Found Deceased IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 #15

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Nancy1954 said:
Sure..I understand not releasing SOME of the information..but not ALL of it..while a case is still fresh on everyone's mind. IMO if you keep most of the information "close to the vest" you don't give fresh minds a chance to recall anything..no matter how slight it may seem. I appreciate and understand your thoughts on this though.
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I agree - I understand LE’s tactics vary based on the circumstances (such as this is still a missing persons recovery) but the lack of any clues given to the public and them urging the public for tips reminds me so much of the Abby and Libby case. It took them FIVE MONTHS to release a sketch made from two witnesses, which sadly at that point most media had lost interest. I find it hard to believe it could’ve been a new sketch either as I doubt they would view a witnesses sketch made 5 months after a crime reliable enough to put out in the public, which for some reason means they withheld it for months. I guess my point is I really hope they don’t make the same mistake here by withholding things that don’t affect the integrity of the case (sketch, timeline, etc)
 
I'm working under the assumption that LE definitely has a POI and possibly could charge them now but without the possessions MT had on her (Fitbit, cell, armband) or a body if she is in fact deceased, it makes the case entirely circumstantial. The worst thing to happen is fire their proverbial gun too soon and the perp walks or gets convicted of something much lesser than they should and gets out of prison. It's also much tougher to convict someone of murder without a body since defense can of course claim there's no evidence that person is actually deceased. Way more frustrating up front but in the end is worth it.

On the other hand, if MT is alive and being held, until LE would know precisely where she is and be ready to make a move, it can pay to keep the pot simmering but not crank up the heat. Last thing you'd want to do is make the person or people who have her jumpy and prone to do something stupid to eliminate evidence.
 
Mr. Obvious said:
My thought is - out of sight, out of mind.

Need to keep the public interested and tips coming in, et al.
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I would think they would get more valid tips if people knew the 'where' and 'when'. They have cell phone info by now and must have info about the times of her specific locations. If the public had that info, someone might remember being at those locations at those specific times and remember seeing something. Throwing out there: " We think she went for a jog, did anyone see anything?" isn't going to get them much.
 
I still believe she was taken on her run, and I think it's possible that happened without anyone seeing. I think back to Kelsey Smith Murder of Kelsey Smith - Wikipedia
She was abducted from a busy Target parking lot in broad daylight (7 PM in June, which is still very light out). A random crime--the guy saw her in Target, followed her, and then ambushed her by her vehicle. At first glance, they didn't even see it on CCTV until they slowed it down.

So daylight, cars around, people in the parking lot, and no one saw anything that we know of. It was solved by thankfully there being cameras at Target and at the Macy's where he ditched her vehicle. All this to say that even before dark when we think some people may be out and about, it really just takes a second to grab someone and shove them in a car. Then you are out of there in seconds. Ambushed perhaps with no chance to even scream or yell out. And of course, if it was someone she knew fairly well and went with willingly, there would be no struggle or anything odd to even see.

I also think about the poster in the last thread from IL who drove to Brooklyn yesterday. He (she? I am unsure of poster's sex) is not from the town but said driving through, most people they saw just waved at them as they went past. So I don't know that people would be all that suspicious or on the lookout for a vehicle that didn't belong as we may believe.
 
I find it bothersome to compare this case to the Papini case. They have been vastly different from the beginning and don’t have nearly the same feel. The similarities start and end with the lone female jogger. From the get go of the Papini case, there was a skeptical response from the public and seemingly from LE as well, for so many reasons. That case has still not resolved(I personally don’t think those “suspects” will ever be found).
 
curvecuti said:
Just saw this "The Mollie Tibbetts situation has heightened people's awareness," Pella Police Lt. Shane Cox told the Des Moines Register. "We don't believe at this point that there is any connection. We are fairly confident in saying the community isn't in any danger."

