Tipsters split $125,000 cash reward

Two anonymous tipsters are splitting a $125,000 reward after helping Stockton police with details that led to the arrest of the man accused of serial killings in Northern California and the Bay Area.This is one of the largest rewards ever given out, according to Stockton Crime Stoppers who were behind the funds raised.Stockton residents like Robert Bishop are sighing relief after the arrest of Wesley Brownlee, the man accused of carrying out six murders dating back to 2021 and shooting another woman who is the only known survivor connected to his attacks.READ MORE HERE | What we know about victims of the Stockton serial killings”We’re trying to keep crime down so we can bring new business into the community,” Bishop said. “We want to revitalize Stockton.”Police were not able to comment on specific details or what exact information led to Wesley’s arrest but did say the outcome goes to show the importance of community help in such cases. Identifying the suspect was not easy, but it was made possible through their connection with Crime Stoppers and the many tips they received from the public. Roughly 400 calls poured in, according to Stockton Crime Stoppers Chairperson Andy Mattos. Mattos said the reason for such high call volume and publicity of the case was the community’s determination to put an end to all the killings. “The fear in Stockton was incredible,” Mattos said. “People had no idea if they could go out of their homes at night. We had no idea who this person was or if it was multiple people.”VIDEO BELOW | How the Stockton community is coming together during fears of a serial killerThe reward was first announced in October. Gathering the reward money was made possible through the donations of citizens concerned.For residents like Jaime Patena who lost his grandmother in 1972, cases like this hit close to home.”When you kill someone, you take everything from them and you take everything from their relatives,” Patena said. MORE HERE | Everything we know about suspected serial killer Wesley BrownleeWhile it is not the role of Crime Stoppers to necessarily solve a crime, police say this is a resource community members should keep in mind.”People should come forward with information because it’s the right thing to do , but they’re afraid to do that publicly,” Stockton Police Department spokesperson Joseph Silva said in a statement to KCRA 3. “That’s why Stockton Crime Stoppers is a great resource where people can report tips anonymously. There are currently around 30 unsolved cases offering rewards for critical information on the Stockton Crime Stoppers’ social media pages. Mattos says keeping tipsters anonymous is the key to success when it comes to finding leads. “I got a call this week from a mother whose son was killed three years ago, and she feels like her son got lost in the wheel because we haven’t solved the case,” Mattos said. “The Stockton police hasn’t solved the case.”And residents hope more tips mean less lives will be lost.”I have children in this community, and we want our children to be safe. We want our children to feel free and that they can come out and not be worried about getting gunned down, or beat up, or shot or stabbed,” Bishop said. Members of Crime Stoppers say that while not all tips are guaranteed to solve a case, Crime Stoppers could be a good place to start for those still seeking justice.

Two anonymous tipsters are splitting a $125,000 reward after helping Stockton police with details that led to the arrest of the man accused of serial killings in Northern California and the Bay Area.

This is one of the largest rewards ever given out, according to Stockton Crime Stoppers who were behind the funds raised.

Stockton residents like Robert Bishop are seeing relief after the arrest of Wesley Brownlee, the man accused of carrying out six murders dating back to 2021 and shooting another woman who is the only known survivor connected to his attacks.

READ MORE HERE | What we know about victims of the Stockton serial killings

“We’re trying to keep crime down so we can bring new business into the community,” Bishop said. “We want to revitalize Stockton.”

Police were not able to comment on specific details or what exact information led to Wesley’s arrest but did say the outcome goes to show the importance of community help in such cases.

Identifying the suspect was not easy, but it was made possible through their connection with Crime Stoppers and the many tips they received from the public. Roughly 400 calls poured in, according to Stockton Crime Stoppers Chairperson Andy Mattos.

Mattos said the reason for such high call volume and publicity of the case was the community’s determination to put an end to all the killings.

“The fear in Stockton was incredible,” Mattos said. “People had no idea if they could go out of their homes at night. We had no idea who this person was or if it was multiple people.”

VIDEO BELOW | How the Stockton community is coming together during fears of a serial killer

The reward was first announced in October. Gathering the reward money was made possible through the donations of citizens concerned.

For residents like Jaime Patena who lost his grandmother in 1972, cases like this hit close to home.

“When you kill someone, you take everything from them and you take everything from their relatives,” Patena said.

MORE HERE | Everything we know about suspected serial killer Wesley Brownlee

While it is not the role of Crime Stoppers to necessarily solve a crime, police say this is a resource community members should keep in mind.

“People should come forward with information because it’s the right thing to do, but they’re afraid to do that publicly,” Stockton Police Department Spokesperson Joseph Silva said in a statement to KCRA 3. “That’s why Stockton Crime Stoppers is a great resource where people can report tips anonymously.

There are currently around 30 unsolved cases offering rewards for critical information on the Stockton Crime Stoppers’ social media pages.

Mattos says keeping tipsters anonymous is the key to success when it comes to finding leads.

“I got a call this week from a mother whose son was killed three years ago, and she feels like her son got lost in the wheel because we haven’t solved the case,” Mattos said. “The Stockton police haven’t solved the case.”

And residents hope more tips mean less lives will be lost.

“I have children in this community, and we want our children to be safe. We want our children to feel free and that they can come out and not be worried about getting gunned down, or beat up, or shot or stabbed,” Bishop said.

Members of Crime Stoppers say that while not all tips are guaranteed to solve a case, Crime Stoppers could be a good place to start for those still seeking justice.

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