FBI wants public help solving encrypted notes from murder mystery
FBI cryptanalysis hasn’t decrypted notes from 1999 murder mystery
By Layer 8 on Tue, 03/29/11 - 1:30pm.The FBI is seeking the public's help in breaking the encrypted code found in two notes discovered on the body of a murdered man in 1999.
The FBI says that officers in St. Louis, Missouri discovered the body of 41-year-old Ricky McCormick on June 30, 1999 in a field and the clues regarding the homicide were two encrypted notes found in the victim's pants pockets.
More cool stuff: The weirdest, wackiest and stupidest sci/tech stories of 2010
The FBI says that despite extensive work by its Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit (CRRU), and the American Cryptogram Association, the meanings of those two coded notes remain a mystery and McCormick's murderer has never been found. One has to wonder though, if the FBI can't figure this out, who can? But I digress.
From the FBI: "The more than 30 lines of coded material use a maddening variety of letters, numbers, dashes, and parentheses. McCormick was a high school dropout, but he was able to read and write and was said to be 'street smart.' According to members of his family, McCormick had used such encrypted notes since he was a boy, but apparently no one in his family knows how to decipher the codes, and it's unknown whether anyone besides McCormick could translate his secret language. Investigators believe the notes in McCormick's pockets were written up to three days before his death."
"Standard routes of cryptanalysis seem to have hit brick walls," said CRRU chief Dan Olson in a statement. To move the case forward, examiners need another sample of McCormick's coded system-or a similar one-that might offer context to the mystery notes or allow valuable comparisons to be made. Or, short of new evidence, Olson said, "Maybe someone with a fresh set of eyes might come up with a brilliant new idea."
The FBI says it has always relied on public tips and other assistance to solve crimes though breaking a code may represent a special circumstance.
For larger images of the notes go here.
If you have an idea how to break the code, have seen similar codes, or have any information about the Ricky McCormick case, write to CRRU at the following address:
FBI Laboratory
Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit
2501 Investigation Parkway
Quantico, VA 22135
Attn: Ricky McCormick Case
There is no reward being offered, just the knowledge that you may be solving an intriguing murder mystery, the FBI stated.
Follow Michael Cooney on Twitter: nwwlayer8
Layer 8 Extra
Check out these other hot stories:
Get in the ring: protection US, Europe vow to hash out Internet personal privacy
Should smartphones be allowed in the courthouse?
NASA's "images" of life on Mars circa 1975
Welcome to Plato, Mo. (pop. 109) the mean population center of the United States
Men AND women might both be from Mars
FBI: How to be an expert at the black art of cryptography
US slowly, very slowly oozes rare earth assault
NASA star-gazer satellite recovers from 144-hour network glitch
Google Voice gets into Sprint Mobile phones
Gigantic changes keep space technology hot
NASA satellite goes where no other spacecraft has gone before: Mercury orbit
- About Layer 8
- Layer 8 is written by Michael Cooney, an online news editor with Network World
Sponsored Links
Resource Center
-
Network World, Inc
The Connected Enterprise
Try asking Prison Inmates,
Try asking Prison Inmates, It looks like code used by those in prison.
Probably two or more books
Probably two or more books are the key. What books did the person have?
Transcription
Why not post a transcript?
On Page 2
It says "Colonel Mustard did it in the pantry with a nine iron".
awesome.
awesome.
It's a list of some sort.
It's a list of some sort. There are groups of repeated letters especially NCBE. It would help to know a bit about this guy. Was he a drug dealer? What type of street slang did he use. I would start there.
and possibly directions too.
and possibly directions too. He's using two different characters for "E". One probably means something different to him.
Directions
If you look at the numbers on page 1, it appears to be highways leading out of Kansas City, MO to North Carolina.
Highway 71 is the beginning point. The 74, 75 and even 194 is all located in North Carolina.
The FBI should ask his family if he was planning a trip.
So NC is North Carolina and
So NC is North Carolina and BE is a place or person in North Carolina?
This looked like directions
This looked like directions to me. The parts in parentheses at least. I'm wondering if anyone just tried to read it. Much of it sounds like or looks like abbreviated speaking at times. Think of deciphering a license plate.
And now that you mention the highways, perhaps that is it. But what are the 26/36, 35, 65(1), and 99.84.5(8)2
The last part could be map coordinates with hours and degrees, but I don't have a GPS to check.
Seriously though people it could just be a bunch of gibberish put together in what looks like a code to throw people off the scent.
Post new comment