Elizabeth Smart case, August 14, 2002

[Vinomori]

I remember reading an account early on by a police officer that the crime scene had been contaminated by having neighbors there before the police arrived. That particular policeman sounded disgusted and made it sound as if the whole neighborhood was there.

That particular policeman was disgusted because inviting 12 neighbors into your home before the police get there is a disgustingly stupid and arrogant thing to do, and at the very best naive beyond comprehension. How can someone be responsible for the safety of children who is this naive about crime?

[Jolly Green]

Now, how do you connect the security guard to Liz' abduction, beyond the mysterious cars in the hospital's parking lot?

Good question. I initially thought he might be a lookout. With a pair of $40 radios from Wal-Mart, an inside man with a radio and earphone could have been clued-in to anything going on outside. I also wondered if the video tape was contrived i.e. made several days or weeks in advance. It could be substituted for the real tape to throw the police off on the morning of the abduction as to what was really going on in the lot.

There was lots of speculation about a back path between the Smarts and Shriners last week. Brigette even provided links to the sattelite pictures. I haven't had a chance to check that out yet. Maybe Fred was the inside man? He certainly was a smooth talker in the media interviews.

Like I said before, it seems like an astronomical coincidence that Fred knew Ricci from Ricci's prison days.

[IamHD]

JudyB, I recall hearing nothing more after the initial newspaper reports about this. No more information on the fingerprints, other than that. Maybe a local has more info, but as far as mass media, nothing.

[Jolly Green]

I don't know, it struck me odd just now - trying to get all those guys' fingerprints, who supposedly should have all been downstairs, not upstairs in a child's bedroom that you have to pass the parents' bedroom to access.

I'm not sure you are correct about that. My recollection may be faulty, but I recall that the master bedroom is on the back and the girls bedroom is on the front - kind of a triangle shape. I recall a hall going from the kitchen area past the girls room. Brigette probably has a link to the floorplan.

[Utah Girl]

Bella and I had this conversation a few weeks ago. It was naive on the part of the Smarts to let the neighbors into the house. Before the abduction though, I would have done the same thing. We don't think like the police think and like defense lawyers think, we have a problem, we call police and we call neighbors for their help and support. I wouldn't think of 'preserving the crime scene.'

Now, of course, no way. I would call the police, and wait for them to arrive before calling anyone. I live by myself, I would be tempted to call my parents at least for moral support. But after the police had been called.

[cookiedough]

Yes, Brigette did fantastic work on that. I was amazed by how easy it is to get to and from the Smart's house from the street that the hospital is on. Piece of cake. Especially with an SUV.

If I had a $1 million home, I'd have put a security fence between my back yard and all that dirt.

[Jolly Green]

Ok, why would a burglar wake a sleeping girl? Why would a (cat) burglar dress like he was out for a late evening stroll? Why would a burglar bother with a gun?

If the girl awoke and saw the perp, he might decide he had to take her with him, since she could identify him. Some of the media reports say as much i.e. that MK heard the perp tell ES he was taking her as a hostage.

I can't say about the dress other than it afforded a small alibi if someone saw him out side i.e. well-dressed guy in a wealthy neighborhood looks like he is just out for a walk.

As to the gun, if I recall correctly, the bank robberies were armed robberies. I suspect that is essentially why he shot the cop previously. He was caught in the act and saw that as a means of extricating himself.

[IamHD]

"not upstairs in a child's bedroom that you have to pass the parents' bedroom to access."

You are correct that you have to pass the parents' bedroom to get to Elizabeth's room. Ed Smart said so himself in an interview. If you want his words, let me know, and I will search my files for it.

[cookiedough]

Perhaps Liz awoke when the "burglar" entered her bedroom. Lots of burglars bring guns to the crime scene -- that is not unusual at all.

Have to be a pretty stupid burglar to wear light clothing at night, though.

[Jolly Green]

Yes, Brigette did fantastic work on that. I was amazed by how easy it is to get to and from the Smart's house from the street that the hospital is on. Piece of cake. Especially with an SUV.

You may be right, but I'm not convinced. The homes in that area are built on fairly rough terrain. Look at the steepness of the Smart's driveway. The satellite view might make it look easier than it is. I'd like to walk it sometime. Maybe I will, if I can keep from getting shot.

[Neenah]

As to the gun, if I recall correctly, the bank robberies were armed robberies. I suspect that is essentially why he shot the cop previously. He was caught in the act and saw that as a means of extricating himself

So...Recci is the kidnapper?

[Neenah]

Recci=Ricci

[Jolly Green]

So...Recci is the kidnapper?

Maybe you forgot that Ricci has been named as the prime suspect. Dinse has said and Ricci has been indicted on a burglary charge of a Smart neighbor's home with a M.O. that matches the kidnapper's M.O. i.e. the perp enters an occupied home in the middle of the night.

