Callers tip cops to 'creepy' suspects

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Since Albuquerque Police Department set up a tip line to solve the West Mesa serial killings, it has gotten thousands and thousands of calls. News 13 learned a lot of people are using that tip line to get people they don't like in trouble.

KRQE News 13 asked about the tips coming in after a viewer contacted the station saying he believes his brother was involved in the state's biggest mass grave site. Come to find out, a lot of people think a family member, neighbor or boss could be the West Mesa Serial Killer.

Deputy Chief Paul Feist has spent more than a thousand days and nights trying to find the West Mesa Killer since the first bones were found in early 2009. He's seen the tips roll in from all over the world about who killed the eleven women, who all had ties to drugs and prostitution, and buried them on the mesa.

While some are helpful, Feist said many are, “My brother my ex-husband whatever I think is involved. Most often it was because they exhibited behavior toward the individual calling or other times they may say I have heard this person mentioning things.”

Feist says they often hear about the strange activities of neighbors or bosses.

“Every one of those cases were investigated,” he said.

Even tips that aren't really tips at all; “There have been folks that called and said my ex-boss or other folks like that that are involved and some of them could be out of spite or could be because of another reason.”

He says those take up time that could be spent working a real tip, “It really does a disservice to all the victims out on 118th street.”

Feist says they have also had a number of inmates looking to cut deals.

“We get calls from prisons in other states saying I have information on this or who was involved, fly me to New Mexico or bring me home; I’ll give you all the information you need,” he said.

Investigators have traveled all over checking out stories. Feist says sometimes the tips about someone being creepy are true, but there isn't enough to link them to any crime.

There have been some tips that ended up helping police solve other crimes. We will have that part of the story Wednesday night at 10.

APD still wants all those calls. They say it may be a family member, friend or acquaintance of the killer that ends up cracking the West Mesa mystery. There is still a 100 thousand dollar reward for info that helps police do just that.

Please call the 118th Street Task Force at 1-877-765-8273, (505) 768-2450 or Crime Stoppers at (505) 843-STOP