CT- Annie Le, missing from Yale, thread #2

[MissJames]

If bloody clothing was found in the lab where Annie was last seen, there's a very good chance the clothing is related to AL's disappearance. What problem is it that Yale and LE will not confirm the clothes belong to Annie? The news media already knows the clothing has been found, and certainly the perp knows it.

The news conference was not informational.

I don't think the clothes necessarily belong to Annie.The perp probably had to change out of his /her bloody clothes after the attack.Otherwise he/she would have been noticed.

 

[MissJames]

A couple of thoughts - agreeing & just observations:

Clogs in the lab/hospital and heels in the office/office hours/clinic - quite common for doctors/researchers.

It's books in the photo. Look at the non-distorted photos published in the news articles.

It's latex lab gloves holding the door. A young women with a ballerina bun - keeps the hair out of the petri dishes. Also common. Fist - her hands were dirty, or, she was getting ready to take the books from Annie. Wearing lab gloves to a building exit door? That struck me as kinda different, but I don't know their set-up. This girl holding the door, perhaps was expecting Annie or, just being polite noticing Annie's loaded arms? Surely she has been located & interviewed. IMO this is the same pix as the one that's been in all the news articles. Different angle, video catches the doorway & the girl holding the door. Angle distorts the books so they look like a nice big cat. Check out the foot position on the tiles and you'll see. Annie's head position is the same.

Security Card Swipes have to happen all over the building. Elevator, floor, lab rooms. You can't get on a floor you aren't authorized to be on. You can't get in a lab you don't have a swipe authorization for. Think high security clearance. Like on TV. They can likely follow Annie's swipes around the building on their system that day. I hope so anyway.

IMO: Yale will not protect a professor from any police investigation. Yale will protect a professor, his team, his grad & undergrad students from wild and unfair public speculation, thus no more Bennett Lab website page. Bennett bio page still up. He's a big boy, he can take it. But they're going to protect the students. Good for Yale.

They were very slow to close the building and make it a crime scene. Not until they found her clothes with the blood. That bothers me. They must have had reason to think she'd left that building.

Want more on the clothes and WHERE in the building they were found, and how they were found.

Found it interesting that they brought german shepards in today. Bloodhouds earlier in the week. Best to let the crime dog-trainers in the pool comment on that - if its of any significance at all.

Now, just noodling a little:

Working on the e-mail cancelling Annie's TA- lab. Bennet's lab is a closely knit crew - a family. Someone must have had enough info to know that Annie would miss that class. Perhaps Bennett has good alibis such as "I was lecturing 40 students" across campus in a different building and then went to lunch. Perhaps there's some logical reason members of the team knew Annie couldn't show up to TA, they told Bennett, and Bennett passed it on. Perhaps the culprit is the one that told Bennett that Annie wasn't showing up at work that day.

It's been explained that she was due at lab (had it reserved) for lab work at 10 AM. She didn't show. If this is accurate info, and if I'm understanding things, she arrived at the building at that time per the video, but never made it to lab? She was waylaid? Is the timeline here shorter than we think? Like the time it takes to get from the door (or wherever her 1st card swipe was) to the lab? 5 minutes? She was somehow waylaid in those 5 minutes? How many swipes did her card see that day? Since? Is the card with the clothes? Was the fire alarm the ruse to move her body - 3 hours later?

We know so little. I guess we must just be patient. And that is so very hard.

Just a guess,but the bloodhounds were probably trying to pick up Annie's scent ,as in tracking dogs.The german shepherds are most likely trained cadaver dogs.They don't track,they hit on area where there has been ,or is a human, deceased body. Two very different techniques.

 

[Trino]

I don't think the clothes necessarily belong to Annie.The perp probably had to change out of his /her bloody clothes after the attack.Otherwise he/she would have been noticed.

So, why not describe the clothes? Bloody male clothing found? Bloody female clothing found?

