Clue 7 - Timeline

`When I decided to share with you the 'Ben Franklin' lead, in my mind, I wanted to break it down into 2 distinct parts.

1. The actual tips that I received.
2. What has been done about this information.

Here is where things get a bit delicate because I have NO IDEA exactly what the SLO Sheriff's Department did regarding this lead and they darn sure have no duty and/or obligation to share anything with me. They may have in fact done a great job regarding this information.

The rest of this promotion regards what I am able to share with you regarding this tip. I will share with you my perspective and allow you to draw your own conclusion.

For today though, the basics are that:

1. I received the tip and shared it immediately with Law Enforcement and the Smarts.
2. Three years come and go and nothing seems to have come of it.
3. During this time  - I stayed in occasional contact with the IT Manager at Sonoma State, Barry Blackburn, just to see if he ever heard from anyone and his answer was always the same: "no".
4. Upon demands from Kristin Supporter Terry Black, in 2006, SLO Sheriff's report to Terry Black that they checked the lead out and it proved to be 'nothing'.
5. This report angered Mr. Blackburn because he has told me personally several times that there is 'a match' of a name at Sonoma State that matched the Union 76 co-workers and that no one has contacted him.
6. Due to US Privacy laws, Mr. Blackburn could only release the name if he received a subpoena
7. Despite Blackburn's complete willingness to help, the subpoena never came.
8. SLO Sheriff told Mr. Black they did not go through Mr. Blackburn.
9. Blackburn told me that regardless of who SLO Sheriff went through - 'that person' would have had to come to Mr. Blackburn to get the information.

Barry did share with us that, eventually, one day he WAS contacted by SLO Sheriff but the Detective only wanted to know if Barry had information that made it worthwhile for them to follow up and get the subpoena.

Question: Why does it take over three years to contact Barry Blackburn to ask him if it was worthwhile to go get a subpoena?

Barry assured the Detective that he did have information and to by all means go ahead and get the subpoena.

Mr. Blackburn has since retired from Sonoma State having never received a subpoena from the SLO Sheriff's Department regarding this tip.

Terry Black told me that he was informed by the Sheriff's Department that there was nothing to this lead.

Barry Blackman says there was a match.

Your 7th Clue...

1. Guess the Password​
2. ​The 6th character is the small letter 'd'.​
3. ​The 12th character is the small letter 'h'.​​
4. ​The 19th character is the Capital Letter 'B'.​
5. ​I'll make sure puzzle is easily solvable by no later than December 22nd.
6. ****Next clue is this Wednesday, December 12th @ 12:00PM PST.
7. Remember: $100.00 payout doubles to $200.00 if you donate a child's toy (BEFORE you crack the code to Madi Iversen's Toy Drive for the 'Stand Strong Women's Shelter' in SLO.
8. NOTE: Madi is delivering toys to the shelter on December 18th so if you are going to donate - please send your toy donation by at least the 14th. (Or drop off by the 17th).
9. Easiest way is to use the Amazon link below and have Amazon deliver the Toy to Madi Iversen c/o Allstate Insurance, 120 Nelson Street, Arroyo Grande, Ca 93420 - Madi's dad runs the Allstate office and he will get your donation to his daughter. (Madi is a senior at Arroyo Grande High School.)
10. Amazon Link for the Toy Drive here...