TX TX - Julie Moseley, 9, Mary Trlica, 17, Lisa Wilson, 14, Fort Worth, 23 Dec 1974 #8

[jetsfanjohn]

I'd understood they were to meet the friends at the mall at 12:00 pm, but the trio was at A/N store at that time (that's been confirmed). So maybe they were running late. What doesn't add up is if they were definitely at A/N at noon, and DA definitely saw her sister at home at 12:30 pm (per MP report). That would mean Rachel:
* went home before going to the mall
* possibly never made it to the mall from Minot (which means the car was definitely planted)
I don't think she had time to hit the mall from A/N,  then go home in that time frame.

I would pretty much agree with this, but they could have possible made a quick visit to the Mall before going back to Minot, if we are a bit more flexible with the times. But running with what you have mentioned above, what does that leave us with ?

- Never made it to the Mall from Minot

- Abducted from the Mall Parking Lot on arrival. If they made it to the Mall proper in this timeframe (i.e after the sightings at Minot) say around 1.00pm, they would surely have bumped into the friends they were supposed to meet.

JMO, but one of the above could be the correct answer to this mystery.

 

[Brightchaser47]

I would pretty much agree with this, but they could have possible made a quick visit to the Mall before going back to Minot, if we are a bit more flexible with the times.

RSBM
If we allow for flexibility/inaccuracy of stated times, then, yes-- Rachel could've possibly been in/out of the mall  very quickly, though I don't know how feasible that would've been with holiday traffic. She definitely would not have had time to shop, though, imo.

- Abducted from the Mall Parking Lot on arrival. If they made it to the Mall proper in this timeframe (i.e after the sightings at Minot) say around 1.00pm, they would surely have bumped into the friends they were supposed to meet.

Yes, theoretically, they should've met up with the friends. Being abducted from the mall on arrival makes sense to me if they were abducted by someone who followed them there. I think we've essentially ruled out stranger abduction because of the letter. So that leaves the idea they were followed to the mall from Minot (or someone saw them en route from Minot, followed them), then abducted after exiting the Olds in the parking lot. Assuming this scenario, either:
* someone followed them, waited for them to exit their car, lock it up, before abducting/enticing them away  or
* two (or more) people were involved-- one or more to abduct/entice the girls away from the Olds, another to take the keys, lock the car
Again, ruling out stranger abduction means this was pulled off by someone (or a few someones) either known to the trio, or trusted by them.
Just a possibility, and jmo.

 

[Same Old Stella]

I think they left for their shopping trip between noon or a little after. If I remember correctly, they were waiting for Tommy's first wife to pick up her little boy, Rachel's stepson. I wouldn't even know where to look on the multiple threads for this case to double check.

 

[jetsfanjohn]

I think they left for their shopping trip between noon or a little after. If I remember correctly, they were waiting for Tommy's first wife to pick up her little boy, Rachel's stepson. I wouldn't even know where to look on the multiple threads for this case to double check.

I think that it is possible that they visited the A/N store and and a few other places prior to noon. I seem to recall reading that Terry Moseley said the earlier timeline is the correct one.

If so, then after this they may have returned to Rachel's house, before the trip to the Mall.

 

[Brightchaser47]

If so, then after this they may have returned to Rachel's house, before the trip to the Mall.

RSBM
It's a possibilty, but I can't come up with a good reason for them to do so, as it would be considerably back-tracking, imo. jmo

 

[Chypre]

RSBM
It's a possibilty, but I can't come up with a good reason for them to do so, as it would be considerably back-tracking, imo. jmo

IMO, purely speculation and only one of many speculations . . .
this is where the husband has communicated with ST and RT causing a shift.

EDITED TO ADD: or ST and RT are acting around the husband, to get the toddler situated. Both on eggshells?

 

[jetsfanjohn]

RSBM
It's a possibilty, but I can't come up with a good reason for them to do so, as it would be considerably back-tracking, imo. jmo

I don't know the geography of the area, but if you are correct, I think I would run with the idea that they had done all their shopping by the time they were seen at Minot around 12.30pm (assuming sightings are legit), rather then the trio starting their shopping trip at that time.

 

[Brightchaser47]

IMO, purely speculation and only one of many speculations . . .
this is where the husband has communicated with ST and RT causing a shift.

EDITED TO ADD: or ST and RT are acting around the husband, to get the toddler situated. Both on eggshells?

It's a thought (and I do believe there may have been friction between Rachel, TT and ST), but how would they have communicated with one another? Rachel was allegedly on the go that day from around 10:00 am till around 12:30 pm..

 

[Brightchaser47]

I don't know the geography of the area, but if you are correct, I think I would run with the idea that they had done all their shopping by the time they were seen at Minot around 12.30pm (assuming sightings are legit), rather then the trio starting their shopping trip at that time.

Assuming that scenario, ST and DA both saw the trio, but not each other (per their own statements), and the car was planted back at SS mall lot by someone.

