GUILTY TX - Alanna Gallagher, 6, Saginaw, 1 July 2013 - #5

[Linda7NJ]

I have looked for this info on the various threads on this case, but I may have missed it. Did the news reports say that Alanna was not reported missing until two hours after her body was found, and has there been an explanation for that? I don't get how that could have happened, and I'm wondering if I misunderstood, so I had to register to ask.

Also want to say I've been lurking on WS on and off for several years, whenever I want info on a case that's in the news. Y'all are some seriously thoughtful and informative folks. I probably won't post much, but just wanted to thank you for the great forum. :seeya:

Welcome to websleuths!!! Please consider posting more

 

[Linda7NJ]

Gerberth has clearly outlined three types of crime scene staging.

1. The most common type of staging occurs when the perpetrator changes elements of the scene to make the death appear to be a suicide or accident in order to cover up a murder.

2. The second most common type of staging is when the perpetrator attempts to redirect the investigation by making the crime appear to be a sex-related homicide.

3. Arson represents another type of staging.

Vernon J. Geberth, Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Techniques, 4th edition, 22 (2006)
http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=theses

Isn't number two typically when a woman is killed by someone close to her?

 

[Linda7NJ]

I don't believe this was an accident, so operating off the assumption that it wasn't an accident -- someone killed her on purpose. Why does someone abduct and murder a child? A thrill killer doesn't really need to remove her clothes, you know? I guess he/she could keep them as souvenirs, but it seems improbable.The discovery of her wearing only underwear implies sexual assault, IMHO. Also, sadly, most of the time children aren't just abducted to be killed.

I'm no expert, but statistically speaking, when a child is abducted and murdered, most of the time there is a sexual assault component.

Agree. That's why LE always checks out RSO first

 

[blue22]

Thanks for jumping in.
BBM Considering there was sexual assault... I've been puzzled as to why he would put her panties back on? I suppose he just partially undressed her?

Not all sexually motivated crimes, involve sexually assaulting the victim. Not all sexual crimes involve penetration. And...for some offenders, murder IS the sexual gratification and sex act.

Ugh. I don't even want to think about that any longer. Sorry to be so graphic

 

[ArianeEmory]

Can someone remind me of the name of one of the other child victim murders that has been brought up here a few times? It's not JR, I think someone has mentioned the perp being on meth, and/or being the father of kids himself (unless I am thinking of two different cases). Sorry, I just can't remember even a first name to search for, it's not JR and it's not Opal Jennings. Just want to do some research. TIA.

 

[GingerzMomma]

I never heard of this! This is scary, is it rare or common?!

I'm a little behind so forgive me if someone has already said this, but a friend of mine just told me about this a few weeks ago - google "dry drowning".

 

[cluciano63]

I just can't think of any other child murders, done intentionally, when a cause of death was not obvious, when body was found right away. That alone makes it very unusual and should leave every option wide open, IMO, even accidental something. ( assuming LE is being truthful about needing tox to determine COD.)

 

[jjenny]

I have looked for this info on the various threads on this case, but I may have missed it. Did the news reports say that Alanna was not reported missing until two hours after her body was found, and has there been an explanation for that? I don't get how that could have happened, and I'm wondering if I misunderstood, so I had to register to ask.

Also want to say I've been lurking on WS on and off for several years, whenever I want info on a case that's in the news. Y'all are some seriously thoughtful and informative folks. I probably won't post much, but just wanted to thank you for the great forum. :seeya:

Bio dad claims she asked to go pay with friends. So presumably the parents didn't know she was missing up until couple hours after she was found dead.

 

[ArianeEmory]

I don't know why, maybe because it's close to my birthday, but I seem to remember the date of Alanna's swimming incident as being June 26. So while the dry drowning stuff is interesting, I don't think it's it. (Also, we may not be cleared to discuss the near drowning, I think that info may come via social media--I can't remember. If so, apologies to mods in advance)

 

[cluciano63]

Can someone remind me of the name of one of the other child victim murders that has been brought up here a few times? It's not JR, I think someone has mentioned the perp being on meth, and/or being the father of kids himself (unless I am thinking of two different cases). Sorry, I just can't remember even a first name to search for, it's not JR and it's not Opal Jennings. Just want to do some research. TIA.

Briann Rodriguez is the most similar to me.

 

[jjenny]

I just can't think of any other child murders, done intentionally, when a cause of death was not obvious, when body was found right away. That alone makes it very unusual and should leave every option wide open, IMO, even accidental something. ( assuming LE is being truthful about needing tox to determine COD.)

But children who die accidentally don't end up wrapped up in a tarp in the middle of the road.

 

[Magdalyn]

Thanks for jumping in.
BBM Considering there was sexual assault... I've been puzzled as to why he would put her panties back on? I suppose he just partially undressed her?

