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Thank you, Kim, I do find it very interesting.

I think the investigators think the killer, or someone who knows the killer's identity, has posted there. Notice that it took a court order to make the internet forum host have to turn over whatever info they have.

If I were the owner of a forum, and I got a court order to turn over what I knew of certain posters, I'd probably do it... but what if I started being inundated with such court orders? I would begin to find it disruptive, and I would then talk to my lawyer. If it got to be routine that people could get courts to order such sharing of information, then I think forum owners would start to fight it--and in many cases, I think the forum owners would win, based on free speech protections.

I think it all comes down to how important it is that the information be turned over. Given that this is an investigation into several torture-murders, I'd say in this case, it is VERY important.

muggs: You're welcome

valpal/DA.... I agree, that if revealing info would help solve such a serious crime, that by all means...forum owners should be cooperative. I appreciate the fact that they did go get court orders because it protects the forum owner from liability.