Vidocq Society to investigate Perry Griffin murder

A national crime assessment organization has decided to review the nearly five-year-old unsolved shooting death of Perry Griffin at a Dothan business.

Richard Walter spoke to media on Tuesday afternoon at the Dothan Police Department about how the Griffin murder will be reviewed by the Vidocq Society, a national organization that reviews cold case crimes, including murders.

“I’m involved in crime assessment,” said Walter, who’s a forensic profiler and co-founder of the society. “Criminals make mistakes, and we’re here to capitalize on those mistakes.”

Two masked men shot 37-year-old Griffin to death as he prepared to go on a business trip for Panhandle Converter Recycling on June 26, 2007.

Dothan Police Lt. Tony Luker, the supervisor of the criminal investigation division (CID), said Griffin was shot during a robbery at the business. Luker said the department sought the help of the society to get a fresh perspective on the Griffin murder investigation.

“We will do anything we can to solve this murder,” Luker said. “Mr. Walter and the Vidocq Society are the top people in their field.”

Walter said the organization typically flies in two detectives to Philadelphia. They then give a detailed presentation on their homicide investigation before the society makes a determination whether to review the case.

“We try to reactivate the case,” Walter said.

Walter said only 27 percent of all criminal cases that go to trial nationwide include physical evidence such as fingerprints and DNA. While in contrast he said 73 percent of criminal cases include circumstantial evidence.

“Many high profile cases are circumstantial cases,” Walter said.

Walter said he’s helping the department free of charge.

“Hopefully they’ll know more when I leave,” Walter said. “I don’t think murder is a recreational game. We’re here to validate human beings, and this is one way we can do it.”

On the day he was killed, Griffin arrived at the company’s North Beverlye Road property around 3 a.m. to make a trip to Mississippi for scrap metal purchases. One of two gunmen shot Griffin to death after he had exited the company truck to close a gate on the property. Police analyzed footage from video surveillance on the property and found both gunmen wore what appeared to be Halloween style masks during the robbery.

Griffin worked about two years as a manager for the company.

Police have said a $30,000 Crime Stoppers reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest in the Griffin murder.

Luker said hopefully an arrest in the Griffin murder will help give the family some closure and healing.

“For that particular person that’s murdered, we are their last voice,” Luker said.

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Anyone with information can call the Dothan Police Department at 615-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 793-7000.