Posted on 09/26/2002 12:34:48 AM PDT by stlnative
NEW THREAD - PING WHOM EVER YOU LIKE - I DON'T PING ANYMORE - SORRY
I expect that folks who have not enjoyed an upscale social and economic life can probably fall in love.
Just out of curiosity, can you define what it is that has given you this impression? Angela is the only "partner" that we have actually heard from, and from her account and that of her parents, Rick was home with his family every night. I just wondered what had given you this feeling.
There you go making assumptions again. It is one thing for MK to recognize a voice. It is quite another to identify it. I don't believe LE has ever said the voice has been identified.
Amen, amen, truer words were never spoken!!!
In the beginning segment they showed some black and white video that reenacted the abduction. I don't know if AMW had any inside information or if this is just artistic license here. So FWIW the perp in the enactment had a full beard, he was carrying a snub nosed revolver, and Elizabeth put on her shoes while sitting on the side of her bed, and the camera indicated that they walked through a field of tall grass towards a barrier that you might see at the end of a dead end street.
The interview with Ed and Lois appeared to be in their home and was done sometime before Richards’s death. It was broken up in the piece but I'm going to include it all in one place here.
Ed -- I keep going over and over and over in my mind, who would have done this, why would somebody have done this.
Lois -- It was quite a shock.
Ed -- I mean we have prayed and prayed and each one of our children, have prayed that, you know that Richard's heart would be softened, that he would, you know either explain himself out of the picture or please come forward.
break in interview
Ed -- Help us find Elizabeth, our family misses her tremendously.
Lois -- There's not a day that goes by that we don't think of Elizabeth. It's hard, because in the morning when I fix the lunches for school I'm not fixing as many as I used to. When I go to harp lessons she's not there but I hear other girls playing the same songs she did, it's hard.
There was also an interview with Chief Dinse. Part of the interview is about the events at Moul's in which they showed video of the garage and its parking lot. The lot is not secured. It looks to have a capacity of no more than 15 vehicles. There were 10 or so there at the time of the filming. None of them were white Jeeps. Perhaps Moul has a white Jeep special around the end of May each year. Now the Chiefs interview which was conducted after Richards’s death.
Chief Dinse -- Clearly Mr. Ricci has been very much a focal point of this investigation, continues to be even though he is no longer with us. Mr. Ricci did drop off a vehicle there (Mouls) that belonged to him for repair. He was observed by the owner of that shop to meet up with another individual and walk away from the location. We'd like to know who that individual was.
Americas Most Wanted described Richard's friend as a white male with dark hair and of medium build.
Interesting! That matches my theory as to where the perp would have hidden his vehicle as described in my post a few weeks ago after visiting the neighborhood.
Smart Family Living in Limbo of Dreams, Hope, What Ifs, Acceptance
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Ed Smart says he has a dream in which Elizabeth comes to him, her arms outstretched, and he hugs her. (Trent Nelson/Tribune file photo)
BY ASHLEY BROUGHTON and KEVIN CANTERA
© 2002, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
Nearly bereft of hope, Ed Smart finds comfort in a dream.
It went like this: As Smart sleeps, his daughter Elizabeth enters her parents' bedroom, her arms extended out to him. She is whole and healthy, smiling and brimming with life.
In the dream, it is easy for the girl's father to believe the past four months have been nothing but a terrifying nightmare.
Smart's voice cracked with emotion as he recounted the "vivid" nighttime illusion during an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune last week.
"I just hugged her," he said. "I held her . . . I wasn't going to let her go."
Smart -- who hasn't hugged 14-year-old Elizabeth since he bid her good night June 4 -- said the dream helps fuel the belief his kidnapped daughter remains alive.
He refuses to accept the police's strongest theory -- that Elizabeth was snatched by an armed intruder after being awakened during a burglary -- in part because he does not want to believe she is dead.
But his wife, Lois, who declined to be interviewed, feels differently, Smart said. Lois has to take the scenario that she is dead because she cannot bear thinking what Elizabeth could be suffering at the hands of a captor, he said.
Ed Smart believes the intruder intended to abduct Elizabeth, who he said is a heavy sleeper and likely would not have awakened unless touched. Besides, he said, there were no valuables in her bedroom.
"It had to have been a [planned] kidnapping," Smart insisted. "It was either a ransom [plot] that blew up with all the [ensuing] attention, or somebody handed Elizabeth off." A kidnapper might still be waiting for the media frenzy to subside before issuing a ransom demand, he said.
Speaking of a potential ransom, Smart said: "We would do whatever it takes to get her back."
