Post by Scumhunter on Jul 13, 2016 4:26:57 GMT -5
From the NBC Reno website (my news4.com):
Reno police detectives are reaching out. They're hoping you can help them solve a brutal murder that happened nearly 13 years ago. It's a cold case that has been tough to crack despite DNA evidence left at the crime scene.
On the morning of September 25, 2003, a neighbor of Douglas Mitchell made a grim discovery when he left his house to go to work. He discovered the body of Mitchell in his side yard located at Plumas Street and Hillcrest Drive. Someone had dragged Mitchell's body from Hillcrest behind a small bush in the yard. Sergeant Ron Chalmers said, "This is one of the more violent murders that I investigated during my ten years in this assignment."
There was blood, lots of it, pooled into the gutter near the driveway across the street from where Mitchell lived at 508 Hillcrest. Chalmers said, "Someone stabbed him multiple times and slit his throat."
The man known as "Uncle Dougie" died a very violent death. Chalmers said, "The victim was able to fight his way out of the apartment and they pursued him outside and caught him at the curb across the street."
In actual crime scene photos released by RPD, there is evidence of a slight struggle inside the apartment with Mitchell losing his shoes. What the pictures reveal outside are far darker. Chalmers explains Mitchell was repeatedly stabbed with the assailant botching at least one attempt to slice Mitchell's throat. Chalmers said, "They actually caught his lip, incising his cheek and mouth open and then followed up with his actual throat."
The assailant used such force, Mitchell's head was nearly severed. Detectives believe this violence was over a drug deal gone awry. Chalmers said, "In essence it is a robbery but instead of money from a store, it was for drugs. In this case it was marijuana."
Detective Chalmers admits this level of violence is unusual with marijuana, but that's not the only strange thing about this case. Chalmers said, "We don't think he had a lot of money. He was actually a middle manager in this drug trade."
They believe the crime could have involved one or more individuals. They also believe it happened in the late night or early morning hours. Uncle Dougie died just two days before his birthday. Chalmers said, "He was known as somebody who was always willing to help out and somebody who was like an uncle that you would go to for advice. He was just a likable individual."
While it has been 13 years since this crime, one key piece of evidence remains. It is DNA evidence. Chalmers said the assailant cut himself during the attack leaving behind blood spatters. Chalmers said enough time has passed that someone who didn't speak out before, might be willing to do so now. He said, "If they give us an identification of a person who might have been involved, we can check that individual and either clear them or identify them without much involvement of the person providing this information."
If you have information that could help solve this case, you may call Reno Detectives at (775) 334-2188 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900. You can provide information while remaining anonymous.
mynews4.com/news/local/uncle-dougies-murder-remains-unsolved-despite-dna-evidence
Thoughts?
Admin Note: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form