Sniper suspect signals trouble

New York Daily News ^ | 11/03/02 | DON SINGLETON

[kattracks]

Sniper suspect Lee Malvo has reportedly opened a strange line of communication with detectives trying to understand his relationship with co-defendant John Muhammad.

While Malvo, 17, has steadfastly refused to speak to investigators probing the shootings, he has been responding nonverbally, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Separately, a source in the Caribbean told investigators there that Muhammad suggested kidnapping the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda for ransom. There was no indication he acted on the alleged threat, made nearly two years ago, authorities said.

In interrogations, Malvo has conveyed some of his thoughts using gestures, charades and even traced-out sentences - including the admonition that he didn't want a detective to "get into his head," the magazine says.

"At times during the police interview, Malvo was childlike, giggling and playful. He cried, though, when asked about one crime scene: the last one, the shooting of bus driver Conrad Johnson," the magazine says.

Although Muhammad, 45, has refused to answer questions about his relationship with his teenage partner, who he sometimes referred to as his son, Malvo indicated his closeness to Muhammad by "pounding his chest near his heart."

"He also gestured that the two were 'tight like blood brothers' by laying one hand on the table and 'slicing' his index and middle fingers, then making a gesture that suggested blood trickling out," the article says.

"What we may be dealing with is a combination of a disturbed young guy seeking a bond, which he desperately needed, and being so influenced by this relationship that he can only communicate if he is given permission by Muhammad," Sanford Cohen, a professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Miami, told U.S. News.

[kattracks]

"What we may be dealing with is a combination of a disturbed young guy seeking a bond, which he desperately needed, and being so influenced by this relationship that he can only communicate if he is given permission by Muhammad," Sanford Cohen, a professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Miami, told U.S. News.

Or someone trying to set up an insanity plea?

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Weird. He does look a bit...slow in the pix of him and Muhammad though. I wonder if he was taken advantage of by the older guy.

Something is strange here. It would be interesting to see his transcripts from the INS hearing and whether or not he could *talk* then.

[Asclepius]

... "What we may be dealing with is a combination of a disturbed young guy seeking a bond, which he desperately needed, and being so influenced by this relationship that he can only communicate if he is given permission by Muhammad" ...

How sad. Muhammad should die twice. Once for the other murders, and again for the spiritual murder of this child-zombie-meat-puppet.

[Asclepius]

... I wonder if he was taken advantage of by the older guy ...

I think everyone is wondering that. These two are at least behaving more like lovers than friends. This is Socrates and Alcibiades. Only a stupider and crueler version of Socrates and a less eloquent version of Alcibiades.

[Nitro]

Ironically, last weeks show CSI was a re-union of Grissom with Zephyr...

they were the principle players in the original "Hannibal the Cannibal" movie, it was called "Manhunter" and it was excellent!!

Petersen is further appreciated due to the "GREATEST" chase scene...

if you haven't seen it, rent "To Live and Die, in LA!!"

[per loin]

I suggest that the interogators signal back to Malvo with the "noose tightens around the neck" sign.

[TexKat]

kattracks, while following a timeline on these crimes, I began to notice when Mohammad went into a restaurant to eat, none of these restaurant's mentions Malvo. Ponderosa, Shoney's, Boston Market. When creating my time line, it was weird that when it came to eat, Malvo was not there or not mentioned. Even when Mohammad went into the Mobile station, the report was that he bought a bag of chips, a brownie, and a soda. At the Subway which was closing at the time Mohammad arrived and told the clerk that he was going to nap in the car, said she saw a laptop in the passenger side of the car. Was Mohammad making Malvo get in the trunk of the car while he fed his face or what? The only time I have read of Malvo buying anything to eat was the night they were captured and that was a Clark candy bar. Was Malvo living on honey and crackers only?

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Ransom and terrorism often go hand-in-hand among Islamic extremists. Getting people to pay protection money dates back to the original Muhammad. The name really fits.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

...I began to notice when Mohammad went into a restaurant to eat, none of these restaurant's mentions Malvo...

For a minute there, I wondered it Muhammad fed him through regurgitating his food.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

He cried, though, when asked about one crime scene: the last one, the shooting of bus driver Conrad Johnson," the magazine says.

Unless he had an onion up his sleeve, I'm thinking this young man might not have enjoyed wanton killings very much. Lip biting won't work with these interrogators. This was leaked out because one of the law enforcers genuinely feels pity.

[TexKat]

In Antigua, Parts Of Malvo's Life Remain a Puzzle


ST. JOHN'S, Antigua -- Lee Malvo's classmates at the Seventh-day Adventist School were startled one morning two years ago when the usually easygoing boy, asked to recite the day's opening prayer, began reciting the tenets of Islam.

"Allah this, Allah that," said classmate Deniece Zachariah, now 18. "He wasn't talking about our God anymore. The teacher didn't ask him to do the prayer anymore."

Malvo would have been 15 or so. About the same time, he began living with John Allen Muhammad, an American convert to Islam, and three of Muhammad's children, according to neighbors in the Ottos section. Sometime after that, Muhammad's first name began appearing in front of "Lee" on some documents involving Malvo.

As investigators pore over the evidence against Malvo and Muhammad, who are charged in 10 of 13 Washington area sniper shootings and are suspected in the rest, one of the mysteries is how they came to be together -- the itinerant boy, now 17, born in Jamaica and shuffled among relatives, and Muhammad, 41, a New Orleans-born Army veteran with two ex-wives and a failed auto-repair business in Tacoma, Wash.

