Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Monday, Oct. 21, 2002

Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences | October 21, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

Let's keep a live commentary thread going again today. The FBI Tip # is 1-888-324-9800.

[Freedom2specul8]

Thank you!! That's it!

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=extorting

Etymology: Latin extortus, past participle of extorquEre to wrench out, extort, from ex- + torquEre to twist -- more at TORTURE Date: 1529 : to obtain from a person by force, intimidation, or undue or illegal power : WRING; also : to gain especially by ingenuity or compelling argument

[TexKat]

the parents asked for the schools to be closed?

That was announced on the news talk shows last night.

[Bella]

I don't know about you, people, but I have the feeling that Moose is not competent to be the chief of this investigation. Please, remember that human lives are at stake here.

Yes, human lives are at stake, and Moose obviously has been chosen to function in the capacity he is possibly by request from the sniper..and is doing what he has to and by the demands placed on him...

[clamboat]

If Linda Franklin was targeted specifically as an FBI analyst involved in the sniper investigation, how was the sniper able to identify and track her.

The latest I've heard she was not involved in the killer's investigation. Rumors. Rumors. Rumors...

That's the second time that aristeides has posted this bogus rumor that Linda Franklin was working on the sniper investigation. Your's is the second time that somone has tried to correct his bogus statement.

I could understand aristeides being sloppy with the facts once, but when aristeides continues to post disinformation after being corrected, I gotta wonder what the motivation is.

[Fred Mertz]

On the other hand, if my suspicion is correct that she was working on the sniper case, there's a good chance she would have been working on a holiday.

If it was a close shot, 30 yards or so, I agree that she could have been targeted. If it was a 150 yard shot, which I now tend to believe, then my opinion is that she was hit because she was blonde (not a muslim).

I heard this afternoon that Matthew Dowdy, the alleged lying witness, was denied bail. Is this to keep the muzzle on him?

What do you think? Was it a close shot or a long shot?

[aristeides]

"The dead" in French is "les morts," unless you're talking about all females, then it's "les mortes". "Le morte" could mean "the dead women" in Italian.

[yukong]

Well, one of the reasons that they haven't found this guy yet, is that one guy, in millions of people is almost impossible to find, if you don't know who you are looking for. The reason it seems that he knows in advance what the police are doing is two fold: 1. He is well trained and knows what he is doing. His training could come from most anywhere. But nonetheless, he is well trained and well studied. Further he is calculated. He is well planned, and he knows what he wants to do. I would liken it to a football game. The coaches prepare a game plan based on what they know of the opponent. This comes from a lot of study of game films and just general knowledge of the fundamentals of the game. Then as the game unfolds, they follow their game plan. And as long as they stay with the plan, then things usually go as they planned if they are good. 2. As I have said before, he is setting the agenda. he is in control of the game. Only he knows where he will hit next. Only he knows how he will do it. Only he (and I use "he" in generic sense, probably more on his team, but not many)And only he knows the timing. The LEAs are reacting, not acting. When you are forced to only react, then you loose all control. And it is hard to make one guy, or 2 or 3 react to you. but it isn't hard to make 100s of LEOs to react to you.

A question was asked earlier if AQ would make demands like the ones we may be seeing. Well, that begs the question of whether this has to be AQ to be foreign terrorist. Remember, there are a lot of other groups that would love to get in on the hunt besides AQ. Islamic Jihad, PLO, etc. Not to mention the eastern European terrorist organizations. And you cannot even discount the possiblity that it is Sinn Fein. I doubt it is an IRA type group, but they do use snipers quite a lot over there. The point is, we just don't know enough there. we cannot be closed minded as to the possible suspect or his possible political motives. Unless the LEAs know more than we know, which is possible. However, the question was asked if there were ever demands made by AQ. Well, I seem to remember, or believe, that some of the PLO, Islamic Jihad, etc groups have made demands to Israel, and US to do this or that, in exchange for the stoppage of suicide bombings. The release of prisoners. The repudiation of this group or that. The Iranians have been very good at that tactic also. So the possible demands are not that out of the realm of possibility. However, have we considered the thought that they are not so much demands as they are just statements. Statements of the crimes that the West has committed, and that punishment is coming, or ongoing. I don't know. Just brainstorming.

As to the suggestions that Moose is the one the perp wants out front, or that they are targeting him. I doubt that senerio completely. Remember, until there is sufficient evidence for the inescapable conclusion that terrorism is the real MO, then these crimes are just murders. And as such, they fall under the perview of the local authorities. yes, they have occurred in multiple states, but still, they are local. With that in mind, then the feds have no jurisdiction to take over the investigation. They can offer assistance, but they technically don't have jurisdiction to intervene. So, Moose, being the lucky one, to have the first murders in the jurisdiction over which he has authority, was the first out front. And it is not uncommon for that person to remain the spokesman. His jurisdiction would get first crack against the perp if this isn't terrorism. If it is just some wacko, then Moose's county will get the guy first. And add to the fact that normally the FBI is not that camera hungry. After the problems they have had in recent years, the less camera time they can get the better. And the ATF, well, they are such an odd bunch, they almost never want camera time. During my years in LE, I had several joint cases with the FBI and the ATF, and even DEA. And in those cases, the Federal agents would defer press statements to us state level types. If the feds did want to make a statement, it usually came from the US attorney for that jurisdiction. But again, that was only if there were going to be federal charges filed. It is too early here for that. I just don't read much if anything into that. He is a camera hound. That much is obvious. Somewhat reminds me of some of the stunts there were performed during the OJ mess. A lot of locals grabbing for camera time. Wanting their 15 minutes.

