LA - ***ARREST*** Mickey Shunick, 21, Lafayette 19 May 2012 - #34

[SteveP]

I don't think that LE treating his home as a crime scene means that they found signs of a crime, necessarily-just that they were taking the precautions they would take in going to a crime scene, in case of the need to preserve evidence, chain of custody, etc...

I doubt Mickey ever made it that far, personally. And for her sake, I hope not, I hope it was over very quickly.

This was pretty much my take on it as well.

 

[Backwoods]

Sorry - I realize the following error is very common but much like spelling is to others this is one of my pet peeves:

Vultures live in North America and Europe.

Buzzards DO NOT live in North America; their habitat is located in Africa, drier climates in Asia and warmer climates in Europe.

http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/TVFacts.html#anchor_53

In scientific lingo, yes, I believe that is true -- but then, on the other hand, I think the term buzzard is firmly entrenched in vernacular in many parts of the South (perhaps elsewhere as well).

 

[HouDat]

I would be surprised if they did not take his computer, assuming he has one, or maybe he just has mobile devices. I believe it has been stated that he did have a Facebook page, so he must have had some internet activity.

I've given thought to this idea, and I agree that a computer would likely be the first thing they'd look for.

Other items:

-Shoes, especially boots -- impressions of the soles, soil samples, any DNA evidence, etc.
-Clothing -- DNA, soils, other trace evidence (pet hairs, sediment or plant fibers which could tie him to WB, etc.)
-Weapons possibly used in commission of crimes
-"Trophies" -- any of MS's belongings, a semen-soaked rag (a' la his prior), etc.
-Cameras/memory cards -- possibly containing incriminating photos he snapped for his future twisted pleasure, or for simple trophy/keepsake purposes

...to name a few.

 

[cluciano63]

I do believe that LE has more evidence that Mickey is not alive than they are willing to discuss at this point; they would have an obligation, IMO, to alert the public to still be looking out for her if they felt there was a chance she was alive, that he had just kidnapped her and then left her somewhere, or passed her to someone else.

I think they have enough to conclude she was murdered, and I also believe that this suspect is not the type to allow a victim to remain alive to testify against him again, especially if he has been appealing the other case all this time. For that same reason (his appeals) I do not think we can expect any cooperation from him in locating Mickey. I am hoping that some experts are preparing a detailed map from his GPS/cell phone activity to outline places that need to be searched and that they contact TES once this is done.

Prosecutors never like to try a murder case without the victim's body; when they do it, they are certain the person is deceased. I think we have to accept this and try to figure out where he may have left her.

JMO

 

[megsy]

BTW, aussie, I hope you don't think I was stealing your work. I honestly didn't see anything you posted and I had consolidated everything about BSL and LPD into the timeline before I went to bed. I loved everyone's suggestions, tho

 

[BunnyHop]

It may be different there, and farm animals are left to decompose in fields, but DH knows his animals by sight and would know pretty fast if one was missing.
He would go and find it and move/bury it if possible.
In other words we would know why buzzards were circling.
MOO though.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/hol...n-remains-to-shed-light-on-homicide-theories/

SAN MARCOS, Texas (The Blaze/AP) — For more than five weeks, a woman’s body lay undisturbed in a secluded Texas field. Then a frenzied flock of vultures descended on the corpse and reduced it to a skeleton within hours.

Interesting article. I live in the NE and see turkey vultures often.
For the neighbor to see so many at once, raises red flags for me.

 

[aviatrix]

That goes along with my theory that the robbery had to do with hiding the body. It happened around the time the buzzards were seen.

I still believe the robbery had something to do with this. And further, I kinda think since two pressure washers were stolen there were two perps at the robbery. Also, I believe the other perp probably drives the truck that the extra parts were stolen for. (Not the 2011 truck, but a truck of the other perp in this case). that would mean that MS was moved from Lavergne's truck into another truck I guess and that would mean that he did not kill her that first night but instead moved her to a different truck.

Is there anyone else that is suspected to be another POI in this case? A male?

 

[bessie]

Thanks for your post! I personally like your suggestion and think that our sleuthing skills could be put to great use by systematically checking off previously searched areas and then identifying areas of great interest based on what we now know (timeline) about BSL activities in the days and weeks following Mickey's disappearance.

