Many people have scooted off for a long weekend, so today’s efforts have been mostly dedicated to finding out some background information about the town of Pearl River, Considering the fact that the entire population hovers around the 2000 count, it is clearly a town where everyone knows everyone.
As there was little hard news to go after, I decided to see what else I could find out. I did manage to track down one of the town alderman, a very delightful lady, Marie Crowe. She has been an Alderman for several years, however, the news of a missing person in Pearl River came as a complete shock! Apparently the Aldermen only get to meet once a month, and their main mission is to discuss ‘land easements’ and other mundane items.
I kept my mouth clammed shut. I had always assumed that an Alderman had a slightly larger role than determining where fence lines go!
How you can live in a town of 2000 people and not hear about a missing person is odd. Particularly if you are part of the infrastructure.
As there did not seem to be a wealth of information coming from Pearl River, I decided to ‘tap’ some sources. Some people that understand the area, and how it works.
For obvious reasons, I will not name my sources. But the answers to my questions gave me huge pause for thought.
Many people under the cloak of anonymity will say almost anything. I do not play that game. There has to be a sensible trail to support the claims.
I listened, and I researched, I asked, I researched some more. The story I am hearing is not a pretty one.
As is the case in many small towns there are a couple of families with pull. In the case of Pearl River there are two, the Crowe’s and the Craddock’s. There are streets in their family names.
There is nothing wrong with belonging to a family that has stayed in the area. I applaud it. I would love to drive down a road and see my father, or grandfather’s name on it.
In the case of Pearl River the two names that keep appearing are Crowe and Craddock. Digging a little deeper you find other names. Sure, it can be argued that if you look in the New York phone book, there are plenty of Crowe’s and Craddock’s. But, there is a large difference in the populations.
One source that I spoke with today made the comment that Alderman Marie Crowe is likely the cousin of the lead detective on the case Corey Crowe. If that is so, I find it almost inconceivable that Alisa had not heard of the Zachary Pittman case.
I asked another question, how serious is the drug problem in Pearl River?
The candid answer was:
95%
When I pushed the subject it got even stranger. The favorite weapon is pills, when that doesn’t work, street drugs, and adding a nice balance is booze!
Jan and I are having a sit down, face to face with mother Christy Ragas tomorrow. It will be an interesting meeting.
More later.
Simon and Jan Barrett
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15 users commented in " Zachary Pittman – Some Background About Pearl River… "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThank you for updating us on Zachary’s case. It is indeed strange that an Alderman does not know about something as important as a missing perso. My personal belief is she doesn’t want to know!
Everything is hush hush because it might lead to some important family names. If they keep their head in the sand…it didn’t happen. Sure there’s a major drug problem….whats being done? I have no doubt the players in this whole thing all are connected in some way w/ drugs as well. Big surprise! Alderman..Mayor…LE….get your head outta your butt and deal w/ this problem (no matter who it leads to!) and I guarantee it will bring us answers about what happened to Zack!
A couple of thoughts:
Just because a town is small, does not mean that everyone knows everyone. In order for everyone to know everyone, PR would have to only have one grocery store, one church, one school, and everyone to use those facilities at the same exact time. Even then there would be someone there that someone did not know. I have lived in a community a few miles from here for 50 years and find now that I no longer know everyone, and it has far less of a population than 2,000.
I have deepest sympathy for the family of this young man, however I do not know what else they think that law enforcement can do without proof of foul play. The young man is a consenting adult. I do not think that every small southern town is on the take, with a crooked police department and corruption running the town, as these boards are suggesting. Drugs is a raging epidemic that has moved itself to the rural areas, it is a problem in most communitys, not just pearl river,LA and in Florida.
Since the author has said that all opinions are welcomed, I post mine. It will most likely take someone getting arrested and in serious trouble to find out what happened to this youg man, then they would volunteer information for a plea bargain.
To Daddycoon42, I respect and thankyou for your comment. You are right not everyone in small towns know each other, but in Pearl River I do have signs posted of Zach in a lot of places, hopefully this weekend I will be putting more up provided certain people will not pull them down. I am trying to get all the exsposure of my son as much as I can. I talked to the detective today I really like him alot, he checked out a lead I had called him about. They are pretty sure and so I am that Zachary is no longer with us. You are probably right on the way Zach will be found by someone telling on someone else. I know this but I will not give up looking for him. His daughter misses and so do we. I appreciate all the comments everyone sends and for Simon and Jan to write these articles. I pray for the police dept to come with more leads in finding my son. God Bless all and yall have a great Fourth of July.
A.G. Crowe lives in Pearl River and is apart of the Louisiana Senate
Daddycoon42- An Alderman not hearing about a missing person in their community, come on, that is so ridiculous it defies logic!
I was born & raised in New York City, Manhattan to be exact and then moved out to a small town in California, besides culture shock, the one thing that I have experienced here is that bad news traveled fast. Even if they were just rumors, missing persons, missing children, deaths – natural, accidental or homicides within a 30 mile radius were common knowledge to those within our small town with or without media coverage! So I’m not buting the Alderman didn’t know unless she’s been in a coma for the last year!
