Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Smart Case, July 24, 2002
07/24/02 | Jolly Green

Posted on 07/23/2002 9:34:42 PM PDT by 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". 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. If Moul had "borrowed" the Jeep, he certainly would have washed it to remove the bugs, mud and pine needles.
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 We will ask Jengaio to analyze the phrazing.

Motive Possible Suspect Details
Kidnapping All - The SLCPD has said there has not been any credible ransom demands. This may be due to the massive search and media blitz within 5 hours of the abduction i.e. the perps may have realized that their chances of getting caught were very high and they decided to get rid of the evidence.
Ricci & cronies - Ricci and his colleagues have recently been indicted for several Utah bank robberies, each producing only a modest amount of cash i.e. $1800 split 3 ways. It is likely that they were looking for a bigger "score".
Unknown N/A
Burglary Ricci - Ricci has five previous convictions for theft, burglary, and assault (shooting a police officer). He has recently been indicted on three additional state charges including burglary of a Smart neigbor while they were sleeping (a M.O. similar to the Smart kidnapping) and theft of the Smart home. He has also been indicted on three federal charges including two bank robberies.
- The Smarts, like most people, wouldn't keep large amounts of cash around. It seems likely that a simple burglary would not produce much in the way of cash or jewelery.
- The SLCPD has said some things were taken but haven't identified those items.
Unknown N/A
Burglary Gone Wrong Ricci - The Smart perpetrator may have been surprised by Elizabeth Smart and decided to remove the only witness.
Unknown Same as above
Sexual Predator Ricci - Fox News reported Ricci had attempted an "inappropriate relationship" with one of his old girlfriends 16 yr old daughters.
Unknown N/A
Revenge Ricci - Ed Smart wouldn't rehire Ricci even though Ricci claimed he had no involvement in the theft of the Smart house.
Unknown N/A
Runaway Elizabeth Smart Unknown possible motive
Unknown N/A


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: elizabethsmart
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-179 next last
To: Jolly Green
Looks like we still have some posters who don't believe in a free and open discussion on FR... :^(
141 posted on 07/24/2002 7:52:26 PM PDT by TheDon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: spore-gasm
I didn't know Sarah was on TV -- was she actually speaking to the media? Or was it a pre-released clip approved by the police? The police in that case also took a fairly unusual step in releasing the tape of the 911 call. I saw a brief discussion of this by some "experts" on Fox, and they mostly seemed to think it was a bad idea (personally, I don't see how it could harm the case, and it sure helps help drive home to the public just how awful this sort of crime is).
142 posted on 07/24/2002 7:53:11 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: Sherlock
Thanks, Sherlock. Maybe you are right on that. I agree.
143 posted on 07/24/2002 7:57:38 PM PDT by Neenah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 140 | View Replies]

To: Jolly Green
That presupposes that the SLCPD/FBI didn't already know who the perp is.

Yes. Quite so.
144 posted on 07/24/2002 8:04:25 PM PDT by Vinomori
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]

To: GovernmentShrinker
"I didn't know Sarah was on TV -- was she actually speaking to the media? Or was it a pre-released clip approved by the police?"

I saw Sarah on TV, it appeared she was speaking with a group of media people surrounding her.

To find out if the clip I saw was approved by the police I guess you could contact the station. ;-)

Sarah was so animated and articulate I could easily see in her the ability to tell LE many important things. She was indeed precocious.
145 posted on 07/24/2002 8:20:36 PM PDT by hergus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies]

To: Sherlock
Because, like I've been saying for a long time, they know who the kidnapper is but they don't want you to know?

why don't they want us to know?

146 posted on 07/24/2002 8:21:14 PM PDT by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: Neenah
Brigette...Feel free to post this on your board

Good Job Neenah on the Boylan interview! - Thank you for letting me post it on the other forum. One day this case is going to bust wide open. I just wish it was sooner than later. Thanks again!

Brigette
147 posted on 07/24/2002 8:27:51 PM PDT by stlnative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: cherry
why don't they want us to know?

You will probably think this is petty, but most of us would really appreciate it if you put the person's quote that you are using in quotes, italics-tags, bold-tags or something. It is not always clear where your text starts and the person you are quoting ends.

148 posted on 07/24/2002 8:30:19 PM PDT by Jolly Green
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: cherry
why don't they want us to know?

See post 127.