With search efforts for Mickey still ongoing, making suggestions to the search group (based on our theories) could bring positive results. And since the search for Mickey will need to expand to include Texas this sort of up to date communication about search efforts could benefit foot soldiers in multiple cities along BSL route.

Those are excellent points, Nola. Here's the thread where you guys can put your heads together and work out your ideas.

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178155"]LA LA - Mickey Shunick Search *Brainstorming Thread* - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]

 

[megsy]

I still believe the robbery had something to do with this. And further, I kinda think since two pressure washers were stolen there were two perps at the robbery. Also, I believe the other perp probably drives the truck that the extra parts were stolen for. (Not the 2011 truck, but a truck of the other perp in this case). that would mean that MS was moved from Lavergne's truck into another truck I guess and that would mean that he did not kill her that first night but instead moved her to a different truck.

Is there anyone else that is suspected to be another POI in this case? A male?

Not according to Chief Craft:

Q: Any possibility that any other arrests could come about from this? I know a private investigator identified two descriptions of two separate suspects.
A: We don’t think so at this point.

 

[ktgirl]

I had seen that a poster said BSL's father died in 2009. Best I know, that is not true, as the Daily World (Opelousas, LA newspaper) states differently (but who knows if that's an error in their fact-checking or something):

http://www.dailyworld.com/article/2...bled-past-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

"Many people in the Church Point community know Lavergne’s father, who is supposedly very ill, Meche said. She described him as a nice man.
Meche didn’t know much about Lavergne’s mother, but she said he has a brother who has moved out of the state."

I feel terrible for his mother & other family members...to be dealing with a very ill relative and the actions of this monster in your family at the same time. My thoughts are with his mother as well as the Shunicks.

 

[mkay882]

Interesting article. I live in the NE and see turkey vultures often.
For the neighbor to see so many at once, raises red flags for me.

Same here BunnyHop.
I wish a local would ask permission to go and take a look... or the owners would take a walk out there..
Someone with the stomach for what may be found.

 

[kjnmom]

BTW, aussie, I hope you don't think I was stealing your work. I honestly didn't see anything you posted and I had consolidated everything about BSL and LPD into the timeline before I went to bed. I loved everyone's suggestions, tho

Wonderful job! Should you include BLS's appointment of defense lawyers?

 

[jennapuppy]

http://www.theadvertiser.com/articl...Mickey-Shunick-case?odyssey=mod|breaking|art2

Been re-watching, re-reading, etc., as I was rushing to get caught up on this thread yesterday.

One thing from the video linked above, which struck me as being of particular interest: the spokesperson stated that LE was treating the residence as a crime scene.

We also learned that the skirting was removed from the home by LE, and that a couple of pieces of the skirting were confiscated by LE.

So we have a crime scene. Question is: what crime was committed here?

This particular wording leads me to believe it is more than just the routine checking of a suspect's residence for evidence. At least, that's what I'm hoping. I hope they'll find Mickey's DNA somewhere that definitively links him to the crime. If they can't retrieve it from his truck, then I hope there's some in his home.

 

[kjnmom]

I had seen that a poster said BSL's father died in 2009. Best I know, that is not true, as the Daily World (Opelousas, LA newspaper) states differently (but who knows if that's an error in their fact-checking or something):

http://www.dailyworld.com/article/2...bled-past-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

"Many people in the Church Point community know Lavergne’s father, who is supposedly very ill, Meche said. She described him as a nice man.
Meche didn’t know much about Lavergne’s mother, but she said he has a brother who has moved out of the state."

I feel terrible for his mother & other family members. To be dealing with a very ill relative and the actions of this monster in your family at the same time. My thoughts are with his mother as well as the Shunicks.

His step father.. Mr. Lavergne died of cancer in 2009 at the same nursing facility my father is currently residing. The obit named BLS and his brother as step children and a natural daughter of Mr. Lavergne. Also names BLS mother as surviving spouse.... It is the same Mr. Lavergne.
Our mod told me not to link to obit.

