Elizabeth Smart thread, August 31-September 7, 2002

[IamHD]

My prayers go out to the Ricci family during this time. RR was sent up the river and used as a scape-goat. No evidence, whatsoever, linking him to the disappearance of Elizabeth.

May he rest in peace.

[whenigettime]

Oops, I meant to start my response with "Ahem".

Someone had asked a question regarding warfarin and difficulty breathing (if there was a connection). The breathing problem that Ricci had was directly related to his brain stem bleed. The automatic funtion of breathing occurs at the brain stem, which is the area that was bleeding. The pressure from the blood in that area caused an eventual cessation of breathing.

whenigettime, RN

[Utah Girl]

Actually, there are people who still go and help look for Elizabeth when the Smarts release this type of information. I'll have to find the source, but around 20 people showed up two weeks ago out by Price, a sighting of a white truck/Jeep. And yes, if I lived down near Fairview, I'd probably lace up the hiking boots and go search for a couple of hours.

[Neenah]

Just out of curiosity, do you agree with the decision the Levys made to hire outside detectives to go through the park where Chandra's bones were found?

I absolutley agree with them !! And I also know that they did this after a long period of time. I would agree with whoever posted a week or so ago that the Smarts had hired a PI and Henry Lee. That is fine. I agree. That is the right thing to do I think.

I am actually when you think and re read what I said, wanting Mr. Smart to do the right thing. To put out this sketch was not swift IMO. And I do walk along side you in feeling for the family.

I do, however, feel that while the case is new, and there is an active investigation, that one should not take it upon themselves to call press conferences and put out this information that is old. To have people look for this person in the sketch.

[Neenah]

Vigilante? Huh? Believe me, if the perp is ever found, he will be turned over to the police and dealt with by them and the justice system

UG, if we don't allow the law to take care of this, then we take it upon ourselves to do it.(Go above the Law, take matters into our own hands..).. Thus, vigilante.

That is what I meant by that.

[trussell]

It is easy to say what you would do , until you have to do it, until you are in that posititon. I am going to believe that you would do everything in a wonderful smart way, to help all those helping you find your child.

In the heart and mind of the parent who is missing their child, there is nothing you wouldn't do. And nothing seems "not smart".

I am speaking from experience. I know what I did when my children were missing. I rang up over $300.00 in one phone call. (To a psychic, even though I am not a believer of that stuff). I made calls, I made posters, I canvassed the town looking for my babies.

I called every state patrol office in states I believed they may have been taken to. I called police stations in towns I was told they may be. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do to try to find my babies.

[stlnative]

Look like Angela Ricci to me! - Tuck her hair under a cap!

What a crappy drawing... I had to laugh when I saw it.

[Neenah]

Aw, don't believe that. I think Elizabeth is alive. I really do..and we have to have that thought now. Hope.

I believe the LE is doing just fine. I think they knew in the beginning (they stated so) who did this, and when the last puzzle piece is found...we will see.

Always remember, Jeanne Boyland said she is very impressed with what they have and how they are handling it. She is credible to me because of her credentials. I always keep in mind, the best thing the PD has done, is not play their cards on television.!! Think about that.

[Utah Girl]

I found this on elizabethsmart.com. There is a new picture under the Hunter's alert. Please check out this link, it is a list of groups that are keeping their eyes open for Elizabeth, and their comments. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes. Registered Search groups

Victim's Description
Age: 14 Years Old
Gender: Female
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
Clothes: Red Pajamas
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 100 lbs
DOB: Nov. 3, 1987
Missing: June 5, 2002
Missing From: Salt Lake City, UT USA

Suspect Description
Caucasian Man
30 to 40 Years Old
5'8" to 5'10"
Dark Hair
Light Jacket
Light Golf Hat or English Driving Hat
Dark Shoes

