Background:
You move to a different area with a completely different demographic, lifestyle and environment. You slowly make friends and get to know your neighbours, but you’re still somewhat socially and geographically isolated. Two years pass and you take up a hobby that requires some expensive equipment that is hard to find / replace. Part of the maintenance on this hobby requires periodic maintenance (say half an hour every month), that you hire a pro to do as you do not have the training / experience to do yourself. The pro is used by two of your neighbors and they seem happy enough with him, hence why you picked him.
Problem:
After the first maintenance, you are discussing the pro with a local friend who has been in the hobby for years, and friends with you for some time. You trust this friend and they are level-headed and responsible in your opinion. Friend tells you that Pro is a “person of interest” with the local police and that he is the main suspect in the disappearance of a young woman. Several properties that he spends time at have been searched extensively by police, looking for the body of the missing woman. This occurred about a year ago, but the investigation seems to have stalled. You have been able to confirm all of the above by googling old newspapers. Friend also tells you that Pro’s ex is overseas and will not return to the area until he is in jail as she is terrified of him. Friend also says that 15 years ago, there was a rumour that Pro attempted to steal someone else’s expensive equipment. These two bits of gossip are unconfirmable. Friend also said Pro does do a very good job at equipment maintenance (hard to find) and she doesn’t think he’s a threat to steal my equipment, what with how closely he is still being watched by the police and the fact that a lot of time has past since that incident.
Solution:
On one hand, you want nothing to do with someone who in all likelihood is a murderer and all-round bad guy. On the other hand, he was nothing but nice and professional when he did first maintenance, plus I can’t imagine how bad it would be to become a pariah when you are actually innocent.
Complicating factors include the fact that if he is guilty, he may react poorly if you fire him - and you are alone for long hours in an isolated area. Plus he will know you are still doing hobby and must be using a different pro, as he will see your equipment when he does work on the neighbors equipment. You can’t keep an eye on your equipment 24/7, nor secure it sufficiently without spending exponentially more than what the equipment is monetarily worth (though it also has sentimental value)
Wow! Not one person on this very opinionated board has an opinion on what they’d do in this situation?
I shouldn’t be surprised I guess as I have no idea what to do either, but I was hoping a discussion may help me figure it out. Oh well. I’m still no closer to figuring out what to do.
Most of me doesn’t want any more contact with him, even though he’s great at what he does. But part of me is scared about what might happen if I tell him not to come back and start using someone else
I’d give him my business card unless I knew he already had counsel. Depending on how good he is at what he does and how bad I need it done, I might be willing to work a barter arrangement for part of my fee.
Do you know the nature of his relationship with the missing woman; a client like you or was she a SO? I’d feel much more comfortable if his potentially, alleged actions were of a personal nature & I only had a professional relationship.
Do you get the vibe that he’d vandalize your equipment if you stopped using him? Otherwise, you heard a third-hand rumor possibly started by one of competitors trying to build up their own business.
I think it’s interesting that he’s remained in the area where the crime is alleged to have occurred. Reading between the lines it’s a rural area, and I imagine it would be incredibly difficult for him to continue living there, particularly if he is guilty. Surely he’d just up and move to a different town/region? That he stays, continues working and being part of the social fabric of the town sort of indicates to me he might well not be guilty of the alleged crimes.
IOW, I’d continue the professional relationship, unless anything else he does gives you cause for concern.
I agree this is the key. Or a key, anyway, as I still think the question is a difficult one. But the answer to this question would make a huge difference in my level of concern for my own safety.
MLS, that was my initial reaction too, but then I read more about the missing woman’s case and it’s so sad.
Any further maintenance would be when I was alone with him, it’s the nature of the hobby and my living arrangements, so it’s all or nothing.
Oakminster, that actually made me laugh - first light-hearted moment I’ve had since this all came up, so thanks for the lol. Unfortunately I don’t have much in the way of tradable skills in that sense!
Sage Rat, that’s an idea. It never entered my mind to call the police - I figured they wouldn’t be able to say anything to any random member of the public while it was an ongoing investigation.
Spiderman, the missing woman was his SO.
I’m not worried about my equipment being vandalized. Maybe stolen.
And the “attempted theft” (15 years ago) was not about a competitor. His SO at that time (different woman) told her good friend that good friend’s equpiment was in danger if she left it at X location and not to leave it there. She later admitted to the friend that Pro had been talking about stealing it and selling it on, and mentioned specifics like where to on-sell and how easy it would be to get it from X location (i.e, not just general chat, but actual specifics being planned)
I am conflicted because I do believe in “innocent until proven guilty” and would hate to have my life upturned based only on rumours not facts. But… I’m finding it’s different when it’s happening to you, instead of some generic other person. I’m sure if I read about this being someone else’s situation I’d have a clear “I’d do XZY” in my head as I usually do, but now I’m disturbed. Does that mean my ethics are too flexible, or that I’m too judgemental when it doesn’t affect me directly? I’ll ponder that one once I’ve resolved this…
I’m worried about retaliation if I fire him - my ‘equipment’ is very special to me. I’m a little ethically worried about giving my money to someone who would do what he’s (allegedly) done, but that cuts both ways because I was happy employing him until I heard these unproven stories, so either action is ethically suspect IMO. I’m not worried about using his services while I’m alone as I do not think he would do anything to me (firstly, he knows there are records that he was at my property that time and day, and secondly because I don’t have any emotional relationship with him), but I do wonder if he’s the sort of guy that could snap and do damage if he was to be angered or rejected / dissed
Kambuckta, the area is a mix of suburban, semi-rural and rural, but the hobby is located in the rural and semi-rural portions. Thanks for reading between the lines - there are certain keywords I am purposely avoiding and hoping don’t pop up in this thread (like Pro’s profession, or the equipment / hobby) so as to avoid being identified / searchable.