 

[aussie_girl88]

BTW, aussie, I hope you don't think I was stealing your work. I honestly didn't see anything you posted and I had consolidated everything about BSL and LPD into the timeline before I went to bed. I loved everyone's suggestions, tho

Not at all. I was collaborating with your timeline and then did an individual bal timeline from birth till now. It provided information on his childhood, previous arrests, and rumours that people had stated that I put down as rumours and not verified. Your timeline is good, maybe add on may 28th he had his RSO last verifies/updated

 

[Boudin]

Carried over from page 69,thread 33
(Aviatrix-did I miss your response to this post? Thanks!)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boudin
Thank-you Megsy.

I am quite aware of the fact that there is a difference in brain structures and have previously posted a link to an article regarding this. What I am seeking is evidence or studies showing that a combination of omega 3 and behavioral techniques are not efficacious as criminologist Nathalie Fontaine of Indiana University says that they are.

Aviatrix stated in a prior post "You can add vitamins and behavior techniques until the cows come home. If this area of the brain is underdeveloped genetically you are not going to eliminate sociopaths with vitamins and behavior techniques. They belong in jail and sterilized so that they do not replicate."

I am seeking clarification if she has something to back this up or if this is her opinion."


Backwoods posted:
I can't address the specific area in which you want clarification, but I'm interested in hearing any answers you do get.

And some of your posts in this area (which I enjoy seeing, BTW) make me think of things that get on my mind whenever the topic/s of psychopathy/sociopathy/antisocial personality disorder come/s up on WS.

I think that, all of that, is still such a new and very large frontier ... the forever-after hard-science complete answers I think many want to believe are there for the finding and quoting ... are not,yet, IMO.

Sociopaths and psychopaths --two different things? Depends. Pick your expert and get your definitions. Then stick around for five years and check back, and see if they've changed. And it makes no sense to me that, in defining either, there should be an assumption that all psychopaths/sociopaths are the same. I think it very likely there is a spectrum. If it's all about (in a nutshell) not developing beyond the reptilian brain, some must develop further than others.

Causation? Golly. I don't think we will solve that one for a while. Multi-faceted, I certainly believe. All the related "sciences" may help ... and likely the input from all is needed.

Not treatable? Who knows... maybe it is but we just don't know how yet. (Akin to your question.)

To an extent, some of the "treatable" mental disorders have been demystified in public awareness and there is a little more understanding of them and (maybe) more real compassion for those who live their lives with those conditions.

So, for a lot of people, the personality disorder labels, IMO, have become the place to shove all the frightening things people are capable of, a place to shove all "evil", a catch-all label that means one is not "required" to have any compassion for those people.

When you really think about it, though -- if it IS all about neurology and being born with a brain that cannot develop empathy, love, etc., -- that seems like a pretty bum deal. From what I've read, psychopaths (etc.) often realize at an early age that they are "lacking" and can be disturbed by that, but unable to "fix" it.

I share your hope that, one day, such conditions can be detected and ameliorated by some type of treatment. "



I agree with your thoughtful response Backwoods.

I believe one day society will look back on the way we currently treat individuals with a neurological disability in the same way that we look back at the barbaric ways people with mental illness and headaches were given lobotomies with a hammer and ice pick without anesthesia and how people were given mercury as a diuretic,a laxative and a way to treat syphilis (which we all now know to be a poisonous metal with harmful side effects).

Psychopaths/sociopaths have deficits cognitively and emotionally in response to others states of minds. They have affective deficits-they lack guilt and empathy for what others are feeling and are unable to formulate an appropriate response to others. Empathy, or lack of, affects people differently. People with austism seem to have a less empathy but rather than hurting others they avoid them. People with Aspergers have difficulty reading the tone and voice of others and interacting with them as well.

Various posts have alluded to a past in which BSL may have felt rejected,unwanted and unloved. We have not seen any friends step forward. It appears he has some sort of relationship with his family and a woman he had as a girlfriend, and a neighbor. He has not harmed them which makes me look at him more as a sociopath than a psychopath although they are very similar.

