You Never Close A Missing Persons Case

[Larrry/Peace4 Admin]

YOU NEVER CLOSE A MISSING PERSONS CASE SOMEBODY ALWAYS KNOWS SOMETHING AND AFTER 30 YEARS THIS CASE HAS COME TO A CLOSE




‘You never close a missing person’s case’
Ala. man confesses to 30-year-old Minerva murder, tells police location of the body


By NATHAN BROWN, Enterprise Staff Writer
POSTED: July 22, 2010t

From left, state police Cpt. John Tibbitts, Cpt. Robert LaFountain,
Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague and Lt. Brent Davison at a
press conference at state police headquarters in Ray Brook Wednesday
about Thomas Collard’s arrest for allegedly murdering his wife 30 years
ago


:




RAY BROOK - A 30-year-old missing person's case just culminated with Thomas Anthony Collard's arrest for murder, one of the longest-running investigations in the state to reach such a resolution, according to state police.

Collard, now 62, who moved to Samson, Ala. in 1994, used to live in Olmstedville in the town of Minerva. He reported his estranged wife June Marion Collard missing on Nov. 27, 1980. State police investigators recently traveled to Alabama to investigate the case, and on Tuesday, police said, Collard confessed to her murder and told investigators where in Olmstedville he disposed of her body.

"This arrest is a culmination of years of investigation by present and past members of the New York State Police," Cpt. Robert LaFountain said at a press conference at state police Troop "B" headquarters Thursday.

"You never close a missing person's case," said Cpt. John Tibbitts, Troop "B" Zone 3 commander. "You're always looking for that one bit of evidence that's going to give us resolution," going over photographs, files and records of interviews.

Investigators had been in fairly regular contact with Thomas Collard over the past 30 years, LaFountain said. He said those years of work and documentation, including evidence of "fabrications he had given to police and other people to explain her disappearance," led to the recent break in the case.

Thomas Collard waived extradition proceedings in Alabama and was flown into the area Wednesday evening, arraigned in Elizabethtown town court and remanded to Essex County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to reappear for a felony preliminary hearing on Monday. He is being charged with second-degree murder. More charges could follow.

New York State Police didn't say anything about the circumstances of the murder. However, Geneva County, Ala. Sheriff Greg Ward told the Dothan Eagle newspaper that Thomas Collard told investigators that June struck her head on something after he hit her in an argument.

"I've known him since 1994," Ward told the Eagle. "He said 'sheriff, I just want to get it over with. I've lived with it long enough.'"

Tibbitts said Thomas Collard gave an "approximate search area" to look for June Collard's remains. He said the search would begin shortly but couldn't give a timeframe, saying police would need to be more certain of the area's geography and topography first. He said it was in Olmstedville but didn't give any further details of the area.

"We went through this together, and we're going to come out of this together," said Tammy Vanderwerker, one of three children of Thomas and June Collard. She didn't comment further, saying she wanted to wait until her siblings, Thomas and Candy, were with her.

Tammy Vanderwerker was 8 years old at the time of her mother's disappearance; Thomas was 9 and Candy was 7. Tammy lived in Olmstedville until she was 12, when she went into foster care in Elizabethtown, and her siblings went to live with relatives.



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[Maureen Reintjes-Peace4 Admin]

Christy.....that is what I did I had flyers put up at all campgrounds across the USA and in the highway reststops. And, I really feel that missing person business cards are a better way to go outside of the area that the person was last seen in. They are easier for people to carry around and have in their cars. They are easier to leave places without the fear the flyer will be ripped down. If you leave a stack of business cards at plane, train and bus depots ... actually anywhere people can easily pick them up and take them with them.

[Christy Hotchkiss]

YES! This is what I have been trying to say in manyt ways and forms - Missing persons stay in the forfront for a short time then the issue, problem and attention get diverted to something else somewhere else and YES The PUBLIC and people STILL do NOT understand the scope of the prolems and frequency of occurances! I was camping for a few nights and met with probably 15 people who for the most part have NO idea NONE! Some had seen the Local Billboard of Billy Smolinski but weren't sure of all the deatils, trials and tribulations SO...of course I tried to set them straight! Campgrounds would be a great place(s) to get missing persons children and adults posted LOTS of people there and there are those that come from others states...family oriented activities going on and youth activities also....Suggest cooperative agreements with say Private campgrounds and statte and Army corp of engineers you could have volunteers change the postijngs say once a month -rotate the pictures/info...also anyone tried to contact Walmart yet ? They have the Missing children on ONE side of the entrance/exit lobbys why not Missing adults on the other? I have spoken to several store managers who agreed it is a possiblitiy and they like the idea but suggested we contact the ciorporate office via website etc....Partnerships, community oriented partnerships!

[Maureen Reintjes-Peace4 Admin]

Patty....thank you for the great advise!!!!