(Cont'd from previous)
Some thoughts on Jodis route:
I understand that the family Jodi was visiting with on the evening of her disappearance lived on the 100 block of E 3rd, and that she was last seen heading down to the corner with S Washington St. From this, can I assume she was headed for the gas station on the opposite side of S Washington, at E 2nd? (There doesnt seem a closer option on the surrounding blocks, and more importantly for a kid on a bike by a busy road, theres a pedestrian crossing to the gas station right there at the bottom of E 2nd - the next crossing point on S Washington St looks to be at E 6th, which is way off-map given that Jodi lived on, and was ultimately intending to head back to, Centerville St.)
If Jodi was indeed heading for the gas station at S Washington/E 2nd, were told she never got there. Ok, so:
1. Judging by the volume of S Washington traffic captured on Street View, and bearing in mind that Jodi was last seen between 4.45-5pm - a pretty busy time of day, near enough rush hour - I find it very hard to imagine a typical abduction taking place on S Washington (especially given that her bike was also picked up; too messy, too risky). In fact, I find it almost as hard to imagine that even a familiar face would attempt a pick-up here with any kind of criminal intent. Plus, as has previously been stated, it would take a very unusual story from a passer-by to make Jodi think catching a ride so close to home was necessary. From all angles, S Washington looks an unlikely scene.
2. Gauging the relevant distances in Street View, it also seems unlikely that anybody attempting to quietly slip out and follow Jodi from the house shed been visiting could have caught up to a kid on a bike before she reached S Washington. Even if they set off almost simultaneously, theyd struggle on foot. Its hardly any distance at all; even from the high-100 block were talking just 250ft or so.
3. Jodi never got to the gas station. Could it be that she changed her mind for some reason? The most likely scenario I can think of for this is that at some point on her way - say, waiting at the crossing by E 2nd, or maybe even earlier, while still cycling - she perhaps discovers/remembers that she has no money on her, and heads for home instead. I can only speak from memory here, but how many of you imagine a kid on a bike, with half an hour of her curfew left, would stop in her tracks, turn the bike around on the sidewalk and head back directly the way she came? I find it much more plausible that, if diverted from her gas station plan for any reason, shed continue around the small block and loop her way home.
If she did take this kind of decision while on S Washington, it thus seems plausible that she might head back north along E 2nd St, with a possible view to cutting east down either White Pigeon St or even Mill St to get back on to Centreville.
Moreover, there appears to be a footpath cut-through half way along on each block of E 2nd, running through to E 3rd, connecting the two streets between back yards. I cant quite tell from Street View whether or not these run all the way through from E 2nd to 3rd without hitting private land, but they appear to - if so, might she have zipped down one of these rather than a traffic route, and thus have been shielded from the road for a time? The cut-through in the 200 block of E 2nd appears more open, exiting on to E 3rd between a bunch of church-type buildings, and would seem a decent option to a kid on a bike IMHO.
(Come to think of it, might someone Jodi mistook for a church man be the sort of authority figure she would stop for? Not speculating or insinuating anything, just thinking on the hoof - someone on here mentioned her being a church-goer.)
Finally, and off-topic regarding Jodi's route - I'm assuming there's still been no official COD released? If not, could suspected drowning be a reason LE wanted to wait for toxicology/autopsy, and yet immediately knew it was a homicide (ie. there's no water at the scene)?
More on that tomorrow. Thanks for entertaining me, and apologies if I'm way off on all this. Just a thinker, as I said.
Some thoughts on Jodis route:
I understand that the family Jodi was visiting with on the evening of her disappearance lived on the 100 block of E 3rd, and that she was last seen heading down to the corner with S Washington St. From this, can I assume she was headed for the gas station on the opposite side of S Washington, at E 2nd? (There doesnt seem a closer option on the surrounding blocks, and more importantly for a kid on a bike by a busy road, theres a pedestrian crossing to the gas station right there at the bottom of E 2nd - the next crossing point on S Washington St looks to be at E 6th, which is way off-map given that Jodi lived on, and was ultimately intending to head back to, Centerville St.)
If Jodi was indeed heading for the gas station at S Washington/E 2nd, were told she never got there. Ok, so:
1. Judging by the volume of S Washington traffic captured on Street View, and bearing in mind that Jodi was last seen between 4.45-5pm - a pretty busy time of day, near enough rush hour - I find it very hard to imagine a typical abduction taking place on S Washington (especially given that her bike was also picked up; too messy, too risky). In fact, I find it almost as hard to imagine that even a familiar face would attempt a pick-up here with any kind of criminal intent. Plus, as has previously been stated, it would take a very unusual story from a passer-by to make Jodi think catching a ride so close to home was necessary. From all angles, S Washington looks an unlikely scene.
2. Gauging the relevant distances in Street View, it also seems unlikely that anybody attempting to quietly slip out and follow Jodi from the house shed been visiting could have caught up to a kid on a bike before she reached S Washington. Even if they set off almost simultaneously, theyd struggle on foot. Its hardly any distance at all; even from the high-100 block were talking just 250ft or so.
3. Jodi never got to the gas station. Could it be that she changed her mind for some reason? The most likely scenario I can think of for this is that at some point on her way - say, waiting at the crossing by E 2nd, or maybe even earlier, while still cycling - she perhaps discovers/remembers that she has no money on her, and heads for home instead. I can only speak from memory here, but how many of you imagine a kid on a bike, with half an hour of her curfew left, would stop in her tracks, turn the bike around on the sidewalk and head back directly the way she came? I find it much more plausible that, if diverted from her gas station plan for any reason, shed continue around the small block and loop her way home.
If she did take this kind of decision while on S Washington, it thus seems plausible that she might head back north along E 2nd St, with a possible view to cutting east down either White Pigeon St or even Mill St to get back on to Centreville.
Moreover, there appears to be a footpath cut-through half way along on each block of E 2nd, running through to E 3rd, connecting the two streets between back yards. I cant quite tell from Street View whether or not these run all the way through from E 2nd to 3rd without hitting private land, but they appear to - if so, might she have zipped down one of these rather than a traffic route, and thus have been shielded from the road for a time? The cut-through in the 200 block of E 2nd appears more open, exiting on to E 3rd between a bunch of church-type buildings, and would seem a decent option to a kid on a bike IMHO.
(Come to think of it, might someone Jodi mistook for a church man be the sort of authority figure she would stop for? Not speculating or insinuating anything, just thinking on the hoof - someone on here mentioned her being a church-goer.)
Finally, and off-topic regarding Jodi's route - I'm assuming there's still been no official COD released? If not, could suspected drowning be a reason LE wanted to wait for toxicology/autopsy, and yet immediately knew it was a homicide (ie. there's no water at the scene)?
More on that tomorrow. Thanks for entertaining me, and apologies if I'm way off on all this. Just a thinker, as I said.