I do agree, I think it is a bum deal some people were born this way. Their environment as a child may have effected how they act as an adult. As I posted earlier, studies are showing that sometimes behavior techniques can effect the outcome. I look forward to progress in the field of neuroscience and help for these people, just as I hope for continued help for those with cancer, diabetes and other physical illnesses.

I hope that while we ponder those who unfortunately struggle with empathy, or lack of it, that we, as human beings with empathy, don't lose our own compassion for our fellow man.

You may enjoy this article:
New Look Into Psycopaths' Mind

http://suite101.com/article/a-study-into-the-mind-of-a-psychopath-a397992

 

[megsy]

Wonderful job! Should you include BLS's appointment of defense lawyers?

Great idea

Timeline in Mickey Shunick's disappearance:

May 18, 2012, 10:15 p.m.: MS and friends attended a concert at Artmosphere.

May 19, 2012, 12:44 a.m.: MS rides bike back to Ryan Street residence with BW.

May 19, 2012, 1:24 a.m.: MS seen in surveillance video at Taco Bell.

May 19, 2012, 1:31 a.m.: MS receives a call from her friend; it was the last time her phone was used.

May 19, 2012, 1:45 a.m.: MS begins to ride her bike home from BW's Ryan Street residence.

May 19, 2012, 1:47 a.m.: MS is caught on camera, riding her bike, on Versailles Boulevard.

May 19, 2012, 1:48 a.m.: MS is caught on camera, riding her bike, on St. Landry Street.

May 19, 2012, 1:48 a.m.: BSL’s truck caught on camera after Mickey passed the same camera.

May 19, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: MS's family reports her missing to police.

May 19, 2012, 9:27 p.m.: KATC first reports on their website that LPD is looking for MS.

May 20, 2012: The first search party is organized from BW’s house on Ryan Street.

May 20, 2012: Reward of $10,000 is offered.

May 21, 2012: Reward money is doubled to $20,000.

May 21, 2012, 4:20 p.m.: LPD issues its first press release about MS, releasing a picture and description of her and her bike.

May 21, 2012, 6:15 p.m.: LPD issues a press release about the dedicated tips line for citizens to call with information.

May 22, 2012, 7:30 p.m.: Candlelight vigil is held at Parc Sans Souci in downtown Lafayette.

May 23, 2012: Reward increased to $25,000

May 24, 2012: Search headquarters moves from Ryan Street to Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Student Center.

May 24, 2012: Texas EquuSearch comes to town.

May 24, 2012, 4:00 p.m.: LPD issues a press release asking business owners and residents with video surveillance equipment to review footage from May 19th, between the hours of 1:30 and 3:30 am.

May 25, 2012: The video surveillance photos of MS on Versailles and the White Truck on St. Landry traveling in the opposite direction MS traveled are released to the public.

May 26, 2012: MS's bike is located by fishermen under the Whiskey Bay Bridge.

May 26, 2012: The video surveillance photos of the White Truck with the bed cover on University, the White Truck on St. Landry traveling in the same direction as MS, and the two pictures of the Hooptie on University and St. Landry are released to the public.

May 26, 2012: BSL reports his truck as stolen in Montgomery County, TX.

May 26, 2012: LPD cancels its scheduled press conference stating there are no new updates

May 26, 2012, 12:42 p.m.: BSL’s girlfriend’s family member posts online about her dating a creepy RSO.

May 27, 2012: MS's bike is recovered by LE under the Whiskey Bay Bridge.

May 27, 2012, 5:00 p.m.: Benefit concert held in Downtown Lafayette

May 28, 2012: Police continue to search Whiskey Bay Bridge area.

May 28, 2012: BSL verified by St. Landry Police as a RSO.

May 30, 2012: Volunteer searches are suspended for the day.

May 30, 2012: Shunick family officially hires Private Investigator, John Abdella.

May 30, 2012, 11:00 a.m.: LPD issues a press release stating they have both identified and ruled out the operators and occupants of both the “hooptie” and the white pickup truck with a bed cover.

May 30, 2012, around 9:00 p.m.: Investigators return to the Whiskey Bay area to re-examine it with sonar. Nothing of value is located.

May 31, 2012: Volunteer searches resume.

May 31, 2012: BSL’s truck is found burned in San Jacinto County, TX.