What to Look For
* Elizabeth's appearance has probably been altered, hair colored and style changed
* If you come across a structure, search in or around the structure for anything unusual. Please do not trespass.
* Post Elizabeth's or other missing children's flyers at trailheads or other locations.
* If you come across other people ask if they have seen anything unusual.
* While scoping out the landscape for animals, please be observant of suspicious activities or out of the ordinary things. You will cover areas that others usually won't.
* If you notice a smell out of the ordinary, search the area for anything unusual.
* If you do find something suspicious, check out a small area to verify it's importance then report it if needed. Contact local law enforcement and the Elizabeth Search Center.
* Please be careful and enjoy the hunt!
If you find something suspicious please call 1-866-FIND-LIZ or 800-932-0190
For more information visit our website at www.elizabethsmart.com

[Neenah]

I'd probably lace up the hiking boots and go search for a couple of hours.

Then bless you, UG...I know you are that kind of person!

[Neenah]

I had a little daughter missing for 6 months.

[Utah Girl]

Thanks for the clarification of vigilante.

[Utah Girl]

And there are lots of Utahns just like me. Believe me, I am not that unique. :)

[Utah Girl]

Oh my goodness, you are correct. Yikes.

[FR_addict]

* Please be careful and enjoy the hunt!

Sounds like a guideline for an excursion, not a guideline to look for a missing girl.

[Utah Girl]

Deer hunting, any kind of hunting is quite common in Utah. The Smarts would just like the hunters to keep their eyes open while they're out in the back country. (I did think it was kind of inappropriate there myself, but whatever.)

[cookiedough]

Neenah, I would look again if I were the parent or someone close to the family. I would do it just to reassure the Smarts that this stone had been turned over again.

Frankly, I doubt if I'd search this area again otherwise, because of my cost/benefit analysis. The cost to me would be too high (in terms of time and effort)for the next to zero chance there would be a benefit (finding clues or Liz).

I think people do these analyses when the straw grasping starts and decide not to participate in a particular search because of it. And if an important lead came to the fore, I think most people would recognize it as such. It's not terribly difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff.

The parents of the missing child are the ones who are most desperate, most willing to cling to straws, most willing to do anything to find their child. They will outlast everyone in the search, believe me.

I think of Richard Evonitz sometimes. He abducted and killed three teenage girls, and he was not suspected by anyone, and apparently no one around him had any direct reason to believe he was involved. There were indications in his house, like the set-up of a bed there, that he had some unusual preferences and practices. But if someone had tipped the police about that (his wife or ex-wife, I guess), the lead would not have risen to the top of the list, because no one knew a bed like that was involved in the cases until a teenage girl escaped from him.

Even in hindsight, there was nothing to link Evonitz to the murders he committed until the girl escaped from him.

I think it's possible, even likely, that if Liz is found and/or her abductor captured, it will be entirely by happenstance, and not as a result of an organized search (at this point)or a tip from someone close to her abductor.

[cookiedough]

I don't know what I would do if my child was abducted. I would search for her and suspect virtually everyone. I would beg people to help me look. I am an attorney, and I would call everyone my husband I know in the FBI and local LE to help. I would put lots of pressure on LE to find my child. I would go to the media, even though ordinarily I would be loathe to put my life on public display. I would somehow find the money to hire a top-notch PI, I would beg Boylan to help, I would follow up on every psychic lead.

If all this time went by and LE hadn't solved the case, I would be worried that someone dropped the ball. That they didn't catch a little clue that would have pointed in the desired direction. I would second guess everyone and trust no one. Because I would be desperate to believe that there is a way to find my child -- even if there really isn't.

I would not leave a stone unturned because this is my child who is missing. I would not think calmly and rationally all the time, because this is my child who has been taken. I would give my life for my child and spare myself nothing to find him or her.

And I would probably come here, to tell you all what was going on and get your minds working on every possibility so I wouldn't neglect any of the stones. I would use every resource I could come up with. Period.

[cookiedough]

I agree with you. If Liz is alive, certainly her appearance would have been altered. Hair cut and dyed, perhaps permed (the poodle look). And her attire certainly would not be the same.

[cookiedough]

Oh! I thought they meant hunting for Liz, not hunting for deer!