Found Deceased CA - Fang Jin, 47, flew to LA from China, train to Palm Springs, Morongo Basin, 21 Jul 2023, w/ John Root Fitzpatrick, 55, (fnd dec.), 30 Jul ‘23 #2

[Sundog]

I know this is out there, but the photos of JF cleaning made me think of this. Could someone else have been impersonating JRF during LE’s first visit to his home? Could the decomp smell be from JRF’s remains? Still trying to figure out how that would play out, but maybe the perp then stole his truck, taking FJ with him, dumped JRF, beating up the truck in the process, then abandoned it. But where is FJ?

What date was the first visit to JRF’s trailer by LE (when they smelled decomp)?
What date were the photos taken of FJ cleaning?

IMO LE is staying close-lipped and misleading because they are on to something.

How would the perp get back from Harper Canyon if they abandoned the truck there with JRF's body?

 

[cenazoic]

How would the perp get back from Harper Canyon if they abandoned the truck there with JRF's body?

Yes, that would indicate at least 2 perps (one to drive JRF’s truck, the other to drive them away).

Which, while in the realm of possibility, is overcomplicating what we currently know of the facts. Also, why? We don’t have any reason to believe (at the moment) 2 or more people entered into a conspiracy to kidnap/murder 2 other people, and also not steal some not insignificant amount of cash.

The weird thing about the decomposition smell, assuming it was human, is that it’s hard to imagine someone being killed in a mobile home park, and then later, being carted out of one of the homes, all without anyone hearing or seeing anything. Those homes are pretty close together and and not incredibly soundproof. It’s even harder to imagine that if the body was John’s, and if it was, how one person accomplished it. (So now we’re back to 2 perps…)

Just thinking out loud here.

Scenarios:

- decomp wasn’t human and unrelated to disappearance of JF/death of JRF

- JF killed there by JRF the night of the 21st, who then scouts around for a few days trying to figure out what do. Removal: duffel bag? But why leave her other belongings there? And the police report doesn’t mention any signs of a struggle: fluids from which the smell may have come; it also doesn’t mention a smell of bleach, etc. Of course there is that 2nd report, which we haven’t seen.

- JRF killed there by unknown. This is the big hangup, to me - why? I suppose it says something that I can envision various reasons why he may have killed her, but not why he may have been killed. Of course, we don’t know much/anything about his current life, like how he made money, aside from his military pension, which was likely decent.

- or, JRF kills JF, then kills himself sometime later.

- they were both killed there, which makes the involvement of more than 1 unknown 3rd party more likely.

It’s that smell which makes simple misadventure for them both seem the least likely scenario at this point.

All just pure speculation and an attempt to organize thoughts.

 

[Cedars]

Absolutely. I mentioned in an earlier post (Link) that you can get the data from some cell tower operators, but like you I'm not sure how easy or likely that is. A service provider should have each client's usage already itemized, but a cell tower dump... I have no idea.

If it's anything like a server log, searching through it could range from really simple to an absolute nightmare.

LE certainly need probable cause for a warrant, and, in addition, need to believe it is somehow key to the investigation and will lead to answers.

Perhaps they've already done it in this case. But, to be honest, a negative result wouldn't lead them to find Jin...and nor would a positive result...

JMO

 

[cenazoic]

One other note, apologies if it’s been mentioned before.

I was wondering about the timeline presented in the search warrant, and thinking it odd that JRF’s reported missing the 30th, and they’ve got a search warrant the the 1st. That’s quick work for a missing adult male.

But after reading multiple times, I finally realized the obvious - the SO was going to John’s house, warrant in hand, on the 1st, to get information about FJ. The items they’re looking for in the application are all hers (including herself, and JRF). Reason: “missing person under suspicious circumstances”.

So regardless of the open door, and the smell, they had legal right to make entry, no LE conspiracy necessary.

 

[Cedars]

One thing I've been puzzling over is why the sheriff's department has been less than truthful about their investigation.

In early August the police were claiming that the pair were "voluntarily missing" and people on this board were discussing how to get them to take the disappearance more seriously. And on August 10, the Public Information Officer told a local news channel that "it was not a criminal investigation...and there were no suspects."

We now know that by August 1, the odor of decomp had been detected and a search warrant was served on JRF's property. Saying "no comment" would have been the normal course of action, but the public information officer seems like she was actively trying to mislead. Why?

This is speculation, but I'm wondering if they thought that JRF left to dispose of the body and expected him to return home at some point with a convenient story about how FJ went her own way. if so they may have wanted him to think they weren't investigating, so as not to scare him off before they could take him into custody. Of course that would have all gone out the window when they discovered his truck and his body.

Yes, I agree that LE everywhere do not reveal details of an ongoing investigation, so that witnesses, perps, etc, are not biased by that information.

But also, the job of police is to find factual evidence that will prove what happened. It is completely illegal for them to speculate to the news media, or encourage speculation in the news media, about a man whose constitutional right is to be regarded as innocent until proven guilty.

