Smart Case, July 23, 2002

07/23/02 | Jolly Green

[Jolly Green]

Wild-Eyed Speculation, Half-baked Theories and Myths
Theory(?)	Facts
Richard Ricci has been identified as the prime suspect in the case, though several of his "theme park" pals are under suspicion.	- Ricci is a 5-time loser, having been convicted of burglarizing a food bank and shooting a police officer. He has recently been indicted on three additional state charges including theft at the Smart residence and burglary of a Smart neighbor. Additionally, he has been recently indicted on three federal charges related to two bank robberies. - Ricci worked for the Smarts last year for several months and was paid with a white Jeep in lieu of cash. He had full access to the house and may very well have had a key to the Smart residence. Ricci and two others were fired when some items were stolen from the home. Ricci later approached Ed Smart and said he wasn't involved and wanted his job back. Ed Smart declined to rehire him. - Ricci lives in a trailer park in West Jordan that is now referred to as a "theme park" because of the large number of Ricci convicted felon friends living there. - Ricci has no credible alibi for the period during and shortly after the abduction. He is believed to have put an additional 1000 miles on the Jeep during a period when he claimed the Jeep was in Moul's shop. Moul also reported that Ricci removed several trash bags, the seat covers and a post hole digger and carried them across the street. - Ricci had both opportunity and motive.
Ed Smart and Richard Ricci were gay lovers. This is based upon Ed Smart's pleading before the media for Ricci to come clean, where he used phrases like "Help me, Richard".	This theory was eloquently refuted by Jengaio and it hasn't reared its ugly head recently.
Elizabeth Smart had a nose ring, must have been rebellious and ran away. Later, proponents shifted emphasis to "piercings" so as not to offend those who believe this to be utter nonsense.	Numerous photographs of Elizabeth Smart show no indication of a nose ring and the existence of a nose ring has never been reported by any credible news source.
Moul, the mechanic, lied to the grand jury and in TV interviews. Some of the scenarios: He knows more than he is telling; his eyesight is bad; he made it up; he is in cahoots with Ricci; he used Ricci's Jeep without Ricci's permission.	Moul has no criminal record and no motive. What's more his vehicle logs corroborate his testimony.
Elizabeth Smart's aunt, in a televised interview said the police "are working with us". Implications: This surely must mean that the Smarts and their influential friends and church must be controlling/thwarting the 100-man SLCPD/FBI task force	While this is "grasping" of the highest order, we will ask Jengaio to analyze the phrazing.

[stlnative]

Is she a runaway or kidnapped victim? (Do you know? Do you have her name?) Thanks!

[stlnative]

Searchers scour Lake Oswego for missing girl

Monday, July 22, 2002
From the Associated Press

» Lake Oswego Police press release

LAKE OSWEGO -- Helicopters, searchers and dogs scoured Tryon Creek State Park Monday after a teenager didn't return home from a jog there the night before.

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Katherine Roberts' parents called police late Sunday night, prompting dozens of searchers to descend on the park.

Roberts' car was found at the park's south entrance with her two dogs inside.

She is a white female, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing between 120 and 150 pounds.

Her hair has recently been dyed black and her eyes are brown.

The park, which covers over 600 acres, is near the Lake Oswego-Portland city limits between Terwilliger Boulevard and Boones Ferry Road.

The park and Terwilliger Boulevard were closed Monday morning.

Lake Oswego is across the river from Oregon City, where two girls, Miranda Gaddis and Ashley Pond, have been missing for months.

[cherry]

I went to katu.com ....heard that her two dogs were in her locked car at the park...that is all I know....

[stlnative]

Searchers scour Lake Oswego for missing girl

The Associated Press
7/23/02 12:22 AM


LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. (AP) -- The FBI has joined the search for Sarah Katherine Roberts, the Lake Oswego teenager who went for a run Sunday night in Tryon Creek State Park and never came back.

About 100 searchers from various law enforcement agencies, aided by helicopters and dogs, were combing the urban park Monday, looking for any trace of the 16-year-old. The terrain at the park is steep and rugged, and the hot weather forced searchers to look in shifts, so they would not be overcome by fatigue.

By midafternoon, they had completed a search of the signed paths through the park, and could conclude that Roberts had probably not fallen and found herself unable to get to safety.

Searchers will now begin a "shoulder-to-shoulder, footstep-to-footstep" search of the park, which Lake Oswego police department spokesman Terry Timeus said could take up to a week to complete.

Roberts' parents called police Sunday night, after Debbie Roberts went to the park and found her daughter's car parked at the entrance, with the two family dogs uncharacteristically locked inside.

The dogs appeared to be very frightened, said Larry Brown of Lake Oswego, Roberts' uncle.

