Friday, October 29, 1999
Police can't trace tip leading to dead man
BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — Police investigating the death of a man found in Devou Park can't trace the anonymous tip that touched off the case.
Because the caller dialed the Covington Police Department's non-emergency line instead of 911, detectives can't determine who called.
Calls to that number could be traced at the time, but not later, Assistant Chief Bill Dorsey said, and not without some time and help from Cincinnati Bell.
The lack of a trace leaves detectives still lacking information about the male who told them they'd find a body near the concert bowl. They don't know whether the caller was involved in the man's death or just knew about it.
“But whoever made the call knows something,” Lt. Col. Dorsey said. “However it is, we would certainly like to discuss that with him so we could exclude him.”
The body — the seventh homicide victim in the city this year — was tentatively identified Thursday as that of a 65-year-old man. He suffered trauma, but police won't describe what kind. They expect to an nounce his name today after notifying his relatives.
The man was found after the 5:15 p.m. call. He wore casual clothing, carried no identification and was lying in a small patch of trees off Park Drive. Detectives, hampered by nightfall Wednesday, returned Thursday to the scene to try to find more evidence. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday, but its preliminary findings were not released.
Devou Park is a relatively quiet spot, Lt. Col. Dorsey said. Most commonly reported to the department are suspected gay sexual activity and juveniles drinking, he said. He said he could not draw a link between the dead man and any other activity that might have been taking place in the park.
Officers make special details in the park several times a year to try to prevent sexual activity, he said. Undercover officers sometimes are used as decoys.
“It's something we work periodically,” Lt. Col. Dorsey said. “Probably in the next week or so, we'll see the end of it until next spring.”
Police ask that anyone with information about the man or his death call them at 292-2234 or Crimestoppers at 352-3040.
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