Secret Witness program key to closing cases

More than five years after the parents of a slain South Lake Tahoe teenager asked local authorities for help in solving the 1980 murder of their son, the case remains active and some remain hopeful the case could be solved.
Information that surfaced two years ago about the murder of Richard Swanson turned the cold case into an active one, with retired FBI agent Jeff Rinek and South Lake Tahoe police investigator Chuck Owens continuing their search for the killers. 
While details into what investigators have learned remain sealed, the 31-year unsolved murder strikes a particular nerve in the community, particularly with the Jaycee Dugard now case solved.

With the passage of time, hope for solving the case remains, but at the same time, as the years go by, valuable information could get lost through time, fading memory and even death. If anyone knows or suspects or has even heard of anything regarding the case, now is the time to step forward.
On August 14, 1980 Richard Swanson, who was 16, was murdered during a robbery at a "Y" gas station. His body was bound and gagged, his death resulted from suffocation.
The tragedy created the base for what has become a very successful law enforcement tool in South Lake Tahoe and surrounding communities. Since 1980, the program's directors, with the blessing of Richard's parents, have solicited the support of South Lake Tahoe businesses and individuals to make rewards more appealing to potential anonymous tipsters. 
However, the one case which got Secret Witness off the ground, remains locked in mystery and frustration for family. 
It was December 2006, when Swanson's parents went unannounced to the South Lake Tahoe City Council, asking local authorities to step up their investigation so they could have family closure.
Ron and Sharon Swanson have since praised law enforcement for re-activating the cold case. Though the leads have been few and far between, the Secret Witness program remains committed to solving the crime.
A $10,000 reward is being offered through Secret Witness for information that would help solve the case and lead to the arrest and conviction. 
South Lake Tahoe Police Lt. David Stevenson noted the case remains active because of information local authorities received in recent years. 
"These cases are hard to work and can be a challenge because people move and witnesses leave the area," Stevenson said. "But I think it is important for the community to have the avenue to tell what they know when they otherwise wouldn't. Secret Witness provides a bridge for that."
The case is particularly hits home for former South Lake Tahoe City Councilwoman Kathay Lovell, who remembers the Swansons making an unannounced to the council in December 2006 meeting.
Speaking with the family before the meeting, Lovell recalls the Swansons demeanor as both "sad and frustrated" because the case had not been solved and no new information had come to light since the murder. 
"It has been heartbreaking for them. The couple, who are now elderly, really deserve to have some closure on this case," Lovell said. "And this is why it is important that we keep Richard Swanson in our memories, and ask the public to come forward with any information they may know or have heard about this unsolved murder."

Secret Witness Remains Strong
Lake Tahoe Secret Witness was formed in 1981 after the murder of Swanson. It was formed by community members and since its inception, has led to hundreds of cases being solved by local law enforcement and thousands of dollars have been paid in rewards. 
The Secret Witness board of directors are members of the community and do not receive any compensation for their work. All money is donated to the nonprofit organization and it comes mainly through police and law enforcement organizations and the general public. Board members include: Kathleen Bailey, chair; Mike Warren, vice chair; Pat Shultz, secretary; Shirley Taylor, treasurer. At-large members include Kathay Lovell, Jack Martin and Leanne Wagoner, executive director of the South Lake Tahoe Women's Center. 
Treasurer Shirley Taylor noted the reward amounts have stepped up in the past few years, with significant awards paid out for arrests and the recovery of property. Not everyone asks for a reward but they are entitled to it, she said.
"I would say that the majority of people who contact Secret Witness are not in it for the reward. Most of the time, they don't even ask. They are just providing information. We want everyone to know that the money is there and rewards are paid out for information that can help close cases."

How it works
The Secret Witness Program relies on the anonymous tips from community members. When a citizen or visitor to the community becomes aware of criminal activity, the individual can make an anonymous phone call to a 24-hour, 7-days a week hotline and provide the information. To become a secret witness, call the Secret Witness Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 530 541-6800.

The information is then sent to the law enforcement agency responsible for the case. The agency checks the tip, and if the tip leads to an arrest of a criminal, then the individual who offered the tip is contacted and offered a reward. The rewards vary depending on the value of the information. The more valuable the information, the bigger the reward.
Reward money is drawn from a pot funded by donations from local businesses and individuals. Secret Witness funds are disbursed and monitored by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of Lake Tahoe community members.
Most recently, the 2010 burglary of the Poe Rava Gem Company in Stateline was solved after information was provided to local investigators. A cash reward through Secret Witness was handed out, which led to the recovery of $40,000 worth of property. The original loss in the jewelry heist was $96,000. According to Lt. Stevenson, an informant came forward to investigators rather than Secret Witness. The informant was reluctant, provided investigators with key information about the case which led to the recovery, and for that information, the informant was given a cash reward of $1,000. It turns out that the person responsible for the jewelry heist had died. 
Community involvement is essential to making the program work, which is why it is supported by the Lake Tahoe Unified school District, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol, El Dorado County Juvenile Parole and Probation and the U.S. Forest Service. 
While the community of South Lake Tahoe has changed over the years, having the support of officers, agencies and schools does contribute to a safer, healthier community, said Treasurer Taylor. But with more payouts given, and a trying economy, there is also an urgency among the board to continue to keep the Secret Witness coffers filled. 
"We appreciate the community and the support it has given us over the years. We must continue this because our community has changed so much over the years," said Taylor. "We have a very dedicated board. Our mission is to continue to help solve crimes, and in the case of Richard Swanson, this is at the top. We have $10,000 in a CD that has been put aside in the event that someone steps forward to help us and our community solve this case."
To make a tax deductible contribution send to Secret Witness, Box 14282 South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151.