CO CO - Roger Ellison, 17, Cedaredge, 10 Feb 1981 #1

[Bennettras]

I've just re-read the thread. Almost two years after it was started, I feel I have little idea about who Roger Ellison was.

Along the way, at least five WS members have indicated special knowledge of at least some aspect of the case. As well, others have asked many pertinent questions.

It's extremely difficult to conceive of theories - to sleuth, in other words - if one doesn't know much about the victim. Blind alleys abound.

Below, I've sifted through earlier questions, selecting only ones involving Roger himself. Answers to these questions would aid discussion, and discussion could lead to resolution.

* What sort of crowd did Roger run with, or was he a loner?
* Was he popular with his classmates?
* Did he have a girlfriend?
* Did Roger have issues regarding his sexual orientation?
* Were there changes in Roger's appearance before he went missing?
* What was the topic of the assignment Roger took to his teacher's house?
* What were his interests other than skiing?
* What might have been his major in college?
* Did his evidently good grades drop in the time just prior to his disappearance?
* Was he troubled in any way regarding his competitive skiing?
* Did his alleged injury lead to depression?
* Was Roger a religious person? Did he attend church services?
* Did he experiment with drugs or use alcohol?
* Did he ever have run-ins with authority?
* Was he ever known to hitchhike?
* Was he in correspondence with acquaintences living away from his hometown?
* If he had problems, would he tend to seek out others his age, or seek out adults?

Great post. Very helpful. I believe, but am not sure, that Roger had four siblings. Do you know anything at all about them during and after the time of Roger's disappearance, other than silver1sb's posts?

 

[wfgodot]

Great post. Very helpful. I believe, but am not sure, that Roger had four siblings. Do you know anything at all about them during and after the time of Roger's disappearance, other than silver1sb's posts?

Not a thing. Everything I know about the case I've read either here on the WS thread, or on Charley Project, or from having followed the "Help crack a closed case" blog.

 

[Bennettras]

You misread his post. Kevmob has never claimed to be Roger's brother, read back and you will see that he is not Roger's brother or even related.

Care to share your theory?

Danaya,

My theory is that after Roger put his belongings in his locker (downstairs), he went out the (I believe south) door of the HS - there are no classroom windows on that side of the school. I believe that he saw/heard something going on in Pash's yard, near the 'wall' (where the smokers hung out), that he wasn't supposed to hear or see. If Pash's was truly the place to get your pot, something could have happened this way. I believe he was taken and killed immediately after his disappearance. IMHO.

It would be nice if LE would release more information regarding the poachers, and, if they even feel they are credible or not. Very frustrating indeed. I found your vision, dream, whichever you like, to be very detailed, the kind that maybe can only come through certain people. Hopefully soon, Roger's family can have some peace. All it takes is that one person willing to come forward.

 

[Danaya]

Danaya,

My theory is that after Roger put his belongings in his locker (downstairs), he went out the (I believe south) door of the HS - there are no classroom windows on that side of the school. I believe that he saw/heard something going on in Pash's yard, near the 'wall' (where the smokers hung out), that he wasn't supposed to hear or see. If Pash's was truly the place to get your pot, something could have happened this way. I believe he was taken and killed immediately after his disappearance. IMHO.

It would be nice if LE would release more information regarding the poachers, and, if they even feel they are credible or not. Very frustrating indeed. I found your vision, dream, whichever you like, to be very detailed, the kind that maybe can only come through certain people. Hopefully soon, Roger's family can have some peace. All it takes is that one person willing to come forward.

Thanks for the input. I find it's helpful to write initials instead of names, I know in certain threads they do that. So one of the initial names I use is JP.

So, what do you think Roger saw, maybe some pot smoking or dealing? It just seems trivial to kill someone because of pot, if Roger really did go and drop his homework off at Pash's then maybe he already knew and/or was in on it. Maybe he was a real clean cut guy who would have told someone if he saw that and it scared JP so much... but then he would have to be able to "grab" Roger who was an athletic guy and drag him off some where! That would be sort of odd.

I think he probably went off voluntarily with his killer and I don't know why he was killed, I do believe he was probably murdered but they haven't found the body. I wonder if the poachers sighting is credible, I know JP was mocking it when he posted here, saying something like it sounded straight out of a movie. He was pretty much saying it was far fetched. Why would he feel the need to say that? I wonder where JP went anyway, if he still reads these posts.

I wonder what was in this "mystery assignment". If Roger wasn't killed by someone else, there may be some theory that he took his own life. No, I think his body would have been found soon and I don't think he would have bothered going to school if that was his plan. Have the woods been searched thoroughly? Dig under JP's house!

So Roger had four siblings, I wonder if they had all been accounted for. Really, we don't know enough about any of them to be able to form a theory but if we did that may make me think less about JP.

