GUILTY NC - Melissa Huggins-Jones, 30, murdered in her Raleigh home, 14 May 2013

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Wonder why LE is so tight lipped? If this was a random attack/rape, public should know and be warned that a rapist is in the area, and the more info provided the better, no?

I agree. What I find alarming is we haven't heard the Raleigh PD issue any sort of statement like "if you know anything please call ----". They don't seem to be appealing to the public directly, although several news articles do include links to the local Crimestoppers tip hotline.

The latest update I saw still said that LE is not sure whether it was random or not, but I feel like (and really hope) that LE must have something they're working on if they haven't asked the public for any sort of help yet.
 
Have I missed any discussion of the possibility that the murderer was someone with access to a pass key from the apartment office? If so, that would explain the lack of evidence of a break- in.

Management, leasing staff, maintenance and possibly an on-call security officer?


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...But the murderer would have to have a lot of guts (or planning) to go in there knowing that there was another person in the home, kill the woman and then escape. What if the child had woken and gone to see whats happening? Unless they knew the child and the child knew them and they could cover themselves somehow for being there.

Because of the amount of blood, I thought it may have been throat too - though Im not sure because of the daughters call for help to the workman - she mentioned the blood, but didn't mention that her mother had injuries - she may not have been able to see them if she was faced down though.

Even the 911 call - didn't seem to mention injuries (though they may have edited that part) - the caller had to touch her arm to say she was cold - though I'm sure he was under the impression that she was deceased.
Did she not look deceased - even with the amount of blood on her?
:dunno:

I think it would be really tell a mother to keep quiet or he was going to hurt her child.

And maybe he didn't mention the injuries because the child was right there and just couldn't bring himself to say what they were in front of her? Also, with so much blood maybe they just couldn't tell whether they were knife wounds or shots.

If I were the construction guy, I would have left it at she has no pulse and she's cold, just get someone here now, and gotten myself and the daughter out of the room ASAP so she wouldn't be exposed to any more of the scene.

Onto today's venture... I drove by there again this evening and was surprised to see more cop cars--esp on a Saturday evening this many days out.

2 LE cars were on Ramblewood (there were none there the other day when I went by) and at least one was down on the other side of the building. I know for sure one had an actual cop in it (not just a car they park to scare people away).

I also noticed what looked like PVC plumbing pipes standing straight up in the air from a hole that was dug on the Ramblewood side of her building. (If the police car wasn't right there I would have stopped for a better look.) I didn't actually see anyone around the hole.

I could be totally wrong but my first thought was maybe they're looking for blood or other evidence someone might have cleaned themselves up afterward in her bathroom? After all, they must have already finished the plumbing for that building before they put the model home office in there and allowed her to move in.

I don't want to read too much into it since it could just be a matter of politics... But doesn't it seem like a lot of police presence to still have around unless you've got the theory of an unknown assailant still open?

I'm still not sure if her bedroom was ground level or not. The building has three levels on the Allister Road side, but only 2 on the Ramblewood side because it's built against a hill.

The other thing that struck me tonight was that if you live on the third level of that building, have your blinds up and lights on, someone might be able to see a bit into the Ramblewood-side top floor apartments at night from Six Forks road.

Kaylynn, I imagine she worked that day and probably took her daughter to and from school. Who knows what school that would be with the crazy way they assign kids around here.

But yes, she could have gone to a number of stores or restaurants right around here on their way home. I'd just have an easier time with that theory if she was attacked during the day, since she could have had a big burly husband that would be home at night. JMO
 
Have I missed any discussion of the possibility that the murderer was someone with access to a pass key from the apartment office? If so, that would explain the lack of evidence of a break- in.

Management, leasing staff, maintenance and possibly an on-call security officer?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nope, no real discussion about that yet although we have wondered about a passkey. I guess I forget that most criminals are stupid, but wouldn't that be a stupid thing to do?

After all, you've got a limited number of people with that kind of access. So if you were going to use a passkey, it'd be smarter to make it look like a break in after the fact, just to throw attention away from yourself.