 

[Jersey*Girl]

I just read, and haven't seen this mentioned, that the building is connected to a parking structure. Has anyone found mention of a police scan of all floors and security still takes of the parking structure? This was part of a comment from the NH Register online:

QUOTE
That building is attached to a parking structure and may even have tunnels connecting it to other nearby buildings.
ENDQUOTE

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/09/12/news/new_haven/a1_--_annie_update.txt

And here's something else from the same link that has me thinking:

QUOTE
Barry Os secrets wrote on Sep 12, 2009 9:59 AM:
" http://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=6837
Why would a leftist dictator divert so much money to molecular research at yale under the guise of "stimulating the economy"?
I think her disappearance is tied into what she knew about what was going on in the lab. "
ENDQUOTE

 

[nursebeeme]

just checking in on this case before I head to work... wow... bloody clothing found in the ceiling... not good!

Also, very interesting that Bennett noticed she had not come into work at NOON. That is BEFORE THE ALARM WENT OFF... and than he cancels his pathology class that she was a TA in? Why??? Very strange...

 

[nursebeeme]

HARTFORD -- Federal authorities and state police canine teams are searching a landfill in Hartford this morning for missing Yale graduate student Annie Le, who hasn't been seen since Tuesday.

State police canine units from across Connecticut and the FBI are combing through the landfill after receiving information that Le may have been buried there.

http://www.rep-am.com/news/doc4aace56922028508391620.txt

 

[MomofBoys]

Barry Os secrets wrote on Sep 12, 2009 9:59 AM:
" http://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=6837
Why would a leftist dictator divert so much money to molecular research at yale under the guise of "stimulating the economy"?
I think her disappearance is tied into what she knew about what was going on in the lab. "

Well, stem cell research is highly controversial anyway, and we don't know (or do we?) how integral or wide-scale this operation was in the national stem cell scene.

If the program was indeed the recipient of a large amount of tax dollars for the research, I could see them being the target of protest or extremists. But why Annie? There were undoubtedly larger fish to fry than a small-statured phD student.

Like, without getting into politics, I have serious reservations about some of the research myself. But even under the guise of non-violent protest, I couldn't imagine targeting the program on the research level. I'd go after the people funding it. The administrators. People who have a say in how the research is conducted. My sister-in-law is a phD immunology researcher and they are big into the stem cells, too. It'd never occur to me that someone would target HER, but maybe I'm underestimating the zealotness of some people. Plus, I'd think that anyone wanting to draw attention to the issue would abduct her and use it as leverage to "get the word out." We haven't gotten reports of a letter or calls or anything to indicate this is the result of an extremist or group of extremists.

ETA: That landfill report is really demoralizing. I wonder if they have whoever it is in custody and he's talking. They don't search landfills without cause, do they? It's dangerous work.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Well, stem cell research is highly controversial anyway, and we don't know (or do we?) how integral or wide-scale this operation was in the national stem cell scene.

If the program was indeed the recipient of a large amount of tax dollars for the research, I could see them being the target of protest or extremists. But why Annie? There were undoubtedly larger fish to fry than a small-statured phD student.

Like, without getting into politics, I have serious reservations about some of the research myself. But even under the guise of non-violent protest, I couldn't imagine targeting the program on the research level. I'd go after the people funding it. The administrators. People who have a say in how the research is conducted. My sister-in-law is a phD immunology researcher and they are big into the stem cells, too. It'd never occur to me that someone would target HER, but maybe I'm underestimating the zealotness of some people.

While I don't agree with the political view of the poster from that list of article comments, I think it's interesting. I love science and finding out answers to how things work...including how they start or begin and then reproduce as well as breakdown, therefore I am a huge supporter of research in any avenue.

The question that's on my mind is that Susan Jovin's case hasn't been solved yet and I thought I remembered her parents were highly suspicious of a yale employee. What about if this is a repeat offender? Also, I questioned this from the very beginning, why the paltry reward? Please don't anyone take that out of context, but just think about it. I think there may be meaning to it. Maybe, if they thought she were missing and had knowledge of sensitive material, they would have offered at least 50K. 10K sort of seems trivial with the money that flows through their campus and knowing they still have an unsolved crime with what happened to Susan Jovin. Something reeks, imo.

