Debbie Schlussel: Extreme Sign of the Times
How bad is the economy? Well, in Michigan, it's so bad that people who put up money for a reward for tips in a suburban Detroit murder case have taken their money back.
The reward fund for tips to solve the murders of Ron and Christine Jabalee has shrunk by $150,000, after officials said tough economic times have more people requesting their money back.The money was the highest amount collected by Crime Stoppers for a reward fund when it hit $200,000, a record for the crime fighting organization. But the reward pot now sits at $50,000.
Several contributors to the fund have asked for their money back in the past six months, say Crime Stoppers of Michigan officials. John Broad, president of Crime Stoppers of Michigan, said donors sign a one-year contract to donate the money.The Jabalees' murder remains unsolved. . . .
The Jabalees, both 58, were found stabbed to death in October 2006 in the garage of their New Baltimore home.
Their murder remains unsolved.
A blood-scrawled message was found near their bodies on the floor of the garage near the couple's 2006 Jeep Wrangler, said police, who theorize the message was left behind by the dying couple to help police identify their killer or killers.
A picture of the blood-written note was released in August 2007 by police in hopes of gathering more tips in the case. Police suspect the killer or killers tried to mop most of the message away.
Very sad. But people need the money to live. These people were generous in better times, and they should be recognized for that. Better to survive, than to go hungry or on public assistance because your money is tied up in what is basically a cold case. Still, many tips have come in on this case from good, decent people, who aren't motivated by the money.
Posted by Debbie on January 27, 2009 01:59 PM to Debbie Schlussel