Today's plea for new clues about the Zantop murder case does not mean the investigation is over, according to Jack Levin, director of the Brudnick Center on Violence at Northeastern University.
Rather, he said the Hanover Homicide Task Force's release, which set out 11 seemingly general behavioral changes or scenarios that could relate to the killer, is a smart step to take at this stage of the nearly two-week-old investigation.
"They serve a function in a general way," Levin said. "That is to raise the salience of the investigation to increase the awareness of the residents of Hanover so they think more in terms of who might be the killer."
Levin also said the list will most likely make the public more aware of its personal responsibility to turn over any pertinent information to the police.
"What investigators are saying is that they need the help of citizens in the Hanover area," he said, explaining that the list could prompt people to more closely consider the events leading up to and following the Jan. 27 homicides.
"These may seem common-sensical in their generality," he explained. "But the real function here is not to identify the killer's specific characteristics, but instead to raise the awareness of residents so they become more vigilant."
Based on precedent, Levin said one other possibility is that "the killer will recognize himself in these characteristics and become paranoid and give himself up."
Although issuing an appeal of this nature to the public seems like a desperate cry for help, Levin said it is more likely that police are considering a range of suspects and "at this early stage in the investigation, they're probably going to release just enough to get the public involved without releasing secrets."
He said it is not abnormal for the authorities to keep secret the official profile created this week by members of the National Center for Analysis of Violent Crime.
In fact, he said releasing an actual profile is usually a last-ditch effort, used when investigators have exhausted all other routes.
Julie Miller, public affairs specialist from the behavioral science unit of the FBI, said the decision to release the profile was up to the local state authorities.
Charles Prouty, special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston office, explained during a news conference today that the Zantop murder investigation is not currently under federal jurisdiction -- the bureau is simply in Hanover to lend a helpful hand and provide useful resources to state investigators.
And according to Levin, the current involvement of the FBI is a good sign for the investigation. He said it indicates that the state authorities will use all means necessary to solve the case -- and are not getting caught up in the competition that can sometimes keep states from seeking assistance from a higher authority.
He said that from the list of criteria and the tactics used so far by police, it seems that the investigation is focusing in on Hanover.
However, Senior Assistant Attorney General Kelly Ayotte acknowledged this week that investigators have traveled to Arizona, among other states, and have not ruled out taking the investigation overseas in the future.
Levin said this procedure does not sound uncommon -- even if the investigation is centered in Hanover.
He explained that in murder cases that are not solved within the first couple of days, "the investigation must have parallel tracks." In other words, while investigators are looking closely at members of the Hanover community, they also must consider other possibilities, unless they are completely certain that they are on the right track.
"Probability is one thing," he said, but "this case may, as unlikely as it seems, be that extraordinary case where a total stranger, without any connection to the killer, was the perpetrator."
"A smart investigation will not ignore anything ... even if on a statistical basis, that's probably not likely," he continued.
He explained that statistically, N.H. investigators and members of the National Center for Analysis of Violent crime probably have a good idea of what type of person would have committed the murder.
"They can tell you on a statistical basis, but so can I," he said, explaining that the murderer is likely to have been a man of similar age and race to the victims who knew them very well.
However, he explained that what he outlined is the likely scenario -- and not necessarily what happened, and said investigators are still playing "every angle at this point."
There still are "grounds to be optimistic," he said, while conceding that as time progresses, "the likelihood that a murder will be solved plummets." He also noted that the fact that investigators seem to be playing every angle means that "they're not very certain about any angle."
Levin cautioned that residents of the Hanover community "should not jump to conclusions," after reading through the list.
In explanation, he said "America's Most Wanted" has brought about 600 fugitives to justice, but it has also led to the harassment of many innocent people who met the specifications of the criminal in question.
Ayotte also acknowledged today that many people -- including herself -- could demonstrate some of the qualities on the list. But she said that hopefully the release will make the public more aware, and hopefully bring some information to light that will help investigators solve the case.