But then again, some of them seem to hit every branch of the stupid tree on their way down. :)
 
Thanks tlneedham for your updates. They are greatly appreciated! I am an hour away, know Raleigh well, and have a son who lives there too. This case brings back memories for me as twenty-five years ago I moved to NC with two children after a divorce and a great promotion. My heart aches for her family.

Something is peculiar - so many police cars STILL at the apt? Virtually no news, no media coverage. Is everything being kept quite in respect for Melissa's viewing today and funeral tomorrow, Sunday?

I believe it was yesterday, Friday, that I saw a TV news clip stating the police dept. in the town she just moved from had not been asked for help. That would rule out collecting information from the ex-husband. However, I would imagine the ex is in Elizabethtown, NC area where the services are being held. He needed to bring the son for the services, be the comforting parent for the daughter, and my guess will attend the services. So, if Raleigh police want to talk with him regarding his whereabouts, he is probably in state now.

As we know, the spouse, significant other is the first one looked at. If the Cleveland, TN police have not been contacted, per the television news reporter, that raises a question in my mind. Why not?? (I will try to find that report and quote it). Oh, maybe the ex immediately came to NC to be with the daughter so the Raleigh police have already spoken with him.
 

I believe this news report is where the reporter was outside the Cleveland, TN Police Dept. and reported they had not been asked anything regarding Melissa's murder.

I am not a computer tech and do not know how to go back to another broadcast from what is being shown now to get what I am looking for! It was yesterday that I saw it if any one can help me. Thanks.:seeya:
 
RPD has her facebook information now, one of her friends indicated that she deleted her facebook page so her ex-husband would not know her movements.

There were actually 4 vehicle robberies reported in the area on the said night according to ABC-11 but thus far no connections have been made by the RPD.

RPD is aggressive in their investigations and usually move quickly to apprehend criminal offenders especially with respect to cases as such.

Hopefully we will soon know who is reponsible for such lunacy!
 
Some thoughts about these kind of horrific cases where mother is murdered while child is in the same house -

Most I've followed have been the result of an ex who's sick enough to take the woman's life, but leaves the child unharmed (what a nice guy :stormingmad:)

Would think the woman would not have resisted (hate saying that since I wish she would have fought like hell against this !) for her child's sake - so why does he still kill her? - because she can ID him, and/or rage against her.
 
I almost moved in there. Thankful now I didn't. I'm across the belt line. I'm giving away too much for those that know the area. I don't recall it being that expensive. The girls at the sales office were rather clueless. Maybe I'm just intimidating?

I wish we would get a clue. I'm in a pretty secure building. Security has been insane. Someone had propped a door while taking their dog out in our complex. The security guy was having a fit when my SO came back with our dog. (SO didn't prop the door).

It sounds very domestic to me. Stabbing is personal. Maybe I'm telling myself that because I'm a female of similar age and want to feel safe.

We're very accessible by the highway here.

Anyone else think maybe she has an ex in Elizabethtown she didn't want to know where she was?
 
I think it's a long drive 7-8 hours from Melissa's former city of Cleveland, TN to the apartment in Raleigh. She was last on the phone at 11 pm. Someone could have been hidden in the apartment already. So he knows the little one is asleep in bed....If he takes Melissa by surprise and stabs her in the bed, with the door closed, a child is not going to awaken. They sleep the deep sleep of angels. I have wondered why there was no contact right away with Melissa's husband. The morning news stated that "(police) are trying to get in touch with him." Perhaps this is all circumstantial, but add to the mix the information that Melissa had deleted her facebook account. <modsnip> If I was investigating someone, I would sure keep it quiet, because one can find out MORE that way.
JMHO
I doubt the "construction worker" theory. It's possible, but those guys keep a close watch on each other. And wouldn't a worker have seen Melissa come home with her daughter? Why take a chance on being found out.
It's a mystery. And I love it. Can't wait to have the perp locked up and shackled, whomever it may be!

:jail::jail::jail::jail::jail::jail: :cheers:
 
"
I wish we would get a clue. I'm in a pretty secure building. Security has been insane. Someone had propped a door while taking their dog out in our complex. The security guy was having a fit when my SO came back with our dog. (SO didn't prop the door). "

Please don't be propping the door, ZJ! I'm glad you have a good security guy. I have been thinking lately about having a security system installed, CPI maybe? Anyone have any suggestions? It's not as though I have any fine things, I really don't. But a perp who's jacked up doesn't know that.:dunno:
 
While the cause of death has not been given, stabbing seems the likely method or the child would / might have heard a gun shot. Also, neighbors in her building may have heard a gun shot too.