Man allegedly photographed teen girls jogging in Pella; police have questioned him

How can they possibly be "fairly confident"? Unless they suspect someone with only Mollie as the target.
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Guessing LE believes the suspect is somebody close to or known by Mollie. No danger to the public and an isolated incident. JMO
 
SpanishMossAntiques said:
Having been in LE, you do not always want to release information - especially if you are building a case. If they make some of this information concerning her disappearance public, and they have a suspect in min, it might cause the suspect to run - or worse yet, do other things to ensure they will not be charged with a crime, like destroying evidence. Everyone seems to think the police do nothing and just wait for leads to come in, but the reality is that there is most likely a very, very large team of investigators from every discipline (forensics, profiling, missing persons specialists, etc) working on her case.
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I wonder if a Missing Person case should split into two different parts. Part 1 - FIND the MISSING PERSON. Part 2 - Find the particulars as to what led the MISSING PERSON REPORT -

One thing I have found so frustrating is few here are focused on finding Mollie imo. Most are more focused on the particulars as to what led to and who was involved with why Mollie disappeared. I know it is because that is the way the case is playing out in the media and the police are driving it in that direction.

Fully appreciate the police have a job to do where 2 goes. And there is a logical reason to concentrate on 2, especially after this much time has lapsed. There is always that nagging question -Where to search?

Why can't they do both?

I have wondered we have read over and over people are found within particular radii of where they go missing. The town is so small, I hoped the FBI might bring with them or the State DCI folks together with the FBI would be able to isolate probable/possible places to search based on historical data.

Is Mollie's case one which could lead to better tools to search places like cornfields or ravines along river banks?Or ... The FBI uses historical information and details from a current case to profile criminals right? Why can't they profile based on the terrain, type of year, details about the person who has vanished, and ... and develop a methodology to gain ground and find the missing faster?

What is preventing it?

But I have seen cases where there's search after search. The term gridsearch is used. And there may be some officers who are handling the searches and others who are handling the reason why this occured.

There are different sort of search folks deployed to clear one area after another. There are media reports telling folks when to show up, if someone has a particular piece of equipment - like an ATV, a boat, a 4x4, if someone (like hunters or hikers) are familiar with a particular area.

For Mollie's case - In the early days there was a focus on 1.
(Thanks btw Jethro for telling me about the Bear creeks being searched by kayaks - I keep coming in trying to catch up and then poof the thread is locked and I can't reply in that thread and I don't know what I should do!

Those early days some girls who went to school with Mollie (appeared a bit younger most likely still in HS) went on camera the 20th and spoke about their fear. The Sheriff has said he has noticed a change in the way folks are managing day by day now.

My mind just stays focused on WHERE IS SHE? Why haven't I made the leap most here have to explore 2?

I keep hearing her dad "let's go get her!"
 
TPeeFitz said:
I find it bothersome to compare this case to the Papini case. They have been vastly different from the beginning and don’t have nearly the same feel. The similarities start and end with the lone female jogger. From the get go of the Papini case, there was a skeptical response from the public and seemingly from LE as well, for so many reasons. That case has still not resolved(I personally don’t think those “suspects” will ever be found).
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They're as likely to find those "suspects'' as OJ is to finding the ''real killers''.
 
Nancy1954 said:
I couldn't agree more zxz! I see this happening time and again in disappearances/murders that are never solved. The time to get the pertinent information out is from the beginning while it is still fresh in someone's mind.
Thinking of Abby and Libby , Kyron Horman, etc;
The public needs the basics! IMO.
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Nancy1954 - I am so right there. I absolutely hate to say this but hasn't that moment's opportunity passed?
 
I think it’s important to remember that most complicated cases are not open and shut, these things take time. So many cases gain momentum exponentially once that one piece of the puzzle is found. I imagine they have countless hours of video to review, tons of digital data to analyze as well as countless tips to sift through. Three weeks into a case, unfortunately for all involved, feels like an eternity, however it is still early days. There are very few cases like these that are resolved by now.
 