Meanwhile, Smart worries that the now-10-year-old Mary Katherine, the lone witness to her sister's abduction, has not dealt with emotions stemming from that night. The younger girl acts "almost like it never happened," he said softly.
The fateful night Elizabeth disappeared was much like any other, Smart said. At bedtime, the family said their usual prayers on a landing at the top of the stairs before bidding each other good night.
That landing squeaks, Smart said, because of his childrens' habit of leaping over the top two steps, and anyone entering Elizabeth's room would have had to navigate it. "I can't believe that I didn't hear [the squeak]. It just -- it drives me nuts."
Mary Katherine came into her parents' room at 3:58 a.m., Smart said -- he looked at the clock when she woke him and said, "A man's taken Elizabeth," he remembered.
Smart's first thought was that Mary Katherine had had a nightmare. But he rose and went to look for Elizabeth. Sometimes she would sleep with 3-year-old William, sometimes she would stay up late and study.
But Elizabeth wasn't anywhere -- upstairs or down. As Smart continued searching, he fought a rising panic. The study. The guest bedroom. "I was frantic," he said. "I was running from room to room . . . Lois was getting pretty worked up."
Then, Smart recalled: "Mary Katherine came [downstairs] and said, 'You're not going to find her. A man took her.' "
Lois Smart spotted the cut screen in a kitchen window and screamed at her husband to call 911. Police logs show he did, at 4:01 a.m.
With officers on the way, Smart ran across the street to a home where there had been an attempted abduction years before. Moving through "a blur," Smart warned his neighbors to check their children, he said.
Then, he went home and started calling friends, neighbors and relatives, saying his only thought was finding as many people as possible to start looking for his daughter. "We almost called the entire ward."
The first call was to Suann Adams, a family friend living nearby. She and her husband arrived within minutes and found a lone police car, she said. One officer sat inside and gave them permission to enter the home. Another patrolman stood in the kitchen.
Adams dismissed reports that arriving officers found more than a dozen people in the home, trampling through the crime scene and hindering the investigation. "It's not like Ed went out and called a bunch of high school kids," she said. "These are responsible adults, who aren't going to put their handprints all over everything."
Many only came by briefly, then went to check all-night convenience stores and restaurants in the hope Elizabeth hadn't gotten far, Adams said.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse stands by the initial police report that arriving officers found a number of the Smarts' neighbors searching inside and outside the house. But he acknowledged that police "didn't do a good job of securing the scene.
"But remember," Dinse continued, "at the very beginning, these officers were trying to determine what sort of case they had."
As far as the identity of the kidnapper, the Smart family suspects career criminal Richard Ricci, a handyman who worked for them a year ago, played a role.
"Lois feels that there is no doubt in her mind it was Richard," Smart said, adding that he believes Ricci was likely involved, but did not act alone.
Ricci died Aug. 30 after suffering a brain hemorrhage in his cell at the Utah State Prison, where he was being held on parole violations. Police still say he tops the list of "potential" suspects in the abduction.
A month before his death, he was charged with a June 6, 2001 theft at the Smart home and a nighttime burglary at a nearby home two months earlier. Investigators believe Ricci's history makes it likely he broke into the Smart home to steal valuables and accidentally awakened Elizabeth.
"He was such a convincing con," Smart said. "The fact was that he lied, and very convincingly, too."
Smart alleges that over the course of several months in 2001, Ricci stole a number of items from the home, including a bracelet Lois Smart had received as a Christmas gift. When the bracelet, valued at more than $1,000, turned up missing, police interviewed Ricci along with two other subcontractors working in the Smart home. Smart now questions why police didn't tell him then that Ricci was a parolee with a long criminal history.
Officers should have passed along whatever they may have discovered about Ricci's criminal past, Dinse said. But "keep in mind, it wasn't a kidnapping" they were investigating, he said. "It was just a potential theft."
At the time, investigators found no proof Ricci was behind the thefts, Smart said. But while investigating Elizabeth's disappearance a year later, he said, police determined Ricci had pawned the bracelet along with other items.
When the Smarts decided in spring 2001 to sell Ricci their 1990 Jeep Cherokee, Ed Smart drew up a contract specifying that 30 of Ricci's 40 weekly hours worked would go toward paying for the vehicle. After the two men signed the agreement, he let Ricci drive the Jeep away.
But Ricci failed to show up to work afterward, and Smart became concerned he was being taken for a ride.
After two days, he went to the Capitol Hill apartment complex where Ricci lived at the time, and discovered the Jeep sitting in the parking lot with the engine idling.