JMO

 

[slowpoke]

One other note, apologies if it’s been mentioned before.

I was wondering about the timeline presented in the search warrant, and thinking it odd that JRF’s reported missing the 30th, and they’ve got a search warrant the the 1st. That’s quick work for a missing adult male.

But after reading multiple times, I finally realized the obvious - the SO was going to John’s house, warrant in hand, on the 1st, to get information about FJ. The items they’re looking for in the application are all hers (including herself, and JRF). Reason: “missing person under suspicious circumstances”.

So regardless of the open door, and the smell, they had legal right to make entry, no LE conspiracy necessary.

Yes, in an earlier post of mine, I noticed that the search warrant document for 8/1 had Fang’s case number at the top, and the 8/3 one had JRF’s at the top.

 

[Megnut]

The obvious question, was there the scent of decomp in the truck?

 

[I'm Nobody]

It would be helpful to know if the flip-flops Fang wore in the cleaning pictures are the same "sandals" taken in search warrant one, item #3 Sandals, #5 Green Shoes. No hiking boots collected?

JMO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“We think something bad happened on the night of July 21 or the morning of the 22nd,” said David Schmidt, whose wife is from China and is a friend of Jin’s family.

“This was a romantic relationship,” he said. “We have pages of texts demonstrating that.”

On July 17, Schmidt said, Jin talked to a family friend in the U.S. and complained that the water and electricity were often turned off where she was staying. She also said they were talking about visiting Fitzpatrick’s family on the East Coast.

On July 21, Jin shared a final video. Taken after dark from inside a moving vehicle, the 11-second video shows the landscape as the vehicle goes down Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms. She appears to be traveling north past the Palms Baptist Church.

A caption to the video was shared separately, Schmidt said. His wife translated it from Chinese as, “This is a small town in the desert. At night there are a lot of lights. …… Preparing to go camping.”

Schmidt called the video “ominous.” Why would they go camping after dark? Where were they headed?

“We are under the impression that the body was Fitzpatrick,” Schmidt said.
Fitzpatrick and Jin continues.

Schmidt said her family wants to organize searches but don’t know where they should look.
“They want to locate her and bring her home,” he said.

“It’s getting more and more depressing for them.”

Body linked to missing persons case: Veteran and visitor may have been on base before disappearance

MORONGO BASIN — A video of Adobe Road at night. A search warrant served at a Morongo Valley mobile home. And then a body in Anza-Borrego. The disappearance of Morongo

www.hidesertstar.com

 

[Sarah McGregor]

How would the perp get back from Harper Canyon if they abandoned the truck there with JRF's body?

I've thought about this one. Dirtbike/motorcycle in the back of the truck.

 

[deadfoot13]

“We think something bad happened on the night of July 21 or the morning of the 22nd,” said David Schmidt, whose wife is from China and is a friend of Jin’s family.

“This was a romantic relationship,” he said. “We have pages of texts demonstrating that.”

On July 17, Schmidt said, Jin talked to a family friend in the U.S. and complained that the water and electricity were often turned off where she was staying. She also said they were talking about visiting Fitzpatrick’s family on the East Coast.

On July 21, Jin shared a final video. Taken after dark from inside a moving vehicle, the 11-second video shows the landscape as the vehicle goes down Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms. She appears to be traveling north past the Palms Baptist Church.

A caption to the video was shared separately, Schmidt said. His wife translated it from Chinese as, “This is a small town in the desert. At night there are a lot of lights. …… Preparing to go camping.”

Schmidt called the video “ominous.” Why would they go camping after dark? Where were they headed?

“We are under the impression that the body was Fitzpatrick,” Schmidt said.
Fitzpatrick and Jin continues.

Schmidt said her family wants to organize searches but don’t know where they should look.
“They want to locate her and bring her home,” he said.

“It’s getting more and more depressing for them.”

Body linked to missing persons case: Veteran and visitor may have been on base before disappearance

MORONGO BASIN — A video of Adobe Road at night. A search warrant served at a Morongo Valley mobile home. And then a body in Anza-Borrego. The disappearance of Morongo

www.hidesertstar.com

Just jumping off this post -- the article mentions that on 7/17 FJ reported to a friends that there was an issue with water and power:

"On July 17, Schmidt said, Jin talked to a family friend in the U.S. and complained that the water and electricity were often turned off where she was staying. She also said they were talking about visiting Fitzpatrick’s family on the East Coast."

I wonder what would cause an intermittent loss of utilities? It doesn't sound like there was no water or power consistently. At any rate, a loss of power could certainly be a cause of a decomposition smell if food in the refrigerator/freezer unthawed and spoiled.

MOO.

 

[I'm Nobody]

What? Water or electricity often turned off????????
Is that a power grid thing when the temp is too high for many days?
Did JRF like glamping in his mobile home.
Or control issues?????

