It is very hard for me to believe that Dustin and Michael Clay don't know nothing about the disappearance of Sherrill , Suzie and stacy . They were not the kind of guys who helped a nice old lady to cross the street.
I think that except for their "regular"crimes Dustin and Michael were in contact and work with or For very dangerous people , a criminals from a different league, I strongly believe that this connection of these two with the other criminals led to the Kidnaping.
Maybe the police didn't investigated them hard enough
in those days and after.
I lived in or near Springfield for 26 years and know my way around. I moved in 2001 and have only been back about four times.
I will be frank to say that I have been obsessed with this case since it began in 1992. I worked for the State of Missouri and part of my job was tracking people down for money owed. One gets fairly proficient if they do that for any degree of time. Stated differently, I think I have a good feel for this case. I would have given my right arm (figuratively of course) to have had a crack at the case. At the very least I believe I could have eliminated most of the "usual suspects" and gotten down to the nitty gritty. I was not allowed to do that although I offered my services free of charge. Obviously it was declined.
However since that time I had occasion to be in contact with several individuals known to this forum. I think I have a pretty good idea who should be considered and who should not. Some I have had many, many discussions off the site. And not always pleasant I might add.
The one consistent thing that always came through is that the police department was like an ink blotter, what was given was taken and nothing ever came back to me or to the public. From time to time we would be given a new clue here or there but it was oftentimes more confusing than helpful.
There were some top flight officers who worked this case. There were some who evidently had their own ideas who such an investigation should be conducted. This is where I believe it went off the rails. A lot of silliness ensued such as the parking lot garage, psychics and other totally worthless endeavors.
Today, much of the population will only know about this case as they weren't even alive during the early days. There will be the perfunctory 25th annual editions and will be soon forgotten.
I say all this to say this. Some of the individuals close to the case I have been in touch with. As to the "grave robbers" I seriously doubt they had anything to do with the case. Nevertheless it was probably the upcoming court testimony that provoked this crime. As someone has said, I do believe that it was directed by people higher up the food chain and others carried out the crime.
It is said that the perp is known and has been seen at his place of employment. I believe that. However, I do not know his identity. Hurricane might. I don't.
Cox was and is a top drawer suspect. I am agnostic.
No one really seems to believe that Garrison did this crime. But he could have come in on the tail end of the crime after they were taken. I would also add that no one really knows if all three were taken at the same time. I am inclined to think that Sherrill was taken sooner and then the girls came along later. There is no evidence I am aware of that even shows she was there when they came.
It is intriguing that it was said to be likely a sexual assault case. I have no idea how that determination came to be.
Disregarding everything I have just said it would be my bottom line conclusion that this was a drug related crime. Who and what did whatever I do not know. I have my suspicions but that is all.
I would not rule out Carnahan. I would tend to rule out Cox knowing what I know now. I have been told by someone in a position to know that neither was high up the suspect list of about 10 individuals. Carnahan was convicted of the murder of Jackie Johns in 1985. It was common knowledge that he had murdered her but the evidence was not there until the MSHP matched up a DNA sample with him and that put him away. He is 59 and said not to be in good health. He is suspected in other murders and attempted to kidnap a young college student in Springfield. She eluded him and memory is that he got three years on that charge. I met him one time in the elevator in the State Office Building. I saw him come in many times into our office checking on his alibi witness. That was before security was beefed up.
Finally, I would not rule out LE involvement. I think I have said enough.
Lest there be any question about my post, what I have said is my best understanding of what I believe to be true. Frankly, I could be entirely wrong. And if that is the case, I won't be disappointed. I just want the case solved, closed and prosecuted. I'm not getting any younger. I was 48 years old when this happened.