Smart got inside the Jeep, and Ricci appeared, asking him what he was doing. An angry Smart told him he was taking the Jeep back, that he believed he had been taken advantage of after going "the extra mile" for him.
Ricci began showing up for work again but was chronically late. After Smart was convinced Ricci would live up to their agreement, he again let him have the Jeep.
Ricci stopped working for the Smarts in late June 2001. His widow, Angela Ricci, continues to maintain his innocence, as Ricci himself did before his death.
"He was always so sad to think he was a suspect. He'd say, 'Oh my God, everybody thinks I'm a monster,' " Angela Ricci told The Tribune. "I loved him, and I know he was innocent."
Meanwhile, as leads in the case continue to dwindle, the Smarts hope the fall season's hunters will keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Although Smart wants to believe his daughter is alive, he knows the possibility of her death exists.
The family continues to exist in a kind of limbo. They have seen several child abduction cases across the country solved this summer -- some happily, some tragically -- without a resolution of their own.
"I don't feel like I've had a scrap" of luck, Smart said. "I just want this to be over."
aebroughton@sltrib.com
kcantera@sltrib.com
http://www.sltrib.com/09292002/utah/2419.htm
Thank you, Bella. At least there is some new information in the story. What is your take?
Probably the same as yours...the everchanging comments...the reporters of these articles must be having a ball since they've written prior articles and notice the inconsistencies...lol...Is this the same as what you've noticed?
Smart's voice cracked with emotion as he recounted the "vivid" nighttime illusion during an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune last week.
I completely sympathise with both these parents, but this opening of the article, the dream, is a bit dramatic.
But his wife, Lois, who declined to be interviewed
Why? My heart goes out to this lady. She has been absent for a long time. When she was on t.v. , whether sitting on a set with Mr. Smart, or standing at a Press Conference, she looked very uncomfortable. When she did talk, it was almost like she was afraid to speak. Could be she is shy, we don't know. Odd tho, no matter the characteristics of the parents, the Levy's were together, the Ramsey's were together in talking to press. I think Mrs. Smart has alot to think about. I feel very sorry for her.
Elizabeth, who he said is a heavy sleeper and likely would not have awakened unless touched.This statement reminded me of the statement made some time back, that the intruder tapped her..or...did he tap MK ? Also...if you have had a child that was a "heavy sleeper"...believe me, it is more than a "touch" tht awakens them.
"It had to have been a [planned] kidnapping," Yep.
The younger girl acts "almost like it never happened," he said softly.Hmmm, maybe it is because you and your wife never talked about it. (your words in print). No matter what the truth is on this one, this little girl's life will ever be plagued by this event.
That landing squeaks, Smart said, because of his childrens' habit of leaping over the top two steps, and anyone entering Elizabeth's room would have had to navigate it. "I can't believe that I didn't hear [the squeak]. It just -- it drives me nuts."
Hmmmm, new evidence. The landing squeaks, and it squeaks so loud that Mr. Smart was bugged by it, and couldn't believe he didn't hear it. Why on earth would you say this in an interview? A million + $ home, with a squeaky landing? When I was a kid, we lived in a historic home built in the 1800's. That had squeaks..but not loud enough to wake you or bug you. Besides, it could have been repaired. Why was this brought out? (Yeah, I know...no big deal )
Mary Katherine came into her parents' room at 3:58 a.m., Smart said -- he looked at the clock when she woke him and said, "A man's taken Elizabeth," he remembered
3:58. o.k. and he called the 911 at what time?...and in quotes.."A man's taken Elizabeth" ?..not.."DADDY, MAMA!! ELIZABETH IS GONE, A MAN TOOK HER!! HE HAD A GUN!!! " (crying hysterically)..(and I don't want to hear someone say all children are different. There is no way anyone can convince me that a nine yr. old protected girl, living this kind of life, would say those words.)
Smart's first thought was that Mary Katherine had had a nightmare.
You mean the conversation stopped? MK said those adult words, and he didn't say.." WHAT DO YOU MEAN? A MAN WITH A GUN???? WHEN? WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE? WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? DID HE HURT YOU? DID YOU SEE HER LEAVE? DID HE HURT HER? DID YOU KNOW WHO HE WAS?"...nope...he just "thought" she had a nighmare??????
Then, Smart recalled: "Mary Katherine came [downstairs] and said, 'You're not going to find her. A man took her.' "
ohhhhhh, ok.....too bad you didn't ask her right away. odd.
