I am a long time Atlanta resident, live in one of the intown neighborhoods not far from Midtown and Piedmont Park. Ive read this thread with interest and appreciate all of your thoughts.
In my opinion:
1) This is not a hate crime. Midtown has been LGBTQ neighborhood for many years…. And people are chill.
2) Katie was not specifically targeted and did not know the killer. Wrong place at the wrong time.
2) FBI was called in very early (within 48 hrs) due to the heinous nature and brutality of the crime. Likely psycho/sociopathic behavior traits, murder pattern may be familiar; this person may have killed before (not necessarily in Atlanta).
3 Katie was walking near the park with Bowie but was not walking IN the park. She was somehow lured into the park entrance on 10th street. Once inside the park, she was assaulted (stun gun or pepper spray?) and Bowie reacted and protected her, attacked and bit the perp (blood gets on Bowie’s face and fur, now there’s a DNA trail). Bowie dies first and is left only a few yards inside the park, not far from the 10th street park entrance.
4) Katie was dragged further into the park, where she was stabbed multiple times and murdered (I won’t speculate any further as to the nature of any further wounds). I hope there’s some bite marks or scratches on the perp (DNA under her fingernails) and he gets a whopping infection from the dog bites. Could the large tree branch that was recovered from the scene and placed into the police crime scene vehicle today have been placed near or on top of Katie to hide her slightly before the perp left the scene?
5) This was calculated murder; killer was looking for a female victim and happened upon Katie. Perp may have carried a backpack with change of clothes… goes to the nearby park lake, quickly rinses off, changes clothes and exits the park (many ways to leave the park, not necessarily by marked exits). Divers were looking for evidence in the lake this week (possibly clothing or weapon?).
6) I think it’s likely that SOME park cameras were not working, but NOT ALL. There are probably images captured on some of the park cameras, and possibly on cameras at the high school across the street or residential cameras. Also, many major intersections in Atlanta have security cameras which may have picked up something—intersections with traffic lights on Piedmont & 10th or Monroe & 10th may have cameras, I don’t know. Park Tavern restaurant at the corner of 10th & Monroe, back of the restaurant faces the park may also have cameras). Images may show the same person entering and exiting the park wearing different clothes.
7) Midtown is awake late! Somebody must have heard or seen something. There is generally a steady traffic and pedestrian flow in the area of the park, some people would still be out at 12-1am, walking home or walking pets.
7) Katie and her partner are in a solid relationship, no “love triangle”, jealousy, infidelity plays into this heinous act. I hate to go down this path but feel it must be said… Katie’s partner is absolutely NOT a suspect.
8) This crime will be solved… my guess, relatively soon.
For local ATL residents: if you live near the park, were police helicopters with search lights over the park all of Wednesday-AM during the initial investigation? IMO, I believe APD and FBI have more evidence than we could begin to imagine. I hope I’m right. It will just take time to put it together or to uncover that one big break. With all the rain lately, ground is probably soft and hopefully footprints or handprints were left at the site.
Lastly, I’m so very sorry for Katie, Bowie, her partner and their families and friends. I know how much this has terrified Midtown, I can’t even begin to imagine what they are going through. Heartfelt condolences and hugs.