GUILTY OH - Johnny Clarke, 21, & Lisa Straub, 20, murdered, Springfield Twp, 31 Jan 2011

[believe09]

i felt the mother was completely hipocritical and insensitive. not wanting to discuss her sons negatived side but jumping at every chance to make lisa look bad.
to me it seems whoever did it wanted her to find them.

Maybe it's just me, but my hinky meter is going off the charts about Johnny's mom..there's something just not right there...there is new FB page regarding a benefit being held tonite (feb 8) so that Johnny's parents can defray cost of funeral. On the RIP page put up the mom writes that "she has a secret to tell him"....IDK...i just feel like something is off..soley my opinion

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=131900056877749

Link to CNN transcript of johnny's mom going over what happend. She basically blames Lisa, Very interesting some of her comments.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1102/07/ijvm.01.html

Hi everyone-you will want to tread softly with Johnny's mother. We dont allow sleuthing or bashing of victim's families unless they have been named as suspects or treated as suspects by LE.

 

[realist1972]

The mother was saying she knows where they keep the key that opens the door that goes from the garage into the kitchen. To get access to that door the big garage door would have had to have been open. It was closed when the mother got there, so she couldn't utilize that key.
Obviously when the perps entered the garage door was up. Someone, not sure who, said that they kept it up alot because that is how they went outside to smoke.

 

[fran]

FWIW, my daughter is a forensic chemist and I've asked her about fingerprints. She said people always believe there will be fingerprints. She said that's really not true. There are NO READABLE prints, more often than there are READABLE prints located. This INCLUDES drug paraphernalia.

I have seen sometimes, prints lifted off tape.

I read the mom's interview from last night. I don't think she's so much trying to deflect from her son, any more than she's just trying to figure out what happened and who could have done this. She's at a very emotional state and I think she should be given some slack.

The victims were at Lisa's house, in Lisa's neighborhood, so for someone to look first at Lisa's connections isn't completely out of line, IMHO. Also, bringing up Lisa's ex-bf seems reasonable if he was the jealous type. If he'd just gotten out of jail, it's possible Lisa started dating Johnny WHILE the ex was in prison.

I also question the witness who originally rang the alarm by calling another friend to call Johnny's family. Her story has major credibility concerns, to ME, and I'm sure LE has caught on as well. We'll see.

As for the mom not wanting to bring up Johnny's previous arrest record,......think about it,.......often times when someone is doing something criminal when they're victimized, or have a past criminal history, the media fades to black. She just wants this solved and she knows IF she can keep it in the media, LE will feel compelled to work just a little harder because they're being scrutinized by the public.

JMHO
fran

PS....I just want this case solved. Two young lives snuffed out senselessly.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

http://transcripts.cnn.VELEZ-MITCHELL: Do you think he had any enemies? That`s all I`m trying to figure out.

VAZQUEZ: No, he did not have any enemies. And actually, Lisa`s boyfriend was in prison for robbery and just got out of prison a couple months ago.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes...

VAZQUEZ: Lisa`s ex-boyfriend was in prison for robbery. Yes, my son, no, he didn`t have any enemies. This has nothing to do with my son.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK, OK.

VAZQUEZ: She would be more connected to this than my son would.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Let`s...

VAZQUEZ: These people knew...

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Go ahead.

VAZQUEZ: These people knew her and they knew how to get into her house.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Can we rewind and take a...

VAZQUEZ: My son did not live there.

com/TRANSCRIPTS/1102/07/ijvm.01.html

 

[Sonya610]

I also question the witness who originally rang the alarm by calling another friend to call Johnny's family. Her story has major credibility concerns, to ME, and I'm sure LE has caught on as well. We'll see.

Well I think waiting 2 hours is more suspicious but even that could be explained away if this couple was frequently late, frequently getting into drama with others, just not very timely or easy to reach. She may not have had the mom's # which is why she called someone that DID have it to relay the message.

Also keep in mind it seems a whole lot of these people could have been using drugs, that could explain why she didn't want to call the police. If she knew they had drugs then calling the police could lead to them getting in trouble and getting angry at her. If the mother lived 20 minutes away maybe she decided to just call the mom, have the mom go over there OR let the mother contact the authorities.

People that live shady lifestyles often do not rush to bring the police into situations unless they are sure it really requires it. I don't live a shady lifestyle but I would get very angry if someone called the police to "check on me" unless they were darn sure I was dead and they couldn't come themselves, I have large dogs that could easily get shot if the authorities felt the need to enter the premise and would never want a well meaning person to call 911 and put them in danger.

 

[Stolly]

The mother was saying she knows where they keep the key that opens the door that goes from the garage into the kitchen. To get access to that door the big garage door would have had to have been open. It was closed when the mother got there, so she couldn't utilize that key.
Obviously when the perps entered the garage door was up. Someone, not sure who, said that they kept it up alot because that is how they went outside to smoke.

