New Deck of Unsolved Murders Playing Cards Released

New Deck of Unsolved Murders Playing Cards Released

Wednesday, March 24, 2010




SPARTANBURG, S.C. --
Tom Lucas deals from a deck that contains only face cards.

The faces are of people in South Carolina who either were murdered or disappeared.

"If we can bring a little bit of relief or closure to just one family, that's what it's all about," says Lucas.

The second edition of Unsolved Homicides & Missing Persons playing cards came in this week. The South Carolina Crime Stoppers Council sponsors the cards. Lucas, who is President of Spartanburg Crime Stoppers, says last year's edition was a huge success.

"Dozens and dozens of tips were generated by these cards," says Lucas. "And not just tips related to the cases on these cards, but all sorts of crimes."

Last year, Crime Stoppers placed the decks in every prison in the state and in most local jails and detention centers. This year, Lucas hopes to get every sheriff's office in the state to purchase a supply of the cards and either give them out or sell them as a fundraiser.

"I sell them at face value," says Lucas. "For $1.40 per deck, sometimes $1.25. Sheriff's offices could sell them to raise money for their victims' funds or something like that."

He says the most important thing is getting the cards in front of as many people as possible. Of the cases featured in last year's deck, three have been solved, including the murder of Isaac Bass in Greenville and Darryl Miller in Spartanburg.

This year's edition features 40 new cases, including that of 18-year old Brittanee Drexel who was last seen alive in Myrtle Beach in April 2009. And it features some major Upstate crimes that remain unsolved, including the Super Bike Motor Sports murders -- in which Lucas' son was one of four victims.

"We will not give up and we are still hopeful his murder will be solved," says Lucas. "Which is why we call these 'unsolved' homicides and not 'cold cases'. They have not gone cold."

For more information on the cards, go to the Spartanburg Crime Stoppers website. Just click on the link above.

To see Chris Cato's interview with Lucas, click on the video above.

http://www2.wspa.com/news/2010/mar/23/3/new-edition-unsolved-homicide-playing-cards-releas-ar-69686/

Police announce missing women, Brittanee Drexel and Crystal Soles, featured on deck of cards

Friday, Apr. 23, 2010


A deck of cards featuring two missing women will be unveiled this afternoon as part of a campaign to increase awareness about missing people and unsolved homicides in the state.

Brittanee Drexel and Crystal Soles are featured in the deck of cards that are being distributed to inmates throughout the state through a program by crime stoppers. Drexel also was featured in a deck of cards released in Florida.

Drexel’s friends and family are along the Grand Strand this weekend to mark a year since the teen was last seen. A march and candle light vigil are planned for Saturday.

Brittanee Drexel was last seen on video surveillance leaving the Blue Water Hotel on Ocean Boulevard while on spring break in the area on April 25, 2009. Dozens of searchers have scoured Myrtle Beach and wooded areas in Georgetown and Charleston counties looking for clues in the teen's disappearance.

Searches began about nine months ago after officials learned Drexel's cell phone gave off its last known signal on April 26 around U.S. 17 Bypass and the South Santee River in the Georgetown County.

Soles was 28 when she was last seen Jan. 24, 2005 at Shaw’s Corner Store in Andrews.



Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/04/23/1437822/police-announce-missing-women.html#ixzz0lvVaRE90