How should we interpret this police statement that we
must consider foul play as the reason that Mollie is a missing person? What does "foul play" mean in relation to a missing person?
"Although we have not ruled out any scenario that could explain Mollie’s disappearance, we
must consider the possibility that foul play is involved."
https://findingmollie.iowa.gov/
I don't see anything on the website about the locations beyond police asking people who were in those areas to speak to police.
Otto asked about "must" and "foul play", a logical question to ask because we can assume the PC was carefully scripted. At the risk of getting a bit too pedantic, here it is:
Foul Play:
- "unfair play in a game or sport.
- unlawful or dishonest behavior, in particular violent crime resulting in another's death.
Must:
expressing an opinion about something that is logically very likely.
obliged to; should (expressing necessity).
something that should not be overlooked or missed."
MOO, in the context of the PC, LE was setting the public up for the red dots. "...must consider the possibility that foul play...." is kind of an ice-breaker into the dark side of the realm of possibility. It's saying, okay, public, okay, Brooklyn, this is what we're down to on the list of what made MT not be here now. Okay, here is our list, and we want you to contact us were you, that night, in the red dot areas.
"Involved" is interesting here. The word can go before the event or after. An accident but
then a
coverup would put "foul play" being "involved." As in, foul play was not the
original intent, but something unforeseen occurred while out with MT. And of course, "involved" can put the action before the missing event. As in, she got grabbed. No one can dispute foul play being involved before the act.
I too, Otto, look carefully at the language. Of course, it's a fine line reading more into the words than the average public would, but nevertheless, worth deconstructing IMO. And we're not the average public here. This is fine tooth comb stuff for good reason.