GUILTY DC - David Messerschmitt, 30, murdered in Washington hotel room, 9 Feb 2015 #1

[DexterMorgan]

That's what the Judge is quoted as saying in the article I linked to.

I find that really peculiar; don't get me wrong, I hope and pray that if I'm ever in a similar situations my parents and siblings act so quickly but there's something weird about it:

I think that we can all agree that the wife contacted DM's parents and brother in the first hours of Tuesday (after midnight turned Monday into Tuesday), but why?

Did she contact:
- DM's colleagues?
- DM's friends?
- DM's cellular carrier to ascertain the location of his mobile?
- If DM commuted by automobile, did the car have an On Star or a similar service? If so did she contact that service to locate his vehicle (if he had a car)?
- If DM commuted via Metro, did she contact the Metro police to report him missing and potentially persuade them to review footage?
- Did she contact his credit card company to review most recent charges to potentially get an idea of where he went after leaving the office?
- If he usually went to the gym after work, did she contact the gym to inquire if his card was scanned checking him into the gym?

Any one of the items I listed above would have done more to assist the police and narrow the search area when she filed the missing persons report than calling family members hundreds of miles away to alert them that it's four hours later than DM said he'd be home and DM is still not home and therefore he's missing.

Reminds me of Laci Peterson's mom found it very strange that when Scott called her on Christmas Eve he said "Laci is missing."

She called the police 6 hrs after his 7:30 pm text. Which means she called around 1:30 am. I think she acted quickly in this case and didnt lag around and wait too long. Maybe his hotel stay was part of a suicide/murder plan that i mentioned on the previous page. This could explain why the family is staying mum because he could have shared this with them so his benefits and insurance could go to them. This could be why it seems like a deliberate murder and why the person was let in. His text to his wife could have been the signal to say that it is about to happen. Idk. If traces from his phone or computer cant connect the dots then this could be a plausible theory as well.

 

[BrittMontero]

Hi all,

Just chiming in to say I finally watched the YouTube video and to me there is no question that it's a young male. Every gesture and mannerism, to me, says "young man" from the way the elevator button is slapped to the gait(s) to the way the hand is held in front of the face.

A chubby, young male. The jacket and pants seem adequate to the season. Another clue: As a woman myself, I cannot imagine or envision any woman going anywhere without a bag of some sort. Of course one can keep one's ID in a pocket, and money or credit-cards but surely someone in the escort business or someone meeting for an assignation in a hotel room would want a few other supplies, from comb and lipstick to personal care products. It just doesn't seem realistic to me that a young woman wouldn't have a shoulder bag. (I contemplated that maybe it's a small cross-body bag under the jacket but... still not buying it.)

 

[HastingsChi]

HastingsChi, I so am in agreement with you.
Seems normal to me to wait to see if missing would show up at work in the am, especially since:
1) all was "normal " the day before
2) he left work on time that day
3) there was no weather related or other delaying disasters in DC that evening
4) he was not in an isolated location without access to transpo, atms etc., rather the most opposite.

Something not right. IMO.

I don't know if I'd wait until the next morning to see if he showed up to work; when it got closer to 10pm and calls/SMS were not being answered by DM, if he commuted by car I'd worry that he'd been in an accident. Then I'd start doing the most obvious thing I listed: call his mobile provider and get the location of his phone (or if the car had On Star, even better). Then I'd drive or taxi to that location. If there was no obvious accident/sign of recent accident (debris in road) I'd check if he was at GWU Hospital or Howard University Hospital (two closest to his office and the Donavan). If not, I'd keep going through that list of obvious things one does when you're worried about someone but not ready to make them a missing person.

Why? Because doing that legwork before you are faced with needing to involve law enforcement will be a huge help to law enforcement and give them an educated start which will increase the likelihood of him being found.

She is a smart, well educated woman who works in a rapidly changing, challenging environment. Dealing with and working hard to resolve stressful situations is a lot of her job description.

If she didn't have the instinctual initiative to do some of those basic things I listed and instead chose to alert the family that he's five hours late and freak them out enough to drop everything and travel hundreds of miles immediately by telling them he's late and she's worried but nothing further than something is seriously wrong here. Right?

 

[FelicityLemon]

Speaking as a worrywart and knowing how dangerous DC can be, I'd be likely to jump the gun, too. If, after having called and texted several times and getting no response I'd call anyone locally that I know is close to him to ask if they knew anything or had heard from him, then follow with calling at least one of family members to ask the same thing. One family member would contact others and there it is. She wouldn't have to say he's missing, just ask if they'd heard from him and the rest follows naturally.

Also, if for some reason she didn't contact his family, LE would do that before continuing to investigate. Sometimes, a family member will tell LE what they wouldn't tell a spouse, especially if the spouse isn't well-liked by family. Not saying that's true in this case because I have no clue, it's just another scenario that happens.