[IamHD]

This is a public letter issued to the public from the Smarts', today. It's in pdf form, and I don't know how to get it from there, to here, so here is the link:

http://www.elizabethsmart.com/Letter20020814.pdf

[JudyB1938]

I don't need verification. It's not that important to me. However, Jolly might like to have it. But whatever ... no matter where that child's bedroom was, nobody had any right to be in there except a member of the family. And that doesn't necessarily include extended family. I'm really curious now about that ... did they find any strange fingerprints in her room? Does anybody know? Jolly?

[Bella]

I'd have put a security fence between my back yard and all that dirt.

You'd also want security cameras installed.

[JudyB1938]

To the Holder(s) of Elizabeth Ann Smart
and Friends throughout the World:

It has been several weeks since our daughter Elizabeth was awakened during the night and taken from her home by force. Every minute of every day we continue to search for her, pray for her, and yearn for her to come home. So many of you have joined us in our search and our prayers. Since we last saw Elizabeth on the evening of June 4 , we have not received any communication from her or from the person who took her. We continue to eagerly await information about her location.

---

To our friends throughout the world:
To Elizabeth's holder(s):

We sincerely appreciate your thoughts, prayers and kindness on Elizabeth's and our behalf. We ask that you continue to be alert and aware of your surroundings to help find Elizabeth and other missing children. We believe that through awareness of this terrible tragedy in our family many children throughout the world will be saved. If you know anything that is directly connected with Elizabeth's disappearance, please contact us immediately.

We cannot express in words how much we miss Elizabeth. As the authorities continue to piece together a puzzle, we still are only interested in one thing - finding Elizabeth. We believe that she is alive and wants desperately to be returned to us. At this time the police have a potential suspect in custody. Whether or not you are the person who took her, we are pleading with you to do the right thing and let her come home. We sincerely beg you to release her or inform us of her whereabouts. She is part of our family and we are willing to do anything to get Elizabeth back. We will make it as easy as possible for you to release her or share the information that will lead us to her.

As you may know, we continue to offer a $250,000 (USD) reward for Elizabeth's safe return. A separate reward of $25,000 (USD) is available for any verifiable information leading us to Elizabeth and can be received anonymously through a confidential tip line at (U.S. Access Code) 801-799-4636. You also can contact us by e-mail via our website , by phone at (U.S. Access Code) 866-346-3549, or by fax (U.S. Access Code) 801-406-0322. www.elizabethsmart.com

For months now we have suffered a void and concern within our hearts that cannot be explained. Elizabeth needs to come home now! We fervently ask you to reflect on the one thing that transcends all boundaries, races, religions and cultures - the power of love.

Anxiously awaiting,
Ed & Lois Smart

[Jolly Green]

Thanks for the post. I've posted the text below for those that don't have Acrobat. Hope I didn't leave anything out:

To the Holder(s) of Elizabeth Ann Smart and Friends throughout the World:

It has been several weeks since our daughter Elizabeth was awakened during the night and taken from her home by force. Every minute of every day we continue to search for her, pray for her, and yearn for her to come home. So many of you have joined us in our search and our prayers. Since we last saw Elizabeth on the evening of June 4 , we have not received any communication from her or from the person who took her. We continue to eagerly await information about her location.

To our friends throughout the world:
We sincerely appreciate your thoughts, prayers and kindness on Elizabeth's and our behalf. We ask that you continue to be alert and aware of your surroundings to help find Elizabeth and other missing children. We believe that through awareness of this terrible tragedy in our family many children throughout the world will be saved. If you know anything that is directly connected with Elizabeth's disappearance, please contact us immediately.

To Elizabeth's holder(s):
We cannot express in words how much we miss Elizabeth. As the authorities continue to piece together a puzzle, we still are only interested in one thing - finding Elizabeth. We believe that she is alive and wants desperately to be returned to us. At this time the police have a potential suspect in custody. Whether or not you are the person who took her, we are pleading with you to do the right thing and let her come home. We sincerely beg you to release her or inform us of her whereabouts. She is part of our family and we are willing to do anything to get Elizabeth back. We will make it as easy as possible for you to release her or share the information that will lead us to her.

As you may know, we continue to offer a $250,000 (USD) reward for Elizabeth's safe return. A separate reward of $25,000 (USD) is available for any verifiable information leading us to Elizabeth and can be received anonymously through a confidential tip line at (U.S. Access Code) 801-799-4636. You also can contact us by e-mail via our website , by phone at (U.S. Access Code) 866-346-3549, or by fax (U.S. Access Code) 801-406-0322. www.elizabethsmart.com

For months now we have suffered a void and concern within our hearts that cannot be explained. Elizabeth needs to come home now! We fervently ask you to reflect on the one thing that transcends all boundaries, races, religions and cultures - the power of love.

Anxiously awaiting,

Ed & Lois Smart

[varina davis]

Some of the media reports say as much i.e. that MK heard the perp tell ES he was taking her as a hostage.

Do you have a URL source for this? Hadn't heard that. As to the gun, if I recall correctly, the bank robberies were armed robberies. I suspect that is essentially why he shot the cop previously. He was caught in the act and saw that as a means of extricating himself.

Actually, according to new stories, Ricci shot the cop after he was shot at by the cop. Doesn't make Ricci any better, but is the way it happened.