Also, does anyone know if there are finger or hand/eye scans in the Amistad building? We know about the card key scans, but what about other high security scans?

 

[Chili Fries]

Any political assassination doesn't seem to fit because, beyond the fact that it's far from clear that Annie worked with stem cells at Yale, if you killed somebody for political reasons you would probably want the body to be found as a testament.

I still think robbery doesn't fit either because the body would also probably be left in a robbery gone bad so that leaves the sex angle, which makes the most sense. Jealousy, obsession or just a random sex attack or abduction seems the most likely cause.

 

[eyes4crime]

http://www.rep-am.com/news/doc4aace56922028508391620.txt

A landfill? Treating beautiful, brilliant Annie like trash makes me sick. Maybe a witness or a perp is talking. Let's find Annie on her wedding day so she can be put to rest in peace.

If she is found, my guess is that the murderer stuffed his bloody clothes up in the ceiling - changed clothes, and rolled her out? How could all that happen in a supposedly secure building?

My heartfelt sympathies go out to Annie's loved ones who have lost a beautiful, kind, and giving human being. Her contributions to society would have been immense.

 

[sniperacer]

I think the perp picked her because she wrote the newspaper article about saftey on campus.

This was my first thought as well.

 

[Beyond Belief]

I wonder abt a delivery entrance to the building. What kind of deliveries would a place like that have?

 

[Adude]

I'm a grad student in a similar field so I guess I'll chime in.

What she is carrying in that picture is probably a stack (or two stacks) of papers for the class she was TAing. They could be graded exams, newly printed out tests, etc. The important thing is that this would imply that at the moment she was captured on camera her intention was to TA, not to run away.

I don't think it is suspicious at all that her advisor/professor cancelled class when she didnt show up. Often what the TA is bringing to class is important for that class. For instance, if she were bringing graded exams perhaps the plan for class that day was to go over the questions on the exams.
Also, labs tend to be close knit. When she didn't show up people probably tried contacting her on her cell phone and when she didn't answer this caused suspicion.

It's extremely unlikely that the perpetrator had a political agenda. An animal rights activist might break a bunch of equipment and release some mice but hurting a nice 4 foot 11 girl is rather unlikely.

A robbery probably isn't that likely, although possible. These labs often do have millions of dollars of equipment and reagents. In fact, the key pads are usually more a precaution to protect equipment than people. However, why would someone rob a lab in broad daylight? That doesn't really make sense.

People generally show up for lab work between 9:30 and 10:30. Labs are usually very open spaces and social (people from other labs walk in and out) This makes it unlikely that she would be attacked in a lab without a major diversion, perhaps the fire alarm was that diversion. I think that it's more likely she was attacked in a stairwell, office, basement etc.

 

[Trino]

Snipped...

ETA: That landfill report is really demoralizing. I wonder if they have whoever it is in custody and he's talking. They don't search landfills without cause, do they? It's dangerous work.

Maybe LE realized the trash had been taken at just the right time. Maybe the dogs tracked her scent to a trash bin. Awful...
I wonder if there was a security camera in the area where the trash was collected, and the perp was seen placing her in a bin.

 

[Labrat]

My hypothesis-
I'm speculating that the animal facility is in the basement of that building- where the clothes were found. You would sign up to reserve a procedure room (since they are shared by many) to work with your animals, you would not sign up to work in your lab. Keep in mind I am speculating from what I know- Yale may be different.

I think she swiped into the building and went straight to the animal facility. This would be why she left her personal belongings in her office (can't take that stuff in to an animal facility) and why the people in the lab said she didn't come in that day. I would take a good look at the animal facility employees. I am thinking this had nothing to do with the nature of her research and everything to do with someone's interest in a very pretty young woman. Someone may have been watching her for a while, approached her that day, she fought back and it took off from there.

I am wondering if it is only mice in that building or if there are large animals too? Where I am, animal carcasses go out in biohazard barrels.

Sorry for that image.