May 31, 2012: BSL files motion to be removed from the sex offender registry. Hearing is scheduled for August 9th.

May 31, 2012, 9:51 a.m.: BSL rents a red Chevrolet Aveo in Spring, TX, through an insurance claim on said stolen truck.

June 1, 2012, 11:55 a.m.: LPD issues press release stating that beginning at 7:00 p.m., an answering machine will record all tips as it is no longer feasible to answer the tips line 24 hours a day.

June 2, 2012: Texas EquuSearch heads out of Lafayette.

June 4, 2012, 4:57 p.m.: BSL returns rental car.

June 6, 2012: Special K-9s Recovery Specialists are in town searching.

June 7, 2012: P.I. John Abdella releases statement about receiving credible information about two people who could be involved in MS’s dissapearance.

June 10, 2012: MS Headquarters moved to South College Shopping Center. Volunteer foot searches halted “until new leads are developed”.

June 14, 2012: LPD get a tip from a concerned citizen that BSL's truck was found burned in Texas.

July 4, 2012: BSL returns from an “about the last two weeks” offshore hitch.

July 5, 2012: BSL arrested on aggravated kidnapping and first degree murder.

July 6, 2012: Investigative searches end at BSL’s residence.

July 6, 2012: BSL assigned two public defenders, Clay Lejeune and Burleigh Doga.



Mickey's whereabouts = purple
BSL = red
News = green

 

[ktgirl]

Same here BunnyHop.
I wish a local would ask permission to go and take a look... or the owners would take a walk out there..
Someone with the stomach for what may be found.

I wish that, too.

Anyone here in St. Landry Parish not afraid of snakes, not bothered by wearing long pants 95+ degree temperatures (as that would be necessary for searching in the wooded part, or at least was for TES volunteers/ground searchers), okay with mosquitoes/spiders/whatever bugs, and could walk away if the land owner said no without coming back with a dog collar claiming to be looking for their lost dog (one of the tricks of the trade ACI told us....which may also mean not being afraid of being shot when the landowner saw you again)?

I'm scared of snakes and am not sure I could be so nice if the landowner told me no (I wouldn't come back without his permission) but I might get very emotional about it and fuss at him.

 

[Billiam]

Thank you so much for your kind response. I have read each of Mr. Ridley's books some several times, highly recommend each of them (especially Genome) and in general find him a fascinating writer. He was formerly the science writer for the New York Times and his writing is my favorite behind the Bible and Mark Twain. As far as IQ being hereditary, I think my friends at American Mensa have probably done that study several times over and tomorrow I will fire off an e-mail to them and see, as Family Feud would say......what the survey showed--whether Ridley's theory will stand up to the high IQ organization's documentation on whether IQ is hereditary from mom or dad. Those folks should be the authority on that....

In this particular case at hand, I feel that it is hereditary 85% and environment 15%, more or less.

No problem, thanks for the suggestion to Dr. Ridley's works. I am interested in reading one of his books this summer while I'm out of state for work. I'll take your word for it and choose Genome.

Regarding IQ, we learned in Psych 442 Psychological testing and assessment that one's potential, or lack thereof, for intelligence is inherited from the parents. However, the child's actualization of this potential depends on how stimulating the environment is in which they are raised. Thus supporting both hereditary and environmental factors.

We also learned the best way to predict a child's IQ is to figure the parents' mean IQ. And the child's IQ tends to regress toward the mean of the general population with respect to the parents' mean IQ. Meaning, that if the parents both have a high IQ, then the child's IQ will more than likely be lower than the parents'. However if both parents have a lower IQ the child will probably have a higher IQ than theirs.

 

[Boudin]

Brought over from thread 33,pg 71
Foxfire posted:

"Pensfan, thanx very much for the links..
Dr. James Fallon; neuroscientist hits the nail on the head, imo. I saw this documentary a couple of years ago and was trying to remember his name for the last few days. His studies and the irony that he could have been a serial killer himself, if not for a loving & nurturing family is remarkable..
Thanks"

This article to me validates even more the work that has been done showing how those with a neurological disability can have a positive outcome if the environment is conducive. We still have a long way to go in this field as I believe there are numerous factors at work here.