Smart Case, July 29, 2002

The theories on this thread that attempt to implicate the Smarts or high-up neighbors are the ones that are the least rational. They are also the ones that seem to have the posters salivating in anticipation of embarrassing a formerly happy family, or revealing that they're gay, or some other form of schadenfreude. The theories posted here that conclude that Ricci's gang was responsible just happen to be the theories based on rational fact-gathering and inference. That's all I am saying. So my conclusion (which is just a guess on my part) was that the theories involving the prominent family are more "fun" to spin.

How refreshing to see someone that has not been sucked into the circus that this thread is becoming. Most of the posters just won’t be satisfied unless there is some grand conspiracy by influential people. While at times it has been "fun" to follow their baseless claims, I'm afraid that their rants have begun to sound like the spasms of a hopelessly broken record, playing the same song over and over and over and..... You know what I mean. Now those people would label me as a "Smart Family Apologist". I'd be happy to entertain their notions as soon as they can back up their wild theories with ONE SINGLE FACT. I see a grieving family who is desperate to get their beautiful daughter / niece / cousin back home where she belongs. As far as a law enforcement conspiracy, well it just defies logic. I'm not saying it's impossible, but once again their is no substantial fact to substantiate their innuendo. I, like you, will rely on theories that are at least plausible as to the KNOWN FACTS of this story.

The ringleader is a Mr. Big. Someone who knew enough about the family to know that Ricci could and would lend a hand in what he wanted to do... Yup. Ricci may have "provided" (translation: SOLD) the key to the Smart's home, along with inside info on the house layout, family wealth, etc
But it doesn't have to be a Mr. Big. Remember the case on which the book "In Cold Blood" was based? The killers heard about this family, didn't know them personally, and travelled some distance to murder them and end up with nothing.
AFZ

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Time Line
06/05/01	Tuesday	Ricci steals items from the Smart home while he is employed there as a handyman. Ricci is charged in July of 2002 of 1 count of theft related to the Smart incident.
05/30/02	Thursday	~ Ricci returns to pick up his Jeep at the auto repair shop before the shop has a chance to fully fix it He tells the repairman that it needed for an emergency.
06/04/02	Tuesday	~ Ricci is at work from about 9am to 5:30pm ~ Ricci claims he spends the evening with friends
06/05/02	Wednesday	~ 1:05am - 2 cars are spotted on the SLC Shriner's Hospital Parking Lot by a hospital security guard, two blocks from the Smart residence ~ 1:30am (approx) - Elizabeth is kidnapped from her home ~ 1:30am - Ricci claims to be in bed asleep with his with wife. ~ Ricci is scheduled to be off work all day today. ~ 7:21am - Rachel/Amber alert is issued and national media is involved. ~ 8:30am - Ricci and his neighbor talk about the kidnapping of Elizabeth, Ricci seems to know too much information about it. ~ Sometime during this day Ricci is visited by police in regards to Elizabeth's kidnapping as reported by Angela Ricci (Richard A. Ricci's Wife which is an ex-convict herself) ~ Ricci is seen by his neighbor digging a hole by his (Ricci's) trailer early in the morning. (heard the neighbor say this on TV)
06/06/02	Thursday	~ Ricci is scheduled to work from 9am to 5:30pm today, but instead works from 10:30am to 7:00pm ~ Police talk to Ricci this day about the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping. (The media is reporting this, so it could be wrong)
06/08/02	Saturday	~ Ricci returns the Jeep to the repair shop to get it fixed. The Jeep is muddy and the repair shop owner sees Ricci remove seat covers from the back of the jeep and place them into a plastic garbage bag that already contains other stuff in it. Also the repair shop owner said a muddy post hole digger was in the back of the Jeep, Ricci removes this also. Ricci has a man waiting across the street to give him a ride. Ricci takes the plastic bag and contents along with the post hole digger with him. Also there is 500 to 1000 extra miles on the Jeep since Ricci picked it up on May 30th, 2002.
06/14/02	Friday	~ Ricci is taken into custody for a parole violation, this being drinking while on parole and association with other ex-cons.
07/11/02	Thursday	Formal charges are filed against Ricci (2 counts of theft & 1 count of burglary) on the theft & burglary of the Smart neighbors home which occurred in April 2001, and 1 more count of theft for stealing from the Smart home on June 6th, 2001.
Special thanks to Brigette for starting this timeline.