8th Killing Linked to Sniper (Lots of new info including possible suspect visual descriptions)

Washington Post ^ | October 11, 2002 | Carol Morello and Josh White

[John H K]

"....Although Smith said investigators did not search any hotel rooms yesterday, witnesses said police with bloodhounds cordoned off Room 109 of the Ramada. Sources said they found nothing of interest.

Police briefly took a man linked to that room into custody yesterday at the crime scene. Hobert "Dewey" Epps, 36, who lives in Georgia and is staying with his fiance, said he was questioned

Epps, one of several people detained briefly yesterday, said FBI agents told him he matched a tentative description of the shooter and that they were concerned about his presence at the scene. Epps said agents showed him a picture – which he said appeared to have come from a video image – that slightly resembled him. Epps is about 5-feet-9, of medium build with sandy brown hair and a mustache.

Epps said agents asked him to show his profile. He eventually was released. "They said I looked like the picture of someone at another shooting," he said...."

[valleygal]

Thanks, Archy for clearing that up for me. I have heard Starkweathers name before but didn't know alot about him.

[archy]

Anyway for those who know or remember, was CC maybe the guy Fuhrman referred to?

Nope. See post above. Chessman had the moniker of the *Red Light Bandit,* so-called from using a magnetic police red bubble light and spotlight on his car to pull motorists over and rob and rape them- which Chessman denied to the very end, his *confession* having been obtained by a 30-minute beating at the Hollywood Precinct station of the LAPD, notoriously corrupt in those days...as in these.

There's an excellent chance that the real *red light bandit* got away with both his crimes and the resulting death of Chessman, and a very very good chance that the *red light bandit* was a real, off-duty, LAPD cop.

-archy-/-

[ladyinred]

That is my personal opinion... but what the hell I know.

Just as much as anyone else I would think. We are all just speculating.

[Eva]

Whether they are Al Qaeda or not, it's time to find them and kill them.

[valleygal]

I vaguely remember a TV movie was made some years ago with Alan Alda as Chessley but I didn't see it. Thanks for the info.

[Eva]

Our local police dept. is giving a gun handling course for women and I am signing up.

[archy]

I guess that would qualify as an initiation rite if you're a ME terrorist wannabee too,LOL.

The reports of a female accomplice, and speculation here regarding a possible wig may not be off either. There have been several young females among the ranks of recent Palestinian suicide bombers, and female terrorists like Leila Kahled were very involved in the aircraft hijackings of the 1970s. Some have excellent English-language skills, and all sorts of employment opportunities within the D.C. beltway, and could easily be a major asset to such an operation in the area. And reports of a blond [bleached or wig] female could indicate a simple camouflage measure working out just as hoped.

It's quite possible too that it's the female who's the better shot, letting her male partner have a go or two after their initial string of one shot-one hit-one kill successes. And a woman could more have easily have performed an inside reconnaisance of the Michael's stores, making a small minor purchase and leaving without notice.

[Elenya]

It's quite possible too that it's the female who's the better shot

Except I think the blonde was supposedly driving the van at the time of the last killing. Hence she couldn't have been the shooter that day. Not that I believe it, but if she works alone AND does the shooting AND the driving, then "wesa gonna be in very deep doo-doo".

[archy]

Thanks, Archy for clearing that up for me. I have heard Starkweather's name before but didn't know alot about him.

The Martin Sheen- Sissy Spacek movie *Badlands* was loosely based on the Starkweather and Fugate, and she told her version of the events [and her time in prison afterward] in her autobiography, Caril.

There's a pretty good summary version of their story *here* that might be worth further reading if you're interested. The Books Starkweather and Born Bad would provide further reading, if you're so inclined.

Glad to have been of help.

-archy-/-

[valleygal]

I've thought about this, too, because guns make me nervous.
But I grew up around them somewhat.

My grandparents had a farm so beef were shot before butchered, my dad had to shoot a cat that had gone mad and then there was the wolverine that got into the basement. Went hunting for squirrels with my dad when I was very little and then of, course all the "grown-ups" would go deer hunting every year. I wasn't nervous then but no one ever taught me how to shoot. Grandpa was a bit protective of the grandkids.

