Classmates.com Sends Email From Murder Victim

Omaha, NE- One of the most popular social websites is classmates.com. It reconnects people from high school. One Westside High School graduate has joined as the newest member. But someone murdered Mary Cronin 17 years ago.

For many, it's an innocent walk down memory lane. Remember him? Whatever happened to her? But recently, a communication to graduates of the Westside High Class of 1983 went from innocent to sinister.

A mysterious email is showing up in the members' inboxes. The subject line says, "Remember Mary Cronin? Say hi to the newest class of '83 alum to join." Thing is, Mary Cronin, class of '83, didn't make it to her ten year reunion. Someone murdered her in April of 1992. Her killer has never been caught.

Debbie McGrew, President of Westside's Alumni Association says, "It's extremely upsetting. You would think such a web service such as classmates.com would have a sophisticated data base or some sort of internal checks to make sure that the people trying to register with them are valid accurate grads of the high school they are representing ."

Especially when you consider how painful Mary's death still is for close friends after all these years. She disappeared April 12, 1992. Her skull and part of her remains found a year later in a field in Cass County. It's A cold case with no closure. Debbie wonders who sent it and with Mary's killer still out there, could they have signed up under her name? She says, "That is what I thought as well what if it was the killer? It is close to anniversary time."

Others have expressed their disgust.
One of Mary's classmates, Carol Higgins complained to the website about the email. Carol wrote in her complaint, "You may want to check your sources and remove this from your website before you offend more people as you have offended me!"

So how could someone use classmates to infuriate so many?
Action 3 News asked the company how a victim of murder can register on its website.
Classmates didn't provide much information. Spokesperson Scott Matulis says, "Classmates regrets any pain caused to Mary's family and friends. Mary's sign up could have been a mistake during a user's search or it's malicious."
However the message got sent, those who are shocked by it believe the intent is clear. Debbie says, "I hate to say it but I think someone is being malicious."

Because of the Action 3 News investigation, classmates has taken Mary Cronin's profile off its website. But it didn't say if it will make any changes to how it checks out the people registering on its site.
To find out who signed up under Mary's name will take a court ordered subpoena. Some of Mary's classmates are thinking of filing a complaint with the Attorney General.