Elizabeth Smart Case - Ricci Dies in Hospital

FoxNews | 8/30/02

[stlnative]

Richard Ricci Dies in Hospital

AP
Richard Ricci

Friday, August 30, 2002

SALT LAKE CITY — Richard Albert Ricci, the top potential suspect in the kidnapping of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart, died at a hospital Friday.

Ricci, 48, had been hospitalized for three days after suffering from a brain hemorrhage and collapsing in his jail cell, doctors said.

Earlier Friday, doctors had said Ricci had an irreversible injury to the brain stem after the hemorrhage Tuesday night.

The former handyman for the Smart family was not charged in the disappearance and denied involvement. He was in prison for a parole violation.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse this week reaffirmed that Ricci remained at the top of the list of potential suspects in Elizabeth's abduction. However, investigators were no closer to finding the missing 14-year-old than they were June 5, when a gunman took her from the bedroom she was sharing with her younger sister.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[sandude]

Someone explain how anyone can be fearful of a man who is maximum lockdown and separated from the general prison population?

Information. You rat on me, I'll rat on you. Someone could know something but wouldn't tell because Ricci could have implicated them in this crime or some other crime. Richard is not going to implicate anyone now. $3K will buy a lot of drugs, if you know what I mean.

[Sherlock]

Cynthia is saying they're giving the $3k reward because of the "recent" information regarding the man seen across the street from Moul's shop.

The new information was he last saw them walking together towards a blue van that it looked like they were going to get in. He quit watching and didn't see them actually get in but this blue van tip was the new info, now they're looking for someone with a blue van. Someone in SLC might know someone with a blue van that fits the description that was was seen doing something suspicious during this time period.

Also another minor new point was that Ricci was all sweaty. Remember the windows were all rolled down on the van when he came in. This would lead me to believe if he buried Liz' body it may have been closer to town. However he could have still been sweating because he was excited and agitated, like OJ was still hot and sweating profusely in the taxi going to the airport even though that was some time after Nicole was murdered. It also made me flash back to when Thurber first saw him on the morning of the abduction and said he had been digging and was all sweaty.

Cynthia also said that Ricci went back to his friends and told them the Smart home was a "hot target" for burglary.

Police probably got this from Young & Remington, maybe Romero. Probably meant they had a lot of good stuff and didn't use a security alarm.

Why doesn't someone in the media ask how Ricci could engender fear in someone from his prison cell?

They're probably thinking more along the lines of a friend or relative of Rick or Angela that they told things to that will look at things differently now and no longer feel the loyalty to protect their friend now that Rick's gone and go ahead and help themselves to the money. This can be a real problem for Angela if she did assist.

[TXLady]

I went back and read the article again and checked out the links on the bottom of the page. I thought they were using Scientific equipment to locate certain perimeters in the terrain and found the site that way. Not,they are psychics. I should have know by the title of their page, PSI. I'm sure the Smarts have gotten a lot of this type of information. If Dave Smart went there though, they must be following up on anything that even remotely appears to be a valid lead.

[sandude]

Thanks for the pointer to that article from PSI. Wowzer!! It was somewhat entertaining though.

[Neenah]

Perhaps you caught some things that I caught:

Yep..caught all of that. I was writing highlights as fast as I could in long hand (knew I should have taken shorthand ! ), and could only write so much. I don't think I missed much, but what you have stated, hopefully, will be in a transcript. I know we will look for it.

About the man across the street from Moul...actually, there never was much said about that, other than the week Banfield had him on her show. Remember? I was always curious about that. And today, the bombshell (at least to me), that Moul offered Richard a ride. I could be wrong, but I don't remember that either.In fact, I remember them getting into a car, but I don't remember Moul saying he offered him a ride. I wonder if he said that in Grand Jury? I looked up Moul on a search after watching Cynthia, and haven't found anything yet, after going through alot of things about the ride offer or the blue car.Moul was mentioned in alot of articles, but correct me if I am wrong on this being new about the ride offer.

Cynthia also said that Ricci went back to his friends and told them the Smart home was a "hot target" for burglary. Where did Cynthia/the Smarts get this information? Ricci's friends? Cops? Where did this information come from? Why isn't the media asking where this came from?

