There’s a theory out there that there were actually 3 people in Kennedy’s car.
(please see: http://www.mvtimes.com/2016/08/03/donald-nelson-pitches-new-theory-chappaquiddick-tragedy/ )
This book names Rosemary “Cricket” Keough as the front-seat passenger and Mary Jo is asleep in the back seat.
Officer Look, claims that he saw two possibly three people in the car or the third being a coat. The theory contends that Mary Jo left the party and crawled into Kennedy’s car back seat to sleep. She had a 0.09% alcohol in her body.
As for the parking brake not being set, the skid marks and placement of the car, showed that the car was probably traveling at 35 to 38 maybe as much as 40 mph.
Your other questions are relevant. Gargan and Markham I assume took one of the dingy’s back that night or in the AM. I haven’t seen one question regarding this.
Kennedy’s first statement says he swam back to the hotel after trying to rescue Mary Jo.
His second statement to the public days later, says that he returned to the party, and then with Gargan and Markham returned to the car and the three of them dove several times unsuccessfully. Kennedy, distraught, and exhausted swam the 500 ft back to the hotel, leaving the two on Chappaquiddick.
Kennedy claims he changed clothes, then went outside and spoke to the hotel manager at 2:30 am. He made a point of asking for the time. He was in dry clothes.
Next morning, Kennedy is up talking to two other guests. He’s dressed for a day of sailing. He’s carefree and smiling.
Then Gargan and Markham appear. They go into Kennedy’s room for 3 minutes. When they emerge, Kennedy is distraught and upset and visibly not the same. He says nothing to the couple he was just talking too, and the three take off to the ferry.
They take the ferry over to Chappaquiddick. I’m not sure when, but they embark from the ferry with plans to go to the submerged car, but at some point the young guy operating the ferry asks if they heard about the car in the river. They say yes. Apparently it’s decided NOT to go to Dyke bridge, and here’s where it gets strange. Kennedy calls his attorney and one other guy, the latter is ten minutes away by plane. He charters a plane and flies over the submerged car.
Then, and only then... at around 10am they go back across the river to Edgartown and they report the accident.
It’ over 10 hours after the accident.
“”Kennedy claims he changed clothes, then went outside and spoke to the hotel manager at 2:30 am””
All interesting. If I remember right, he complained about a noisy party...
It’s vaguely familiar that Mary Jo did leave the party house to go out and sleep in the car...Don’t think I’ve read about Keough being in the car but it’s been a long time. The only book I’ve kept is “Death at Chappaquiddick”.
Look at Amazon’s reviews of the book - the one from November 2004 is priceless.....could have been written by a FReeper. I would send the link but it has my name on it and I don’t feel like spreading that around...