Alexandria Loring said,in July 3rd, 2010 at 6:02 am Daddycoon42- An Alderman not hearing about a missing person in their community, come on, that is so ridiculous it defies logic!
It really does not, things are different in the south, most areas are rural and the people here prefer to be left alone, this is not what people are not understanding. I know that this Simon and Jan are interested in finding Zach, as we all should be, however he must understand that the people asking the questions are outsiders.
I have lived in the same house for over 50 years and have had the same neighbor about 5 miles down the road, two years ago that neighbor passed away and I did not know about it for a little over a year, I learned about it from his sister at another funeral. Word does not always spread fast, it depends on how actively people seek it.
cchristyra, deepest sympathies.
Just a thought, you probably already are but if it were me I would focus my searches on areas that can be accessed by car. Access roads, isolated dirt roads, pig trails, etc.
I would assume if the young man zach left home on foot he was picked up or forced into a car and those people involved did not have a boat to go deep into the swamp. Any thoughts about bogo chitto or the pearl?
Maybe these folks can help you get the word out, the internet is a wonderful way to do so. God Bless, and I pray you will find the answer you seek.
alexandria, I will tell you, if something happens to one of the parishioners of my church or someone they know the news does spread like lightening, you are correct in that way that news spreads fast.
To DaddyCoon42, thank you for the suggestions, we have looked on roads off the hunting leases surrounding the area he went missing. That is the first thought I had that someone drove him down one of these roads and dropped him off, theyre have been cadavar dogs searching all these areas too. We have been down to the Pearl from different directions, now we are focusing on the Honey Island Swamp area and it is a big area! Whether he died accidently or someone hurt my child I am just trying to bring him home. We also are going to focus on the Pearl River turnaround. Thank you for the comments and I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Daddy Coon sounds like they were in law inforcement. Don’t worry, the internet isn’t needed to expose corrupt, small town politics. Those of us from and living in the south know that this is a way of life.
brightone said,in July 3rd, 2010 at 2:31 pm Daddy Coon sounds like they were in law inforcement.
no brightone, you can keep any accusations to yourself. I am trying to support the family.
You are incorrect, I am retired Marine, not law enforcement and I was raised to respect the law. I have lived on the bayou for more years than most likely you have been here, do not talk about living in the south, I am born and raised cajun. And you are incorrect, those in the south do not know it as a way of life, (young people now respect nothing, they are offended by everything, not implying this applies to you). Hopefully you will never require the services of a group that you have such disdain for.
Christy or Aunts,
Have you contacted Texas Eqqusearch to see if they can assist you in the searches? I looked at their website and could not find Zach listed in the missing persons, maybe they can bring you larger exposure by posting his picture and story if they can not help you search.
I do not know how the finances for his services works, or even if they charge the family, here is a link.
http://texasequusearch.org/
Ok….first of all; I have lived in this town for over 20 years; and sorry when you said the name “Zachary Pittman” I had no clue of who you were even speaking of. Therefore, the philosophy that everyone knows everyone is completely wrong!
Second of all you say you went and spoke to the Alderman. Do you have any clue what this Alderman has been through in the past few years ?? If you don’t then….you will realize why she doesn’t know of every single thing going on in Pearl River. It’s pretty sad how people are out there to judge one another instead of taking time to get to know someone. Ms Marie Crowe has a lot going on; and I’m also sure if you ask all of the other “Aldermen” they will say they don’t know what is going on either. There’s no need in just pin pointing one bc she carries the “Crowe” last name.
Third of all; it’s apparent you didn’t ride up and down the streets a little more….sure there are the “Crowe” and “Craddock” streets; apparently you didn’t look further to see there were more names out there as well. There’s “McQueen”; there’s “Pine Street”……do those count ?? Of course not. I think you are trying to find something to go against the Crowes; and what a sad way to do so.
Have you ever thought your this person wasn’t from “Pearl River” but from “Sixth Ward”? If so, then no; no one in the city limits of Pearl River would know his where abouts.
I’m quite sorry this happened to this young man; and I hope they find him soon. However, I think before you start trying to say people are trying to hide things; you need to make sure everything by all ends have been crossed. Thanks that’s my opinion!
Dear Sir,
This post is not to spar back and forth with words, but it is to enlighten you on a few facts.
I am HIGHLY offended due to your negative and false insinuations concerning the Town of Pearl River and the citizens of Pearl River. The Town of Pearl River is a small town just like any other small town and believe it or not, consists of some families older than the Crowes and Craddocks! We have wonderful, decent, people that care for all people and yes, I know this will boggle a small narrow judging mind, but most of us haven’t ever tried drugs and do not use “booze”!
Mr. Barrett, where do you live?? If you live in Pearl River, do you take drugs and drink booze? Maybe you do not live in Pearl River and YOU(BEING SO SINLESS)think that you can hurl stones or UGLY LITTLE REMARKS at the Town of Pearl River. Well, I know of only one that walked this earth and was perfect… and as I recall it wasn’t you.
I will certainly pray for you and the family of Zachary Pittman.
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