Good question !!..and about the media..I believe out of courtesy to the Smarts they have small blurbs now..they aren't going to keep up on the conferences, (network,cable), but leave it for local now. I fear they believe it is "cold". It seems like every time they speak now..something new is said. (Smart bashing, donchano)

Cynthia also said that they think "someone" will come forward because they are no longer afraid of Ricci, now that he is dead

Your points are great. I thought the same thing, but as to why the media won't ask questions....I think they know the kind of"same" answer's they get..and sorry to say this, but Ed Smart is not very articulate in his speech pattern, and the only one with an opportunity to talk one on one to him for a long time is Larry, and ...well...enought said on that. i have very little use for the media. I think every poster here could do a better job at questions.It is very frustrating.

[sandude]

And today, the bombshell (at least to me), that Moul offered Richard a ride.

I'm not sure it's that significant. I take one of my cars to a small shop similar to Moul's. My mechanic is an oriental fellow who does really good work at fair prices. Every time I take my car there he asks me if I need a ride. It is just his standard business practice. I've always assumed that Moul had offered a ride and that's why Rick pointed out to Moul that he already had a ride with the man across the street. If I'm missing some point please fill me in.

[Neenah]

I've always assumed that Moul had offered a ride and that's why Rick pointed out to Moul that he already had a ride with the man across the street. If I'm missing some point please fill me in.

Oops!! I didn't state that very well. I think it is great that Moul offered the ride. My thought was, I don't remember Moul stating that on camera, and it was something new today from Cynthia. I think it is important to know, because they are now " looking " for "the man" who Ricci met across the street. So this makes Moul's testemony important, and I don't remember him saying it, or me reading it. I could be wrong tho, I may very well have missed it. I know there was a man across the street, but it changes it slightly when he offers him a ride and it is turned down. sandude, was a discription given of this man? I don't remember Moul stating that. I think he said to Banfield he didn't get a good look at him, right?

I am just surprised at new information coming out and not from PD. I think that is dangerous., in that if the LEO's et all are working this, it seems like the family has taken over, and that makes it difficult for the LE people. ( I would assume ).

The Levy's are now out on thier own tho..as I believe the Ramsey's are. But to me, this is an active case, and I call it interference.(understanding the utter frustration on the Smart family...I think they are throwing their wieght around too much at this juncture.)

[Sherlock]

Neth Moul, owner of Neth's Auto Repair, said that on May 30 Ricci inexplicably took his 1990 Jeep Cherokee off the lot where mechanics had replaced the fuel pump but had expected to do additional work. On June 8, Ricci returned the vehicle -- caked with mud -- for the other repairs. Police have said they want to hear from witnesses who might have seen the Jeep -- which Ricci received from Elizabeth's father, Ed Smart, as payment for odd jobs last year -- between May 31 and June 8. "[Ricci's] clothes were also very dirty; he was in a bad mood and he looked tired," said Moul, who tried to joke with Ricci about the mud. He called Ricci's behavior that day "very strange," because the usually friendly Ricci did not respond. Moul said he watched as Ricci, after pulling into the garage, filled two large bags with items from the vehicle -- including the Jeep's seat covers -- and slung them over a posthole digger he took from the back of his vehicle. Ricci then crossed the street where a man waited for him on a "grassy knoll" in front of a gas station, Moul said.

[Neenah]

Yes, I read about the chair from the backyard this morning..but I read so much stuff, I can't remember where I read it.

You are right tho....it was printed.

[sandude]

I don't remember him saying it, or me reading it.

I hadn't heard it before today either, but it is just something that I had assumed. We can't tell if the Smarts are taking over at this point although it is a possibility. We haven't seen an expression of frustration with LE from the family yet. These little tidbits of information may indicate that but it is also possible that LE has cleared the release of additional information by the family. I'm anxious for LE's next news conference as it will probably clear some things up. But with this case, who knows. It certainly has been interesting.

[TXLady]

Thanks for the pointer to that article from PSI. Wowzer!! It was somewhat entertaining though

Sure! It was pretty entertaining wasn't it. When I first started reading it I thought they might have really found something but then when I went back and did the research on the PSI page I realized it was somewhat hokey. I know there are people who believe in that but I don't think the Smarts would. I'm sure they have had a lot of opportunity to talk to psychics if they were willing to go that direction. If it were my child I'm not sure to what lengths I would go to find her.