MntnHiker said:
I still believe she was taken on her run, and I think it's possible that happened without anyone seeing. I think back to Kelsey Smith Murder of Kelsey Smith - Wikipedia
She was abducted from a busy Target parking lot in broad daylight (7 PM in June, which is still very light out). A random crime--the guy saw her in Target, followed her, and then ambushed her by her vehicle. At first glance, they didn't even see it on CCTV until they slowed it down.

So daylight, cars around, people in the parking lot, and no one saw anything that we know of. It was solved by thankfully there being cameras at Target and at the Macy's where he ditched her vehicle. All this to say that even before dark when we think some people may be out and about, it really just takes a second to grab someone and shove them in a car. Then you are out of there in seconds. Ambushed perhaps with no chance to even scream or yell out. And of course, if it was someone she knew fairly well and went with willingly, there would be no struggle or anything odd to even see.

I also think about the poster in the last thread from IL who drove to Brooklyn yesterday. He (she? I am unsure of poster's sex) is not from the town but said driving through, most people they saw just waved at them as they went past. So I don't know that people would be all that suspicious or on the lookout for a vehicle that didn't belong as we may believe.
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I (male) wrote the post yesterday about visiting Brooklyn; please note that I was driving reasonably - with nothing to hide and no evil intentions in mind - and I would assume I only attracted 'normal' attention.

However - if I were to try and abduct someone - I'm guessing there'd be a bit of commotion, my vehicle might be parked in a weird angle, location, etc. - and of those issues would tend to draw more attention than one just merely driving respectfully through the town???
 
Mdawg008 said:
I agree - I understand LE’s tactics vary based on the circumstances (such as this is still a missing persons recovery) but the lack of any clues given to the public and them urging the public for tips reminds me so much of the Abby and Libby case. It took them FIVE MONTHS to release a sketch made from two witnesses, which sadly at that point most media had lost interest. I find it hard to believe it could’ve been a new sketch either as I doubt they would view a witnesses sketch made 5 months after a crime reliable enough to put out in the public, which for some reason means they withheld it for months. I guess my point is I really hope they don’t make the same mistake here by withholding things that don’t affect the integrity of the case (sketch, timeline, etc)
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There are several online verifications of this so my post should not be viewed as anti-law enforcement. There is a definite disconnect between LE and the public, which is most likely the reason more information is not shared. LE tends to feel the public doesn't understand their jobs, and the public tends to distrust LE. No solution. Initially Not much shared about Libby and Abbey, and still not much shared. The longer Molly's case goes on, the more I fear it will be the same. In Minnesota we're still dealing with the disappearance of Josh Guimond from St. John's College campus in 2012 with few details.
 
WCD1305 said:
New to this thread but shouldn't her cell phone and fit bit have significant clues as to where she last was or could have been taken? If she always wore it while running it should show where she was along with where it is now. Have they located it or the phone? Maybe I missed that part.
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We don't know. But, we do know they have retrieved data.

From JULY 26: Late Thursday, investigators said they had completed reconstructing their timeline of Mollie's run, relying on Fitbit data, cell phone pings and eyewitnesses. Investigators turn to Fitbit data for clues about missing Iowa college student

Welcome to Websleuths! :)​
 
Mr. Obvious said:
Why not call police on a strange black suv - at the time - when you see it crushing your neighborhood for 1.5 hours in a town of 1,400??? Baffling to me!

I live in a town of 40,000+; in a very safe and quiet part of town - if I witnessed a strange black suv (or any vehicle/person) for 1.5 hours; especially from 11:30P to 1:00A - I'd definitely be letting the authorities know!
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I have wondered if because there is no actual town police for Brooklyn and the Sheriff's office is in a different town some folks in Brooklyn just don't feel (or have reason to believe) by the time they call the police and someone would get there it would be too late. Add to the mix, it was late and someone may have wanted to just go to bed without any clue of the possible significance the next day!
 
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