Crime Stoppers sees increase in tips submitted, but needs more to help unsolved murders

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Metro Alabama Crime Stoppers officials said they hope the recent kidnapping conviction in the Kamile ‘Cupcake’ McKinney case reminds you of the benefits of submitting information for an unsolved crime.

Birmingham has seen over 100 murders so far this year, with many still unsolved. Crime Stoppers said if they saw an increase in the number of tips submitted, it would help see the kind of response they’ve seen for other cases.

“A wave of tips and phone calls have come to Crime Stoppers and people wanting to donate to this reward fund,” said Bob Copus, executive director of Metro Alabama Crime Stoppers. “We were given advice on the theories about what happened. We had a lot of people who thought they had seen her. Everyone was concerned about what had happened to Cupcake and where she was.

Copus said he got more than 400 tips for Cupcake and while not all of them were helpful, police said many were crucial in finding her. Copus said they even paid a reward to a tipster in the deal.

“You don’t need to have the clue that solves the case, if you can just tell us what you know, maybe that little piece someone else turned into another piece that brings the case together,” Copus said. .

Copus said that over the past few months they’ve seen a spike in tipping coming.

“Especially homicides and robberies,” he said. “So I think people see what’s going on in their neighborhood and don’t like what they see, so we get a bigger response.”

Homicides in Birmingham have increased by 33%, Copus said if the community came together like it did for Cupcake, it might be able to solve some of these murders.

“A lot of people who were injured and killed weren’t the intended victim, they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and a stray bullet hit them,” Copus said. “This community is strong and powerful and it can deliver.”

Copus said you can submit anonymous tips on the app or by calling (205) 254-7777. So far this year, they’ve given out over $85,000 in rewards.

Click here to submit a tip.

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