I guess I became indoctrinated later as a teenager because when 18 I registered as a Democrat!

[archy]

Or if she works alone sometimes. Deep doo-doo, indeedy.

-asrchy-/-

[Eva]

I never even considered learning to handle a gun until recently. I lived my whole life in suburban areas and have always been scared to death of guns. Now, I think it might just be a good idea, for the sport of it and protection.

[js1138]

The only thin yo missed is that one of them has been on anti-depressants.

[FITZ]

It sounds far too much like the Son of Sam slayings

I think you're right ---however the Islamists haven't taken credit yet for the WTC yet either. They waver, they sometimes like to say it was really the Jews who did it or that the Jihadists did it but it was really our own fault.

[relee]

...That is probably why these shootings are near major roads ... the perps live down in Virginia or up in Maryland,...

I think the perp(s) lives in Maryland, saw Chief Moose on TV hawking a 'geographic profile' and realizing he was committing these crimes in his own backyard, decided to expand the geography. He has not been back to Montgomery County since.

[relee]

The Ramada Inn search was most likely prompted by a witness, interviewed by Whoraldo yesterday, a black truck driver from the Carolinas, familiar with hunting rifles, who was across the road at the time of the shooting. He seemed credible, calm and not given to embellishment, and said he was certain that it was a rifle shot, and that the shot came from the Ramada Inn -- from above, as if shot from a balcony.

Just off to the side of the Ramada is a boarded-up building (Tumbleweed restaurant) with a facade that is above and could conceal the shooter from general view.

[spunkets]

More on the card and jihadists...

This outlines a crime program in Singapore(15% Malay muslim). Here's a cut.

"To educate our students on crime prevention, a series of crime prevention textbooks called "Dear Mr Policeman" were brought into the school curriculums in 1986 to teach students from upper primary to lower secondary levels the importance of crime prevention. This series, which is still currently being taught, will soon be replaced in 1999 by an enhanced series called "Safe and Secure: That's Our Singapore", which will carry not only crime..."

The jihadists there are also aware of America's 911 Force.

" Singapore's leaders have firmly supported the U.S. and her war on terrorism and the two countries are close both militarily and economically. Singapore has a naval facility that accommodates U.S. aircraft carriers and Singapore is the only military facility in Southeast Asia where a U.S. carrier can stop and she plays host to almost 100 U.S. naval ship visits each year.

It's not inconcievable that Malay jihadists that pulled off the Bali bombing aren't incommunicado with other jihadists. They have a worldwide net after all.

[jackbill]

I bet they are two kids between the ages of 16-19. PC Gamers as well as hunters. One kid is lower middle class the other is middle or upper middle class. They took the poaching and sniper idea from rabbits and video games to people. That is my personal opinion... but what the hell I know.

I agree that there are probably at least two and that they are "kids" - big video game players. It's a competition. They are probably alternating in their shooting - and keeping score.

Are you aware of the popular taunt among video game players? I am God

[top of the world ma]

Chessman went to the gas chamber at San Quentin in 1960. I don't think he ever murdered anyone. Starkweather was 19 and Fugate was 14 when they went on their killing spree in Nebraska in 1958, killing eleven people in several days. Starkweather was executed by elecrocution at 20, while Fugate went to prison for 17 years and was paroled. He killed her mother, father and baby sister, apparently with Fugate's approval. The father was wrapped in a blanket and left in the chicken coop, while his wife and daughther were stuffed in the outdoor privy.

Book: WASTELAND by Michael Newton. Made for TV movie: Murder in the Heartland w/Tim Roth and Fairuza Balk

[valleygal]

I know. I live in Arizona (a CCW state) and my stepdad always carried his gun under the front seat of the car. After he died my mother kept it hidden under her pillow at night because she lives alone (not a good idea IMHO as she is on Prozac!!) I think my step-brother finally has the gun.

My husband and son really enjoy paintball and archery and we have a shooting range not far away. I may mention taking a class with my husband, maybe together.