Free Republic

From tonight's America's Most Wanted (2/15/03) Brian David Mitchell's picture is also posted on the AMW site:

Story:

Police are looking for Brian David Mitchell to question him about what he might know about the disappearance of Elizabeth Smart on June 5, 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In October 2002, police received information about a man known only as "Emmanuel" who may have information about Elizabeth's disappearance. In the middle of that month, the Smarts' nine-year-old daughter, Mary Katherine, came to her parents indicating this may be the man who took Elizabeth. The Smarts' had met "Emmanuel" in downtown Salt Lake City as a homeless man. The man told Edward Smart (Elizabeth's father) that he and his sister were staying with someone in the valley and that they were traveling to different cities preaching to the homeless. Edward offered the man some day labor work at his home. "Emmanuel" took a bus to a stop close to their home and then walked to the house. He worked for five hours, helping on the roof and raking leaves. He has not been seen since. Law enforcement has tried to locate him, for questioning, but has been unsuccessful. A composite drawing was made from Edward's recollection from the previous year. Edward stated, "We are not saying this is the individual who kidnapped Elizabeth, however we encourage this individual, as we have all workers in the house, to come forward to be interviewed by law enforcement."

Based on the sketch, police later got a tip from a woman who says she is "Emmanuel's" sister. She informed cops that "Emmanuel's" real name is Brian David Mitchell. He changed his name to David Emmanuel Isiah for religious purposes. He is homeless and believed to be traveling with his wife, Wanda. They usually travel south in the winter to search for work in warmer climates.

"There must be some reason for this mysterious roofer connection to be coming to light after all this time."

I'm wondering when we're going to hear about the roofer too. I know Ed Smart said that he would give more details regarding this after the holidays -- and wonder if something will be said about the roofer on the 48 Hours special on 1/10/03. Though the SLC Tribune article said the 48 Hour special centers around Elizabeth's siblings and was taped back in November -- it also said that there would be new information. Questions for the children were submitted beforehand and approved by the Smarts. It seems very, very doubtful than any new information would come from questions asked of the children, but I wonder (and I guess I'm hoping!) that the special might also include some footage taped at a later date with Ed and Lois Smart regarding the roofer. Perhaps this is what Ed meant when he said there would be more infomration after the holidays?
I'm beginning to think there's not much to it, but I'd still like some clarification!

All of the news reports I've read said that Remington was picked up shortly after the bank robbery and was awaiting his trial for the federal bank robbery charges in the Salt Lake county jail. The feds might pay for the county jail to house those awaiting trial in federal crimes -- but I don't really know for sure who pays. It's not uncommon for those charged with federal crimes to be held in a county jail though is it? I'm really interested in reading Sherlock's ideas about Remington possibly being out of jail during the time Elizabeth was kidnapped!

You are correct! I meant to write that the prosecutor said none of the information Remington provided connected Ricci to the kidnapping.

One news report said Remington contacted authorities from jail when he heard Ricci was a top potential suspect. (Because he wanted to "help in any way he could") It made me think that Remington protested just a little too much in the July newspaper articles when it was reported he was going to be questioned along with Young, and, that he had actually already contacted authorities early on looking for a deal. I have not read any news reports that state exactly how Ricci's involvement in the bank robbery became known to the police. If something has been printed about it and anyone has a link, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

"If Remington has really been in the slammer on the bank robbery case since Nov. of 2001--and I know you have your doubts about that--then he's already built up a year or so of credit against whatever sentence he got, or will get, for the bank robbery."

Remington was in jail since the November 2001 Sandy bank robbery.

Ricci admitted to the Adams burglary and Smart theft on June 15th and consented to a search of his property which took place on June 19th -- which is when they found some of the items stolen in these thefts. Young was questioned by authorities on July 2nd and Remington on July 3rd. The burglary charges against Ricci were then announced around July 17th. Remington entered a guilty plea to the Sandy bank robbery in October and was sentenced December 18th to a 5 year term. The judge said he provided "substantial assistance" in the Smart case, though the prosecutor said none of it was related to Ricci or the kidnapping.

My assumption was the same as yours -- that Remington and his lawyer saw an opportunity to strike a deal when questioned by officials, and did. Sherlock's scenario makes sense as well -- although, since Remington was already being held in jail for the bank robbery, and obviously had not ratted on Young or Ricci in the 9 months he'd been in there -- I'm not sure why he would be offended by police approaching him with questions about working in the Federal Heights neighborhood. Remington's alibi for Elizabeth's kidnapping was airtight.

Thanks for the welcome! I'm going to try and get the hang of this!

Thanks for the reply Sherlock! Sorry, I think I misinterpreted the wording of your original post. I went back and re-read it, and now see what you meant when you said police wouldn't know about Remington and the robbery if Ricci had answered their questions.

I had not read any news accounts of how police had actually found out about Ricci's involvement in the robbery. Apparently I must have missed one!

I'm new to this forum, although I've been reading it for awhile. (So please bear with me on my first post!) I've also been following the case since June. I just wanted to point out that the police knew Remington was involved in the Sandy bank robbery since the day it happened. He was arrested disposing of the clothes that Ricci wore on his way to meet up with Remington and Young. Remington has been in jail since that time. I'm not sure how the police found out about the robbery--if Remington finally snitched in the hopes of getting a deal when he found out Ricci was a potential suspect in Elizabeth's disappearance, or if the DNA samples Ricci provided in Elizabeth's investigation matched up to samples that might've been taken from the clothes he wore in the bank robbery. Maybe Ricci just caved under the 26 hours of questioning. In any case, Remington has been in jail since November 2001.