Just jumping off this post -- the article mentions that on 7/17 FJ reported to a friends that there was an issue with water and power:

"On July 17, Schmidt said, Jin talked to a family friend in the U.S. and complained that the water and electricity were often turned off where she was staying. She also said they were talking about visiting Fitzpatrick’s family on the East Coast."

I wonder what would cause an intermittent loss of utilities? It doesn't sound like there was no water or power consistently. At any rate, a loss of power could certainly be a cause of a decomposition smell if food in the refrigerator/freezer unthawed and spoiled.

MOO.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

Do we think the truck crashed or that it was caught in a torrential gully, thrown this way and that?

 

[Megnut]

If FJ sent her final video and subtext, was she being purposefully cryptic, hoping against all hope her family would pick up on it. SOS, distress signal, didn't feel good about where they were headed.

JMO

 

[tarabull]

“We think something bad happened on the night of July 21 or the morning of the 22nd,” said David Schmidt, whose wife is from China and is a friend of Jin’s family.

“This was a romantic relationship,” he said. “We have pages of texts demonstrating that.”

On July 17, Schmidt said, Jin talked to a family friend in the U.S. and complained that the water and electricity were often turned off where she was staying. She also said they were talking about visiting Fitzpatrick’s family on the East Coast.

On July 21, Jin shared a final video. Taken after dark from inside a moving vehicle, the 11-second video shows the landscape as the vehicle goes down Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms. She appears to be traveling north past the Palms Baptist Church.

A caption to the video was shared separately, Schmidt said. His wife translated it from Chinese as, “This is a small town in the desert. At night there are a lot of lights. …… Preparing to go camping.”

Schmidt called the video “ominous.” Why would they go camping after dark? Where were they headed?

“We are under the impression that the body was Fitzpatrick,” Schmidt said.
Fitzpatrick and Jin continues.

Schmidt said her family wants to organize searches but don’t know where they should look.
“They want to locate her and bring her home,” he said.

“It’s getting more and more depressing for them.”

Body linked to missing persons case: Veteran and visitor may have been on base before disappearance

MORONGO BASIN — A video of Adobe Road at night. A search warrant served at a Morongo Valley mobile home. And then a body in Anza-Borrego. The disappearance of Morongo

www.hidesertstar.com

snipped...
...The person is still identified as “John Doe.” San Bernardino County sheriff’s spokesperson Mara Rodriguez said Monday that both Jin and Fitzpatrick are still considered missing persons.


Whiskey Tango...

 

[Megnut]

The man seen with JRF on duct tape day, if he hasn't come forward, is it possible that he expired in the trailer?

 

[tarabull]

I was looking at the map and immediately thought of Mickey Guidry's case. This is because I go camping at Anza Borrego 1-2x per year, and I've been thinking about Mickey Guidry ever since. He was a troubled16 year old boy who got stranded in his vehicle in the area. The vehicle was located, but he was never found. However, his clothes were located in December 2022, at the south part of Harper Canyon where it joins Harper Flat! In fact, the searchers postulate that Mickey was trying to get to Harper Canyon and then a mobile home park, but succumbed to the elements.

Here is a map from the Help Find Mickey Guidry facebook page (comments under his mom's March 2023 post). This red line is the trail they speculate that Mickey was taking. It's practically an exact match of where this jawbone etc was found.
View attachment 454349

Would Fang Jin or JRF's remains already be this decomposed if they disappeared in July?? If this is an older jawbone, I am guessing it might be Mickey Guidry's.

:BUMP:

 

[crhedBngr]

Just jumping off this post -- the article mentions that on 7/17 FJ reported to a friends that there was an issue with water and power:

"On July 17, Schmidt said, Jin talked to a family friend in the U.S. and complained that the water and electricity were often turned off where she was staying. She also said they were talking about visiting Fitzpatrick’s family on the East Coast."

I wonder what would cause an intermittent loss of utilities? It doesn't sound like there was no water or power consistently. At any rate, a loss of power could certainly be a cause of a decomposition smell if food in the refrigerator/freezer unthawed and spoiled.

MOO.

RBBM

I feel so very badly for FJ and her Family and Friends.

This was supposed to be a relaxing and fun trip for her. Now, water and electricity often turned off?

Cost savings measures by JRF, or control issues?

JMVHO.

 

[deadfoot13]

What? Water or electricity often turned off????????
Is that a power grid thing when the temp is too high for many days?
Did JRF like glamping in his mobile home.
Or control issues?????




JMO

I am leaning towards issues either due to weather/temperature, or problems with the supply equipment. If the trailer park is on a well, a pump is needed to get the water from well to tap and no electricity would result in no water, either.

MOO.

 

[ZVT24]

This is a bit off-topic, but I’m curious…if JRF’s divorce was not finalized upon his death, does his estranged wife get his estate and military benefits?