Post by Scumhunter on Dec 28, 2015 11:25:51 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: unsolvedmurdersqcarea.org)
The murders of a retired couple who where living in East Moline, Illinois are still unsolved even after over a decade. The case was profiled on AMW as a "My Story" web-exclusive, where a person writes in to AMW to request their help with the case. Usually it's a family member who does, but in this case, it was Lieutenant Scott Cunningham, who was working the case, that requested AMW's case. Below is the archived description of the case from AMW's old website:
My Story -- By Lt. Scott Cunningham
Lt. Scott Cunningham is a 15-year-veteran of the East Moline, Ill. Police Department. November 1, 2002 is a day that sticks in his memory, not because it was the day he received his promotion to Lieutenant, but because it was on that same day that he was called to investigate a merciless crime. To Lieutenant Cunningham, it was the kind of crime where the perpetrator must have been so cold-hearted as to be inhuman. An elderly couple, at home after an early evening out with friends, was surprised by ruthless assailants who apparently entered the couple's home with robbery in mind. The confrontation led to the fatal shooting of Doris and Edward Elwess.
"It was shocking. The heinous murder of an elderly couple shot to death in the security of their own home," Lt. Cunningham wrote to AMW.
Couple Known Throughout Community As Loving Grandparents
According to Lt. Cunningham, he still receives many calls from the family searching for answers and exhorting him to bring closure to the case. "The timing of the murders around Thanksgiving and the Christmas season makes this time of year exceptionally difficult; it's very difficult around this time of year to tell the Elwess family there is not an immediate end in sight to their emotional pain. You can't help but think of your own grandparents."
This Case Justifies The Nation's Help
This story has been powerful to Lt. Cunningham from the very moment he made contact with the case. "This case was unique because I showed up as the first officer on the scene, and then assumed the lead investigator role when I took over the investigative division the following day," he said. Progress has been made in the investigation, but no arrests have been made.
Thoughts? This case is still on Quad City Crime Stoppers website so sadly it is apparently still unsolved. As Lt. Cunningham mentions, it seems there was progress. Two handguns believe involved were found a year and a half later according to articles. Weapons were also taken from the Elwess home itself (in my opinion, after so much time has passed, it might be a good idea to publicize what exactly those weapons are). According to the QC Crime Stoppers website, the killer or killers entered through the kitchen, so in my opinion it is another avenue to explore if there are similar robberies near East Moline where the kitchen is believed to be the entry point.
Admin Note #1: Based on our online research, our advice for anyone with any information as to who killed the Elwesses is to contact Quad City Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500
Admin Note #2: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
web.archive.org/web/20070806055539/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=36473
unsolvedmurdersqcarea.org/id6.html (scroll down or ctrl + f to search for Elwess Case)
www.qccrimestoppers.com/crime_of_week.shtml (scroll down or ctrl + f to search for Elwess Case)
qctimes.com/news/local/police-id-weapons-used-in-east-moline-slaying/article_9d15a633-72c6-54fc-9ddf-79b8b3de72b2.html