Smart Case, July 24, 2002

07/24/02 | 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

[Jolly Green]

Catch up on some of the later posts in this thread and you might have a whole different perspective.

[Sherlock]

The reason given previously for not doing the sketch was because of Klaus' connection to Fox News.

I think probably the reason the Smarts backed off their request for Boylan to come in and do a sketch early in the case was at the request of LE. I think the reason the Smarts brought her in now is they want to get to the truth and they are not sure LE does.

[Sherlock]

...someone with Ricci's background could be considered a trusted member of any community...

I'm not sure why there is still discussion of this, I think LE said they thought the kidnapper might be a trusted member of the community very early in the case and I think they abandoned that theory soon after they voiced it.

[Jolly Green]

I'm not sure why there is still discussion of this, I think LE said they thought the kidnapper might be a trusted member of the community very early in the case and I think they abandoned that theory soon after they voiced it.

I discovered today that this had been misquoted all along ie. it never was "trusted member of the community". I found some partial quotes and MadisonA provided the following, which tends to offer a far wider perspective. I believe that Ricci was that "trusted person".

I think the exact quote by Atkinson on June 19th is "We believe that this person may be a trusted person in the neighborhood or in the community. [It] might be someone ... that had reason to be here, that had reason to come across the family, all those kind of things we still believe,"

[ChocChipCookie]

Re: texture of skin. If Boylan was trying to help MK remember the texture of the perp's skin, then my guess is that he was not wearing a ski mask or something similar. I wouldn't think that the texture of the skin on a man's hands or arms would be at all helpful in identifying him. Therefore, MK surely saw his face and clearly enough to describe the texture of his skin.

[cherry]

actually, I take it that that reference to "texture" means "touch"...but I could be wrong..

but touch would be important...rough hands? hairy hands? sweaty hand?

[Sherlock]

Therefore, MK surely saw his face and clearly enough to describe the texture of his skin.

There wouldn't be all this controversy over LE not wanting a sketch released if MK had not seen the kidnapper. If he were wearing a mask there would be no reason to keep that fact from the public, the kidnapper would know he had worn a mask. Also the fact that he dressed casually and spoke softly was to make Elizabeth feel as comfortable as possible and not scream, a ski mask would not contribute to this desired atmosphere.

[Sherlock]

I take it that that reference to "texture" means "touch"...

I found this conversation about texture thought provoking, and it makes me think either the kidnapper touched MK or vice versa or there was something about his appearance that could be compared to texture, like rough skin or something.

[cherry]

or soft skin....have we determined for sure it was a man?

[Sherlock]

or soft skin....have we determined for sure it was a man?

The milkman, the security video in the convenience store, the security man at Shriners Hospital, MK, the searcher, and Moul all say it was a man.

[FR_addict]

Samantha had been badly beaten, something that had been implied but not said until that time.

It may have been implied, but until I read your post, I hadn't heard it. It makes me sick all over again.

[Bella]

Who is running the show here, the parents or the police? The parents and family, it would seem. They are, after all, the only ones involved with personal contact with the little sister and possibly the only ones who know of Elizabeth's contacts, friends, etc. ---- if the alleged abductor IS NOT a handyman, or a band of conspirators.

Exactly..remember the AUNT stating that the authorities are cooperating with THEM.

[Bella]

JG, have you been discussing this case with any of your friends in the SLCPD?

[Palladin]

Thanks for taking the time to type up the Couric-Boylan interview.

Did you happen to catch LKL last night with Dominick Dunne? Dunne, who has an instinct about these things, said there's something odd about the Smart family. So, it is not just a handful of amateur sleuths here on FR who think the Smarts...esp. Ed and Tom...are acting suspiciously.

I wonder what news the tabloids will have this week?

[Plummz]

Nothing in the tabs this week.

[Palladin]

Thanks, Plummz. Too many other scandals to cover, I guess.

[out_smart_me]

Much has been made about the sketch that was put together in Oct. of 2002 of Mitchell. The nine year old sister of Liz apparently had a sudden recollection of who the intruder was in the room the night of the alleged abduction. From that recollection and what Ed and Lois remembered of the man that worked on their home for five hours a year before, they had a sketch done. I am 100% convinced that the entire story about the sketch isn't true.

Elizabeth's mother Lois comes from the Francom family. Lois Francom-Smart. I would like to share her nieces wedding invitation and show where the Mitchell sketch really came from. All the stories of how the nine year old sister had the sudden recollection and they did a sketch with that information is not true.

Here are two links. One is a link of the sketch and the wedding invitation together for comparison. The other is of a web site that has the photo of Francom to show that it is indeed Lois' niece. Why would the Smart's release a sketch of a somewhat aged enhanced family member? I am calling for the FBI to re-enter this case and hold this family accountable for the fraud they have committed against the entire country.

http://community.webshots.com/photo.../91666968alRLNq

http://portomission.com/Album/Missi.../FrancomA2.html

[countess]

Your links don't work for me.

Are you saying that Mitchell looks like Lois' niece?