As for his family requesting co-workers and employers not comment to media: I don't find that suspicious in the least, I consider it good, common sense. So much gossip is repeated as fact and there's no un-ringing that bell. Disgruntled or jealous co-workers are delighted to spread gossip.

And I'M DISGUSTED BEYOND BELIEF by whomever posted "condolences" on the obituary page claiming they were representing the entire LGBT community... that was a plant and it's reprehensible. Wow. Creeps everywhere.

All my opinion, no accusations, just saying...

 

[radiator]

HastingsChi, I so am in agreement with you.
Seems normal to me to wait to see if missing would show up at work in the am, especially since:
1) all was "normal " the day before
2) he left work on time that day
3) there was no weather related or other delaying disasters in DC that evening
4) he was not in an isolated location without access to transpo, atms etc., rather the most opposite.

Something not right. IMO.

His wife was probably aware of the T.C. Maslin case which would make her likely to call sooner rather than later. Maslin was mugged on Capitol Hill (where the Messerschmitts lived) and badly beaten but wasn't discovered for 8 hours after the beating--it's possible if he'd been found sooner doctors could have reduced the damage to his brain.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...b8857a-e0da-11e2-8ae9-5db15d3c0fca_story.html

 

[Concerned Mama]

If my husband texted me that he would be home in an hour, then didn't show, I wouldn't wait until 1:30, even, to call the police. People like DM don't get where they are in the legal field without being punctual and responsible, and I'd take a guess that he was punctual in his personal life, as well. JMO.

 

[HastingsChi]

If my husband texted me that he would be home in an hour, then didn't show, I wouldn't wait until 1:30, even, to call the police. People like DM don't get where they are in the legal field without being punctual and responsible, and I'd take a guess that he was punctual in his personal life, as well. JMO.

No one is questioning the time that she called law enforcement; the important point that is being highlighted is that the obvious, logical, important and actually pretty simple things one does in situations like this do not seem to have been done.

If your loved one is late and you're getting worried, is calling law enforcement to report them missing the first thing you do? Or do you do the very obvious, simple things; things that will produce critically important information that will greatly aid law enforcement?

For the sake of this scenario, let's pretend we know DM drove to and from work. If he's late and you're getting worried and can't reach him then a strong possibility would be he was in a car accident. If home and work were 2 1/2 miles apart as the case with DM, you might drive the route or call area hospitals first; right?

You wouldn't default to:
After sitting around doing nothing but waiting *shrugs shoulders* 'well he said he'd be home by 8:30pm it's now half past one, I guess I ought to call the police to report him missing.'

 

[radiator]

No one is questioning the time that she called law enforcement; the important point that is being highlighted is that the obvious, logical, important and actually pretty simple things one does in situations like this do not seem to have been done.

If your loved one is late and you're getting worried, is calling law enforcement to report them missing the first thing you do? Or do you do the very obvious, simple things; things that will produce critically important information that will greatly aid law enforcement?

For the sake of this scenario, let's pretend we know DM drove to and from work. If he's late and you're getting worried and can't reach him then a strong possibility would be he was in a car accident. If home and work were 2 1/2 miles apart as the case with DM, you might drive the route or call area hospitals first; right?

You wouldn't default to:
After sitting around doing nothing but waiting *shrugs shoulders* 'well he said he'd be home by 8:30pm it's now half past one, I guess I ought to call the police to report him missing.'

What makes you think she sat around doing nothing? It's entirely impossible she did a wide variety of things before calling the police.

 

[monkey222]

IMO, waiting until nightlife closing time (where did she think he was at 730p text time...at work? at gym? with client? friends? where?) was passed would seem normal at least to me, to make LE call, after exhausting all other avenues.

 

[Happyshoes]

I think she couldn't sleep not knowing where he was, I know I couldn't. Maybe she could check his AEX account like I can mine and my husbands or our ATM card to see where he'd been last and it didn't make sense to her. I would have checked those things and wherever else I think hubby might be before I called the police especially in a big city like DC. JMO

 

[MICHIALACU12]

I thought she worked for a hospital?

 

[RAJ]

If my husband texted me that he would be home in an hour, then didn't show, I wouldn't wait until 1:30, even, to call the police. People like DM don't get where they are in the legal field without being punctual and responsible, and I'd take a guess that he was punctual in his personal life, as well. JMO.

I completely agree with you. And, assuming the wife is not involved, I bet she did everything in her power to reach her husband before making the call to LE. I find it strange that any spouse would wait until the next day to see if his or her spouse went to work before declaring him or her missing. I talked with my husband about these comments and he suggested that people who have the mindset to wait until the next day have likely been in a relationship at some point wherein their spouse actually stayed out all night. I can tell you 100% neither I nor my husband would ever do that. If we didn't come home - SOMETHING happened! Call the police!

