The suspect is described as a white male between the ages of 40-45 with sandy red to brown hair, slim- to medium-build, of average height, wearing a light colored t-shirt. A witness reported seeing him walking in the front yard of the Abbott’s home the morning of the murders.Boyer said the witness sketch has “many similarities” to the person investigators have identified.
City police eye suspect in Abbott murder
Tuesday, December 7, 2010 8:36 AM EST
By Cathy Cobbs, For The Crier
For the first time since the July 1 murder of an elderly Dunwoody couple, it appears there’s a concrete suspect.
Dunwoody Police investigators on Monday released a sketch and have revealed that they know the identity of “a person of interest” in the brutal killings of Roger and Dorothy Abbott.
It’s a person who knew the Abbotts, police say, but they won’t reveal the nature of the relationship between the alleged murderer and his victims, including whether the couple and the suspected killer were related.
Although police know the name and location of the person of interest, according to investigator Kelly Boyer, they need the public’s help in putting together “final clues to help us seal the deal.”
“We have a name and an identity of this person,” Boyer said. “Because of the sensitive nature of this investigation, we are not releasing this person’s name to the public at this time.”
“In putting out this sketch, we are hoping to joggle someone’s memory who might have seen this person in the neighborhood or in a store or possibly acting strangely on this particular day,” she said. “We are looking for someone to come forward and provide us with more information to help in our investigation.”
The Abbotts’ bodies were found shortly after 11 a.m. on July 1 when the DeKalb County Fire Department responded to a fire at the home on Peeler Road.
Police investigators have refused to speculate on details regarding the manner of the Abbotts’ death, including rumors that they were tied up or tortured. They have confirmed that the couple was dead before the fire was started.
According to a press release from the Dunwoody Police, the department “has worked closely with other agencies, including the ATF, Sandy Springs Police Department, FBI and GBI in our efforts to catch the person or persons responsible for this crime.”
Boyer said she doesn’t know if man has been interviewed by police yet.
“I don’t know if this person has been questioned,” she said. “I know it’s something we’d like to do.”
In reaching out to the public, investigators are aware of the nervousness that comes from helping with a homicide probe.
“We recognize the reluctance of witnesses, particularly ones associated with a homicide investigation, to come forward,” according to a release sent out on Monday afternoon. “Witnesses may be reluctant to come forward for a variety of reasons. They may be apprehensive, may not want anyone to know they spoke to the police or just may not want to get involved.”
To that end, the department has acquired “TipSoft,” a web-based program for citizens to leave anonymous tips on-line, or through text messaging via their cell phones. The program is available by accessing the web-site, www.dunwoodypolice.com and click on “Submit a Crime Tip”. Tipsters may also access “TipSoft” through www. crimereports.com.
Anyone who submits a tip on-line will be provided his or her own unique identification number to check the status of the tip at a later time. To submit a tip with a cell phone, text “DPDTIPS and the message” to 274637(CRIMES).
Once a tip is submitted, it will automatically be sent to the Dunwoody Police. These tips are confidential, encrypted, and completely anonymous. The technology routes all messages through a server that encrypts cell phone numbers before they reach the police. The program also allows an encrypted, two-way dialogue between the tipster and the police.
