Omaha Double Murder #2

[waltzingmatilda]

YD, I agree with you that Tom was probably the target and the killer didn't know Shirlee was at the residence. Therefore, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I respectfullly disagree regarding the killer committing the murders in a short period of time. The POI arrived at approx. 3:20 pm. Dr. Bill Hunter arrived home in the 5 o' clock hour. (sorry I can't remember the exact time but will search for a link)

There have been no official reports of witnesses' accounts of the man leaving the Hunter residence. Pure speculation on my part but the killer could have been in the H's home for over an hour before Dr Hunter returned home from work, based on the times we have. (which isn't much)

WHY didn't the neighbors see the POI leave the residence? This puzzles me.

I do agree this was a revenge killing!

Anyway, MOO for today.

wm

Quoting my own post to add to the timeline...

Police say that William Hunter found the bodies at 5:48 p.m. and investigators responded to the home at 303 N. 54th Street around 6 p.m.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

YD, I agree with you that Tom was probably the target and the killer didn't know Shirlee was at the residence. Therefore, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I respectfullly disagree regarding the killer committing the murders in a short period of time. The POI arrived at approx. 3:20 pm. Dr. Bill Hunter arrived home in the 5 o' clock hour. (sorry I can't remember the exact time but will search for a link)

There have been no official reports of witnesses' accounts of the man leaving the Hunter residence. Pure speculation on my part but the killer could have been in the H's home for over an hour before Dr Hunter returned home from work, based on the times we have. (which isn't much)

WHY didn't the neighbors see the POI leave the residence? This puzzles me.

I do agree this was a revenge killing!

Anyway, MOO for today.

wm

Quoting my own post to add to the timeline...

Police say that William Hunter found the bodies at 5:48 p.m. and investigators responded to the home at 303 N. 54th Street around 6 p.m.

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/16658516.html


3:00 pm: Tom was seen arriving home by witnesses.

3:20 pm: POI seen stopping and starting in his vehicle int the Dundee neighborhood.

5:48 pm: Dr Bill Hunter finds the bodies upon returning home from work.

What is missing here?

wm

 

[YellowDog]

I wonder what time Shirlee normally left the Hunter home? That might narrow the timeline down somewhat. I do remember reading that Dr. Hunter was surprised to see her car there when he arrived home.

 

[Snick1946]

Quoting my own post to add to the timeline...

Police say that William Hunter found the bodies at 5:48 p.m. and investigators responded to the home at 303 N. 54th Street around 6 p.m.

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/16658516.html


3:00 pm: Tom was seen arriving home by witnesses.

3:20 pm: POI seen stopping and starting in his vehicle int the Dundee neighborhood.

5:48 pm: Dr Bill Hunter finds the bodies upon returning home from work.

What is missing here?

wm

Approximately 90 minutes. From about 3:25 until 5:45. Plenty of time for the perp to have gone through the house looking for something he was trying to retreive and also for him to have changed his clothes after cleaning up. On the other end of things, plenty of time for him to have had some interaction with either Tom or Shirlee after which things went bad.
Most cleaning persons try to be gone by the time the employers arrive home so I assume Shirlee would under normal circumstances left about 4:30 or so.

 

[omaha]

Approximately 90 minutes. From about 3:25 until 5:45. Plenty of time for the perp to have gone through the house looking for something he was trying to retreive and also for him to have changed his clothes after cleaning up. On the other end of things, plenty of time for him to have had some interaction with either Tom or Shirlee after which things went bad.
Most cleaning persons try to be gone by the time the employers arrive home so I assume Shirlee would under normal circumstances left about 4:30 or so.

I wish we could know what day and time Shirlee normally came to the house.

 

[omaha]

I wish we could know what day and time Shirlee normally came to the house.

Also, do we know if the time Tom was seen was the normal home from school time? Or do could he have been at a friends house before hand?

 

[YellowDog]

Approximately 90 minutes. From about 3:25 until 5:45. Plenty of time for the perp to have gone through the house looking for something he was trying to retreive and also for him to have changed his clothes after cleaning up. On the other end of things, plenty of time for him to have had some interaction with either Tom or Shirlee after which things went bad.
Most cleaning persons try to be gone by the time the employers arrive home so I assume Shirlee would under normal circumstances left about 4:30 or so.

It would be more like 2 hours and 20 minutes, wouldn't it? That's time to look around a lot.

I can't believe none of the neighbors knew approximately what time the SUV was no longer sitting on their street.

 

[Snick1946]

It would be more like 2 hours and 20 minutes, wouldn't it? That's time to look around a lot.

