slinkycat said:
I'm finding some logic in Rainbows & Gumdrops' posting about Raven not intending to kill Janet. Let's presume that in an emotional eruption of 'showing her who's boss', he whips out the Buck knife in a threatening display. She grapples with him, not thinking that he might actually stab her, and he gets caught up in the heat of the moment and intends to inflict some minor stab wounds on her hands and arms. His thinking is that this will solidify his position as the alpha male in their relationship and thenceforth, she'll totally submit to him out of fear....snipped
I think your scenerio sounds quite plausible, except for the fact that I believe there was indeed premeditation.
First of all, there was no sign of a struggle, Janet was caught off-guard. He stabbed her once, caught her by surprise, she put up her hand, he slashed her finger, she was already dying, he stabbed her again for good measure.
Raven is a plotter, a planner and very organized when it comes to what he wants. He is a definite thinker and though known for his outbursts during soccer games, he goes into the game with the knowledge he is going to be brutal, taunting, etc.
Why is the laptop missing? When he was arrested in the past, his laptop was searched because of the embezzlement. Raven was known to be into the Franklin Covey Planning. He plotted, he planned, he timed this out in his head. Not only was his "buck knife" missing, his other knife collection was not mentioned in the police report as being taken, so therefore, he got rid of that, hid it, sent it to Mommy Dearest previously in advance.
I believe his vx was moved in advance of the murder, because like Scott Peterson, it's a personal belonging and the thought of police pawing through it was too much for him to bear. He has been through the process of being investigated by LE....just 4 short months previously. He knows the route, he knows his laptop will be taken. Not only that, if Janet is out of the way, he can try to pin the embezzlement on her. I believe if we investigated further and we could get a copy of the records, he may have tried.
He also knew he had an alibi up to the point the hometeachers left, and an alibi of the soccer game. I believe there is more room to mess with in the TOD, but how much I don't know, but I do know it is not an exact science and I believe even another 5 minutes can make a difference - EITHER WAY.
He stated she was hurt, he stated she was shot, he stated she was warm, he also stated she was cold. These are HUGE discrepancies, one of someone who is hiding information. He actually told people "his wife died" he told people she "committed suicide" and we all know what a liar he is. Why would a husband even insinuate or try to make people think she committed suicide when he knew SHE WAS MURDERED? What is there to gain by this? Putting blame on Janet? What kind of Monster is he? Obviously a very cruel one.
I believe fully that he was once again dating at the time of the murder and living the single life. I believe he started premeditating when he got the insurance policy, which we don't know for a fact that there was one, but I will bet you my last penny there was one.
I believe he knew Janet was pregnant, probably for a day or two and his plans in earnest began. Why do I think that he knew she was pregnant. Raven is quoted as saying that he first saw Janet on her knees as she had been known to do in the past when she had her period. This establishes the fact that she could indeed have her period, when in fact he knew she could not have her period, because she was pregnant. It is a faux paus in a way, because it also goes towards his way of thinking, a premeditation. Her being on her knees brings to light another thing, he states he found her on her knees, yet she was found by medics/LE on her back, which takes into consideration of him moving her and transfer of blood on him.
Janet was probably fed up with his attitude regarding the pregnancy and very depressed about it. I believe Janet was besides herself with embarrassment over his embezzlement, I believe Janet may have realized he was cheating AGAIN, and may have stated something to the fact that she was planning on leaving.
The places to drop off the laptop and the bucknife do sound very plausible, and I really do not believe in any way, shape or form, this was an act of anger, an outburst a manic episode. If it was, his guilt would have gotten the best of him, he would have eventually confessed because someone that has that kind of outburst, would eventually confess because of guilt.
Raven does not own guilt, Raven does not have a conscience. Someone with a conscience would have an angry outburst, for sure, but more mistakes would have been made. He would NOT be able to switch so readily from raging murderer to grieving husband in a matter of minutes unless there was premeditation there. He would have fallen in interrogation had he not thought all this out.
All above is pure speculation and my opinion from looking deep into similar crimes, but if any part of my speculation is wrong, I believe with all my heart that premeditation is the one part that is dead on.