Everytime I see a photograph of her I think how could anyone harm someone so beautiful. Actually how could anyone harm a child at all amazes me. Apparently from the stories about her she had an inner beauty as well.

[Neenah]

You are correct !!

2 intrusions were similar, Smart says

By Derek Jensen Deseret News staff writer

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 — information the family believes could be an important piece of evidence in the puzzling case.

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.

While police refused to comment on the chair or how the abductor may have entered the Smart residence, the family believes this latest piece of evidence to become public could be useful because the method that may have been used to enter their home appears to be the same way an intruder tried to break into the home of Ed Smart's sister-in-law. That incident happened July 24, exactly seven weeks after Elizabeth's June 5 disappearance.

Source

[Neenah]

but it is also possible that LE has cleared the release of additional information by the family.

I doubt that very much. I think it has been a hinderence to the PD to have so much visibility in the manner it has been. JMO

[sandude]

I doubt that very much. I think it has been a hinderence to the PD to have so much visibility in the manner it has been.

Could be true. But if I were in the Smarts position I'd do the same. There are still volunteer citizens out there spending time traipsing through the woods looking for Elizabeth. They wouldn't be doing that if there weren't these little tweaks in the media about the case. The longer the Smarts keep it in the press, the longer it will be an active investigation and not a cold case. I'm not saying there are scads of detectives on the case but I'm sure they are still getting leads and following up on them.

[Sherlock]

From Deseret News. Can't find it but elsewhere it also said he was athletic and wore jeans and a tee shirt. Same general description as the milkman gave, the guy in the Federal Heights convenience store video shortly before the kidnapping, Fred Trujillo security guard at Shriner's gave, and the searchers saw. Also Thursday, Ricci's mechanic said Ricci was acting strangely when he dropped off his 1990 white Jeep Cherokee for repairs just three days after Elizabeth's kidnapping. At 5:30 p.m. June 8, Ricci took his car to Net Moul for minor repairs. Moul describes Ricci as an easy-going person who is normally pleasant to talk to. But not on that day. "He didn't even look me straight in the face. He was not in a good mood," he said. "He seemed more frustrated. I figured he must have had a problem. Something was up." The Cherokee was caked in mud as if it had been four-wheeling, Moul said. Newspapers lined the floor of the vehicle as if someone were taking precautions to keep it clean. But when he tried to joke about it with Ricci, he got no reply. Moul saw two seat covers lying behind the Jeep's back seat. Ricci put the seat covers in a plastic bag, grabbed a post-hole digger that was in the Jeep, and walked to the sidewalk in front of the auto shop near 3500 South and 4500 West, Moul said. Ricci waved to a man who was at the gas station across the street. Ricci told Moul the man was waiting to give him a ride home. The man was Caucasian, had dark hair and was about 5-foot-8, Moul said. Ricci went back to his Jeep and grabbed a second bag out of the vehicle and took it with him. The bag was full, but Moul said he couldn't tell what was in it.

[Neenah]

I just wanted to say that one I regard highly is Samantha Runion's Momma.

That lady has dignity all the way. I realize that her case didn't last long, but that woman was so dignified, much like Mrs. Smart.

I think Mrs. Runion is going to do so much good in the time ahead.

I just wanted to say how impressed I was with her in her time of grief, and I believe she was an example. She allowed the police to do their work, granted it was not long...but she stepped aside.

I mean no disrespect to Mr. and Mrs. Smart. I know they are so frustrated, but really, I pray they rest, and let the PD do their job. The media can't stay on it with nothing more to go by. When something comes up again, let the PD do what they do.

I think Mr. and Mrs Smart have done all they could. They worked hard at it. The media is backing off. Sad to say, but with nothing more happening, that is the way it is.

I believe this is bigger than anyone knows. I believe it will be known.

[Sherlock]

I read somewhere (but of course I don't know where, grrr) that the wrought iron chair was from the Smarts' back patio or yard. Seems to me I remember now reading about the chair early on in the case, does any one else remember seeing that?