 

[Chypre]

It's a thought (and I do believe there may have been friction between Rachel, TT and ST), but how would they have communicated with one another? Rachel was allegedly on the go that day from around 10:00 am till around 12:30 pm..

IMO, in anything so far, Rachel was the only one with blocked access to a telephone while she was out doing errands. ST and TT could have talked with each other or anybody. I think a possibility is that TT sent ST over to the house.

 

[Chypre]

IMO, in anything so far, Rachel was the only one with blocked access to a telephone while she was out doing errands. ST and TT could have talked with each other or anybody. I think a possibility is that TT sent ST over to the house.

Edit to add: That TT changed plan.

 

[Richard]

This December will mark 50 years since these girls went missing.

 

[Brightchaser47]

IMO, in anything so far, Rachel was the only one with blocked access to a telephone while she was out doing errands. ST and TT could have talked with each other or anybody. I think a possibility is that TT sent ST over to the house.

Edit to add: That TT changed plan.

This is plausible, assuming the following:
* Rachel leaves to pick up Renee; the toddler is left at Minot.
*TT and ST have meanwhile arranged for ST to pick up their son at Minot.
* Unknown to them, Rachel drives back home with Renee and Julie from A/N and (mall??), decides to take the toddler to (?)
* ST shows up at Minot to pick up Jr, just catching the trio leaving with him.

This scenario contradicts the statements of at least two people in this case, but it's the only way I can make it work. jmo

 

[Brightchaser47]

Just an update: FWPD Cold Case website still does not list the Trio among their cases currently being investigated (no newsflash there). However, Tarrant County Unsolved Cold Case website lists Rachel and Renee, but not Julie. Strange....

 

[EuropeanSearcher]

It's a stupid question but I don't remember seeing it in the threads:
-do we know details about the clothes and jewelry they were wearing?
-are there other pictures of the girls?

 

[Brightchaser47]

It's a stupid question but I don't remember seeing it in the threads:
-do we know details about the clothes and jewelry they were wearing?
-are there other pictures of the girls?

Regarding that first question, I'd check out Thread #6, Page 34, post #678 (post by Pricklykitty). That post has a description and a link.
As for your second question, one of the more comprehensive sources of information on this case (including photos and actual newspaper articles) is an online blog, "Hometown by Handlebar" by Mike Nichols. He wrote an article titled, " Without a Trace: Three Girls Went to a Mall....". It's rather lengthy, but well done (imo). Hope that helps.
ETA: Blogs generally aren't considered approved sources to quote or link on WS, but I can (and do) still refer you to it...

 

[Tex Willer]

I spoke to some of the girls' relatives, they are absolutely certain that they were at the shopping center, because too many witnesses deemed reliable saw them. Unfortunately, many of the witnesses were teenagers at the time and didn't pay attention to the time. But the girls left Gordon Street around noon and made their first stop at the marina store. So they hardly arrived at the shopping center before 12.30 or 1.00 pm. We know they had an appointment with Julie's sister and another friend for lunch but they didn't show up, for some reason. However, I think Rachel's car may have been brought back there by someone.

 

[Valiant]

The problem is unless you interviewed people that very day, you likely end up with people confusing the days and times they were seen.
And you might possibly get a person or two who say yes they saw them just to provide cover in case they thought one of the girls had something to hide.

 

[jetsfanjohn]

I spoke to some of the girls' relatives, they are absolutely certain that they were at the shopping center, because too many witnesses deemed reliable saw them. Unfortunately, many of the witnesses were teenagers at the time and didn't pay attention to the time. But the girls left Gordon Street around noon and made their first stop at the marina store. So they hardly arrived at the shopping center before 12.30 or 1.00 pm. We know they had an appointment with Julie's sister and another friend for lunch but they didn't show up, for some reason. However, I think Rachel's car may have been brought back there by someone.

Is Gordon Street where Julie lived ? If I have it correct her brother stated that they left their house sometime around 10.30am. I agree with you about the possibility of Rachel's car being brought back to the Mall from elsewhere.

 

[Brightchaser47]

Studying maps, and comparing street layout with statements from folks involved with this case, I'm rethinking some things. I feel the girls likely stayed within a fairly tight loop that started with Gordon neighborhood, with one or two quick stops in that general area (encompassing Gordon, Townsend, Wayside, Forest Park), during which VB joined them, then to A/N store (intersection of W Berry/Hemphill), then back to Gordon/Wayside/Forest Park area, then to Rachel's parents' house, via a back alley. I think quite possibly the girls were at 6th Ave about the time they should've been at the mall (and about the time others place them at Minot), and may/may not have gotten there (6th Ave) under their own steam. From there, the Olds was taken to SS parking lot, and the letter written with the involvement of either Rachel's brother or ST.
I do not believe the girls were ever at Minot that day or that Rachel's husband was directly responsible for their demise (though his complicity after the fact is debatable).
This is all speculation and one possibility (and jmo).