Malvo's father, Leslie Malvo, of Kingston, Jamaica, said he spoke to his son sporadically after splitting up with the boy's mother about 1990. He said he last talked to him about four years ago.

"His name was Lee," Leslie Malvo said. "I think his stepfather made him John."

The relationship between Malvo and Muhammad -- what it was, when and how it began -- remains unclear.

Malvo arrived in Antigua in 1998 with his mother, Una James, according to officials at the Jamaican Embassy here. Malvo enrolled at the Seventh-day Adventist School.

Muhammad arrived in Antigua in March 2000 with his three children from his second marriage. Local officials are investigating allegations that he earned money by acquiring false birth and Social Security documents for Jamaicans, Antiguans and others who hoped to immigrate to the United States.

Kithryn Nedd, who said he once shared Muhammad's house, said Muhammad helped Malvo's mother -- who had been selling cold drinks outside a bus station -- leave the island to look for work in the United States. There was no romantic link between her and Muhammad, according to Nedd, who neighbors confirmed was a former housemate of Muhammad's.

After his mother's departure, Malvo was left to live with one of his mother's friends in Gray's Farm, one of Antigua's poorest neighborhoods, Nedd said.

"He was eventually kicked out of there," Nedd said. "The lady said she already had too many people living in her house."

Malvo moved in with Muhammad in 2000, according to neighbors in Ottos, where simple wood-frame houses huddle together on a tight grid of narrow streets. They said that on his way to and from school, Malvo had become friendly with the family as he walked by their house and the children's primary school next door.

"John [Muhammad] treated Lee like one of his own," said Janet Harris, principal of the primary school. "I saw him buying shoes for him. And every morning at 5, they'd all be up for their run. He was a very dedicated father."

When Malvo was living with Muhammad, classmates recalled, religion became part of the boy's conversations.

"He said he was researching some stuff on being a Muslim," said John Sewsankar, 16, a classmate who played cricket with Malvo and remembers his interest in classical music. "He felt it was the right religion. But we didn't talk about it much, because I am a Christian."

[johnny7]

For a minute there, I wondered it Muhammad fed him through regurgitating his food.

Yea... maybe Malvo picked out the corn from Muhammads bowel movements.

Both of these scumbags should be treated as terrorists!

Malvo is illegal and the older guy is a muslim.

They both should die for their crimes.

[ninonitti]

This was leaked out because one of the law enforcers genuinely feels pity

If what you say is true then perhaps the LEO should start by letting speeders get off with a warning or better yet begin practicing: "Can I supersize that for you sir?" and get himself off this case and out of the business pronto.

I pay enough in taxes to expect that "mixed up" maggots like this never draw another breath of free air. If I want mush I'll cook a pot on my stove.

[TexKat]

Could Mohammad want ransom money for Malvo? Does Malvo's mother still owe Mohammad for smuggling her into the U.S.? You know Mohammad has to hate women, he has been dumped more than once. On Geraldo last night, Mohammad's aunt said Mohammad was clean when he made a visit in Baton Rouge, she said he was wearing some type of exercise tights (girly muslim).

[kk22tt]

Have to agree. Sentiments are not valid here. And how many ages does Muhammad have? From 41 to 45 - it's hard to keep track.

[Future Useless Eater]

in the 2nd half of CNN's Antigua story, we learn Maryland police were told clearly of the dark Chevrolet Caprice MUCH EARLIER!!! Here is the EARLIEST one, from September 14, the 1st known east-coast Muhammad/Malvo shooting...

Robert Wilkerson, a 19-year-old clerk at the Safeway grocery store near the Hillandale Beer & Wine store, told police he saw a dark-colored Chevrolet Caprice leave the parking lot immediately after the shooting.
Wilkerson told CNN he heard the gunshot, saw the victim fall to the ground, and as he was running into the grocery store to call for help, he saw the Caprice pull out of a parking space.
"It was like an old police car" Wilkerson said.

Maryland cops were ordered to ONLY pin this on an AWG (at least until after the election)!

[GeekDejure]

Hey . . . Mr. Policeman . . . "I am Dog" !!!

So whatcha gonna do about it???

Signed: Enemy of Muzzle-em Terrorists (a.k.a. Alex the Infidel)

[cpdiii]

Last night on Fox they had an interview with an Aunt of
Mohammed and she commented on the fact that Malvo was extremly polite and well behaved and respectfull. He had no trouble talking in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

I suspect that Malvo's lawyers have informed him unless he can prove insanity he is on a fast train to hell strapped to a gurney as the Thiopental, Kcl and Neuro muscular blocker drip into his veins. I always thought they should start the Neuro Muscular blocker first.

[Eva]

The kid was described as quite bright and articulate by his fellow high school students in Bellingham. He was said to be especially knowledgeable about US history,even helped other students in the class.

[JudyB1938]

I feel genuine pity, too, for that kid. On the other hand, I felt sorry for the mad dog I saw Animal Control shoot to death when I was a kid. Pity has nothing to do with eliminating dangers to society, whether animal OR human.

But it is a shame what happened to him in the end. He was a nice looking and, apparently, smart boy. I agree with the sentiment that the "father" needs extra punishment for what he did to a floundering child.