MN - Anyone know Kerry Grittner?

[nualle]

Some years ago (~6) Kerry Grittner asked my wife and me to hold his gun for him. Then he dropped off the face of the earth. I need to return it to him -- I may be moving to Canada this summer and I do not want to move the gun with me. So my question for Minnesota people is: do you know the guy and can you put him back in contact with me?

For folks more generally: If I don't succeed in finding him before I leave, what's my position and what are my options?

 

[Ukraine Train]

Could it be Kari Grittner? I found this entry in Yahoo people search:

Kari Grittner
4491 Kipling Ct
Savage, MN
(952) 894-6491

 

[nualle]

Sorry, no. I've done the obvious searches. This Kerry is a guy. (Kari looks like a woman's name to me.)

I'll toss a bit of cash into the less obvious searches if I don't find him soon.


Edited to add: Thanks for the thought, though!

 

[SteelyDan]

nualle, interesting question.

It strikes me that you first need to exhaust all reasonable options for locating Kerry. You're obviously doing this.

If and when you haven't located him and your move is imminent, I think you have two options. First, if you fully trust Kerry and the legality of the gun, and you have another friend that you fully trust, you might be able to explain the situation and leave the gun with the second friend in case Kerry shows up. Second, you could sell the gun, keep a record of the transaction, and if Kerry shows up pay him whatever you received for it.

The one thing that sets off some mental alarms is Kerry's request that you hold the gun in the first place. If it's stolen, you do not want to get yourself or another friend in trouble. If you are not absolutely certain the gun is legal, I'd probably walk over to the middle of the Lake Street bridge and toss it into the river.

I might have suggested that you call the police to make sure the gun is okay, but since you've had it for 6 years, I might shy away from that plan.

Bottom line: I don't know, and I'm just guessing.

Where in Canada are you thinking of moving?

 

[larry_minn]

I have done some work finding people in past. (Got paycheck out of KC for it)
The more info you have the easier. Where did he grow up/any family back there? What kind of work/hobbies? Where has he lived/any friends you know of his.
Where did he go that he had to leave gun with you?
Normally family is easiest angle. Did he have any brothers? Sisters? It is not THAT common a last name you could search for last name in those areas and maybe find relative.
As far as gun. I assume he left it for "awhile" Maybe "few weeks/month?" As I doubt you have been paid for storage/etc.
I would make good faith effort to find him. If you have family/people you trust in MN you could leave it with them.
What kind of gun is it? IF you do sell it I would write in receipt that you keep/buyer signs. That if Kerry shows up he can buy gun back for purchase price plus $20 a month after sales date. (doubt gun shop would store gun for $20 a month) And they agree not to resell till after a year. (dang near nobody would buy under that situation)
Good luck.

 

[ScottS]

For the right gun, I can be Kerry Grittner.

Would this be my 1876 Winchester Centennial Carbine?

Scott

 

[KMKeller]

Nualle - Did your Kerry Grittner play a bit of golf?

 

[nualle]

SteelyDan: I suppose it was silly of us to agree to hold the gun for him -- we didn't know him for very long or all that well. But we had a more stable life than he and we thought he was trying to be responsible by leaving it with us rather than keeping it around him. He didn't give us any indication how long he'd be before picking it up -- and again, we should have required some -- but we had no idea it'd stretch past the half of a decade.

It's an old Walther P-89 that he said was a family keepsake. I don't say heirloom because that implies greater extrinsic value and, just as a gun, I think it's probably not worth that much. It has mismatched numbers on the parts. So I'm inclined to believe it is a family gun and not stolen. But, of course, I have nothing hard to base that on.

We have heard occasional rumors of him in the years since we last saw him. They indicate that his life is little more stable now than it was then. But with our potential move coming up (in July if at all), we'd like to fulfill our responsibility and have done with the situation.

If we go, it'll be to Toronto for me to start a grad program. Best program this side of the pond in my area.

 

[nualle]

larry_minn: Please see PM.


ScottS: ... but thanks for playing!


KMKeller: No idea. Didn't seem like his speed. He was more a motorcycles and sharp pointy things sort of guy... but people surprise me all the damn time. All of the ostensibly helpful leads (the places he used to hang out and things he used to do -- Ren Fair, a local auto shop, Arms & Armor) have long since gone cold.

Do you know a golfing Kerry Grittner? Is he about 45?

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Well, on Wednesday, we'll be at the capitol for a rally. The DMV is right next door.

If you have nothing by Tuesday night, let me know and I can check to see if he has a driver's license or vehicle registration in the state.

If you have a DOB (even a year) please let us know. Also previous addresses and description.

I work in downtown Minneapolis; I could check for a criminal record with the Minneapolis police. Come to think of it, the state police agency, the BCI, has a public terminal to check criminal records. And it's on the way to the capitol.

I also know some longtime RenFest folk who may have a clue.

 

[nualle]

Thank you, everyone who tossed out ideas and/or offered help. I took a shot in the dark and it turned out to be a lucky one. I just spoke with Kerry on the phone -- should be giving him his stuff back next weekend.

 

[444]

Ah come on, give us some details. How did you find him ?

 

[nualle]

I cold-called someone with the name (not the Kari Grittner above) and lucked into a relative. I guess I have an honest-sounding voice because the relative gave me his number.

 

[larry_minn]

Glad we could help. It was amazing how easy it was to hunt folks down. Wasn't it?

 

[nualle]

Indeed.