I hear you.I do know one thing, which is that I am never going camping again.
I hear you.I do know one thing, which is that I am never going camping again.
I see the options as follows in no particular order:Why did he target the Schmidts? Was there a previous interaction? Was it something to do with computers? Was it because they had a little girl? Or was it just that their tent was the closest? We know it was close, but was it actually the closest? AS is no longer alive to tell us, and I can't imagine that his parents will be much help. So maybe it's up to us to work it out.
The thing I am wondering is if AOS actually thought he would get away with this. I mean, perhaps he thought he could sneak in the tent and do what he wanted and escape, or abduct the girl or whatever, and nobody would ever know he was responsible.I sadly agree with the theory that his primary motive was a sexual assault of the little girl. I hate even writing this out. What leads me this way is 1) Police stating there is a potential motive but they aren't releasing it. It's disturbing and upsetting and would further traumatize the family who is alive. 2) She was strangled which makes me think she was the primary target. 3) They do not want to say what the boy was doing/how he got away.
Is it possible their tent was one with "rooms" and the kids slept somewhat separately from the parents? He snuck in (armed) with the intent of either assaulting the girl right there or kidnapping her. Her brother was nearby and escaped shortly after realizing a strange man was in their tent doing things to his sister.
All just my theories but IMO the most likely so far.
Why would AOS use a sharp object if he had a gun right on him? I'm thinking the gun wasn't handy.Why couldn't he have been carrying the gun with him (in a pocket, in his waistband, in a holster, in a bag or backpack), even if he started first with some other instrument of attack? Maybe he started with whatever caused the sharp force injuries, then pulled out his gun and finished the attack? (The gun at the end makes sense to me because the noise may alert others.)
MOO.
Guns are loud. I think he hoped he could get away with his crime. This sounds awful, but I'm thinking he tried killing them with a hatchet and strangulation first, and only shot them out of desperation when two of the Schmidts did not die fast enough. I think he had the gun with him as his "just in case" weapon, but his initial attacks were with the edged weapon and bare hands.Why would AOS use a sharp object if he had a gun right on him? I'm thinking the gun wasn't handy.
Why would AOS use a sharp object if he had a gun right on him? I'm thinking the gun wasn't handy.
Why would AOS use a sharp object if he had a gun right on him? I'm thinking the gun wasn't handy.
I don't think I'm a particularly vindictive person, but I would have liked AS to be tried, convicted and punished for these abominable murders.
"Making" a ghost gun is actually just assembling parts from a kit into a functioning gun. It would involve grinding or filing and fitting of parts, and applying bluing finish to the raw metal. Making a bayonet would involve metallurgic skills like forging and heat-treating. Also, the police said the weapon's caliber was 9mm which is mainly a pistol round. Although there have been bayonets made for pistols, it's not common. Most likely the weapon was something like a hatchet or machete or camp knife. All common tools used in camping.Don’t know why it took me so long to suggest this, but since we have only scant details about the homemade gun AS apparently used, is it not possible that what he used to inflict the “sharp force injuries” might actually be a homemade bayonet? Per Wikipedia, “A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on the end of the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar firearm, allowing it to be used as a spear-like weapon.”
If AS was capable of making himself a functional firearm, then he surely could’ve made an attachment like a bayonet to go on the firearm. That would allow him to use multiple types of weapons in his attack without having to leave the scene to retrieve anything.
Didn't he use a Glock-clone made from the kit? Surely, you can't attach a bayonet?Don’t know why it took me so long to suggest this, but since we have only scant details about the homemade gun AS apparently used, is it not possible that what he used to inflict the “sharp force injuries” might actually be a homemade bayonet? Per Wikipedia, “A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on the end of the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar firearm, allowing it to be used as a spear-like weapon.”
If AS was capable of making himself a functional firearm, then he surely could’ve made an attachment like a bayonet to go on the firearm. That would allow him to use multiple types of weapons in his attack without having to leave the scene to retrieve anything.
Actually, a company did market pistol bayonets about 10-15 years ago, but they are considered very impractical and basically a joke. People on gun forums laugh at the concept.Didn't he use a Glock-clone made from the kit? Surely, you can't attach a bayonet?
However, LE ^^^ said that most of the parts of the ghost gun could be purchased online. I want to know what COULDN'T be purchased online.
Would he have used more than one magazine?
That is frustrating. Conclusion: LE are not releasing any further details beyond the autopsy info that was already released.Here's an update, FWIW. 8 1/2 minutes in length. In short, they really don't know any more than they did when it happened.
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So Much Is Still Not Known About Campground Murders
On Midwest Week, more than a month later, we still know very little about some brutal murders in an eastern Iowa campground this summer.www.wvik.org
She was correctI am puzzled this report says that AS's mother said they were traveling with a gun due to a perception that camping can be unsafe.
I do wonder if the investigation is still on-going since there are no charges against a dead man. And, if it is on-going is the primary delay due to LE's inability to access the killers computer and phone. Can there ever be criminal or civil charges brought against the killers family in the future?Here's an update, FWIW. 8 1/2 minutes in length. In short, they really don't know any more than they did when it happened.
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So Much Is Still Not Known About Campground Murders
On Midwest Week, more than a month later, we still know very little about some brutal murders in an eastern Iowa campground this summer.www.wvik.org
Arlo might have a cause of action but due to his age, a guardian would have to pursue it on his behalf.I do wonder if the investigation is still on-going since there are no charges against a dead man. And, if it is on-going is the primary delay due to LE's inability to access the killers computer and phone. Can there ever be criminal or civil charges brought against the killers family in the future?