Timeus said that police were not ready to call the disappearance a kidnapping, but were treating it as a suspicious missing person.

The Roberts family has said there are no family problems that might have caused Sarah Roberts to run away, Timeus said.

Police are puzzling over why the two family dogs -- a black Labrador and a black chow mix -- were locked in the car, especially since Sunday evening was relatively warm and pets should not be left in the car in such weather. Timeus said Sarah Roberts was known to run with her dogs sometimes, although at other times she chose to jog by herself.

"Anybody who is running away is not going to hurt the family pets (in the process)," Timeus said.

Timeus said there does not appear to be any tie with the case of two Oregon City girls who disappeared Jan. 9 and March 8.

"Right now, we're calling it a missing person under suspicious circumstances," he said.

FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele also did not connect Sarah's disappearance to the Oregon City girls, Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis.

"We're there because there is a missing child," Steele. "We're assisting in any way we can."

Sarah Roberts will be a junior at Lake Oswego High School this year and is on the softball team. She lives with her parents and has one older brother.

She is about 5-foot-6 and 146 pounds, with dyed black hair and brown eyes. When she disappeared, she was wearing a white T-shirt, gray sweat shirt, royal blue shorts and blue-gray and white running shoes.

Timeus said there were reports that a witness had talked with Sarah while she was in the park, but that he could not confirm those reports.

[Bella]

I heard it was reported on SLC local news 13, that MK has met with a sketch artist last week and the results have not been released as yet, nor the interview.

[stlnative]

Thanks I found it! (Just posted 2 articles)

[DCdawg]

Thanks...Hopeful (and prayerful) that Sarah is found alive and well---

[Sherlock]

Acting on an anonymous tip the Emery County Progress contacted Emery County Sheriff Lamar Guymon who did confirm that Salt Lake City detectives and F.B.I. agents from the Salt Lake office were in Emery and Carbon counties over the weekend. “They were working with Emery County detectives and interviewed a large number of people who are believed to be associated with Richard Ricci.”

Winterton Farms is north of Orem, Emery County is well south of Orem. Does anyone know why a large number of people in Emery County are believed to be associated with Richard Ricci? Is there a prison there? Another theme park?

[stlnative]

July 22, 2002


Missing Lake Oswego girl found LAKE OSWEGO - Lake Oswego police say a 16-year-old girl missing since Sunday evening has been found unharmed in Washington State. Police said she was found in the Seattle area but had no further details. They said she was found at about 9:40 p.m. Monday evening. Her parents reported Sarah Roberts missing after she drove to Tryon Creek State Park to go jogging with her dogs. The dogs were found locked in the car she was driving. Police combed the park area today looking for her. The FBI had also joined the search for Roberts. About 100 searchers from various law enforcement agencies, aided by helicopters and dogs, were combing the urban park Monday, looking for any trace of the 16-year-old. The terrain at the park is steep and rugged, and the hot weather in the Portland area forced searchers to look in shifts, so they would not be overcome by fatigue. By midafternoon, they had completed a search of the signed paths through the park, and could conclude that Roberts had probably not fallen and found herself unable to get to safety. The Roberts family had said there are no family problems that might have caused Roberts to run away. Police were puzzling over why the two family dogs - a black Labrador and a black chow mix - were locked in the car, especially since Sunday evening was relatively warm and pets should not be left in the car in such weather. Roberts' hair has recently been dyed black and her eyes are brown. Sarah Roberts will be a junior at Lake Oswego High School this year and is on the softball team. She lives with her parents and has one older brother.

[DCdawg]

EXCELLENT NEWS! You're an impressive researcher, Brig! Thanks...

[stlnative]

Well I am glad she is safe and sound. I wonder if she is a runaway or was just out having fun?

I wish Liz would pop up somewhere soon and alive!

When I was a teenager I would disappear for days and was out having fun. My poor mother... I put her through hell!

[stlnative]

BREAKING NEWS

A 7 year old female was kidnapped by 2 men Monday night and are asking a for $250,000 ransom for her safe return. This happened in PA.

[stlnative]

Thread I started about the Kidnapped 7 year old Female from PA.

[Pistacio]

That certainly explains why the FBI is searching in Emery county

Counties in Utah

[dalebert]

First I had heard of Oregon girl kidnapping.

[Vinomori]

The father of missing 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart appealed Monday for people who spent time with his former handyman Richard Ricci to tell authorities what they know about his whereabouts during the past two years.

Did I miss something? I thought RR was no longer directly connected to the kidnapping.

[Jolly Green]

I thought RR was no longer directly connected to the kidnapping

Why would you conclude that? He is still the prime suspect. His alibi for the night of the kidnapping doesn't hold up and he has refused to disclose his whereabouts with the Jeep.