I can't believe none of the neighbors knew approximately what time the SUV was no longer sitting on their street.

That's right, YD. It was over two hours from the time he was seen until Dr Hunter arrived home. A lot can happen in that time frame. Also your point about the car parked all that time is interesting. You have to wonder, could he have had someone else in the car with him or been dropped off with the other person driving? It continues to boggle my mind that he stabbed two people with throat wounds and was able to apparently exit the premises with nothing seeming out of the ordinary.
I wonder if OPD checked for signs that he may have used a bathroom to clean up or even take a shower before leaving.
This guy was good.. real good. You gotta wonder...

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I wish we could know what day and time Shirlee normally came to the house.

You and I both!

This is MOO and speculation but if Shirlee only worked for the H's one day of the week, then I suspect that she was there for a full day....morning to afternoon. I based this opinion on the size of the home along with the fact that a family lived there and both Mom and Dad Hunter have demanding careers. It would take a full 9-5 day to give it a good cleaning, IMO.

Also, it is common courtesy for housekeepers to finish their work and have vacated the residence before the client returns home from work. I understand why BH was surprised Shirlee's car was still in the driveway.

What bothers me is that I don't think the poi knew Shirlee would be there that day but knew Tom would be there. This is why I think this person was in the periferal of Tom's life.....therefore my thoughts on the gaming connection....someone Tom knew but didn't really know.

Omaha, forgive me if I am mistaken, but was it your website where a question was posted which read, "Why did this crime occur on the one day of the week that Shirlee was scheduled to work fo the Hunter's?" or something to that effect. I had not read this anywhere else. Can you elaborate on this information if you feel comfortable doing so? TIA

All MOO

wm

 

[omaha]

I'm with you WM. I did see that on the website, but didn't know what to make of it. I can't find who posted it, there's no contact info, I think we assumed it was set up by the Hunters, but perhaps friends of the Hunters? There is some interesting things in there that I haven't seen elsewhere.

You and I both!

This is MOO and speculation but if Shirlee only worked for the H's one day of the week, then I suspect that she was there for a full day....morning to afternoon. I based this opinion on the size of the home along with the fact that a family lived there and both Mom and Dad Hunter have demanding careers. It would take a full 9-5 day to give it a good cleaning, IMO.

Also, it is common courtesy for housekeepers to finish their work and have vacated the residence before the client returns home from work. I understand why BH was surprised Shirlee's car was still in the driveway.

What bothers me is that I don't think the poi knew Shirlee would be there that day but knew Tom would be there. This is why I think this person was in the periferal of Tom's life.....therefore my thoughts on the gaming connection....someone Tom knew but didn't really know.

Omaha, forgive me if I am mistaken, but was it your website where a question was posted which read, "Why did this crime occur on the one day of the week that Shirlee was scheduled to work fo the Hunter's?" or something to that effect. I had not read this anywhere else. Can you elaborate on this information if you feel comfortable doing so? TIA

All MOO

wm

 

[omaha]

I really hope that coming up on year THREE now, that maybe it will be back in the news. Perhaps the police will get back out there in March…

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Thank you for clarifying omaha. I haven't visited the site since my laptop crashed and I lost all my links. (should have done a backup, lesson learned the hard way,lol) Surely, OPD will make some statement on the 3 yr anniversary. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I am posting a link that isn't related to this case, yet it has some valuable information on familial DNA which we have discussed here.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/jan/06/new-virginia-dna-searches-possible-ar-755967/

Heck, if Denver, CO is giving the software away for free maybe OPD should jump on that bandwagon.

OT Kudos to Dr and Mrs Harrington for being proactive for changes in VA after their beautiful daughter was brutally murdered. I cannot imagine the pain of these parents like the Hunters and the Harringtons whose young ones lives are snatched away too soon by lunatics.

MOO

wm

 

[omaha]

This is great link, thanks WM!

Thank you for clarifying omaha. I haven't visited the site since my laptop crashed and I lost all my links. (should have done a backup, lesson learned the hard way,lol) Surely, OPD will make some statement on the 3 yr anniversary. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I am posting a link that isn't related to this case, yet it has some valuable information on familial DNA which we have discussed here.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/jan/06/new-virginia-dna-searches-possible-ar-755967/

Heck, if Denver, CO is giving the software away for free maybe OPD should jump on that bandwagon.

OT Kudos to Dr and Mrs Harrington for being proactive for changes in VA after their beautiful daughter was brutally murdered. I cannot imagine the pain of these parents like the Hunters and the Harringtons whose young ones lives are snatched away too soon by lunatics.