Did you ever read about the Sandra Cantu/Melissa Huckaby case? She (Huckaby) sexually assaulted the little girl, murdered her, redressed her (with the exception of leggings and her sandals), put her in a suitcase and dumped her.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_15330332

I think there are lots of threads here on Websleuths regarding that case.

 

[human]

I understand the need for LE to make sure they look at everything before focusing on a suspect, but if they were at all close to an arrest, would they really go ahead and let billboard companies give up space for free, just to placate future defense attorneys, to show they did not zero in one only one person? That space costs a lot of money to the companies donating it.

I think companies get a tax benefit and probably have some kind of community service goodwill thing going, I know they do where I live. Lamarr. Maybe the sane company?

 

[ArianeEmory]

Did you ever read about the Sandra Cantu/Melissa Huckaby case? She (Huckaby) sexually assaulted the little girl, murdered her, redressed her (with the exception of leggings and her sandals), put her in a suitcase and dumped her.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_15330332

I think there are lots of threads here on Websleuths regarding that case.

God, I completely forgot about this one.

 

[Pensfan]

Isn't number two typically when a woman is killed by someone close to her?

I don't have info on that.

We should recruit an old, retired FBI investigator (with lots of extra time on his hands) to post on this thread with us.

 

[blue22]

But children who die accidentally don't end up wrapped up in a tarp in the middle of the road.

Unless the person around when the child died accidentally...had or did something worse at some point (or currently), they don't want LE to find out about. A wild goose chase for a murderer would lead LE from an accidental death. Even accidental deaths are fully investigated, and things can be found. Plenty of people have scary skeletons. Just a thought, not saying that's likely...just a scenario that popped into my mind.

 

[Kat]

Gerberth has clearly outlined three types of crime scene staging.

1. The most common type of staging occurs when the perpetrator changes elements of the scene to make the death appear to be a suicide or accident in order to cover up a murder.

2. The second most common type of staging is when the perpetrator attempts to redirect the investigation by making the crime appear to be a sex-related homicide.

3. Arson represents another type of staging.

Vernon J. Geberth, Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Techniques, 4th edition, 22 (2006)
http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=theses

That's an awesome PDF Pens. I bookmarked it. (I want to read it closely later thank you!)

Is this covering when someone who has committed a crime or crimes against another person chooses to stage in order to cover the previous crime by making it look like a different crime occurred?

The hypothesis that a dry drowning occurred would not include a criminal that perpetrated a crime(s) against Alanna and then wanted to obscure that crime.

Not directed at Pens,

There wouldn't be an initiating crime in a dry or secondary drowning, it would be an accidental death.

Now I'm sure there are other WS members that could probably provide details on cases but I, personally, have never read of a case here where a child was found to be deceased and the parent(s) didn't call LE or 911 begging for help to save their baby's life and instead decided to stage a crime scene. I have seen parents stage crime scenes but---those were to cover up crimes either against a child or crimes going on in the home that would have put the parents in the pokey for a very long time if found out. (not pointing a finger at her parents, I have no clue who did this but at this point in time I don't think it was her Mom or Dads).

I'll go out on a limb here too and say that if she died from an accident and someone staged this (say an adult neighbor) then I'll be very surprised and I'm rarely surprised here anymore.

21Merc makes some very good points. We really don't have very much info at all. I'm disappointed that the test results from the ME's office are estimated to be back at the end of July. Not much media coverage either.

 

[ahintexas]

I thought about this type of scenario, but I have difficulty believing this was an accidental death. Normal person discovers Alanna in their pool/hot tub/yard, and their normal, non-pervy mind immediately thinks to stage this as an abduction/sexual assault/murder?

Also, if Alanna wandered into someone's yard and was fatally injured or fell into someone's pool and drowned, then the person isn't even at fault. I just can't fathom that they would panic to the extent that they would stage something this grotesque and risk being caught with her dead body in their vehicle, close to their house, in this condition (certainly indicating murder/sexual assault).

the majority of normal people would call 911, NOT try to create a murder scene. I definitely think this is not an accident. jmo

 

[Mitsana]

And how did she end up in the middle of the road, with a bag on her head, taped up and tarped up? She obviously didn't do it to herself.

I don't have an explanation. That's why I didn't mention it earlier. But the recent near drowning does seem a bit coincidental (given that LE seized a bunch of hot tub chemicals and water samples). But a few folks were speculating about panic drowning scenarios, so I thought I'd add that to the discussion. Maybe someone else can come up with a plausible narrative?

 

[Linda7NJ]

I don't have info on that.

We should recruit an old, retired FBI investigator (with lots of extra time on his hands) to post on this thread with us.

I have one, two doors down from me... He's too miserable and scary for me to ask... You can though