149 posted on 07/24/2002 8:32:13 PM PDT by varina davis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: Jolly Green
you're right...its petty
150 posted on 07/24/2002 8:32:42 PM PDT by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 148 | View Replies]

To: brigette
You're welcome, Brigette
151 posted on 07/24/2002 8:33:27 PM PDT by Neenah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies]

To: cherry
>...why don't they want us to know?

I think Boylan's implication is the police don't want her to announce she made a sketch because they don't want to have to answer questions on why they're not releasing it to the public. The Smarts brought her in, I don't think the police needed it because I think they know who the kidnapper is. I think they are not releasing it either 1) because they are still trying to find Elizabeth and feel bringing this person in would jeopardize her or 2) because there is a coverup, i.e. Remington is the kidnapper and they let him out of jail accidentally and don't want to have to admit that to the public. We have never seen a picture of Remington and he was one of Ricci's small circle of partners in crime.

I admire the way Ed Smart has taken control of the case, smoking out Newhouse and her testimony last week with his phony email story and now having the sketch made. I think the police know who the kidnapper is and they have NOT told Ed Smart. He's going to have to win his own ball game on this. I thought he would hire a PI this week but I have a feeling he may do it on his own now.
152 posted on 07/24/2002 8:34:34 PM PDT by Sherlock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: cherry
>...why don't they want us to know?

I think Boylan's implication is the police don't want her to announce she made a sketch because they don't want to have to answer questions on why they're not releasing it to the public. The Smarts brought her in, I don't think the police needed it because I think they know who the kidnapper is. I think they are not releasing it either 1) because they are still trying to find Elizabeth and feel bringing this person in would jeopardize her or 2) because there is a coverup, i.e. Remington is the kidnapper and they let him out of jail accidentally and don't want to have to admit that to the public. We have never seen a picture of Remington and he was one of Ricci's small circle of partners in crime.

I admire the way Ed Smart has taken control of the case, smoking out Newhouse and her testimony last week with his phony email story and now having the sketch made. I think the police know who the kidnapper is and they have NOT told Ed Smart. He's going to have to win his own ball game on this. I thought he would hire a PI this week but I have a feeling he may do it on his own now.
153 posted on 07/24/2002 8:35:14 PM PDT by Sherlock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: All
Sorry for the accidental double post.
154 posted on 07/24/2002 8:38:22 PM PDT by Sherlock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: cherry
Maybe, but others have complained about it too...
155 posted on 07/24/2002 8:50:41 PM PDT by Jolly Green
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies]

To: Jolly Green
who?


156 posted on 07/24/2002 8:53:27 PM PDT by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]

To: Jolly Green
The fact that it took the parents all this time to bring her in to do the sketch wasn't even mentioned in the Today Show interview.

You might want to re-read the Boylan interview that Neenah posted. Boylan made it quite clear there was a valid reason why a sketch wasn't done earlier

OK. I reprinted the question and answer here.

Katie asked about how Boylan worked compared to others. Nothing about why she wasn't allowed to do the sketch early on.

KATIE: "I know you bristle when people describe you as a sketch artist...because you do much more than that. You consider yourself as an investigative interviewer, in fact, you have a background in psychology and counciling.Can you describe how you work in a case like this that might differ from the person who is described as a sketch artist?"

BROYLAN:" ahmmmm, I can. There were many questions raised about why there wasn't a sketch forth coming from very early on. In this case, and for very legitimate reasons.

I'm still not sure how to read what Broylan answered to a question that wasn't raised. On the first read, I thought she meant that the questions were being asked for good reasons. Obviously, an early sketch helps to identify a suspect.

Katie did not follow up on Boylan's remark.

The reason given previously for not doing the sketch was because of Klaus' connection to Fox News. I don't know if this is what she is talking about or not.

157 posted on 07/24/2002 8:55:38 PM PDT by FR_addict
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 110 | View Replies]

To: All
Elizabeth Smart Case - July 25, 2002
158 posted on 07/24/2002 8:59:05 PM PDT by Jolly Green
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: Jolly Green
Jolly, with all due respect, there is absolutely NO WAY someone with Ricci's background could be considered a trusted member of any community that I can think of, except perhaps his trailer park community. I'm sorry, but for the PD to describe RICCI as a "trusted member..blah, blah, blah" defies the imagination. I've never known a police officer who would make such a statement about a career criminal.
159 posted on 07/24/2002 8:59:37 PM PDT by ChocChipCookie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: cherry
I have better things to do than wade through all your posts.

It's a common courtesy issue. If you don't want to do it, by all means don't do it.

160 posted on 07/24/2002 9:04:14 PM PDT by Jolly Green
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-179 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson