Un-&%$^#@* believable (CHANDRA SHINBONE FOUND BY LEVY INVESTIGATORS, 25 YARDS FROM SITE)

Talking Points Memo ^ | Jun. 26, 2002 | joshua micah marshall

[aristeides]

(June 6th, 2002 -- 11:18 PM EDT //

Un-&%$^#@* believable. Despite giving them a hard time now and then I've always resisted the idea that the DC cops were really fundamentally incompetent, that the seeming inscrutability of Chandra Levy's disappearance and murder might simply be the result of ridiculously inept police work.

Now I've changed my mind.

As you no doubt know, Levy's remains were found recently in an isolated section of DC's Rock Creek park.

But a couple days ago a fellow Chandra-phile and I were watching Greta Van Susteren's show when she and a couple guests -- a renowned forensic pathologist and a retired DC cop -- did a walkaround through the area where Levy's remains were found. What they found a bit disconcerting was that there was a lot of stuff there that the police hadn't bothered to pick up -- a shoe, an empty condom wrapper, some rope, and some other stuff.

Almost certainly this stuff had nothing to do with Chandra's death. But it certainly could have. And certainly tons of people are going to go to the spot over the coming days and weeks to see the area and if this was evidence it'll be gone or compromised before long. The point is, you pick up everything and go through it to see if it might have any relevance to the case. (I know they're overflowing with hot leads and all but ...)

Anyway, it seemed like they'd done a pretty shoddy search.

Well, today the two Levy family investigators -- former DC cops -- went to scene to see what they could find. And what did they find? A sock? Panties? Some hair that might have been Chandra's?

No. Try her shin.

They found what appears to be her left tibia. (The bone hasn't been DNA tested yet. But on the basis of size and wear the DC Medical Examiner told the Washington Post that his "working hypotheses is that it comes from Chandra.")

The bone was apparently some 25 yards from where Levy's skull recovered. But this isn't like a toe or something. It's like a foot long.

It simply beggars belief.

[aristeides]

Just heard on the radio that a piece of twisted wire was found at the same place.

Ramsey just said, "We blew it."

[aristeides]

Indexing.

[aristeides]

In view of the announcement just made by Chief Ramsey, could you please move this to Breaking News?

[Ladybug1]

Ramsey just said, "We blew it."

That's an understatment.

[scarface367]

Chief Ramsey always did remind me of Chief Wiggum. I guess he is just as incompetent as well.

[Betty Jo]

Dont the parents wish that somehow they could have searched the park themselves with their help a year ago?

What would they have found?

In the winter, when the leaves were mostly gone?

[aristeides]

I think this thread would be a good place to put your D.C. Police graphic.

[Abcdefg]

Wasn't that Chief Wiggams? Doh!

[Fred Mertz]

Some of this was discussed late last night. I'm not sure whether the twisted wire is actually connected to this murder. I felt the same about the Baskin Robbins ice cream cup from last week.

[Abcdefg]

Beat me to it.

[Psalm 73]

Wait 'til Jack Dunphy at NRO gets ahold of this story.
I'm chuckeling right now at the comming DC police roast!

[Inge_CAV]

"Ramsey just said, "We blew it."

Now the question is WHY?

[My Identity]

The DC police report that private parties searching the area found several human bones, blood-stained clothes, an abandoned automobile, six hand-guns, a knife, two assault rifles, a box cutter, a wallet, a used condom, an address book, an envelope of anthrax, Levy's ring and keys, photos, a videotape, a signed confession, and other seemingly important items. However, the police indicated that "these are not clues at this time".

In a formal statement to the media, the police said: "Oops! Guess we missed a few things when we were searching the area the first couple times for, uh... what was her name again?"

Congressman Gary Condit (D-CA) was also seen in the park yesterday. He was jumping up and down and waving his hands frantically while shouting "over here, I did it, I did it." Eventually he was asked to leave the area by police community-service personnel. In a televised interview, a police spokesman said, "Mr. Condit, who is not a suspect at this time, was attracting a lot of media attention. He was asked to exit the area for his own personal safety. Besides, we can't waste our time babysitting media celebrity has-beens when we're looking for donuts uh, a killer."

[SarahW]

The hanger-gauge wire was found still around the bone, according to one report I read.

[Michael Barnes]

that about sums it all up....Although it's a parody, it hits the mark true..

[Right Wing Professor]

Ramsey just said, "We blew it."

Again. And again. And again.

[JessicaDragonet]

Either the DC cops are determined NOT to solve this case....or they are incompetent to the point of being dangerous! This whole thing is starting to smell to high heaven.

[RightWhale]

left tibia

A mental image of a femur in the grass is replaced with the less impressive tibia. Did they find the fibula?

[SarahW]

Another missed clue:

sorry for the repost... :)

[aristeides]

Did they find the fibula?

Not to my knowledge. But I would guess there is about to be a more intensive search.