 

[Danaya]

As the old theory goes, it's not what you say, it's how it was said. I recommend everybody take a look back and read all of the posts for Roger, which is the reason for this thread. I truly believe answers are coming soon.

Just looking back on this thread, curious, what did you mean by this and do you still think answers are coming soon?

 

[justthinkin]

Justthinkin, btw, how do you know Pash was teaching in California?

Benettras, does Lori have a pretty good idea of what she think happened to Roger?

I found an old yearbook picture of him taken probably shortly after he arrived out there. I've found two recent pics of him last year, and he is still listed as teaching at that same school this past year. He's been at the same school since at least 1988. His two kids even graduated from the high school in Madera so I am assuming he had custody of them.

I've been busy, and see a lot of posts. Maybe I'll have a chance after dinner to read them.

 

[Danaya]

I saw a picture too.

 

[Bennettras]

Thanks for the input. I find it's helpful to write initials instead of names, I know in certain threads they do that. So one of the initial names I use is JP.

So, what do you think Roger saw, maybe some pot smoking or dealing? It just seems trivial to kill someone because of pot, if Roger really did go and drop his homework off at Pash's then maybe he already knew and/or was in on it. Maybe he was a real clean cut guy who would have told someone if he saw that and it scared JP so much... but then he would have to be able to "grab" Roger who was an athletic guy and drag him off some where! That would be sort of odd.

I think he probably went off voluntarily with his killer and I don't know why he was killed, I do believe he was probably murdered but they haven't found the body. I wonder if the poachers sighting is credible, I know JP was mocking it when he posted here, saying something like it sounded straight out of a movie. He was pretty much saying it was far fetched. Why would he feel the need to say that? I wonder where JP went anyway, if he still reads these posts.

I wonder what was in this "mystery assignment". If Roger wasn't killed by someone else, there may be some theory that he took his own life. No, I think his body would have been found soon and I don't think he would have bothered going to school if that was his plan. Have the woods been searched thoroughly? Dig under JP's house!

So Roger had four siblings, I wonder if they had all been accounted for. Really, we don't know enough about any of them to be able to form a theory but if we did that may make me think less about JP.

Danaya,

I don't think it was as simple as people smoking pot, or a simple drug deal. I feel Roger witnessed something that wan't at all trivial. I feel though, that Roger knew some of the persons involved, and felt easy approaching them. I feel something was said, something went bad, poor Roger paid the price. All of us pot smokers in the day were pretty free about it in the areas where most of the student smoking went on, and not everyone who smoked cigs, smoked pot, so I don't feel it was a simple case of I caught Suzie on the wall smoking a joint. So I agree with you in that it wasn't a trivial issue. Also, in response to him being an athlete, I agree to a point, but athlete or not, you are no match for a gun. IMHO

I am having mixed feelings about the poachers. I agree with you in that JP (thanks for the 'initials lession), has remarked about things and given trivial causes for their existence. Things like this ARE the makings of Hollywood movies, and I think that in JP's postings, his heart is beating rapidly and loudly when addressing them, hoping we believe him when he tells us we shouldn't put much attention to them.

Also, JP comments that Roger was maybe dropping off his books.......Puhleeeze....I don't think someone about to kill themselves or run away is thinking, "well, I had better turn my books in before I kill myself/run away so I can get my report card at the end of the year" .......Puhleeeeze.....JP is like a scared rat IMHO

I am hoping to be able to contact a couple of people in the next week about the other siblings. If I get any info, I will post it.

 

[justthinkin]

According to JP, he was in the school when Roger disappeared. Seems like I remember JP saying he was preparing to teach which indicates to me, he didn't have a first period class.

We only have JP's word that Roger brought all his books in to school the day he disappeared. Sorry, but I don't put a whole lot of stock in that or for that matter alot of other stuff JP said.

He wasn't supposed to do this, but it's my belief JP posted under two other names here besides his own.

 

[Bennettras]

According to JP, he was in the school when Roger disappeared. Seems like I remember JP saying he was preparing to teach which indicates to me, he didn't have a first period class.

We only have JP's word that Roger brought all his books in to school the day he disappeared. Sorry, but I don't put a whole lot of stock in that or for that matter alot of other stuff JP said.

He wasn't supposed to do this, but it's my belief JP posted under two other names here besides his own.

Preparing to teach where? Yes, it does sound like he didn't have a 1st period, so there is no corroberation that he was even there. He could have been at home, or the gas station. I cannot find any information as to where, exactly, he was. Even JP doesn't say where he was, only what he was doing. Hmmm...

What other names do you suspect of being JP's?

