Man in sketch no help to Cosby investigation

January 22, 1997
Web Posted at: 10:30 a.m. EST Latest developments:

Possible witness: 'I didn't see anything'
Extortion suspects held
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LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- It was back to square one Wednesday for police investigating the murder of Ennis Cosby. Two men, one of whom matched a sketch of a possible witness to the killing of entertainer Bill Cosby's son, were released Tuesday after giving no relevant information, police said.

The men were picked up on Monday night in suburban Torrance, California. One of them -- the driver a blue hatchback that resembled a car reportedly seen near the crime scene -- acknowledged being in the area, Los Angeles police spokesman Cmdr. Tim McBride said.

'I didn't see anything'

The man, Corey Pancer, was released after about five hours. The long-haired, goateed Pancer told KCBS-TV: "I didn't really see anything that I thought was relevant. But I just told them everything I seen, like I seen another vehicle in the area. That's about it."

McBride said Pancer knew he was being sought but didn't come forward because he felt he had nothing to offer. Referring to both men, McBride said, "It does not appear they're involved in this crime or have any information of substance to help us." (179K/17 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

He told the TV station police had taken three pairs of Pancer's shoes to compare with sole prints at the crime scene and had dusted his Volkswagen vehicle for fingerprints.

Ennis Cosby was gunned down in the early hours of last Thursday while changing a flat tire near a freeway. Pancer said he had driven to the area to look at the city lights.

A woman who saw part of the attack gave police a description of the killer as a white man wearing a knit cap, and that was used to put together another composite drawing. The search for that man continues.

Extortion suspects held

While police hoped for new leads, a Los Angeles man and woman were ordered held without bail in New York on Tuesday in an unrelated plot to extort $40 million from Bill Cosby.

Autumn Jackson, 22, and Jose Medina, 54, of Bethesda, Ohio, were arrested Saturday. It's alleged they demanded the money to stop them from selling a tabloid newspaper a story alleging that Jackson is the entertainer's illegitimate daughter.

Cosby's publicist, David Brokaw, said the entertainer's lawyers had a copy of Ms. Jackson's birth certificate proving that he is not her father.

According to court papers, Jackson is one of many young people Cosby has helped over the years by paying educational expenses. Medina is alleged to be her manager.

Federal prosecutors said there was no evidence the plot was connected with the murder of Cosby's son.

CBS, meanwhile, reported Tuesday night that it had received a fax threatening the network with extortion if a woman identified as Autumn Jackson Cosby "doesn't receive a fair settlement."

The network carries the entertainer's show, "Cosby." Cosby will return to work on the show on Monday, a CBS spokesman said.

Correspondent Jim Hill and Reuters contributed to this report.

Man in sketch no help to Cosby investigation

'I didn't see anything'

Extortion suspects held

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