One of these employees would have an access card, would have a reason for being there, would be familiar with her- although she might not have paid attention to them, and would most likely know hiding places, ways in and out that researchers might not be aware of.
I am wondering if these Yale buildings are connected by tunnels?

 

[Labrat]

I wonder abt a delivery entrance to the building. What kind of deliveries would a place like that have?

Lab supplies, animals, office supplies, large gas and liquid nitrogen tanks on a regular basis, large equipment- freezers, centrifuges.

There would most likely be a loading dock, I would think.

 

[koozya]

There are two very detailed articles about waste removal from the research buildings at Yale Medical School in the graduate student publication that, tragically, Annie wrote for as well.

The first article is on non-hazardous/non-biological waste. The second is on biological/biomedical waste.

bbs.yale.edu/images/B8_3.pdf

bbs.yale.edu/images/B9_1.pdf

With the details provided in these articles any fellow colleague (student, researcher or professor) who had read the articles would have a very, very good idea about how waste is treated and how it flows from the labs all the way to the landfill.

Reading these articles now is chilling - just sickening. To me, the thought that she was treated as waste is horrible and would represent a sick and coldly calculated plan motivated by pure hate. In my opinion this could have only been done by someone that was involved in research and knew her well.

 

[passionflower]

I'm a grad student in a similar field so I guess I'll chime in.

What she is carrying in that picture is probably a stack (or two stacks) of papers for the class she was TAing. They could be graded exams, newly printed out tests, etc. The important thing is that this would imply that at the moment she was captured on camera her intention was to TA, not to run away.

I don't think it is suspicious at all that her advisor/professor cancelled class when she didnt show up. Often what the TA is bringing to class is important for that class. For instance, if she were bringing graded exams perhaps the plan for class that day was to go over the questions on the exams.
Also, labs tend to be close knit. When she didn't show up people probably tried contacting her on her cell phone and when she didn't answer this caused suspicion.

It's extremely unlikely that the perpetrator had a political agenda. An animal rights activist might break a bunch of equipment and release some mice but hurting a nice 4 foot 11 girl is rather unlikely.

A robbery probably isn't that likely, although possible. These labs often do have millions of dollars of equipment and reagents. In fact, the key pads are usually more a precaution to protect equipment than people. However, why would someone rob a lab in broad daylight? That doesn't really make sense.

People generally show up for lab work between 9:30 and 10:30. Labs are usually very open spaces and social (people from other labs walk in and out) This makes it unlikely that she would be attacked in a lab without a major diversion, perhaps the fire alarm was that diversion. I think that it's more likely she was attacked in a stairwell, office, basement etc.

Thankyou and WELCOME, we need this type of imput!

 

[Labrat]

If she is found, my guess is that the murderer stuffed his bloody clothes up in the ceiling - changed clothes, and rolled her out? How could all that happen in a supposedly secure building?
.

Animal facilities have locker rooms/showers for the animal care techs- often they shower in and out. Required to wear scrubs and paper gowns, shoe covers, bonnets, masks, and gloves (PPE) to enter the facility. Researchers are able to put the PPE over their street clothes to go in, but I have never seen a husbandry tech in street clothes.

 

[MomofBoys]

I am wondering if it is only mice in that building or if there are large animals too? Where I am, animal carcasses go out in biohazard barrels.

Sorry for that image.

It's definitely worth exploring. I'd also think there are more than mice in that building. My SIL has chimps on down. Sad.

Anyway, it wasn't a research facility, but I did work in a vet clinic. Our euthanized animals would be bagged and put into a cooler until a special service came to remove and cremate them. However, I do know an animal control facility (I fostered a dog from there) that would euthanize and dump the bodies in the surrounding landfill. The pound was actually IN a landfill.

It could go either way, and the implications are really quite horrible. That said, unless the perp was actually in charge of removing the animals, her body would have been discovered if their animals were taken to a crematory. A landfill? Not as likely.

In that scenario, the killer would be someone familiar with the lab and its means of research animal disposal, or more unlikely, someone who actually is responsible for the removal.