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Smart Case, July 25, 2002
07/25/02 | Jolly Green

Posted on 07/24/2002 8:56:44 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

Significant Links
Date Title Comments
06/16/02 Sister reported the abduction relatively quickly Wait was quite short for child, an expert says Certified forensic psychologist Gerald P. Koocher said it is remarkable the child notified the parents as soon as she did. Koocher, dean of Health Studies at Boston's Simmon's College and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, pointed out that in other scenarios such as sexual abuse, a child will refrain from telling on or speaking ab
07/24/02 Katie Couric Boylan Interview on NBC Complements of Neenah. See post #74


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: elizabethsmart
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1 posted on 07/24/2002 8:56:44 PM PDT by Jolly Green
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To: Bella; brigette; IamHD; Paladin; Sherlock; HoHoeHeaux; Illbay; Neenah; sandude; Utah Girl; ...
Ping
2 posted on 07/24/2002 9:00:30 PM PDT by Jolly Green
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To: Utah Girl; homeschool mama; Carolina; pamlet; Endeavor; EggsAckley; sweet_diane; joyce11111; ...
Ping to Jolly's "Smart Case" Thread
3 posted on 07/24/2002 9:11:03 PM PDT by stlnative
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To: brigette
Thank you for the ping, brigette.

Continued prayers for Elizabeth and entire Smart family.

4 posted on 07/24/2002 9:18:03 PM PDT by homeschool mama
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To: Jolly Green
Ricci is a scumbucket loser, but I don't believe that he did this crime. That does NOT mean that he won't be tried and convicted for it, though- especially if there is someone a little more influential in the community who needs to be covered up for...
5 posted on 07/24/2002 9:26:53 PM PDT by RANGERAIRBORNE
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To: RANGERAIRBORNE
Ricci is a scumbucket loser, but I don't believe that he did this crime.

Why then won't he admit his whereabouts in the next few days following the abduction - in spite of a grant of immunity for non-kidnap-related crimes. Whatever he is hiding is pretty substantial.

6 posted on 07/24/2002 9:31:01 PM PDT by Jolly Green
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To: RANGERAIRBORNE
Ricci is a scumbucket loser, but I don't believe that he did this crime.

There's not much in this case that's clear to me other that the fact that, though he was not the kidnapper, like Jolly said earlier Ricci's up to his hairline in this crime. They've rounded up the usual suspects associated with Ricci and these things usually aren't that compicated, which one fits the description?

7 posted on 07/24/2002 9:35:50 PM PDT by Sherlock
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To: Jolly Green
I live a long ways from Salt Lake City, and I haven't followed every miniscule detail of this case. However, it is pretty certain that if a stupid thug like Ricci were the perp, the case would have been closed at least a month ago.

There is something else going on here, and I guess your speculation is as good as mine (but not, probably, better).

8 posted on 07/24/2002 9:39:56 PM PDT by RANGERAIRBORNE
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To: RANGERAIRBORNE
Ricci is a scumbucket loser, but I don't believe that he did this crime. That does NOT mean that he won't be tried and convicted for it, though- especially if there is someone a little more influential in the community who needs to be covered up for...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ricci IMO is definately involved. He is definately keeping quiet about something BIG, that's all I know. I wouldn't surprise me to learn that Angela Ricci is the mastermind behind this scheme either.

9 posted on 07/24/2002 9:41:04 PM PDT by MadisonA
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To: MadisonA
Angela Ricci is the mastermind behind this scheme either.

You may be right, but Angela Ricci mastermind is an oxymoron.

10 posted on 07/24/2002 9:45:29 PM PDT by Jolly Green
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To: RANGERAIRBORNE
There is something else going on here, and I guess your speculation is as good as mine (but not, probably, better).

I think your absolutely correct, Ranger. I think Boylan's implication today 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. The usual suspects have all been interviewed, which one fits the description?

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.

11 posted on 07/24/2002 9:51:00 PM PDT by Sherlock
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To: MadisonA
I wouldn't surprise me to learn that Angela Ricci is the mastermind behind this scheme either.

The fact that Angela planned for her son to be baptised on the day of the kidnapping leads me to believe she wasn't in the know on the kidnapping. However she was involved in bailing out the Jeep on May 30, and I think she would know who might have needed it and was driving it other than her husband between May 30 & Jun 8.

12 posted on 07/24/2002 9:56:31 PM PDT by Sherlock
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To: Sherlock
The fact that Angela planned for her son to be baptised on the day of the kidnapping leads me to believe she wasn't in the know on the kidnapping. However she was involved in bailing out the Jeep on May 30, and I think she would know who might have needed it and was driving it other than her husband between May 30 & Jun 8.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

your right.... I also totally forgot about her going around asking neighbors if they saw her hubby out that night. I think she was involved in the coverup though and Ricci asked for her help, that's why they "couldn't find the church" that day and missed the appointment.

13 posted on 07/24/2002 10:43:01 PM PDT by MadisonA
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To: Sherlock
The fact that Angela planned for her son to be baptised on the day of the kidnapping leads me to believe she wasn't in the know on the kidnapping.

OR more likely, they figured the baptism would afford a good alibi during some other significant event like ES being transported from a temporary hiding place to something more permanent.

14 posted on 07/24/2002 11:05:38 PM PDT by Jolly Green
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To: Jolly Green
Domenick Dunne's comments on Larry King tonight were interesting.

"There's something wrong with that family."

My sentiments exactly.

Let's see the composite, the rendition of the kidnapper - I want to see the drawing!! You know, the one that couldn't be made because it was TOO DARK - or the ski mask somebody threw in on these threads! Or, Mary Katherine is too sensitive, or she's forgotten details after all this time.

I think Elizabeth is alive!

15 posted on 07/24/2002 11:24:59 PM PDT by lakey
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To: Jolly Green
Unless one is on his deathbed, Baptisms are planned.
16 posted on 07/24/2002 11:29:21 PM PDT by lakey
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To: RANGERAIRBORNE
Ricci proviced the layout of the Smart home to one of his associates. They can't let her go now because she has seen her kidnappers. Mrs. Ricci knows where Elizabeth was taken for sure. That "home in bed" alibi is a joke.
17 posted on 07/25/2002 4:01:08 AM PDT by upstatenyrepublican
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To: lakey
Do the Ricci's even attend any church? Do they have other children, and were they ever baptised? If so, at what age? It doesn't ring true that career criminals are very religious. I agree that the baptism was a plan they never intended to carry out, or the kidnapping created such a stir that they had to go to plan "B" in a big hurry.
18 posted on 07/25/2002 4:04:56 AM PDT by upstatenyrepublican
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To: lakey
I agree with your sentiments and think Elizabeth is alive also.

19 posted on 07/25/2002 6:20:31 AM PDT by FR_addict
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To: FR_addict
Can anyone name another kidnapping where the victim was found ALIVE after 51 days? Especially a high profile case like this one that received national attention.

(Other than rebels in South America kidnapping oil workers, or the missionaries in the Philippines, or something like that.)

Elizabeth is dead.

20 posted on 07/25/2002 6:30:36 AM PDT by MiloMarch
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