CrimeStoppers adjusts policy for personally donated funds
For the first time in the history of Columbia CrimeStoppers, the program has adjusted its reward policy to accept personally donated funds earmarked for solving a specific crime, according to a news release.
In June 2016, Edmond Randolph, Jr. was killed in Columbia. Since then, the organization says no tips or information have led to an arrest. Last week, an anonymous donor offered an additional $5,000 reward for any tip leading to the arrest of Randolph’s killer.
The offer prompted the CrimeStoppers board to adjust its policy going forward with regard to people donating to a specific crime.
“We’ve always drawn from our general pool of cash donations for tip payout in the past,” said CrimeStoppers Board President Terry Robb. “But when we were approached with the offer of additional funds to help solve this particular murder, we felt it was time to adjust our policy on how we handle rewards paid for specific crimes.”
CrimeStoppers typically pays $1,500 for anonymous tips in unsolved murder cases. With the additional donation, Robb hopes the larger reward total of $6,500 will encourage someone with information about the crime to come forward.
“We know someone knows something about this terrible crime,” said Robb. “And we can guarantee absolute anonymity, as well as a nice cash reward for any information that helps us catch the person or persons responsible for Mr. Randolph’s death.”
Before today, personal donations to CrimeStoppers wasn’t allowed. The organization tells ABC 17 News that they hope the reward will be a incentive for more people to come forward. Not only for Randolph Jr’s case but for others as well.
James Dunn Sr. is still seeking answers in his son, Rickie Dunn’s, death. Dunn was killed on Illinois Avenue back in November of 2014.
“We’ve been able to move on emotionally wise but I’m still hollow on the inside,” Dunn Sr said.
He encourages people who knows something about a killing to come forward.
To receive the $6,500 cash reward, anyone with information leading to an arrest in Mr. Randolph’s murder case can call 573-875-TIPS and is guaranteed to remain anonymous.
