Smart Case, July 25, 2002

07/25/02 | 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".	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

[FR_addict]

Here's one:

On 10 July 1973, in Rome, John Paul Getty III, grandson of oil billionaire and renowned scrooge, J. Paul Getty, was kidnapped and a ransom of $17 million was demanded over the phone for his safe return. Not one willing to part with his hard-earned money in a hurry, his grandfather refused to pay any ransom, “on principle.” In November 1973, an envelope containing a lock of hair and a human ear was delivered to a daily newspaper. The note attached said, “This is Paul’s ear. If we don’t get some money within 10 days, then the other ear will arrive. In other words, he will arrive in little bits.” Still reluctant to part with the ransom, Getty senior negotiated a deal and got his grandson back for about $2 million. John Paul Getty III was found alive in southern Italy shortly after the ransom was paid. His kidnappers were never caught.

[dalebert]

thanks for the ping

[dalebert]

The Levy family did all they could to keep Chandra in the news. I don't find this unusual. What I do find unusual is bringing in a sketch artist to make p.r. statements for the SLPD and family.

[Jolly Green]

There's a WHOOOOOLLLLE LOTTA SECOND GUESSING GOING ON OUT THERE, LOL.

It's interesting that those on the outside i.e. Dominick Dunne, Shephard Smith and all of many of us here on FR are highly critical and someone like Boylan who has been privy to some of the inner details in the case i.e. actually been in the home and actually spent time with the only witness, has nothing but high praise for the witness and the SLCPD/FBI handling of the case.

[Rad_J]

"There's something wrong with that family."

Well DUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHH!!! They lost there freakin daughter!

[Jolly Green]

I invite any of you to re-read the Boylan/Couric interview. There is a link near the top of this page. We know that Elizabeth received extensive training and was an accomplished harp player - so accomplished that she played at one of the nationally televised Olympic events. One might say she was gifted. It wouldn't be too surprising that MK also received extensive training in an area where she has talent. From the Boylan interview, we learn that MK is an artist. Boylan didn't say if she draws, paints or sculpts, but I believe that MK is producing her own sketch.

Boylan said she had assisted in the "production" and mentioned helping with "textures". Boylan did not say that she (Boylan) produced a sketch. I'm betting that Boylan helped MK with some of the intricasies of displaying portions of the perps anatomy in what ever medium MK uses.

[Bella]

It's interesting that those on the outside i.e. Dominick Dunne, Shephard Smith and all of many of us here on FR are highly critical and someone like Boylan who has been privy to some of the inner details in the case i.e. actually been in the home and actually spent time with the only witness, has nothing but high praise for the witness and the SLCPD/FBI handling of the case.

What else would you expect Boylan to say..Do you think she'd say they're incompetent, messed up the case, hiding something, etc., don't you think Boylan is also interested and has questions herself? Do you think Boylan would say something negative, I doubt it.

[Rad_J]

Whether or not the family has knowledge of any aspect of this event, as we have seen so many times in the recent past(Ramsey, Smith) their actions and words "make" them look as though they have more knowledge than what they are letting on in this disappearance.

Come on spore, how many times does the family and the police have to tell us that they are not telling us all that they know. Yes, they are hiding things and they keep telling us they are. It's not like they have ever once said that they are being honest or telling us the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The only real issue is if the family is lying to the police or hiding info from the police. They can lie to the media and us all they want. They can hide info from the media all they want. The difference with Smith and possibly Ramseys is that they were lying to the police also. Plus, the police didn't ask them to lie or hide info like they asked the Smarts.

[freedox]

"Plus, the police didn't ask them to lie or hide info like they asked the Smarts."

What information have the police asked the Smarts to hide or lie about?

[Rad_J]

My post was directed to Dominick Dunne, not you lakey.

[Sherlock]

It's interesting that those on the outside i.e. Dominick Dunne, Shephard Smith and all of many of us here on FR are highly critical and someone like Boylan who has been privy to some of the inner details in the case i.e. actually been in the home and actually spent time with the only witness, has nothing but high praise for the witness and the SLCPD/FBI handling of the case.

I think you're reading something into Boylan's statement she didn't say. From her perspective as a sketch artist the SLCPD/FBI did well by not bringing in the type sketch artist that uses catalogs of facial parts, etc. which can interfere with the witness's recall. However, this to me points to the fact they had seen the kidnapper on videotape so had no need for sketches.

