New Leads In Smart Case

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | October 26, 2002 | Kevi Cantera and Michael Vigh

[Palladin]

Expert Offers 'Some New Leads' in Smart Case
Saturday, October 26, 2002

BY KEVIN CANTERA and MICHAEL VIGH

As police investigating Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping became stymied by a dearth of solid leads over the months, the case has grown conspicuously cold.

That could change following a recent visit from renowned forensics expert Henry Lee, who was recruited to examine evidence in the mysterious kidnapping. Lee, who has worked on such high-profile cases as the O.J. Simpson trial and the disappearance of congressional intern Chandra Levy, told The Salt Lake Tribune this week he gave investigators "some new leads to follow" in Elizabeth's June 5 abduction.

Citing a confidentiality agreement with police he signed before gaining access to forensic evidence in the case, Lee wouldn't discuss his findings specifically.

Chris Thomas, speaking on behalf of Elizabeth's father Ed Smart, confirmed Friday that Lee gave law enforcement "many recommendations" on how to proceed. "The police said they would pursue those leads. . . . From our understanding, investigators have been very busy, since [Lee] left," Thomas said. "It has given the family a lot of hope that things are progressing in a positive way."

The 14-year-old girl was snatched from her bedroom in the early morning hours by a gun-wielding intruder -- a crime witnessed only by her younger sister.

Lee's examination of a kitchen window screen led him to back an early police theory that the screen was cut from inside the home, possibly as a diversionary tactic by the abductor, multiple law enforcement sources tell The Tribune.

Police have been unable to determine if the kitchen window was the actual point of entry into the Federal Heights home. Investigators' skepticism is grounded in the lack of scuff marks around the kitchen window and the belief that anyone squeezing through the small window would have awakened family members.

"I went through the house and did look at a lot of evidence . . .I examined the screen and the window," said Lee, refusing to say what he determined from the analysis.

Thomas said Lee did not discuss his findings with Ed Smart or other family members because of the confidentiality agreement.

While Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse welcomed Lee's input, he said: "I don't think there was anything that [Lee] found that will change much." Dinse said he expects Lee, who was originally recruited into the investigation by Ed Smart, to provide police with a written report.

Though Dinse has not publicly ruled anyone out, the chief has called the late Richard Ricci, who worked in the Smart home as a handyman last year, the No. 1 potential suspect. Ricci, who was being held at the Utah State Prison on alleged parole violations, died in August from a massive brain hemorrhage.

He was also charged with robbing the Smart home of jewelry and other items and an earlier night-time burglary of a home nearby while he worked in the neighborhood.

[cherry]

Thanks Palladin....yes. I am still interested but I have begun to let this case go....it is just too painful to think of this young girl just being taken and never to be heard of again...

If all the facts as we know them are true...that is....the window was cut from the inside, and there was a chair under the window....then the perp PLANNED this....this was not an accidental burglary gone bad...

I can see Ricci doing an abduction in a burlgary....but I can not see him planning on just going there to take LIz....unless there was a ransom plan....

so if it was planned.....someone got in the house easily and knew he could get in....

how would a perp just wandering in the hood gather up a spare chair to put under the window...

so that leads me to think that it was someone who was already on the inside or someone who had a key ......

so let's be realistic....it could be Ricci if he had a key....but it could also have been an extended family member who had a key....it had to be someone who knew they could get in the house....

if we agree that the window was cut from the inside...and that the chair was left there....then this was a planned event...planned in advance....if it was planned in advance..someone wanted it to look like an outside person did this....

[varina davis]

new thread

Thanks lakey. Just hope the FBI is working with Dr. Lee and not just the SLCPD.

[varina davis]

if we agree that the window was cut from the inside...and that the chair was left there....then this was a planned event...planned in advance....if it was planned in advance..someone wanted it to look like an outside person did this....

Planned in advance could be the ticket -- and someone might have staged the scenario.

[varina davis]

I've noticed that Henry Lee gets panned often on this thread, but I think his forensic skills just might turn up a surprise or two.

[jandji]

"Police discovered a wrought-iron chair below the Smart family's kitchen window the morning Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom, her father says" her father says?
" The chair, taken from the family's backyard patio, was propped against the wall under the kitchen window where investigators found the screen cut, Ed Smart told the Deseret News Friday." again ed smart says. not police, but ed smart speaking. "until now no one has reported a chair being found outside the Smarts' kitchen window." why does ed keep trying to introduce facts?

[jandji]

Henry Lee has already blown this thing wide open. remember the original "screen cut from the inside" theory was published as from "4 different sources inside LE", not actual police press release. now it's "original police theory".

[jandji]

"No, meaning that he "fumbled" through the house with gloves on" ...be hard to see hair on the back of his hands if he was wearing gloves.

[jandji]

"I believe the kidnapping was staged. The kidnappers waited for an opportune day to enter the premises (they probably knew of the award ceremonies on the eve of the 5th). Entered the backyard of the home and placed a chair under the window (distraction #1). Entered the residence with the help of a key. Roamed around the home to get familiar with it" only lois and ed and supposedly liz went to the award assembly. charles was left in charge of the rest of the kids. so no way an unfamiliar person was in the house roaming around.

[jandji]

"If the entry point was through the open garage door, it implies that either" the really scary thing about this scenerio [which includes knowing that the alarm system would also be turned off, and even the garage would be left open after the family came home, remember ed pushing the garage door button and the door not closing, and ed just leaving it open.] is that ed is the only person that knew these details besides the person who entered the house that night.

[JusticeLives]

Thanks for the update on the Smart case, Palladin, and Yes, I'm still interested in following this so keep me on your ping-a-ling list :)

[Palladin]

Good thinking and analysis on this thread, h.e. I,too, believe the kidnapping was well-planned and well-executed. Not a spur-of-the-moment decision by a cat burglar to take one of the Smart children.

A number of people could have had keys, however. Think of all the relatives coming and going during the grandfather's long illness, and at his funeral. Does it necessarily have to be a workman with a key?

I would like to know if Ed changed all the locks after the Ricci/other workmen thefts at his home. Or did he depend on the alarm system alone (which was unset the night of the kidnapping) to protect his family?

[UCANSEE2]

So, if we assume it was a pre-planned kidnapping, What was the purpose of the kidnapping? Where is she?

[Jolly Green]

Now you agree Ricci wasn't the guy in the house!!

Sherlock has always maintained a Ricci associate was the inside man. You ought to try to pay attention once in awhile rather than focusing on slamming other posters. Who knows, you might learn something.

[Jolly Green]

be hard to see hair on the back of his hands if he was wearing gloves.

Depends on the gloves.

[jandji]

"the kidnapping was well-planned and well-executed."

the scary thing about this scenerio is the only person who knew the garage door would be left open, and the alarm motion sensors would be shut off, would've been Ed. not only that, remember that Ed left the garage open even after coming home. Lois had to make him go downstairs and check all the doors. Ed said he then locked all the sliding glass doors and the basement door.