Maybe he could clearly see the flashlight, but not McGowen - he went for a sure shot, speculation, imo.Was he trying to shoot the flashlight? Why wouldn't he try to shoot McGowen?
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Maybe he could clearly see the flashlight, but not McGowen - he went for a sure shot, speculation, imo.Was he trying to shoot the flashlight? Why wouldn't he try to shoot McGowen?
Was he trying to shoot the flashlight? Why wouldn't he try to shoot McGowen?
Hey, OK, dont hurt me, he said in a squeaky voice, reaching with one hand to peel off his mask. But it was a mime trick; with his other hand he fired a shot at McGowen. The bullet shattered McGowens flashlight, sending shards into his eyes. The Ransacker jumped a fence and escaped. The plundering in Visalia stopped. Months later the East Area Rapist attacks in Sacramento began.
This has always intrigued me. Shooting a pistol is not easy. Especially when you are wearing a ski mask, and running from a cop that just took a shot at you!
To turn, raise a gun, and shoot out a flash light, is extremely impressive.
With his ability to get into houses, and leave the area in a stealth pattern, let alone the marksmanship, points me in the direction of a special operations personnel. Ranger, Green Beret, Seal, or Recon Marine.
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It's a good shot but it could also be a bit of luck also. Eyes will go to the light automatically when reacting in a situation like that
I can see that, but he has made a few impressive moves while under stress. Some people are just naturally cool in situations, but this guy acts like he was trained to do this.
Special operations people are trained to get around tough situations, security, etc. just seems he was extremely good.
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The thing that bothers me the most with SF training the most is his height and age. A 5,5 SF guy isn't that common. A guy of his suspected age being SF also not very common. One thing that did lean credit to training for me is his supposed smell and dog reactions. I have long heard old special forces tricks of mixing blood and cocaine on the ground to stop a dog from tracking you.
He did like to wear that old army green a lot in his early years it seems but his outfits are a point of interest to me lately. Such a huge array of outfits and always the same few styles of shoes lol..
Where has it been stated that he was 5'5"? Most of the descriptions I've read have him around 5'9" or 5'10".
In any case, I DO believe that he was in the military at some point. I don't really have an opinion on whether or not he was special forces. (I do though also think he was a little older than a lot of the descriptions suggest--like 24 or 25 years old at the start of the east area rapes).
I think the simplest explanation is still that he was trying to shoot McGowan and he hit the flashlight by chance. The reasoning just seems circular to me: "EAR was a crack shot! Proof: He nailed the flashlight!" What makes us sure he was aiming at the flashlight? "Well he hit it, didn't he? And everyone knows EAR was a crack shot!"
He did some remarkable things under stress but he also mixed up his intended victim (1976-11-10), choked when his routine was preempted (1979-07-05), playacted completely unconvincingly at talking to a second person, and so forth. To me, that seems like a skilled criminal who had good and bad nights, not like a thoroughly drilled commando.
I think the simplest explanation is still that he was trying to shoot McGowan and he hit the flashlight by chance. The reasoning just seems circular to me: "EAR was a crack shot! Proof: He nailed the flashlight!" What makes us sure he was aiming at the flashlight? "Well he hit it, didn't he? And everyone knows EAR was a crack shot!"
He did some remarkable things under stress but he also mixed up his intended victim (1976-11-10), choked when his routine was preempted (1979-07-05), playacted completely unconvincingly at talking to a second person, and so forth. To me, that seems like a skilled criminal who had good and bad nights, not like a thoroughly drilled commando.
Have any of the well-known profilers (Douglas, Ressler, Walter, etc.) done a write-up on what kind of person they think EAR/ONS was?
It seems more likely, considering it was nighttime, that he aimed for the flashlight, which he could see. That's a definite target and something he could actually see.I think the simplest explanation is still that he was trying to shoot McGowan and he hit the flashlight by chance. The reasoning just seems circular to me: "EAR was a crack shot! Proof: He nailed the flashlight!" What makes us sure he was aiming at the flashlight? "Well he hit it, didn't he? And everyone knows EAR was a crack shot!"
He did some remarkable things under stress but he also mixed up his intended victim (1976-11-10), choked when his routine was preempted (1979-07-05), playacted completely unconvincingly at talking to a second person, and so forth. To me, that seems like a skilled criminal who had good and bad nights, not like a thoroughly drilled commando.
It seems more likely, considering it was nighttime, that he aimed for the flashlight, which he could see. That's a definite target and something he could actually see.
For what it's worth, McGowan was convinced that the Visalia Ransacker went on to be the East Area Rapist/Original Night Stalker.
Just putting it out there for people who may not be aware that this guys appears to have been on some type of amphetamine when committing these crimes. Heres why:
Bad breath: this is a major issue with amphetamine use and very common for someone using Amphetamines to have incredibly putrid revolting breath.
Talking with clench jaw: typical for people who have large amounts of amphetamines in their system. He probably deliberately wanted to talk this way anyway to disguise his voice but it would have made it fairly easy considering his jaw would have wanted to stay clenched anyway due to the drug.
Small penis size and limp penis: this is a major issue for amphetamine use, a mans penis literally shrivels up and becomes tiny, maintaining an erection becomes almost impossible, and climaxing becomes an enormous effort(most people give up)
I did some research and Amphetamine use was huge in the time period that the EAR/ONS was around, here is an example:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2377281/
If he was being prescribed amphetamines eg. Dexidrine or Dexamphetamine then I would be looking at Psychiatrists, otherwise he probably had contactswith drug dealers. Also alot of military tend to use them too.
He also did alot of his rape and murder sprees late at nighht, Amphetamines dont allow you to sleep amd increase your energy levels enormously.
In my oppinion he suffered from regular drug use, whether prescribed or recreational.
Yes.He actually stole a small amount of cocaine in one robbery. He could also be on a heavy mental drug. The dog reaction and smell, a lot of times when you are prescribed strong pills that your body can't process the remainder ends up being secreted through various forms with a smell. I always wondered if adverse reactions to medications didn't play a part in his changing MO.
Does anyone actually know what was said in the 1991 prank call?