewitness sketches are notoriously unreliable and considered the #1 reason for wrongful convictions. |
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