Youth Died in Bridge Accident

News and Record ^ | 11-4-02 | TAFT WIREBACK

[HamiltonJay]

What PERPS?!?!? Please, tell me, what perps?!?! I am more than willing to accept something bad may have befallen this boy, but as of right now, nothing suggests it. Just conspiracy theories.

If his time of death doesn't coincide with or about the time he disappeared, fine. If atopsy shows the body was moved, fine.. etc etc... but right now there is nothing to suggest anything more than an accident. Which sadly do happen, and always have happened. Not every death of a child is via nepharious means. If any evidence shows up supporting a possibility of foul play, I will glady reconcider. But "why didn't the dogs find or searchers find him" is not evidence, its speculation and conspiracy theory.

[God'sgrrl]

I cannot give out information here...but it is clear that you know nothing and assume much.

[HamiltonJay]

Not every child wanders off as you have implied...and I believe it would be in your best interest to know Chris and his mother before you decide that he brought this on himself! This child was harmed.

I am sorry, but EVERY child wanders, whether out of anger or not, unless someone is watching them every second, every child does wander, exploring the world is part of life, if you think children in rural areas don't roam around their homes particularly at the age of 13, then you are just kidding yourself. I have not decided anything, I have stated that there is no evidence at this point that any foul play was involved. I too never said he "brought this on himself" accidents happen, they happen to all kinds of people, good and bad, and I don't think because a tragedy befalls someone that they "brought it on themselves". That's a bit too "fundamentalist old testament" for my view. Bad things can happen to anyone, no matter how "good" they may be.

[God'sgrrl]

Dogs found a scent in the woods on the third day...I cannot say more. Don't just hear my comments listen to the community, family, and press, this investigation was handled so badly and it happens every day in this country when it comes to missing children.

[HamiltonJay]

I cannot give out information here...but it is clear that you know nothing and assume much.

I am sorry, my statements are based on the information publicly released, if you are somehow "privy" to some secreted private information, so be it. I can only base my statements on the facts I have been given. I can't base them simply by some anonymous person on the internet who claims x, y or z, and offers no facts to back them and makes outrageous claims that she knows exactly the thoughts of another human being.

[God'sgrrl]

Okay I cannot respond to you any longer...you implied "what child hasn't wandered when upset" that's what I responded to., some do but it wasn't typical of Chris...he was generous OVERLY helpful and uniquely kind for his age. Enough.

[HamiltonJay]

This may be true, and if it is, I hope the truth comes out. IT will not be hard to prove time of death, and if he was assaulted evidence of that will be evident as well. Publicly however, none of that has been presented.

[God'sgrrl]

Privy?? My daughter was in Heather Dixon's class, my 2 youngest were in the same school and Chris talked to me at school, the press got to the family through me, I find it disheartening in our time of grief to read your comments.

[HamiltonJay]

of Chris...he was generous OVERLY helpful and uniquely kind for his age

I am not denying this child had any of these properties... that does not mean that this same child does not experience anger, or other emotions, upset, confusion etc. Particularly in adolescence. I know several children that are fine upstanding and caring human beings, that 99.999% of the time would never hurt a flea, and seen them do incredibly callous or dumb, particularly under stress, and sometimes even when not, things not because they are evil, but because they are children.

The argument of "they don't fit the profile" is not an argument that can hold much weight in a grand scheme, it may cause suspicion, but in and of itself is not evidence. The sniper didn't fit the profile, yet how many are dead? Westerfield didn't fit the profile, yet a little girl is dead at his hands... Even the best of us are human beings, to suggest anything less is preposterous.

Again, I am not saying that bad things did not befall this child, I am only saying at this point with the information released, there is nothing that suggests it.

Is it possible the police botched the investigation? Sure, its possible.

It is also possible that this was sadly nothing more than a tragic accident, and those close to the child do not want to face that possibility.

How many on this board alone refused to accept the evil of Westerfield when it was staring them baldly and undeniably in the face?

I am not saying that I cannot be swayed to believe otherwise. I am, and always have been saying, that based on the evidence as it now stands, there is nothing to suggest more than accident. The autopsy will show more I am sure, and its results will either crush the theory of accident, or further bolster it.

In the end, this child is never returning home, and that doesn't change regardless of the rest of the story. I do pray for this family, and hope they find peace.

[God'sgrrl]

I am, and always have been saying, that based on the evidence as it now stands

I am glad that you know it all.

[RGSpincich]

It's a shame that the child died from an accidental fall. Evidently some here and there believe that this 13 year old boy was not prone to exploring structures and running into the woods. Looks like they didn't know him as well as they thought. Happens all the time at that age. Kids break away from their little boy image and often startle the adults in their life. Sorry to say this time it was fatal.

[HamiltonJay]

God'sgrrl,

It is not I that brought this discussion to this public forum. I do not say the things I say here out of callousness to your grief or your feelings, nor those of the family, in fact, I quote my previous statements:

"I am keeping this family in my thoughts and prayers, because regardless of how he left his home, he is never coming back... and that is a tragedy that no conspiracy theory will change or lessen. This family will be burying a 13 year old boy, called to heaven long before any on earth think he should have been. That is a pain, I pray I will never have to know. May the good Lord keep him safe. "

You are bringing to this public forum accusations of police incompetence and misconduct, with little more than "I knew this boy". These are heavy charges to levy, and as I have said, I am willing to accept the idea that it may have been foul play, but as of right now, with what is in the public domain, the claims you make are accusations. You cannot expect, even in a time grief, to take no challenge to them. I can only make judgement on the facts as they have been presented publicly, and so far, nothing suggests more than tragic accident. That does not mean, that more facts will not come to light.

[HamiltonJay]

I am glad that you know it all.

I have never claimed once to know it all, but of course, you do I suppose. I know what has been presented publicly, and as of right now, those facts do not inately support foul play. The investigation is still going on, and I am sure more facts will come out.

[HamiltonJay]

Sadly, that is what it appears to be.

But police think he was "most possibly" running away from home, partly because a witness saw him running into the woods near his home, Tate said.

"We have no evidence that would point towards an abduction," he said. "We do know there was a minor problem at school the day before (Christopher disappeared), but both his family and school feel like that was not a cause for him to leave."

Witness sees him running into the woods, and he never comes back. Incident at school that day, body found and autopsy shows fall. I am willing to accept other possibilities, but right now, see nothing to suggest it.