I am currently working on a murder investigation ("cold case") for a journalism project that I am working on. I have access to a lot of witnesses and evidence. I am looking for the best resource (treatise, primer, etc.) to use in conducting the investigation.
posted on Feb 19, 2008 - 5 answers

How can I go about verifying some information on someone I've been corresponding with online for years, but recently am starting to doubt? (He's in Vancouver, BC; I'm in the U.S.) [more inside]
posted on May 22, 2007 - 30 answers

What can I do to learn more about crime (without becoming a criminal)? [more inside]
posted on Mar 17, 2007 - 16 answers

I'm doing research (for a writing project) into Film Noirs and Mystery Pulps, and I'm looking for good selections of a certain plot type: the "missing person" scenario. [more inside]
posted on Mar 11, 2007 - 20 answers

Crime fighting comic books minus super heroes? I'd love recommendations for comic book equivalents of crime fighting/investigative television dramas. [more inside]
posted on Oct 28, 2006 - 18 answers

How can I find someone who's missing, and probably wants to stay that way? [more inside]
posted on Jul 11, 2006 - 27 answers

How sinister is a pre-employment "investigative consumer report" that includes interviews with acquaintances? What do those interviews involve exactly? [more inside]
posted on May 27, 2006 - 14 answers

Say you're an investigative journalist. What web resources would regularly come in handy for looking into people's backgrounds, sniffing out political info, property information, business/corporate dealings etc.?
posted on Sep 9, 2005 - 8 answers

A friend from junior high tracked me down by phone a few years ago (we'd been out of touch for about 15 years), which jump-started our friendship. We’ve never met up again in person (I left our home town years ago), but we stayed in touch via phone calls and email. For various reasons, however, I’ve begun to suspect that I’m being hoaxed in some way. I don't mean that I think this a stranger impersonating my friend, or that I’ve been swindled out of any money or anything. I've just started to get the funny feeling (due to inconsistencies, odd details, explanations that don’t always add up, etc.) that the story I've been given about where they're living, their career (supposedly a high-powered, adventurous one), etc. is just that -- a story that was made up, for some reason, to fool me after all these years.

My amateur detective skills pretty much begin and end with google, however, which has turned up nothing useful. I thought of checking military records (this person claims to have served after college) as a starting point, but I'm a civilian and so can’t access them. Of course I'm wary of the "find out the truth about anyone -- just $39.95!" online ads. Are there any (legitimate) resources I’m overlooking? Any other suggestions with how to deal with what has become an uncomfortable situation?
posted on Feb 2, 2005 - 18 answers