How to Investigate?

[Jackalgirl]

Hi, folks --

Kat here; some of you may know me from the "Allison Dubois (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=60552)" thread. I wrote to a reporter who did an article on Dubois' involvement with the "Baseline Killer" investigation in Phoenix because he mentioned that she had been involved in "several high-profile cases". And, surprise surprise, he wrote me back and gave me some leads to follow up.

I've run into a problem: I was given a phone number for a detective, supposedly with the Texas Rangers, and contacted the Texas Rangers to find out that no one by that name has ever worked for the Texas Rangers. I called the number only to find out that it's the "Weather Phone" (weather hotline) sponsored by Chase Bank. I called the Saginaw, Texas City Hall and found out that he's never worked in their police department, either (I thought maybe the reporter misremembered that particular detail).

So here's the question: does anyone know how to look up the history of a phone number -- i.e., way back in 2002, when the reporter supposedly called this guy at that number, was the number assigned to someone else? Will the phone company give out that kind of information, or does it require some sort of legitimacy that a simple sonar tech researching on a lark doesn't have?

Thanks in advance for any input, 'specially from you smart forum folks who might have actually done this kind of research before...

-- Kat

[Gr8wight]

Hi, folks --

Kat here; some of you may know me from the "Allison Dubois (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=60552)" thread. I wrote to a reporter who did an article on Dubois' involvement with the "Baseline Killer" investigation in Phoenix because he mentioned that she had been involved in "several high-profile cases". And, surprise surprise, he wrote me back and gave me some leads to follow up.

I've run into a problem: I was given a phone number for a detective, supposedly with the Texas Rangers, and contacted the Texas Rangers to find out that no one by that name has ever worked for the Texas Rangers. I called the number only to find out that it's the "Weather Phone" (weather hotline) sponsored by Chase Bank. I called the Saginaw, Texas City Hall and found out that he's never worked in their police department, either (I thought maybe the reporter misremembered that particular detail).

So here's the question: does anyone know how to look up the history of a phone number -- i.e., way back in 2002, when the reporter supposedly called this guy at that number, was the number assigned to someone else? Will the phone company give out that kind of information, or does it require some sort of legitimacy that a simple sonar tech researching on a lark doesn't have?

Thanks in advance for any input, 'specially from you smart forum folks who might have actually done this kind of research before...

-- Kat


Have you Googled that phone number? You never know...

[Jackalgirl]

Have you Googled that phone number? You never know...

Durrr, you know what? I didn't think of that -- and that's a great idea.

I just tried it, tho, and got nothin'. Drat.

Thanks anyway!

-- Kat

[RemieV]

Try Switchboard.com reverse phone search. Sometimes they neglect to update their records.

[Gr8wight]

Try Switchboard.com reverse phone search. Sometimes they neglect to update their records.

Couple that with the internet archive, maybe...

[Jackalgirl]

Try Switchboard.com reverse phone search. Sometimes they neglect to update their records.

Alas, it's not there either. The only one willing to admit they might have some information is Intelius who, of course, wants me to pay for it. I did find the county that way, tho...

Thx,

-- Kat

[Beady]

I called the number only to find out that it's the "Weather Phone" (weather hotline) sponsored by Chase Bank.

Start at the bank to find out who actually operates the weather line, then call them to find out how long they've used that particular number.

You could also get back to the reporter and ask him about it.

[Jackalgirl]

Start at the bank to find out who actually operates the weather line, then call them to find out how long they've used that particular number.

You could also get back to the reporter and ask him about it.

Hi, Beady --

Yeah, I thought about getting in touch with Chase Bank and see if I could, uh, chase down the folks who maintain that service. I do intend to write back to Mr. Sass, but I want to have something more full to tell him about it before I ask (the guy was really nice enough to write back to me so I want to do my homework first).

Thanks for all the help, folks!

-- Kat