Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 25

06/30/02 - Sunday | Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 25

[varina davis]

Of course you will, freedox, isn't that what freerepublic is all about? And it's good when members can comment on the issues without personal attacks against those with whom they disagree.

[TheDon]

There is quite alot for the investigators to check into to see who is lying about the whereabouts of the vehicle, during the period in question, Ricci or the mechanic. The lack of questioning about this particular topic by AB, and the rest of the media, seems like a glaring omission. It would seem like an elementary question. Perhaps they have asked, but deemed the answer not interesting enough to report on.

[stlnative]

RE; The Mechanic's Story Conflicts

I am taking a break from doing dishes...but here is just one I found now (more will come later tonight)

A mechanic told ABC News last night, the car disappeared right before the kidnapping and didn't re-appear until two days after Elizabeth's kidnapping when Ricci dropped it off. Sources told ABC News the car racked up 1,000 miles on the odometer.
taken from full story here

The whole point of this is he went in front of a Grand Jury and gave statements, then he is on TV giving 2 different versions of the Jeep and how it got off his lot. "it disappeared" or "Ricci came in to pick it up", a lawyer defending Ricci will see these conflicts with the Mechanic's story.

[sandude]

Perhaps they have found some dna evidence in the home that is not from the family. They would want to eliminate all other possible causes for this before locking into it as belonging to the perp. It is interesting that they are testing only males though. Anybody have any ideas on this.

[IamHD]

"There is quite alot for the investigators to check into to see who is lying about the whereabouts of the vehicle, during the period in question, Ricci or the mechanic.

They sure do....I don't really think that the mechanic is lying, but I saw him with the AB interview, and he appeared to be easily agreeable to whatever AB was saying. First he said the vehicle had an additional 300 or so miles on it, then it went up to "maybe it was 500," finally, with AB's persistence, he agreed on 1,000 miles. ODD.

[terilyn]

Exactly! And, if you were plotting a kidnapping, why take the car five days before the actual kidnapping.

I think somebody else did take the Jeep, causing Ricci to be angry when he picked it up. It was filthy dirty.

[Bella]

"I suppose it could have been a coyote. I was half asleep," he says. "But it was definitely something." ...

The neighbors said the police haven't gotten back to them as yet..why not??

[TheDon]

Actually the mechanic stated perhaps 500 to 1000 miles. He wasn't sure about the exact mileage as the police took his log. This was from his AB interview. No doubt the police are trying to determine Ricci's whereabouts every minute the vehicle was out of the shop, as claimed by the mechanic. As Ricci apparently didn't bring the vehicle to the trailer park, and claims to not have taken it out in the first place, he could only have put miles on it when no one would know he was doing it. Your point about the mileage and how much time Ricci had to accomplish it is quite good. Of course, Ricci had more time to put the miles on than the night of the abduction.

Another point brought up by someone else. 500 to 1000 miles will also take a fill up or two. Someone had to put gas in that vehicle during the time in question.

The interesting point is that the mechanic definitely stated that Ricci dropped the vehicle off, and Ricci denies ever taking it. Someone is definitely lying, for whatever reason.

[varina davis]

"I suppose it could have been a coyote. I was half asleep," he says. "But it was definitely something." ... The neighbors said the police haven't gotten back to them as yet..why not??

Maybe because they have reason to suspect it might not be a kidnapping?

[TheDon]

Interesting. It would seem forensics may have turned up something, now they are trying to eliminate contamination.

[stlnative]

I watched the Ashleigh Banfield Show twice that night (it is on 3 times) In the evening at 8pm, early night at 11pm and again at 3am central times. I watched it a 11pm and 3am, and listened carefully to what he said. He said that Mr. Ricci had come in on May31st to pickup the Jeep before the repairs were completed. I think AB asked him he saw Ricci that day and he said yes but he did not talk to him. This was right at the beginning of her interview with him. Does anyone know if they have transcripts of the show online?

[IamHD]

They're going to be taking blood tomorrow, Bella, from 7 or 8 males that were in the home the morning of the kidnapping? Why are they doing it NOW? Why wasn't it down that day??

[stlnative]

Please don't think I think the mechanic is lying... it seems he is confused and not sure what really happened at some points. If he gave a statement to the grand jury, where he says... Yes... Mr. Ricci came in on May 31st and I saw him there, but did not speak to him. The he gets on TV and says, well the Jeep disappeared 2 days before the kidnapping.

He will not be found as credible.

[terilyn]

Yes, that's why I wondered what Ricci's work schedule was the 7th & 8th. We know he had the 5th off and showed up at work at 10:30 on the 6th. I'm wondering if he worked on the 7th or 8th, the day it was returned.

[TheDon]

Interesting. I wonder if the mechanic was merely assuming the car was taken by Ricci since someone had called to let the mechanic know he was going to take it. If Ricci had a key, he could simply pick up the car after hours without anyone seeing him. It makes a great alibi if the car is ever tied to the abduction.

"The FBI came out and took samples out of my head of hair to match forensics to see if anybody else's hair is in the hat besides mine," said Dave Morse, Ricci's father-in-law.

Looks like forensics is getting rather involved now. They must have more than one person's hair in the hat.

[IamHD]

"Please don't think I think the mechanic is lying"

Are you kidding? LOL Of course I don't think that. I think that the mechanic could be confused/mixed up, or being easily led...(possibly.) Have a good 4th! :)

[terilyn]

According to MK, it was a male that took Elizabeth. It would make sense to test only the males.

[terilyn]

Testing the 7 or 8 males that were in the house tells me that they already tested Ricci vs the blood found in the Jeep and it wasn't a match with either him or Elizabeth.

Otherwise why test other people?

[IamHD]

I can't recall if that was reported, or not. I don't recall seeing it anywhere. But, according to his boss, he said that Ricci was (these are my words, because I can't remember,) always on time for work, and a good employee. Something to that effect. :)