And yeah, I’m a little surprised he’s stayed in the area too. But I guess that could go either way, like most things
prettydorky I saw your post pre-edit and understand the curiosity. Am happy to describe, but wish to avoid keywords, so please don’t reply with “Ah, it’s X and the Pro does Y”:
The equipment in question is alive, processes vegetation into pre-compost, bonds with you, and can be used for transportation, sport, competition or just pleasure. That should give you the answer without pinging the search terms
I’m not overly worried about the theft issue due to relative values. Say my equipment is worth 5K, the ‘attempted theft’ was for equipment that would’ve been worth approx 25K, so I would guess there’s only slightly less risk but much less payout to steal my equipment, so probably not worth it from that perspective
Can you ask the neighbors that recommended him about this? Certainly they know the story. They still use him, so they’ve somehow justified it in their mind. I would want their opinion. Given the seriousness of the allegations, I don’t think they’d be surprised or upset if you asked.
I’ve heard some vicious rumors that have dogged people even well after it was found that they were totally untrue.
Just because the police are involved doesn’t mean it’s anything more than a rumor - one which the pro is probably trying quite hard to put behind him innocent or guilty.
I think it’s a pretty crappy world where the police investigate you once and your community totally shuts you out “just in case”. So don’t be that.
If you’re going to take any precautions, make them the same precautions you’d take with anyone else you have a business relationship with.
Look, if you’re not comfortable with the guy, you’re not comfortable with the guy. If you feel you need to sever or at least minimize contact with this individual, then do it and don’t beat yourself up over it. You’re not put here to make him happy. As to what would happen if he came after you for doing that, I got nuttin’, but I’m usually a big one for going with your instincts.
I would pull away. This isn’t just one rumor, this is pieces evidence coming from multiple sources, and a situation where I would not feel comfortable alone with dude. Especially as someone with few ties to the community. That’s a perfect victim.
Innocent until proven guilty is a legal concept. Survival is the natural concept here.
Get a big ugly SO or apparent SO to hang around for a couple of the maintenance days.
Openly carry a hand gun in a holster anytime you might be on your property at the same time he is. Practice so that you will be comfortable while wearing it. If he is no good, he will note the confidence of you movements.
While he is there go take a picture of him working with your equipment that includes a full face view of him if you can. [Just taking a picture of your equipment while maintenance is being done.]
Learn to do your own maintenance.
Find out who your neighbors use. [Can you afford their guy or does the bad guy work as good for way less money. ]
Go ask him point blank.
You are new and have heard rumors.
You are a bit uneasy.
I’m big & ugly and have little old ladies do this very thing. One was holding a 30-30 while she asked.
Hahaha…hahahahaha. That’ll see Essured locked up in the local slammer quicker than a murder suspect! Different gun rules here!
As Essured explained, the maintenance is not something that every Tom, Dick or Harriet has the ability to master. Like anything, that’s why we employ other people to do the stuff that either we can’t, or don’t want to do.
From the OP, it seems that the immediate neighbours are indeed using the same fella for the same maintenance work, and he’s considered competent.
I can actually get behind this one. Sometimes the most obvious tactic is the best one…next time he’s down doing his stuff, proffer a cuppa and JUST ASK HIM! Being upfront like that might be the first time in a long time he’s been spoken to like a regular human being, and you might earn yourself a goodly deal of respect for treating him with respect…not to say maybe a discount on the maintenance sessions!
Install prominent video surveillance cameras on the property. Even fake cameras may be sufficient deterrent. Claim to have seen evidence of an intruder or something to simultaneously point out that they exist and explain their presence. Absolutely do not question him (if he has actually murdered a girlfriend, direct confrontation would be quite foolish) or the police about the suspicions. He may have a friend on the force and hear of your conversation. If you choose to have someone else take care of your equipment in the future, you must fire him on a totally unrelated pretext, such as a better price from someone else or some other impersonal reason.
Definitely do not be at the property alone with him.
[ol]
[li]If the authorities are investigating him, they eventually follow him to your home and place him under surveillance there. If you are doing anything that is sketchy or embarrassing yourself, their watching him will uncover this.[/li][li]If this guy doesn’t have enough sense or is arrogant enough not to leave the area where he is the suspect in a serious crime, then his judgement is probably skewed. It’s not very wise to have many dealing with people who use poor judgement.[/li][li]You may tainted by your association with this person. His missing SO’s family may attempt to contact you or you may be contacted by the media in an effort to obtain an intervoew with you. If you are a private person, you may find this to be disconcerting or distressing.[/li][li]The person may indeed be dangerous. If you allow them into your home and they become desperate or they see that you have valuables that that they can steal, they injure you or worse in an attempt to steal those items. Why risk your personal safety for no good reason?[/li][/ol]
Unless you live BFE and there are absolutely no other options, there are always other people to perform tasks that you made need. And most locations have licensed and bonded businesses, which will they may charge more, usually hire people who have passed background checks and are usually of good character (or haven’t been caught…LOL).
Thank his person for the work that they have done, but tell them that you are looking at other options. If they press the matter, then tell them that you may be experiencing financial issues in the near future (whether it’s true or not) and that you are trying to save money. Most people will get your meaning and not push any further,