Still, I get the feeling that the perpetrators were let into the house. I have to wonder what the perps were going to do if the garage door was closed? Sit till someone opened it? Walk around and try the other doors while you know someone is inside the house? Chance knocking on the front door and forcing yourself into the house without anyone seeing or hearing it?

I'm not sure if they just got lucky and found the door up. I still think they were let into the house by the couple or by a "friend" that was over. I think as soon as the attackers were in the house they pulled a gun and the couple complied with everything they said. The perpetrators didn't get the cash they wanted and knew that they would be identified by the victims. The perpetrators probably got the bag idea from one of the "gangsta"/drug/hitman/action movies.

The friends of the victims are victims too. At the same time, in my opinion, one of those "friends" had something, indirectly or directly, to do with it. One of the friends that came over to the longacre house to play pool could owe some money to someone and have said, I can't pay you but there is this really nice house with a bunch of cash and other things in it, I can take you there.

After following this case from the beginning, I believe it is safe to conclude that, IMHO, the perps are:
1) Someone who was over at the house to hang out Saturday or Sunday
and/or
2) Someone who is affiliated with the people that hung out at the house
and/or
3) Someone the couple called on their cell phones in the past week, notifying them the parents were out of town.
and were
4) Let into the house.

You have a finite number of suspects to put on a board and eliminate them as "people of interest" one by one. Hopefully the cell records tell the tale. Even better, I hope someone comes forward with the truth or confesses!

I just wanted to post my opinion on the suspects from the conclusions I have drawn. Remember it is just that, my opinion.

 

[cluciano63]

But his mom was willing to bring up one of Lisa's boyfriends who had been to prison.
Both her current and her ex had been to prison for robbery?

 

[Salem]

I'm quoting and snipping myself to make sure everyone gets this message.

We can discuss her in that regard. Any references to a facebook that may or may not be her needs to GO! If you are not sure the social website belongs to the person you are talking about - DON'T POST it. Please confirm it, before discussing or posting.

Some rumors are allowed, but not rumors that insinuate a person is a criminal, kwim?

Also, we do not talk or sleuth other members. That is a serious offense and will result in a TO. It is like talking behind someone's back.

Thank you for your cooperation and your help!

Salem

 

[fran]

Well I think waiting 2 hours is more suspicious but even that could be explained away if this couple was frequently late, frequently getting into drama with others, just not very timely or easy to reach. She may not have had the mom's # which is why she called someone that DID have it to relay the message.

Also keep in mind it seems a whole lot of these people could have been using drugs, that could explain why she didn't want to call the police. If she knew they had drugs then calling the police could lead to them getting in trouble and getting angry at her. If the mother lived 20 minutes away maybe she decided to just call the mom, have the mom go over there OR let the mother contact the authorities.

People that live shady lifestyles often do not rush to bring the police into situations unless they are sure it really requires it. I don't live a shady lifestyle but I would get very angry if someone called the police to "check on me" unless they were darn sure I was dead and they couldn't come themselves, I have large dogs that could easily get shot if the authorities felt the need to enter the premise and would never want a well meaning person to call 911 and put them in danger.

To be honest, I feel the witness has more than a 'credibility problem.'

IF the witness was on the phone with the victim at the time, I don't know IF I believe what was said by Johnny, "Who are you?" IIRCC, the witness didn't reveal that statement 'orginally.' I BELIEVE she MAY have said that to make it APPEAR it was someone Johnny didn't know. IMHO

I also BELIEVE she MAY have been in the house, prior to calling the 'friend' to call Johnny's parents. She was too descriptive of the INSIDE of the crime scene.IMHO

I also believe she KNOWS who was there. It was already stated that they were expecting someone(s) to come over that evening and play pool.

The two hour delay is MAJOR! HOWEVER, it's possible, IMHO, she either was there during or AFTER the crime and when she went home she COULD HAVE BEEN frantic and knew this was BIG and that LE needed to be notified, ASAP.

IMHO, the RUMORED drug paraphernalia, (baggies, scale reported) MOST LIKELY did NOT belong to the perps. It was probably the victims.

WHERE ARE THE DRUGS!?

LE saying this was a 'robbery gone bad,' would fit in with the drug paraphernalia and NO DRUGS!

WHERE ARE THE DRUGS THEY WERE CUTTING!?!

I know that Johnny has a robbery conviction, but that doesn't necessarily point to Johnny or his 'friends.' But a "criminal past" of an ALLEGED jealous ex-b/f COULD point to HIM being capable of the murder of his EX-G/F and her NEW B/F.

Of course, I think everyone knows that Johnny's criminal friends COULD also be connected to this crime. It's also pretty well universally known that ANYONE connected to DRUGS has the capability of turning violent, either dealer, protecting his stash, drug user for his next fix, robber goes to where the MONEY and, or DRUGS are and what more perfect victim than someone that would hesitate to report the crime, than a dealer and his ill gotten gains.

