Sorry this is long, couldn't condense. For what it's worth...
I made the drive to Union Hill Rd this afternoon.
From 73 headed south or east, made a left on RT 32, made a right, south, onto Union Hill Rd.
It is natural, beautiful terrain. Hills and valleys.
Saw the Leonard Manley home on the curve on the left side.
There is a small memorial grouping at the mailbox, mementos, flowers. Lots of cars, misc. in the yard and general area. Seemed crowded on that curve.
Continued down the road.
Next were a few homes, addresses, of people who aren't involved.
More homes, structures, than I had imagined.
The road is narrow, heavily covered on both sides with trees -2 deer crossed the road in front of my car.
Paid particular attention to the open area of power lines that seem to parallel the road on the right side ( going down hill). There doesn't seem to be much chance that the open power line area was used to access, as the trees are very dense and terrain very ravine like at points. Not as it appears on Google Earth.
The road and general area was very secluded and remote.
Desolate. Dark, even in daytime.
Did not see another vehicle or person as we drove down the narrow,
and I mean NARROW road. Paved road, but very deteriorated.
No lighting, no markings. Road twists, turns.
A car could easily travel down the road quietly without alerting neighbors. Most homes are back a bit from the road. Easy to miss car noise or car lights. Possible to coast down hill quite a way if that's what you wanted to do.
Continued on to the DR, CRjr, HR site on right.
Red barn. Doors covered with plywood. Sketchy structures, back from road. Near front, what was probably the wooden porch deck. Very nice, peaceful, location. Well kept. Didn't see any evidence of a basement. So sad to think of DR here for such a short time where she was likely happy in this beautiful spot. Very sad.
Continued on to the CR sr & GR location on left.
Not much to see from the road. The very small yellow house was visible. Overgrown vegetation. Could see the big long structure, not able to see inside. From the road, one could not see back into the depths of the property. Saw a few of the Rooster A frames. Some vehicles. Random stuff including vehicles surrounded by overgrown vegetation. Frontage was smaller than is seemed to be on the news and helicopter shots. Could not see back into the depths of property.
Last stop was FR, HG. Again smaller in scope than imagined. Very sad. Remains of household items, washing machine, children's plastic outdoor play toys. Stark. Lonely. Very sad.
It was all more than I could take at that time.
So very sad.
I did say a little prayer at each location.
There were more residences of various kinds, mostly trailers, barns, interspersed before the R addresses, and after.
I never saw another person or vehicle this entire time.
Clearly the perps knew very well where they needed to go. It would have been very very dark. No lights. No edge markings on road. Dim, even at sunrise. Trees are so dense. Road is so narrow. No easy way to identify properties. A mailbox here and there.
Not much maneuvering room on any of the properties. At least by my standards. I don't see driving trucks up to back windows, etc. Tight spaces.
I can see how gun shots of any number or muffled volume may not have been heard by any nearby property.
Spaces between properties are significant.
Dense Walls of mature trees.
I can now understand that anyone driving by - even LE, prior to this event, could not notice much of what was on the properties. Small frontage, cluttered, but deep wooded areas, that could not be viewed from road.
I had planned to go to Left Fork, but couldn't do it. Too upset. The terror
of that night was clear and left me cold.
Turned around, retraced back up Union Hill.
One note. RT 32 is easy access and also desolate.
One could do exactly as I did, use RT 32 to come and go and not be seen at all. Dark. Few vehicles. Observe traffic rules and no reason to be noticed.
Regardless of what may have been the Family business, this murder of 8 is a tragedy of great depth and sadness.
My sincere condolences to the Rhoden and Gilley Families.
I made the drive to Union Hill Rd this afternoon.
From 73 headed south or east, made a left on RT 32, made a right, south, onto Union Hill Rd.
It is natural, beautiful terrain. Hills and valleys.
Saw the Leonard Manley home on the curve on the left side.
There is a small memorial grouping at the mailbox, mementos, flowers. Lots of cars, misc. in the yard and general area. Seemed crowded on that curve.
Continued down the road.
Next were a few homes, addresses, of people who aren't involved.
More homes, structures, than I had imagined.
The road is narrow, heavily covered on both sides with trees -2 deer crossed the road in front of my car.
Paid particular attention to the open area of power lines that seem to parallel the road on the right side ( going down hill). There doesn't seem to be much chance that the open power line area was used to access, as the trees are very dense and terrain very ravine like at points. Not as it appears on Google Earth.
The road and general area was very secluded and remote.
Desolate. Dark, even in daytime.
Did not see another vehicle or person as we drove down the narrow,
and I mean NARROW road. Paved road, but very deteriorated.
No lighting, no markings. Road twists, turns.
A car could easily travel down the road quietly without alerting neighbors. Most homes are back a bit from the road. Easy to miss car noise or car lights. Possible to coast down hill quite a way if that's what you wanted to do.
Continued on to the DR, CRjr, HR site on right.
Red barn. Doors covered with plywood. Sketchy structures, back from road. Near front, what was probably the wooden porch deck. Very nice, peaceful, location. Well kept. Didn't see any evidence of a basement. So sad to think of DR here for such a short time where she was likely happy in this beautiful spot. Very sad.
Continued on to the CR sr & GR location on left.
Not much to see from the road. The very small yellow house was visible. Overgrown vegetation. Could see the big long structure, not able to see inside. From the road, one could not see back into the depths of the property. Saw a few of the Rooster A frames. Some vehicles. Random stuff including vehicles surrounded by overgrown vegetation. Frontage was smaller than is seemed to be on the news and helicopter shots. Could not see back into the depths of property.
Last stop was FR, HG. Again smaller in scope than imagined. Very sad. Remains of household items, washing machine, children's plastic outdoor play toys. Stark. Lonely. Very sad.
It was all more than I could take at that time.
So very sad.
I did say a little prayer at each location.
There were more residences of various kinds, mostly trailers, barns, interspersed before the R addresses, and after.
I never saw another person or vehicle this entire time.
Clearly the perps knew very well where they needed to go. It would have been very very dark. No lights. No edge markings on road. Dim, even at sunrise. Trees are so dense. Road is so narrow. No easy way to identify properties. A mailbox here and there.
Not much maneuvering room on any of the properties. At least by my standards. I don't see driving trucks up to back windows, etc. Tight spaces.
I can see how gun shots of any number or muffled volume may not have been heard by any nearby property.
Spaces between properties are significant.
Dense Walls of mature trees.
I can now understand that anyone driving by - even LE, prior to this event, could not notice much of what was on the properties. Small frontage, cluttered, but deep wooded areas, that could not be viewed from road.
I had planned to go to Left Fork, but couldn't do it. Too upset. The terror
of that night was clear and left me cold.
Turned around, retraced back up Union Hill.
One note. RT 32 is easy access and also desolate.
One could do exactly as I did, use RT 32 to come and go and not be seen at all. Dark. Few vehicles. Observe traffic rules and no reason to be noticed.
Regardless of what may have been the Family business, this murder of 8 is a tragedy of great depth and sadness.
My sincere condolences to the Rhoden and Gilley Families.