Lois Smart spotted the cut screen in a kitchen window and screamed at her husband to call 911. Police logs show he did, at 4:01 a.m.
Didn't the son say HE was with Lois when she saw the screen? MK told him at 3:58, he called 911 at 4:01...do we have any phone logs? Remember the Runion case where the 911 was played? and other cases where it was played? Why not this one. (not doubting it..just odd..)
Smart warned his neighbors to check their children, he said.
This is very odd to me. Know that bugs most..but it is odd to me. The neighbors would be the last one's I would ask about THEIR KIDS....heck, I have never heard once, where Mr. Smart or Mrs. Smart frantically ran to the BOYS BEDROOMS to see if they were ok....he runs outside to the neighbors saying " check your kids " ??
The first call was to Suann Adams, a family friend living nearby. She and her husband arrived within minutes and found a lone police car, she said. One officer sat inside and gave them permission to enter the home. Another patrolman stood in the kitchen.
The word "LONE POLICE CAR" what? why say that? "LONE". What does that imply? That they only brought one lone car!!! Why did they do that? "ONE" officer inside.? Hmmmmmm "ANOTHER ..P A T R O L M A N ...." (not a big time officer, but patrolman? Why say this?
Adams dismissed reports that arriving officers found more than a dozen people in the home, trampling through the crime scene and hindering the investigation. "It's not like Ed went out and called a bunch of high school kids," she said. "These are responsible adults, who aren't going to put their handprints all over everything."
O.K. who's story is right on this?
Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse stands by the initial police report that arriving officers found a number of the Smarts' neighbors searching inside and outside the house.
Another view.
But he acknowledged that police "didn't do a good job of securing the scene.
How noble.
Officers should have passed along whatever they may have discovered about Ricci's criminal past, Dinse said. But "keep in mind, it wasn't a kidnapping" they were investigating, he said. "It was just a potential theft."
WAIT!! "it wasn't a KIDNAPPING they were investigating...it was JUST a POTENTIAL theft."..What???? Then WHY did Mr. Smart go running frantically through the neighborhood pounding on door and telling neighbors to CHECK THE CHILDREN ???????????? The police were JUST INVESTIGATING A POTENTIAL THEFT???? no wonder there was JUST a lone police are and a patrolman at the house !! Go read that again.
After two days, he went to the Capitol Hill apartment complex where Ricci lived at the time, and discovered the Jeep sitting in the parking lot with the engine idling.
After TWO days? ..and the car was idling?
An angry Smart told him he was taking the Jeep back, that he believed he had been taken advantage of after going "the extra mile" for him.
An ANGRY (after 2 days) Smart, said he was taking the jeep back? I thought at this stage of their association he LIKED RICHARD ? Now we find out after two whole days, he was ANGRY ? and going to take the Jeep back ?
Ricci began showing up for work again but was chronically late. After Smart was convinced Ricci would live up to their agreement, he again let him have the Jeep.
Ohhhh ok...he's not mad anymore.
"I don't feel like I've had a scrap" of luck, Smart said. "I just want this to be over."
Yes, Ed, so does everyone. So does everyone.
Well duh! Like, because it's true!!! There was only one patrol car there initially. Dinse stated elsewhere in the article that LE was initially trying to figure out what they had. You don't bring in a cast of thousands to every call.
WAIT!! "it wasn't a KIDNAPPING they were investigating...it was JUST a POTENTIAL theft."..What???? Then WHY did Mr. Smart go running frantically through the neighborhood pounding on door and telling neighbors to CHECK THE CHILDREN ???????????? The police were JUST INVESTIGATING A POTENTIAL THEFT???? no wonder there was JUST a lone police are and a patrolman at the house !! Go read that again.
Some times you are incredibly thick!!! He was talking about the burglary when the necklace was stolen, not the abduction.
I wish I had the time right now to parse the rest of your words as you are compelled to parse Ed Smarts. Maybe I'll get to it later today.
You raise a lot of good, solid questions, Neenah.
I'm also curious -- does Ed Smart, a millionaire and a mild mannered man, strike you as the type to personally visit Ricci's apartment about the jeep?! Maybe Ed has a lot more hidden temper than we've been led to believe. I'm sure, even if he didn't know about Ricci's past record, he would have known this was a street-wise man. It's hard to imagine Ed going after that vehicle by himself.
And, why did he let him come back to work if he suspected Ricci was "taking" him? Back to work with his young daughters in the home.
I suggest that Ed and Ricard Ricci had more background together than has been yet revealed. His new account of trying to snatch the jeep back sounds like CYA, or, let a little info out because much more info is coming soon.
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