# Conn shooting suspect's brother's possessions being searched **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 14, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071 "2012-12-14T23:19:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071/1 "2012-12-14T23:19:17Z")
I know that this is soon after a tragedy, but surely there must be more than this to be able to search someone’s stuff: [http://news.yahoo.com/official-gunmans-nj-brother-cooperating-230221516.html](http://news.yahoo.com/official-gunmans-nj-brother-cooperating-230221516.html) [QUOTE=The Article] The official says Ryan Lanza’s computers and phone records were being searched but only “in an abundance of caution.” He says Ryan told authorities he had not been in touch with his brother in recent years. [/QUOTE] Since when does being related to a guy who did a horrible thing that you have been estranged from = probable cause for a search warrant? Again, I know it’s soon, but I don’t like this at all.. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071/2 "2012-12-15T00:04:59Z")
Probable cause isn’t necessary if he consented. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071/3 "2012-12-15T00:05:11Z")
It says he’s cooperating, which presumably means he consented. No warrant requirement. ETA: ninja’d. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071/4 "2012-12-15T00:14:27Z")
At one point earlier, the news was saying that Adam Lanza may have had Ryan’s ID on him. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071/5 "2012-12-15T01:10:39Z")
Ah…he consented…my own personal crisis is averted. The thread may be closed at the discretion of the mods…apologies… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071/6 "2012-12-15T01:48:38Z")
I’m not doubting Ryan Lanza’s story, but I’m wondering if he’s not been in touch with his brother in recent years, then how did his brother manage to have Ryan’s ID on him? ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071/7 "2012-12-15T01:56:29Z")
Could have been something as simple as an old school ID. If he hadn’t had any contact with him in two years, it’s possible that the shooter found his old ID at the moms house where the brother left it when he moved out, and the brother didn’t know anything about it. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071/8 "2012-12-15T01:57:42Z")
I was a little weirded out that they had the brother in handcuffs when they took him in for questioning. It just seemed…odd. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071/9 "2012-12-15T01:58:28Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > Could have been something as simple as an old school ID. If he hadn’t had any contact with him in two years, it’s possible that the shooter found his old ID at the moms house where the brother left it when he moved out, and the brother didn’t know anything about it. Probably. At least I hope that’s all it is. But from the little I’ve heard, I don’t believe Ryan was in cahoots in any way. I was just curious. As for the handcuffs, it may seem a little extreme, but I don’t blame the authorities for erring on the side of caution in this case until they can know what’s what. If Ryan’s as innocent as he appears to be at this early stage, he’s going to have a helluva bad time after this as it is. I’d think about changing my name and moving. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conn-shooting-suspects-brothers-possessions-being-searched/644071/10 "2012-12-15T06:20:29Z")
Closed at the request of the OP.