For me, it will be interesting to see what news tomorrow, Monday, brings. The police have been TOO quite IMO for a reason. <modsnip>! Do any of you Raleigh residents know an apt. manager and you could ask them what the insider talk is?
 
Remember Kathy Taft. Totally random, no knives involved. No one has mentioned anything about a cause of death.

The son was with the father. Upon hearing the news, if I was the dad, I'd get to my daughter ASAP, and I sure wouldn't have any thoughts about talking to the media. My priority would be to get to my kid. No one has said anything about him speaking or not speaking with police. An unnamed source is referred to by the media to have said FB was deleted b/c of the husband. First, that's a little vague, but second, it could mean many things. We don't "know he was a PITA" at all.

I hate to see an ex get raked over the coals before it's warranted. We don't really know anything at this point, and apparently LE wants it that way. I'm sure info will be released, but who knows when? I hope the case is solved quickly for the sake of Melissa's loved ones. My heart breaks for those children.

I would definitely suggest some type of security system for any woman living alone or even with roommates. Even if some type of simple door alarm is used, it's better than nothing.

It's scary not knowing whether this was random. I would hope if LE can rule it out, they would want to convey that to the (nervous) public. Or would they?
 
My thoughts are with the timing of Melissa's murder, the removal of her FB page so ex would not know her movements, she was dealing with a very unhappy ex!! The breaking point may have been her uprooting the children and moving them.

A divorce is one issue, but the ability and strength for the Mother to actually move to another state with the children is a whole different story!

Which brings to light another thought - we have not heard one word from her ex! Would he not be speaking out on how the children are handling this? How the little girl is? These are common things the public wants to know and even if a family spokesperson is used, we have not heard one word in a week from the family. Even in the bombings or other drastic cases, we hear something from a family member.

These were my thoughts exactly. We've neither seen nor heard anything from the ex. And the police haven't mentioned anything about possible clues, possible BOLO's on cars, people, etc. Why not? Why is there nothing coming out of the local PD?
 
I said stabbing because that's what I assumed. I assumed it was quiet and the original description of the scene from the construction guy made me think that too. If she was cold at 7 am she had been dead for a while.

I've got my man, my gun, my dog, and street smarts. I'll be ok. It does make me feel uneasy. I'll ask a realtor with an office over there about it and see if he's got any inside info. He was helping push The Allister apartments before. That's how I had been involved with them initially.

If I were one of their cute petite dedicated to the complex, sales staff, I'd be running for the hills.
 
To add, that area is very isolated compared to everything else over here. That's one thing I didn't like about it. She had to sign up to live there a few months ago. The whole first building was sold out mid April. (April 18th was when I was told it was sold out).
 
I drove through there about 4:30 pm today (Sunday). There were two police cars right out on Ramblewood and then it looked like about 4 or 5 police-type vehicles in the parking lot right in front of the building. Busy for a Sunday, I thought, but I guess they've got work to do no matter what day it is.

Gosh, that's one huge apartment complex; lots of people going to be squeezed in there.
 
I know a lot of people immediately think 'ex-hubby' when something like this happens, and statistically, there is good reason to think that. But we must remember, this ex-hubby does not live alone. He has an 11-year old son (obituary says 11, I think some early reports I read said 12) who lives with him. The murder happened on a school night so there is every reason to believe the son would have been at home. As surely as the ex has been interviewed by LE already, we can pretty much rest assured that the son has been spoken to, at least informally, as well. It should be easy enough to eliminate the ex if the son can verify that he was at home when the murder occurred. I doubt that an 11-year-old goes to bed so early that the dad could have driven from Cleveland, Tn to Raleigh, murdered Melissa, and driven back without his absence being known.

Having said that, if the son were to say that his dad was at work, that too should be easy to verify. If he happened to be gone for 10-12 hours or so for any other reason that can't be verified, I would say we have likely found our suspect. JMO
 

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