“He believed someone was illegally moving heavy industrial equipment through the state forest.”

“What kind of equipment could it have been?” I asked.

“I honestly don’t know,” Samuel replied, his voice heavy with long-held guilt.

“Why didn’t you report this to the police back then?” I asked him.

“I did report it,” Samuel insisted defensively.

“I filed a formal complaint with the department.”

“Did anyone from the station ever follow up on your report?” I asked.

“Deputy Parker came out to my house himself,” Samuel said.