MOO

wm

 

[Snick1946]

Thank you for clarifying omaha. I haven't visited the site since my laptop crashed and I lost all my links. (should have done a backup, lesson learned the hard way,lol) Surely, OPD will make some statement on the 3 yr anniversary. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I am posting a link that isn't related to this case, yet it has some valuable information on familial DNA which we have discussed here.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/jan/06/new-virginia-dna-searches-possible-ar-755967/

Heck, if Denver, CO is giving the software away for free maybe OPD should jump on that bandwagon.

OT Kudos to Dr and Mrs Harrington for being proactive for changes in VA after their beautiful daughter was brutally murdered. I cannot imagine the pain of these parents like the Hunters and the Harringtons whose young ones lives are snatched away too soon by lunatics.

MOO

wm

I wonder if this link ought to be emailed to Lt. Kanger? I respect him and he is probably aware of this but it wouldn't hurt.
One point: this whole familial DNA thing is in no way any attempt to imply some blood relative of either victim was involved. But, if OPD managed to extract ANY DNA from the crime scene of the perp it would greatly help in narrowing down the suspect list.

 

[YellowDog]

I would think the family members of both victims would welcome providing their DNA to eliminate any doubts people might have about them.

 

[omaha]

I wonder if this link ought to be emailed to Lt. Kanger? I respect him and he is probably aware of this but it wouldn't hurt.
One point: this whole familial DNA thing is in no way any attempt to imply some blood relative of either victim was involved. But, if OPD managed to extract ANY DNA from the crime scene of the perp it would greatly help in narrowing down the suspect list.

Or Chief Hayes.

 

[Snick1946]

Or Chief Hayes.

I am mulling sending a letter to Chief Hayes with a copy to the Mayor's office. It would be brief and to the point, pointing out the three years that have gone by, the need for release of more information and requesting that they reconsider not cooperating with AMW. Mention could also be made of the DNA issue, I have no idea if they even got any from the killer or not.

The families of these victims deserve some closure.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Snick, Please keep us posted if you get a response from Chief Hayes. I saw that OPD has made an arrest in the missing Brazilian family. Way to go OPD!

I'm posting this link as an FYI since we[ve been discussing DNA. The state of North Carolina has a new law in effect requiring DNA collection at the time of arrest for felony charges. NC is not wussy footing around waiting on a conviction are they? Also, this is partially paid for by federal funds!

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/02/01/959720/police-to-take-dna-samples.html


Starting today, sheriff's offices and police departments will gather DNA from certain arrestees by collecting cells from inside their cheeks. The SBI will analyze the DNA and send the results to state and national DNA databases. If an arrestee isn't convicted or the case is dismissed, the sample may be removed.

It's not without controversy though.
~ read more info at above link~

wm

 

[YellowDog]

As far as taking DNA samples from family members in murder cases, wouldn't they have to be willing for this to happen unless they had been arrested for something?

 

[Snick1946]

Breaking news this AM, I will post the article from the OWH then follow jup later today with other linkas and comments:

A pathologist who attended medical school in Omaha — and who was interviewed by police in connection with two unsolved Dundee homicides — is now the subject of an inquiry by Canadian authorities.

They are reviewing the accuracy of autopsies performed by Dr. Michael Belenky, who left his post last month as assistant chief medical examiner in Calgary.

Belenky's name surfaced in the investigation of the March 2008 Omaha slayings of Thomas Hunter, 11, and Shirlee Sherman, 57, the Hunter family's housekeeper, the Calgary Herald reported.

Omaha homicide detectives interviewed Belenky about two years ago in Calgary. Omaha police said Belenky is one of at least 10 people they have looked at in connection with the stabbing deaths.

They have said they don't consider him a suspect or person of interest.

Dr. William Hunter, Thomas Hunter's father, is a professor of pathology at Creighton University Medical Center. He is the former director of the residency program for pathology at Creighton.

Belenky was one of Hunter's residents before leaving the program in the summer of 2007. Belenky previously was a pathology student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

At the time of the killings, Belenky worked as assistant medical examiner in Pittsburgh.

Dr. Hunter has repeatedly told The World-Herald he does not believe Belenky was responsible for the slayings.

“We do not have any suspicions about Mike being involved,” Hunter said Tuesday. “I felt I got along with him rather cordially. He was what I would consider a solid resident.”


Contact the writer: 402-444-1056, john.ferak@owh.com

http://omaha.com/article/20110202/NEWS97/702029911/0


This was a lead story last night on CBC radio in Calgary, I have an internet radio and heard the story, they were quoting Dr Hunter, etc. Strange feeling
to hear this getting international coverage. More soon..