February 19, 2013

Police: Don't notify a mother of her son found dead using Facebook and the moniker 'Misty Hancock'

Where was Lt Schindler when they handed out common sense and decency? 

Police tried to message mother on Facebook to tell her son was dead - while she spent weeks hunting for him

An Atlanta woman is infuriated after police used Facebook to notify her of her 30-year-old son's death, rather than calling her or paying a visit to her home.

Anna Lamb-Creasey had been calling hospitals and jails for weeks, searching for her son Rickie, who went missing on January 25.  She even posted a message on his Facebook page that read, 'Rickie, where are you? Love mom.

But it wasn't until February 14 that she discovered her son's fate, when her daughter opened a Facebook message from someone named 'Misty Hancock.'  It was the same 'Misty Hancock' - whose profile picture featured Atlanta rapper T.I. - that had sent Lamb-Creasey a Facebook message on January 31.

But Lamb-Creasey had never read the message because the sender's strange name and profile picture led her to assume it was some sort of scam.

'I'm thinking it's just a fake,' she told wsbtv.com.

When Lamb-Creasey's daughter opened the message, however, she discovered it was regarding Rickie.

'Anna, This is Lt Schindler with the Clayton County Police Dept.,' the message read. 'It is important that I speak with you immediately. Call me at 678-***-****. Thanks so much.'

Click the link to see the Facebook profile of Misty Hancock.   

Posted by Jill Fallon at February 19, 2013 8:39 PM | Permalink