Polygraphs, dogs, but no sign of missing Mississippi family (Day #16)

The Clarion Ledger ^ | February 21, 2004 | By Lora Hines

[Letitring]

Now, see, my Mother never removed hers. My Sister, however, does remove her stone/band whenever doing something in the kitchen. So, you're right, we don't know Rebecca's personal habits, of course.

They say, when looking at something like this, to rule out what isn't probable and what's left is probably what happened.

You are right, could mean some sort of argument and she removed her rings. I certainly hadn't thought of that.

[Letitring]

So, we have it that noone saw or spoke with Rebecca Hargon from 11:30pm on Friday night. Noone saw Michael Hargon after 6:30am Saturday morning. The black caretaker at the family farm is the last known person to see Michael Hargon alive.

[Letitring]

Yes, I think the neighbor said it was 7:30am when she saw the PUT door open and the front door to the house was open and didn't see any family movement. She evidently thought it was odd enough to report it.

[Darlin']

Oh, Ok.... Hummmm. I didn't realize the dogs tracked a scent to the fire station. Guess it could have been made at sometime other than the abduction. Yes, it would have been mighty risky trying to walk 3 people that distance, especially a child who must have been frightened to death and someone who had been wounded. Seems like if killing them had been the original intent, he would have just killed them at the house and left. Thats why I think the husband might have come home, interrupted the guy and the guy panicked.

[Letitring]

The husband struggled for the gun, hence the bullet holes in the wall and floor, broke loose, ran for his truck, got the door open and...

Okay, hum, we need to know whose blood is laying there. I misread one article. The Father-in-law said he was told "It's Rebecca. There is blood, you'd better come." NOT, like I thought, that it was Rebecca's blood. So sorry.

[Letitring]

So, you think the woman was the primary target?

[Darlin']

Wow. It would help to know how far the uncle's farm is from the Hargon's home and the location of the restaurant where Michael bought the sausage biscuit for the farm caretaker's breakfast. That makes the window of opporunity something in the neighborhood of an hour to an hour and half. After 6:00am and before 7:30am.

[Letitring]

Yes, and three people, one being a child, carried out or walked out in broad daylight. That is so risky. Panicked guy seems likely. Isn't that when they are at their most dangerous, when they panic?

[Woodstock]

I was basing the 'walked to the house' on the dogs tracking the Families scent to the fire department, located 'about a mile' from the Hargon home. :) The bad guy/s could well have just driven up. It's broad daylight. Who would have the gall to march a family of 3 over hill and dale for a mile, anyway? One of them being a 4 year old.

Right....and how would one or two people move three people, one of them possibly shot, to a vehicle a mile away without being noticed - especially a fire department?"

[El Gran Salseron]

"Have you ever heard of a 'professional hit' taking an entire family?"

I was considering the situation of the people who went to prison because of the murder that occurred in that dwelling 10 years ago and the "revenge" angle of it. Since they are in prison then it would almost certainly have to be a "pro" hit, wouldn't it? Unless of course, other family members of the people in prison have done the deed in this case.

Otherwise, I have absolutely no information about "hits" on entire families. I was just speculating on the possibility of the "revenge" factor.

[Darlin']

Well, I'm leaning in that direction. The husband's daily routine seems to be pretty much the same everyday. Up early, stop by the restaurant to pick up breakfast for him and the caretaker, then to the uncle's farm. On weekdays he'd probably go directly to his job from the uncle's farm.

It might have been a robbery gone bad. I don't think this was a result of any extramarital affair. It was Valentine's day, they planned to go to the rodeo Saturday night, that was Rebecca's Valentine's gift to Michael.

[Letitring]

So, does it make more sense to you, that 'whoever' drove up to the house?

Would that fit with the husband being surprised?

[Letitring]

Oh, I know and appreciate your input, sincerely. I was just picking your brain for more of your thoughts. I don't think we can rule out anything, at this point. I've also heard things like this can be arranged from prison.

[Letitring]

So, you think the marital relationship was strong?

[freedox]

Actually, the window of opportunity is smaller than that. If Michael Hargon was at the farm at 6:30, as has been reported, then he had to make a 20 mile drive back home. The neighbor reportedly drove by at 7:40, at which time all vehicles were there and the family was gone. So the window of opportunity would seem to be more like 30-40 minutes.

One other thing that I've always thought odd was the neighbor noticing the truck and house doors open and immediately assuming something was wrong. I think my reaction would have been to assume someone was either busy cleaning out the truck or was carrying something into the house. Simply seeing open doors on a single drive-by wouldn't have caused me alarm at all. I've always wondered if perhaps this neighbor saw or heard something more than has been reported.

[Letitring]

We need to know whose blood is on the ground. If Michael's, then a gun fight/struggle with him running toward his truck and own gun, makes sense. That would make the cigarettes and change make sense, too. That speaks of calm and routine, to me. If he was attacked inside his home, then a mad dash out the front door, bullet holes in the hallway wall and floor and an open PUT door, fits. With shell casings inside the PUT, wouldn't that mean the gun was fired INTO the truck? Or not? The blood drops down the hallway into the bedroom would fit in more with Rebecca being hurt. Geeze, wish I had a brain.

[Darlin']

The family's home had been burglarized last summer and that same neighbor was the person who first reported seeing the door open back then.

[Woodstock]

So, does it make more sense to you, that 'whoever' drove up to the house? Would that fit with the husband being surprised?

I am probably incorrect, but since all family vehicles are accounted for, no one called 911, hubby called the in-laws and then nowhere to be found....I have to say my first thought is hubby is involved. There are reasons to say "perhaps not," but that's my first thought.

[Letitring]

You are so right, and great thinking. Thanks, so much, for your input.

So, we are looking at 30-40 minutes. Whatever happened, had happened by 7:40am. So, this family was not around, meaning whoever had either walked them out of there, or had driven them out of there.

I'm with you, wonder what else she saw? Also, I've wondered why no one heard the gunfire. Shots were fired either into that truck or from inside that truck. Gun was fired inside the home.

[Letitring]

O-MG. Isn't that what happened with some of your people in your area? Their homes were broken into in advance of their being killed?