JMHO
fran

 

[Sonya610]

Yeah I also think the missing drugs rules out the ex-boyfriend. If someone were so obsessed/in love/angry they went to kill their ex-girlfriend and her current bo....I just don't see them leaving all the valuables so it does NOT look like a robbery but then wandering around, seeing a baggy on the counter and thinking "ooohhhh...drugs...this will be fun later tonight!".

 

[anthony1]

Yeah I also think the missing drugs rules out the ex-boyfriend. If someone were so obsessed/in love/angry they went to kill their ex-girlfriend and her current bo....I just don't see them leaving all the valuables so it does NOT look like a robbery but then wandering around, seeing a baggy on the counter and thinking "ooohhhh...drugs...this will be fun later tonight!".

where does it say that drugs were missing????

 

[makeawish11]

wow-thats just so crazy.

 

[fran]

where does it say that drugs were missing????

Let's call the 'drugs missing' as a 'rumor,' just like the baggies and scale being for drugs.

The baggies and scale are a NORMAL part of cutting drugs. The sw didn't mention finding drugs. So IF you have alleged drug paraphernalia, there SHOULD BE drugs that they were cutting. NO drugs mentioned.

Are they missing?

Who knows
JMHO
fran

 

[fran]

I have had to remove more posts.

IF a post has been removed, PLEASE DO NOT discuss it on the forum. It was removed for a reason.

It is against TOS to encourage people to contact you out of the forum.

Please abide by the rules. If you have any questions, you can contact believe09, Salem, or me, or any other mod you feel comfortable communicating with.

Thank you,
fran

 

[LaWanda]

I have a digital scale and Zip lock bags. It's for weighing out meat and freezing individual portions for lunch throughout the work week for my lunch.

So the scale and zip lock bags are part of a normal kitchen as well.

JMO

 

[anthony1]

Let's call the 'drugs missing' as a 'rumor,' just like the baggies and scale being for drugs.

The baggies and scale are a NORMAL part of cutting drugs. The sw didn't mention finding drugs. So IF you have alleged drug paraphernalia, there SHOULD BE drugs that they were cutting. NO drugs mentioned.

Are they missing?

Who knows
JMHO
fran

i came to the same conclusion as u. i def believe there were drugs involved without a doubt. i just wondered if there was new info about drugs being gone. afterall who would know??? no one i imagine

 

[future criminologist]

From the FBI.
Every year in America, 6,000 killers get away with murder. The percentage of homicides that go unsolved in the United States has risen alarmingly even as the homicide rate has fallen to levels last seen in the 1960s.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/may/...isen-alarming/

I buy it - state budgets have been slashed across the board since the economy sank, and that would presumably include the budget for law enforcement. In Massachusetts in 2008 the governor laid off detectives in the gang units and cut back on the number of police on patrol. At the time I was horrified, thinking about what would happen with gang activity in the city if gang units were cut, on top of 10% unemployment. Well what do you know - by 2010 we were seeing an upsurge in gang violence. Something's gotta give somewhere. I would also assume the funding that the state receives also from the federal gov't for their crime labs was cut as well. So that means already overworked detectives carrying larger and larger caseloads, less techs to run tests on evidence = longer wait times to turn around DNA evidence = much longer time to solve a crime. So this stat at all doesn't surprise me but I think it has less to do with the skill and work ethic of the LE than with federal and state budgets and what the economic crash did to LE funding. IMO.

 

[future criminologist]

She would not discuss John's past criminal history but did say that Lisa's ex-bf just got out of prison a couple months ago and was very jealous.

Not to speak ill of the dead here, but damn girl, TWO boyfriends just out of prison? Surely a beautiful girl like her could do better than ex-cons? And she was so young too....ugh

 

[SurfieTX]

I have a digital scale and Zip lock bags. It's for weighing out meat and freezing individual portions for lunch throughout the work week for my lunch.

So the scale and zip lock bags are part of a normal kitchen as well.

JMO

Most drug ziploc bags are the teeny-tiny ones that hold a few pills or some powder, perhaps a bud of hydro weed. IMHO, those aren't a normal occurrence around average homes. Also, let us not forget the two knives on the counter that were mentioned in the search warrant/affidavit.

There's a very viable theory out there in cyberland, and one I believe. I think this case will be solved pretty soon.

 

[LaWanda]

True, but I also have the smaller zip lock bags that are kept around my kitchen table. I make jewelry so I have itty bitty bags for seed beads and findings and such. So It MAY not be as sinister as we think it is. I have to say, though, that drugs were my first thought. I have watched enough "The first 48" to know that where there's baggies and scales, there's some suspicious activities going on. I just had to point out that Soccer Mom me has scales and Zip Locks too. =)