Police are still working around the clock to solve the Lester Street murders. Six people, including two children, were found dead inside a home at 722 Lester on Monday, March 3, 2008.
Investigators are begging the public to call with any information that could lead to the arrest of the killer or killers. However, a popular Memphis radio host is being criticized for discouraging listeners from calling in tips to Crime Stoppers and police.
"When you get it and get all that money at one time, the people in the hood are gonna know you got it and people start talking," WDIA radio host Bobby O'Jay said on his morning radio show.
O'Jay told listeners to think twice about phoning in tips about the murders on Lester Street.
"People will hit you in the mouth for telling the smallest of things. 'Man, I heard you say so-and-so and so-and-so.' People will hurt you for telling the smallest of things, and nine times out of ten, people will be wondering where did that money come from? You can't just say 'I won it at the casino.'"
The Memphis city Council is offering a $30,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the Lester Street killings. They will give $5,000 for each victim.
Eyewitness News Everywhere asked Crime Stoppers Director Buddy Chapman and community leader Rev. Kenneth Whalum to sit down and listen to the comments said on Thursday morning's show.
"I think that's pretty good advice to encourage people, if they want to get that money, to be careful," said Rev. Whalum.
"[O'Jay] started out, whether he denies it or not, saying 'don't call on this', and then he evolved into good advice... 'if you call, be cautious,'" said Chapman.
Chapman said the comment that disturbed him most, was when O'Jay talked about a call he received from one of his listeners.
"Bobby, I got to tell you," the caller said. "I've known some people who have gotten so much money from Crime Stoppers and the people knew. They told it and talk too much."
Chapman disagrees, stating, "In the 25-plus years Crime Stoppers has been in existence, we have not had anyone's identity revealed or anyone suffered retribution for aiding us."
Another listener called into the show, very upset with the remarks O'Jay made.
"I agree with you all of the time, but this morning, you were all out of left field," the caller said. "That was pretty untactful what you said this morning about the Crime Stoppers.
O'Jay fired back at the woman saying, "What you said ma'am, is not what I said. What you said is adding a negativity to something I was being positive about this morning. It was negative what you said this morning. I'm through with you, goodbye." O'Jay then hung up on the caller.
Rev. Whalum believes people should do the right thing, no matter what.
"I understand the principal people are gonna be nosy when someone has a lot of money... that's beside the point. The major thing to me is that murder is a matter of the heart, just as morals are a matter of the heart and if a person knows the truth, a person is going to come forward regardless of the consequences," Rev. Whalum said. "That's what I would encourage. It's morally right to share it with somebody."
Everyone agrees the fear of retribution is understandable, but Chapman says there is still a way to protect yourself and help police.
"This was a horrible crime and whoever did this is an extraordinarily dangerous person. So I'd say, if you feel in danger, don't get a number and collect a reward."
O'Jay also said Thursday morning that he received a call from the Memphis Police Department, asking why he was discouraging people from calling in tips. Eyewitness News Everywhere asked O'Jay if he wanted to speak with us about the controversy, but he declined.
What do you think? It's your turn to Speak Up! Memphis.
