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.

[Palladin]

Police are following new leads developed by Henry Lee. This case is not completely cold yet.

[Palladin]

Ping-a-ling.

I thought we could use a new thread. Th other was way too long.

[Palladin]

I don't know whether you are all still interested in this. I hope Henry Lee has shed a new light on the case.

[Palladin]

Henry Lee agrees that the screen was cut from the inside.

[Palladin]

This is very interesting: "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. "

[scaredkat]

Thanks for the new thread. I wish we could know what his findings were. It would be too cool to have him on LKL discussing what he now knows and what he thought and compared it to what he knew before when he was on LKL.

[Palladin]

We will never hear much from Lee about what he found out, unless there is a trial someday and he is called to testify. I know I joke a lot about Lee, but he is a man of integrity, and when he promises confidentiality, he means it. I just hope he saw things that Dinse and crew may have overlooked. Or at least has convinced them to re-examine some things they already have in the evidence locker.

[jandji]

if you notice how fast the sniper hunt got wrapped up on the basis of one fingerprint, you know for sure if the police would have found ricci's prints in the smart house, it would have been big news. on a doorknob, or the window, or bannister, etc.

[trussell]

Thank you for the ping.

I hope this means something will be figured out soon and Elizabeth will either be found alive and returned home or her body will be found and bring closure for the parents.

[Sherlock]

I don't believe Ricci was the actual abductor. I believe a proxy did abduct Liz and the kidnapping was pre-planned so as not to leave any fingerprints.

I agree Ricci was not the guy that went in the house and took Liz. But there's no doubt the guy that did was an associate of Ricci. He had at some point heard Ricci's bragging about how easy it would be to break into the Smart home. He most probably got the key from Ricci in the Shriner's parking lot just before he drove up into Federal Heights. The middle of the night breakin, like Ricci's breakin of the Smart neighbors, the other house on the block he had worked on, and the small 9mm caliber pistol, same weapon used by Ricci in his bank robbery in November, place Ricci's planning all over crime.

The chair and cutting the screen were to give an unprofessional, non-Ricci flair to the crime but the unfortunate circumstance of MK being in the bedroom and seeing the handgun and the police determining the screen was cut from the inside place the crime squarely in the lap of Ricci and his associates. Not to mention the stupid sideshow of taking the Jeep in, taking it out, parking it away from his home for a week, taking it back all muddy wearing a machette, and then denying he ever had it and refusing to tell police who picked him up at Moul's. Only the most die hard, logic free Ricci lovers like lakey would still be in denial of Ricci being in the middle of this at this point.

[jandji]

"I believe a proxy did abduct Liz and the kidnapping was pre-planned so as not to leave any fingerprints."

do you mean the 'abductor' was wearing gloves? police stated the 'abductor' fumbled through the house and didn't seem familiar with the layout. meaning he would have put his hands on walls, doors, etc.

[Sherlock]

Do you remember the attempted break in at some relative of the Smarts (was it Lois Smart's sister?) where a chair was used to get through a window. I don't remember if a screen was also cut at this incident?

Yes, the screen was cut. And it was later reported it was at the same time of night of the kidnapping of Liz so my guess is it woke the girl up if they knew what time it was. I've always thought this was a diversionary tactic by other members of the 'Ricci gang' to send a message to police Ricci is not their man and the real kidnapper is still out there operating.

[jandji]

" immediately after Ricci's death, Ed Smart came out with a tidbit of new info that a chair had been found under a window in the backyard of the Smarts the day of the abduction?"
the police stated at the time of liz's 'abduction', the window in question was not likely an entry point. they cited the lack of scuff marks that would've been made by shoes of an intruder. no chair.

[lakey]

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

The poor slob couldn't even rob a bank but he's a brilliant kidnapping strategist.

Yoo hoo....oh, yoo hoo....paging Dr. Henry Lee, paging Dr. Henry Lee....Sherlock has news for you.

[lakey]

new thread