There is no conspiracy here: SLPD Press Conference (Elizabeth Smart abduction)

KSL Radio ^ | 6/19/2002

[mhking]

So whoever it was snuck up to Mary Katherine and Jon Benet's Elizabeth's room and snuck back down without making any noise?!? This is sounding flakier and flakier as this goes on...

[PoisedWoman]

Wow! thanks for the extensive notes. You did a great job.

I still think no picture has been released because they do know who the perp is and don't want to tip him off before they find him, otherwise he may kill Elizabeth if he feels cops breathing down his neck. Which leads to other speculation: Why doesn't he, ostensibly, feel them breathing down his neck now? Maybe he's not in Utah anymore. I had a short dream in which I saw Elizabeth on a deck of a boat, perhaps a cabin cruiser. Not that it's accurate, but a possibility nonetheless. Wherever she is, it's far from home, IMHO.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Perhaps. The possibility of more than one abductor is something we haven't explored yet on FR (amazing to think that there's still an angle we haven't even speculated on, given the massive amount of speculation we've been doing).

I think it's sort of unlikely though, as it would be an awfully risky plan for the abductor who was in the house. But then again, being in the house in the first place was mighty risky, so your theory certainly can't be ruled out.

[stlnative]

If you look at diagram that I have on my server (picture is in this thread) You can see that it possible that there is an opening around the stairs that allows people on the second floor to see down to lower level, probably to the front door... From the picture it looks like the stairs are part of front door foyer.

[twigs]

UG, thank you VERY much for posting that info. I'm at work and would not have had access to it otherwise. Did you get my message about the possibility of this being someone that Elizabeth knows who could be emotionally unstable? I find it interesting that they are continuing to re-interview people nearby and seem to think that Elizabeth could well be still alive. I'm glad that MK is with her mom and that the family is trying to get back to normal for the children's sake. The more I hear about this family, the more normal, and loving, they seem. The Smart children are blessed to have this extended family! The mom still seems to be trying to calm Elizabeth!

[Illbay]

The police looking for the tag number at the vigil, NOT Edmunds...

Yeah, that figures. I knew this sounded way to sensationalist the way the gossip-mongers were batting it around. So Edmunds DIDN'T show up at the vigil at all, they were simply looking for the plate at that time.

Man, when this thing is finally solved, I wonder if any of these folks are going to learn any sort of lesson?

[callisto]

Anyone have a layout on this house?

I initially heard, the first week or so, the father say on TV that they were sleeping in a room across the hall from him. I have no other confirmation than what he said that it is true.

[r9etb]

So whoever it was snuck up to Mary Katherine and Elizabeth's room and snuck back down without making any noise?!?

Not at all surprising if there's carpet on the floors and stairs.

[ET(end tyranny)]

from Dinse: think we're in the right place doing the right thing by looking at the house and around the house; looking at people who live and work in the Federal Heights neighborhood.

Confirming that it is okay to suspect people living nearby, in the neighborhood, be it family, friend or otherwise. Won't clarify if Mary Katherine recognized the voice of the abductor

Any reason for this? If it were a stranger, why not say that she did not recognize the voice?? The police looking for the tag number at the vigil, NOT Edmunds

Guessing, the tag number from the silver car spotted by the milkman. Still evaluating information to put out to the media, if they don't want to talk about certain information, it is because it has impact upon the investigation Seem like if it could help with the investigation, that you would WANT the information out, UNLESS they figure that outsiders wouldn't be able to assist in helping with this info. This lends more support to their narrow investigation area. (the house, neighborhood and immediate vicinity)

[PoisedWoman]

I suspect this guy is (prematurely?) bald.

Maybe, but with hairy hands and forearms, doubtful unless he's older. and you were correct with your type of hate for hat. This dark, hairy guy hates little blond angels, perhaps women in general, and wants to defile them. Too horrible to contemplate.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Do we even know whose room it was? Was it Mary Catherine's room or was it Elizabeth's room? I thought it was Elizabeth's room and that it was Mary Catherine's room that was being remodeled, thus MC was sleeping in Elizabeth's room.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Dinse also said that they were NOT telling everything they knew.

[Illbay]

but he did threaten Eliabeth's life

NOTE: THIS IS AN OFFICIAL POLICE STATEMENT SO IT BEARS EXAMINATION.

This somewhat deflates the wild theories about her being "in" on her own abduction, and now being a polygamist's wife somewhere. Despicable as the polygamists are, this is NOT how they operate. Rather, they carefully groom and cultivate their girls, and then give them away to one another like birthday presents.

This is, I believe, going to turn out to be an abduction not unlike that of Polly Klaas or the Van Dam girl.

[Grig]

The kidnapper felt comfortable enough to remain in the house long enough for a scared nine-year old to attempt a little investigating. Interesting.

If it was a stranger, it might take him longer to find his way around to the exit. But I think it would indicate that taking Liz was not his (only?) objective, if it was he would get her and split pronto no matter how comfortable he was haning around their home at other times.

But how does this theory sound: Some guy, known to Mr. Smart by business perhaps, breaks in looking for a specific item (a safe?), can't find it, so he decides to force a kid to help. A 14 year old girl would be more help than a 9 year old, and still easy to control, so he picks her, but when the 9 year old sticks her head out he suspects that he's been seen and takes the girl as a hostage as he makes his escape. Now he's in over his head, nervous and unsure how to get out of the situation. The police don't want to spook him into doing something murderous.

[ET(end tyranny)]

And by giving the public FACTS you run the risk of having more false leads. Kind of a trade off!

[r9etb]

The possibility of more than one abductor is something we haven't explored yet on FR

That opens up a particularly messy can of worms, though.

It's amazing enough that one guy would do it -- why would a group of people decide to hatch a plot to break into a house and kidnap one skinny 14-yo girl?

The only reasons I can think of for a group to do this are pretty far out -- some involving the fact that she was a "young, pretty, blonde virgin," and others having to do with the possibility of her father somehow being involved in shady dealings. And, of course, it opens up the whole "polygamy" angle once again.

I'm not willing to go there yet. It just doesn't sound plausible.

[Illbay]

Well, if you're a flake, I'm sure it does.

[exlibris]

Isn't it interesting that the two girls' sharing a bedroom (and bed) was "a TEMPORARY arrangement while Elizabeth's room was being renovated." And the abductor knew exactly where to find Elizabeth, even in the dark?!

[r9etb]

Maybe, but with hairy hands and forearms, doubtful unless he's older.

Disagree. I know a number of bald-headed, hairy-armed men between the ages of 30-40.

[Grig]

the perpetrator was said to have "dark hair on the back of the hands." This would suggest that the abductor was not wearing gloves.

Perhaps, but some gloves (racing gloves, golf gloves?) leave a bit of the back of the hand exposed.