I also think it's clearly obvious the reproach being heaped on the Smart family by those like Dominick Dunne and Shepard Smith who are not privy to the details of the case would be more properly focused on the SLCPD/FBI who failed the Smart family. The simple fact that an ex-con who worked for the family and was suspected of stealing from them only a year before, had a more than standard business relationship with the family where they had givin him a vehicle, was not immediately tailed when they had placed hundreds of personnel on the case and was allowed to do whatever he did with that Jeep on Jun 7-8 and ride off with whoever he rode off with from Moul's on Jun 8, is a failure they can't rectify even if they're not involved in an active coverup.

[freedox]

"Why then won't he admit his whereabouts in the next few days following the abduction..."

As I recall, Ricci's employer stated that Ricci had returned to work, as scheduled, on the morning of June 6. Ricci's demeanor was described as being "normal," and there were no reports of him having missed any subsequent days at work. Andy Thurber has given a rather detailed accounting of Ricci's whereabouts and activities during the morning and at least part of the day on June 5. There were also Mormon missionaries who visited the Ricci home on the evening of June 4, and I believe again on the evening of June 5. I don't understand where all of this "missing time" is that Ricci hasn't accounted for in the days following the abduction.

[Rad_J]

freedox, I will take your question as saying, "When have they said that they were hiding info or lying?" because, if we knew what information they were hiding or lying about, then it wouldn't be hidden.

In many of the earlier news conferences, the media would ask a question to Dinse and he would say that he couldn't answer that or give details about this and that part of the investigation. Then the family would later be asked similar questions and they would say that they can't give out that info or that they have been asked not to comment on that. Elizabeth's aunts did that on Larry King. I am not going to get the transcripts but it has been a regular thing. Boylan was also given a gag order.

Why? Either there is a conspiracy and coverup between the police, FBI, Grand Jury, and the Smarts, or they believe that hiding info will either help Elizabeth stay alive or help them solve the case.

It's a game of poker where the stakes may be a young girl's life. If the police show their opponant all of their cards, they are going to lose the game. The stakes are still high if Elizabeth is dead, because the next game could involve another little girl if they don't "win" this game.

[freedox]

Thanks for clearing that up. To me, there is a big difference between openly saying that you cannot comment on something and "lying or hiding information." From your original statement, I thought you were implying that the Smarts had been asked by the police to do the latter.

[Bella]

Did anyone see ED this AM on FOX?? What's your impression?

[Sherlock]

Did anyone see ED this AM on FOX?? What's your impression?

I don't know this but my gut impression is unless Ed can solve this it's not going to be solved. I am fairly certain LE knows who the kidnapper is and has not shared that information with the Smart family. Ed Smart is smart like a fox. Note it's still LE blocking release of any info that would help the public assist in finding Elizabeth. Why?

[Jolly Green]

None of us have a detailed timeline, but there are gaping holes:

Ricci's employer stated that Ricci had returned to work, as scheduled, on the morning of June 6. Ricci's demeanor was described as being "normal,"

We also know that Ricci was "off" on June 5th - a critical day, since ES disappeared early that morning.

Andy Thurber has given a rather detailed accounting of Ricci's whereabouts and activities during the morning and at least part of the day on June 5.

We don't know that Thurber is completely credible AND I'm sure he can't account for Ricci for the full 24 hours.

There were also Mormon missionaries who visited the Ricci home on the evening of June 4

The missionaries departed after a dinner. That is about a two hour window MAX.

I believe again on the evening of June 5

June 5th was the scheduled baptism, which the Riccis missed. I doubt if the missionaries were there at all that day, except for maybe dropping by for a few minutes to see why they didn't show.

The police have said his alibi(s) doesn't hold up and is the reason they extended the immunity deal, which Ricci didn't accept. He can't.

[Sherlock]

As I recall, Ricci's employer stated that Ricci had returned to work, as scheduled, on the morning of June 6. Ricci's demeanor was described as being "normal," and there were no reports of him having missed any subsequent days at work.

Ricci's employer said he was 1 1/2 hours late on Jun 6 and worked late to make it up. Ricci's employer also made statements to try to cover up for Ricci which made me wonder if he might not be suspect in this. He made an obscure and deceptive statement along the lines of Ricci worked on Jun 6 then he only had one day off in the next five so he doubted he drove to Wyoming. Why the deception, which day did he have off? I would bet my paycheck it was either Jun 7 or 8 and if Ricci worked on Jun 8 he was late and had just taken a shower to clean all the mud up. I'd like to see a picture of Ricci's boss, I wonder if he might be 5' 8", athletic, short dark hair, and known to wear a white baseball hat.