The FBI Didn't Answer Texts From Minnesota Investigators for Days After Renee Good’s Killing

An investigator with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) sent text messages to the FBI seeking assistance that went unanswered for at least two days following the killing of Renee Good in Minnesota in early 2023, according to records obtained by WIRED. The delayed response occurred during the critical initial phase of a homicide investigation, raising questions about inter-agency communication protocols and resource allocation in urgent cases. The records reveal that the BCA investigator attempted to contact the FBI's Minneapolis field office via text message shortly after the discovery of Good's death. The specific nature of the assistance requested remains unclear from the public records, but such requests typically involve forensic analysis, digital evidence examination, or consultation on cases with potential federal jurisdiction. The FBI's failure to respond for multiple days represents a significant breakdown in the expected collaborative framework between state and federal law enforcement agencies, particularly during the time-sensitive window following a violent crime. This incident highlights ongoing challenges in inter-agency coordination that have been documented in various jurisdictions across the United States. While the FBI eventually engaged with the investigation, the initial communication gap potentially delayed evidence collection and investigative momentum. The case underscores how technological communication tools, while creating new channels for rapid contact, also introduce vulnerabilities when response protocols aren't consistently maintained across different agencies with varying priorities and caseloads.