 

[noZme]

His wife was probably aware of the T.C. Maslin case which would make her likely to call sooner rather than later. Maslin was mugged on Capitol Hill (where the Messerschmitts lived) and badly beaten but wasn't discovered for 8 hours after the beating--it's possible if he'd been found sooner doctors could have reduced the damage to his brain.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...b8857a-e0da-11e2-8ae9-5db15d3c0fca_story.html

Off topic but popping in here to say I encourage fellow WS posters to read about the Maslins. A young couple I know are good friends with them & I have followed the story of his recovery & her incredible strength. Google TC Maslin. Abby's blog. http://www.abbymaslin.com/

 

[rosesfromangels]

No one is questioning the time that she called law enforcement; the important point that is being highlighted is that the obvious, logical, important and actually pretty simple things one does in situations like this do not seem to have been done.

If your loved one is late and you're getting worried, is calling law enforcement to report them missing the first thing you do? Or do you do the very obvious, simple things; things that will produce critically important information that will greatly aid law enforcement?

For the sake of this scenario, let's pretend we know DM drove to and from work. If he's late and you're getting worried and can't reach him then a strong possibility would be he was in a car accident. If home and work were 2 1/2 miles apart as the case with DM, you might drive the route or call area hospitals first; right?

You wouldn't default to:
After sitting around doing nothing but waiting *shrugs shoulders* 'well he said he'd be home by 8:30pm it's now half past one, I guess I ought to call the police to report him missing.'

I agree with you.
Perhaps it's worthy to ponder why she immediately called police at 1:30, vs. exploring other avenues...unless she did? Such as calling friends, his favorite watering hole, or whatever. This leads me to speculate as to whether she knew he was doing something that had an element of danger. Thus, when he didn't show up at the appointed time, she *knew* he had met with some harm?

 

[HastingsChi]

What makes you think she sat around doing nothing? It's entirely impossible she did a wide variety of things before calling the police.

If she called his mobile carrier or used a locate my device app, DM's location could quickly be verified as Thomas Circle (likely more precise than that).

If he had a car that he commuted with and that car had an On Star type service (most DC lawyers earning circa $200K who own a car would likely drive a luxury vehicle which includes such a feature), the car could have been located immediately which would both allow her to determine if he'd been in an accident and narrow his potential location.

If he commuted via Metro, it's logical to immediately contact the bank and/or credit card company to inquire about the most recent activity to attempt to decipher location or unusual activity that would indicate that the card was stolen. In all likelihood this could have been done online.

These are very obvious, logical things that one does in situations like this; any one of them would have allowed her to acquire DM's location within hundreds of feet. Then when she called law enforcement to report him missing, she would have provided them with very valuable information.

Based on the missing persons report and all other materials, it is clear that she did none of these things.

Evidence suggests that she wasn't proactive in trying to locate DM.

 

[panthera]

IMO The wife notified his family that he never returned home. They all make their way to DC in a panic thinking he is missing, before he is discovered.

He was only a few hours late returning home when she called LE...and she also notified his family who came to DC from Ohio? Very curious now if he had been receiving threats of any kind, or why she appeared to be in a panic....or did she know???

:waitasec:

MOO

 

[Momoffourboys]

He was only a few hours late returning home when she called LE...and she also notified his family who came to DC from Ohio? Very curious now if he had been receiving threats of any kind, or why she appeared to be in a panic....or did she know???

:waitasec:

MOO

I would have called LE and my husband's family, too.
My husband is ALWAYS home by 6. If he is not home by 7 and i can't reach him, I start my rounds. His brother. His employees. His friends. I would not have waited until 1:30 AM to call LE. JMO

 

[Happyshoes]

I would have called LE and my husband's family, too.
My husband is ALWAYS home by 6. If he is not home by 7 and i can't reach him, I start my rounds. His brother. His employees. His friends. I would not have waited until 1:30 AM to call LE. JMO

For me, a lot would depend on what city, what traffic, but that's because I would only have to check golf courses. She just assumed be would be home from the city, his job, in an hour. That makes sense to me if she called around first. Unless like I said before, she could access his pending charges on credit cards or ATM.

 

[Momoffourboys]

For me, a lot would depend on what city, what traffic, but that's because I would only have to check golf courses. She just assumed be would be home from the city, his job, in an hour. That makes sense to me if she called around first. Unless like I said before, she could access his pending charges on credit cards or ATM.

From what I understood, they live in the city. Near Capitol Hill. He did not have a long commute. IMO

 

[rosesfromangels]

He was only a few hours late returning home when she called LE...and she also notified his family who came to DC from Ohio? Very curious now if he had been receiving threats of any kind, or why she appeared to be in a panic....or did she know???

:waitasec:

MOO

I think we are on to something here....there is no way the family would jump on a plane unless there was a history of risky behavior, or dysfunctional behavior. Was he a recovering substance abuser or alcoholic? Maybe the wife thought he had "fallen off the wagon" and alerted the family. Maybe when he fell off the wagon previously he went berserk. Sound plausible?