Post by admin4laney on Aug 14, 2005 11:50:02 GMT -5
Search for Gwinner killer continues/8-13
Fundraisers held to increase amount of reward money
By Mary Lolli
Butler County Bureau
HAMILTON — The search for the killer of Alana “Laney” Gwinner, who disappeared from Fairfield eight years ago, continues as investigators comb three counties and friends hold fundraisers to increase the reward money offered for information.
Gwinner was last seen driving a 1993 black Honda del Sol. She disappeared the night of Dec. 10, 1997, from Gilmore Lanes in Fairfield, where she was playing pool with friends. About midnight, she left the bowling alley in the black Honda, telling one friend she was going to visit her boyfriend.
Her body was found about a month later, on Jan. 11, 1998, in the Ohio River near Warsaw, Ky.
Gwinner’s friends have organized a fundraiser Sunday to establish a reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Gwinner’s killer.
“We’re doing this to honor Laney’s memory and to keep the word out there that she is not forgotten,” said event organizer Tammy McWhorter.
The fundraiser will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at Receptions on Ohio 4 in Fairfield. Cost is $20 per person or $25 per couple. The event includes food, music and games.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case unit took over the investigation into Gwinner’s disappearance and death about four months ago.
Det. Frank Smith, who is heading up the Gwinner investigation for the Cold Case Unit, said the case remains a top priority for authorities and attention continues to be focused searching the Ohio and Great Miami rivers for her car.
A specialized search and recovery team from Kentucky is working in concert with Clermont and Hamilton county sheriffs’ officials to search the Great Cincinnati portion of the Ohio River for Gwinner’s car.
“They have one of the finest pieces of search and recovery equipment in the area,” Smith said.
In addition, officials from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will be returning to Butler County after Labor Day to resume searches of the Great Miami River utilizing specialized scanning equipment.
“We will solve this case,” said Smith, who plans to attend the fundraiser.
He is reluctant to say much about the investigation.
“We have to be careful about what we disclose at this point because we don’t want to say anything that might compromise the investigation,” Smith said.
In addition to the fundraiser, persons can make direct contributions to the Alana “Laney” Gwinner Memorial Fund established at Fifth Third Bank.
Contact Mary Lolli at (513) 820-2192, or e-mail her at mlolli@coxohio.com.
www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/08/12/HJN0813GWINNER_s.html
Fundraisers held to increase amount of reward money
By Mary Lolli
Butler County Bureau
HAMILTON — The search for the killer of Alana “Laney” Gwinner, who disappeared from Fairfield eight years ago, continues as investigators comb three counties and friends hold fundraisers to increase the reward money offered for information.
Gwinner was last seen driving a 1993 black Honda del Sol. She disappeared the night of Dec. 10, 1997, from Gilmore Lanes in Fairfield, where she was playing pool with friends. About midnight, she left the bowling alley in the black Honda, telling one friend she was going to visit her boyfriend.
Her body was found about a month later, on Jan. 11, 1998, in the Ohio River near Warsaw, Ky.
Gwinner’s friends have organized a fundraiser Sunday to establish a reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Gwinner’s killer.
“We’re doing this to honor Laney’s memory and to keep the word out there that she is not forgotten,” said event organizer Tammy McWhorter.
The fundraiser will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at Receptions on Ohio 4 in Fairfield. Cost is $20 per person or $25 per couple. The event includes food, music and games.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case unit took over the investigation into Gwinner’s disappearance and death about four months ago.
Det. Frank Smith, who is heading up the Gwinner investigation for the Cold Case Unit, said the case remains a top priority for authorities and attention continues to be focused searching the Ohio and Great Miami rivers for her car.
A specialized search and recovery team from Kentucky is working in concert with Clermont and Hamilton county sheriffs’ officials to search the Great Cincinnati portion of the Ohio River for Gwinner’s car.
“They have one of the finest pieces of search and recovery equipment in the area,” Smith said.
In addition, officials from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will be returning to Butler County after Labor Day to resume searches of the Great Miami River utilizing specialized scanning equipment.
“We will solve this case,” said Smith, who plans to attend the fundraiser.
He is reluctant to say much about the investigation.
“We have to be careful about what we disclose at this point because we don’t want to say anything that might compromise the investigation,” Smith said.
In addition to the fundraiser, persons can make direct contributions to the Alana “Laney” Gwinner Memorial Fund established at Fifth Third Bank.
Contact Mary Lolli at (513) 820-2192, or e-mail her at mlolli@coxohio.com.
www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/08/12/HJN0813GWINNER_s.html
