THe phone in the house across the road was not found until after they found his body. After two warrents had been issued for it. Possible by tracking it’s GPS. It was the phone that had the chip in it that made it active with his billing account. (Phones left in drawers have that chip removed) Two warrents issued. IMO one to find the phone, one to trace the activity on it.
Wheeler could not have sent off the smoke bombs. He didn’t arrive in the area until the next day. Probably bought his ticket on the 28th but didn’t use it until the 29th. (MY BIL does it all the time)
The news stories all changed about the time the cabbie informed the police he had picked him up on the 29th, To: “he wasn’t a suspect”, they were just hunting him to see if he had information. IOW if he saw/knew something.
They may have used the smoke bomb as a ruse to hunt for him because of the noise in the house, not answering the door or phone. By that time his cell phone was not working. IOW they were concerned for him.
His phone went dead on the 28th. It was the phone he had been using up to that point. Remember he was “stuck in NYC”. No doubt he didn’t have a charger with him. Probably stuck it in his briefcase. That’s why I suspect the briefcase was taken closer to his home, if not after he got home on the 29th.
28th attending meeting in DC (possibly worked late) bought ticket but missed train. Service decreases to one train an hour after 7:00 pm (Would you want to arrive late at night in that part of town?) Stayed in DC or at work, catching early morning train.
Here’s my time line of events for the 29th
* Arrive in Wilmington on train *8:?? AM (That train leaves DC very early)
* Picked up at station and delivered to hotel area (all documented)
* May have picked up material (briefcase) or placed material in/from his car at that time.
* Took Route 15 home.
* Was attacked by house invaders after he got home.
* (They may have knocked him out or otherwise detained him
* Took $120 from a hiding place at home or had in his pocket. Attack was not for money.
* Called cab from house or public phone.
* Shoe damaged caused by tussle or blisters by running.
* Walked to strip mall with pharmacy, thinking he missed the cab asked for a ride.
* Took route 15 or otherwise hitched to Wilmington, by that time the head injury had begun to cloud his thinking.
Don’t think he returned home after the 29th because of the attack there. He was trying to get away. Go to Philly, Go north to friends of family. If his keys were taken with the briefcase, he would not have been able to get into apartment in NYC knowing his wife was gone. Spent part of the 120 on a room, bought coffee early on the 30th. Spent the day trying to stay inside out of the cold and out of sight. Would like to check with route 15 drivers to see if he headed home after dark on the 30th.
I suspect he was killed closer to home and the perps not wanting to point the finger at house, dumped his body. A pick up truck parked near house would not be unusual. Nor would tarps. We don’t know why they knew it was a murder immediately.
Time will tell. This is NOT a TV show. Lab work, interviews, follow leads takes months. Perps were sloppy, they WILL catch them.
I think John's Blackberry was in the briefcase....John is a high tech guy...Surprised he doesn't have an Android...
I have two phones...One is my private phone. The other is my business phone.
Lots of speculation; and do hope you are right on the ‘solving’ of this crime. This man deserves so much better ‘in death’ than he received. (Am wondering what his wife/family are doing? Living ‘back at home’ or elsewhere i.e. somewhere safer? Little/no comment from family.)