 

[Danaya]

Danaya,

I don't think it was as simple as people smoking pot, or a simple drug deal. I feel Roger witnessed something that wan't at all trivial. I feel though, that Roger knew some of the persons involved, and felt easy approaching them. I feel something was said, something went bad, poor Roger paid the price.

Just one more question... care to share what you feel Roger may have witnessed?

I'm more along the lines of Roger was very close with his killer and wanted to go public with something that would damage his killers career and/or family.

 

[Danaya]

He wasn't supposed to do this, but it's my belief JP posted under two other names here besides his own.

Wonder if IPs can be tracked to prove or disprove that, I think it's quite possibly be true.

 

[Danaya]

Danaya,

My theory is that after Roger put his belongings in his locker (downstairs), he went out the (I believe south) door of the HS - there are no classroom windows on that side of the school.

BBM... Just wondering, how do you know that?

 

[justthinkin]

I have a few additional questions to add to the list.
1. Where else had Roger gone skiing?
2. Had he developed any close friendships with other skiiers not from his own school?
3. Besides skiing, what other interests might Roger have had?
4. What were his strongest subjects in school?
5. What did he hope to become as an adult? Line of work.
6. Are family members in agreement on what happened to Roger?
7. Was JP's wife seeing Roger when JP wasn't around?

 

[Bennettras]

Just one more question... care to share what you feel Roger may have witnessed?

I'm more along the lines of Roger was very close with his killer and wanted to go public with something that would damage his killers career and/or family.

Danaya, I also agree with your theory. It may be my theory, it may be yours, it may be neither. I have wondered about Roger's relationships, and whether or not he was in a relationship that the other person was willing to kill for to keep hidden. I think either is very possible. All of this is so frustrating with the lack of coverage, the family not being more dogged with the press at the time, or the press not being interested. Not sure which it is, but, if there was something to hide, a scandal or something, some families do not want their loved ones dragged through the mud. It's a bad situation for everyone. How sad.

 

[justthinkin]

Preparing to teach where? Yes, it does sound like he didn't have a 1st period, so there is no corroberation that he was even there. He could have been at home, or the gas station. I cannot find any information as to where, exactly, he was. Even JP doesn't say where he was, only what he was doing. Hmmm...

What other names do you suspect of being JP's?

I believe other teachers may have accounted for his presence at school that morning; however, once classes started, who knows where he was?
I would dearly like to know where his classroom was located? He wouldn't necessarily have had to have been doing preparations in his classroom either. He could have been in the teacher's lounge when the bell rang or he could've been waiting in the basement hallway for the students to clear out when perhaps he confronted Roger or witnessed Roger headed over to his house.

Schools are full of rumors. I'd like to know what rumors were circulating around the school at the time of Roger's disappearance.

I can't provide you with poster's names as that is against the TOS of WS.

 

[kitbits]

When you write "This is her brother." There are two ways to interpret that. Also, I did share several theories, which were deleted by the moderator, so go ask her. Clarified?

Also, read other posts where I am asking questions to coldcase1 and sharing comments with Danaya (who has some really good insight), you seem to be hung up on one statement and wanting to spar instead of searching for information. coldcase1 is Lori and I have spoken with her. Have you? 'air & share' only seems to apply to certain people.

I have read the other posts & no I'm not hung up on one bit. If the posts were deleted, then the mods probably had a good reason--I don't have the impression that they delete things without good reason, i.e. T&C. I didn't know what you meant, as it wasn't clear. It's nice to quote what you are referring to as a courtesy--not everyone has the time to re-read hundreds of posts. And Danaya has asked on on more than one ocassion to share your theory.

I can only take 'This is her brother' to mean that 'this is her brother we are talking about.'

And I said I wasn't having a go with you, so no need to have a go at me either, please.

 

[Danaya]

And Danaya has asked on on more than one ocassion to share your theory.

He recently shared his theory. He is also along the lines of Roger may have had a relationship with someone and when he threatened to go public with it, it meant it would hurt that person's career and family so he was done away with, so to speak. He believes Roger may have stumbled on something he wasn't supposed to, as well.

I am curious, how did you know there were no windows on that side of the school, Benettras?

 

[justthinkin]

I hate to answer for someone else, but actually, Bennettras had it just a tad wrong. There are no windows on the first floor on that wall. Some pictures of the school are posted on findrogerellison.wordpress.com/
in the photo gallery.

 

[kitbits]

You misread his post. Kevmob has never claimed to be Roger's brother, read back and you will see that he is not Roger's brother or even related.

Care to share your theory?

My apologies...I think we were at cross purposes then. I was referring to this post of yours, Danaya. I missed the theory answer & only saw the reply about kevmob: 'I see, it can be read either way'. I was re-iterating your question about the 'theory'...which I assume was deleted before I could have seen it (which I would have never known about without having been told).

I hope that makes sense.