26th/27th - Wheeler in NYC, Harlem apartment. Dill and mrs. tidied Wheeler house after departure of houseguests. assuming late morning thru early afternoon. Dill reports he turned radios on, tv-s off, windows locked, doors locked, beds made.
note: we can assume Mrs. also tidied up the kitchen and there were no broken dishes, etc.
28th - Wheeler in DC. Early LEO report Wheeler arrives Wilmington 11:48 (am?pm?). Wheeler reportedly sends emails 5:10pm from DC, expected to arrive Wilmington evening of 28th. One email waxed nostalgic. note: premonition?
28th, 11:30pm - one witness not very familiar with Wheeler described perp as similar to Wheeler's build, "thick" wearing ‘grey sweatshirt’(we can assume light grey if able to discern grey at night) observed near Marini construction, according to one witness; dark clothes according to another witness. One witness describes (4) but reports observing actual throwing of (2) varmit-bombs. One earlier witness observed a hat, another observed a hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, gloved hands, baseball-pitcher like toss. Ran quickly away, according to one witness, calmly looked in direction of porch light and then unhurriedly walked into park according to another. No automobile-related noises heard. Park-walker identified by witnesses as a ‘man’, not youth. No limp reported by witnesses. Neighbor, not Dill, knocked on Wheeler door, no response. No radio? No open windows or ajar doors noticed at that time. Dill did not check house that night or the following day. (note: river access, boat?? unhurried demeanor - nearest public parking along riverwalk? cameras?) (note: sweats =’thick’ appearance, especially light-colored sweats)
29th-day - assume no activity at house during daylight. Assume LEO visit Wheeler house re: fire night before - find noone home - subsequent statement issued Wheeler is wanted for questioning. Assume neighbors would now be alert to Wheeler coming home, strangers in neighborhood. Still morning - daughter receives email from Wheeler - isp is not Wheeler's iphone. Assume also not New Castle home computer. Wheeler described 9am by cabdriver as wearing sportcoat and slacks, no briefcase contrasts to video/witness descriptions of Wheeler wearing a black business suit, dirt-smudge on right leg, torn left(?) shoe, between 6pm and 9pm.
question: Assume Wheeler slept part of night of 29th in Lemours Bldg per LEO statement?
question: dirt-smudge on right leg, torn left shoe result of fight/jump out of (robbers’) car/tussle with robbers?
29th, 11:45pm - Dill notices UPSTAIRS window open 6 inches-no mention of radios on or off at that time by Dill. Dill decides to wait until next morning to check house. Wheeler believed to still be in Lemours bldg?
30th, 8am - Wheeler reported alive in Wilmington deli/coffeeshop. 10:45am Dill reports observing radios off, side door ajar/unlocked, Sabre out of scabbard, unreported number of broken plates in sink, unreported kind/number of chairs knocked over, knocked over plant, comet on floorboards - possible BARE FOOT footprint in spilled Comet cleanser in front of sink . Dill mistakenly calls New Castle residence, leaves message on answering machine for Klyce. Dill calls Wheeler's iphone, goes to voicemail. Klyce calls Wheeler, goes to voicemail. (note: someone washed up/shower-bare feet?/ate?/not a local?))
3:30 until 8:42pm - Wheeler still in Wilmington, witnessed in Lemours Bldg from afternoon until evening when, in an apparent third change of clothing of unknown origin, he exits into darkness and the hands of Destiny.
Morning of 31st - Dill calls Mrs. Wheeler's cell. Dill calls 911. Wheeler's body is found.
oddmanouts: Radios were turned off prior to 10:45am on the 30th - sometime between the night of the 27th and the morning of the 30th - uncharacteristic of Wheeler
Wheeler lived in Harlem, NYC = some degree of street-savvy.
sabre not stolen means not an ‘ordinary’ burgler/thief - perp travels light, takes no souvenirs = not an amateur?
Wheeler was beaten, not shot. Beaten = a messy death = powertrip/younger man?
Body was not bagged or disguised. Locals would know there were spotters at the landfill = out-of-towner?
If Wheeler returned home on the 29th or during the day of the 30th, would he not have called the police after discovering the condition of his home?