And while I'm on the media statement issue. Please be wary of any witness statements that you see or hear from supposed witnesses talking to the media. From my experience, if you have a witness who calls CNN or MSNBC or whoever, just before, or after talking to the LEAs, then really, really temper what that witnesses is saying. Because that witness has an agenda. That is 15 minutes of fame. Thus, they will hedge, and shake and bake to say what they think will get them on the tube. That way they can call mom and pop and say, "hey, I'm on CNN". I hated that when I was prosecuting cases. It was a disaster.

With that in mind, we should likewise be somewhat wary of the white van, with ladder rack also. After the first shooting, OK. But I can tell you, if the police had said they were looking for a yellow submarine, then each subsequent shooting, someone would come forward saying they saw a guy driving a yellow submarine leaving at a high rate of speed. The more that white van talk is out there, the more they will be spotted. Is the perp using a white van? Hey, could be. But I just wouldn't make that much out of it at this point. There have been so many variations on that point, that they cannot be all true, unless this guy has a whole fleet of vans parked at his house, which would be pretty obvious. His is driving something that is very plain and unremarkable. Don't get lost on that.
sorry for the long post, just a lot of random thoughts running through my head at this point.

Still thinking.

[OReilly]

The police found the note but missed the time to be at the phone booth. Moose called a press conference and said we got your message, call us at the number you left. (Moose just didn't explain to us, that they missed the time).

CNN just put out another explanation... They are saying that the sniper wrote down a number and transposed two digits. The police said they figured this out and had both phone numbers re-routed to the police and that is how they got the 25% audible message.

[Freedom2specul8]

Yes! and strong arming is the same thing isn't it... That's what "swarthyguy" was speculating about.. very interesting..

[Elenya]

I don't know about you, people, but I have the feeling that Moose is not competent to be the chief of this investigation.

Moose is NOT the chief of this investigation. He's just the PR person. Do you really think that with all the alphabet agencies on the case Moose is the one in charge? Really in charge, I mean?

[aristeides]

I heard this afternoon that Matthew Dowdy, the alleged lying witness, was denied bail. Is this to keep the muzzle on him?

Denying Dowdy bail on a misdemeanor charge is highly unusual, as far as I know without parallel. I think the cops and prosecutors suspect at least the possibility that Dowdy is in on the sniper's conspiracy, and that they suggested that possibility to the judge.

Dowdy has spent a lot of his life in prison. Does anybody know whether he converted during that time?

[LikeLight]

Parents asking for the schools to be closed seems to have been exposed as a convenient cover story, based on some items reported in several threads over the course of today . . . there was something more, something specific that has put the fear into these administrators . . .

[John Jamieson]

Yes, makes a lot of sense. Another SH connection.

If this guy is still around, his last shot maybe at Bush.

[yukong]

More likely than not, the denial of bail is to send a message to wantabe witnesses that if you sh!t us, you are going to be in a world of hurt. Prosecutors use that tactic a lot. And when you consider the expense this guy put the LEAs to, well, it is a lot. They are making an example out of this guy. He is just a dumb sap that wanted his 15 minutes. If he were connected, he wouldn't have talked squealed so quick.

[aristeides]

I know there have been official statements that Franklin was not involved in the sniper investigation (and have stated as much on this thread). I just don't believe them.

[aristeides]

Have you ever heard of a denial of bail for a misdemeanor charge?

[cyncooper]

"Le morte" is not standard French. Standard French for "death" is "la mort". Maybe it's a dialectical or archaic form.

The poster you are responding to said Linda Vester said these words, he didn't say she spelled them out. I think the spelling used by Indiana Jones is not indicative of dialectical or archaic form based on what he *heard*.

(which I had not heard and haven't heard repeated-not that I'm saying she didn't say it).

[Bella]

I agree...whatever is going on probably is horrific from what I've heard on the news channels, it said there's been many messages left on the cards at the sites, all threats..and from the reactions/actions of Moose and others, they realize that the nutcase is serious...He's probably told them that the shootings are mild, just the beginning,etc., and probably said they're going to target children...Plus, the nutcase might have told them they'd plant bombs or something on school busses, thus explaining WHY they closed 5 school districts...the cops KNOW this nutcase is serious being he's shot all these people already and has successfully escaped...

[yukong]

Well, not usually, but this is anything but usual. So it doesn't surprise me. You will see it reduced in a few days. Quietly I might add, but it will be.

[swarthyguy]

I don't know. JJ may know for sure.