Former lead detective on OJ Simpson case skeptical of knife discovery

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- A new discovery of a knife being investigated as a weapon possibly connected to the O.J. Simpson case was being met with mixed reaction on Friday from those who were directly involved.

The glove didn't fit, the knife never materialized, and the Simpson murder case ended with an acquittal for the former NFL star.

That may have been more than 20 years ago, but retired LAPD detective Tom Lange finds himself back in front of cameras, answering questions about the possible murder weapon.

Lange was the lead investigator in the Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman homicide case.

He said forensic evidence experts will first examine the suspicious knife that suddenly landed in the LAPD's hands to see if it is "dimensionally consistent" with the wounds on the two victims. If the knife is consistent, then more rigorous testing would be in order.

"There certainly could be evidence still on it. There could be DNA evidence. As we know, it could stay on it forever," he said. "You could remove the handle of a knife and find something beneath it, like blood evidence."

But Lange is wary of the latest discovery, saying the public doesn't want this murder mystery to die. He even points to the current miniseries "The People V. OJ Simpson," and wonders if the new twist may be a publicity stunt to boost ratings.

"Is this a little something for that series? I don't know, I'm not saying that it is, but you get suspicious of all these things," he said.

Lange isn't alone in his concerns.

The Goldman family released a statement on Friday saying they won't be doing interviews for fear of encouraging "the media circus."

The statement read: "Until the LAPD completes its investigation of the recovered knife, the validity of the knife as it relates to Ron and Nicole's murder is purely speculative. It is not a shock to our family that stories like this are making headlines again."

Investigators later said preliminary information found that the knife is likely not the murder weapon connected to the 1994 killings.

Trent Copeland, the attorney of the retired officer who was given the knife by a construction worker who found it, described the item as a 5-inch buck knife covered with dirt and mud. He said there were no obvious signs of blood on the weapon.

Law enforcement officials told ABC News the likely real murder weapon was bigger and possibly "exotic."