VA VA - Joan Cook, 45, Roanoke County, 24 Jan 2010

[doughgirl07]

dr0915
THANK YOU for clearing up some of the info. I did a google search to catch up on what was going on and saw on JasonProject the info regarding the text. Then that search led me to this site. But, was mislead by sisterinlaw about the bf "dumping" her -thus why I always stated bf/xbf -- doubted the info. However I did think it strange that although he didn't have plans with her til Friday that he wouldn't have expected to talk to her or see her (as they lived together) Now, that is clear - he was out of town.

ANY CHANCE she would have tried to hitch a ride to where he was - to surprise him?

Still have problems with the fact that she was within a mile or two of the home at 5am -- where? Without the cell records there is NO way to determine if she tried to contact anybody to come get her ... As several of has stated -- WalMart, Hardees, OS, hotels, gas stations - it is a hopping I81 exit.
It is my understanding that the Salem cop that lives across the street has said that she "left the house" twice that night. Unsure if that was a visual witness to her leaving or hearing it from MC....
Haven't heard anything about a flyover - with the weather perhaps it was grounded. Again - whatever I can do, I can be persistently annoying ---- you have my number. LSE.

 

[dr0915]

Your thoughts about Joan leaving to surprise the BF....hadn't crossed my mind. That's a great idea, whether or not that was the case, I don't know. Does anyone know how to go about setting up a reward fund for her? I think that may help get more attention and especially more LE attention. I don't know though. I have funds to get it started. I guess I would need to set up something with the bank? Any ideas? Money talks to a lot of people...

Yes Doughgirl...I have your number. I've been trying to figure out who you were for a few days now.

Thanks to all of you again!

 

[dr0915]

And what exactly are you speaking of when you say "the cop across the street"? At her and the husband's house...there is NO Salem Police Officer. I don't think there is a police officer anywhere on the street or in the near vicinity of the house. She left twice? Where is that info coming from? That's the first I've heard of that.

 

[doughgirl07]

I heard that from my s-n-law I'll call her tomorrow to see if I can clarify who she was talking to. This guy said she always left on Sunday and that she left twice that night. I'll find out and get back to you

 

[doughgirl07]

she texted me and will call me tomorrow --- she stated in the text that "cop's brother saw her leave twice"

 

[beachlvr0810]

Haven't been here in a while but just needed to say that if Joan had made it to I-81 she wouldn't have been walking on there for very long if a state trooper had seen her...unless the laws have changed it's illegal to walk on the interstate. Trust me, I know...ex husband decided to have one of his hissy fits at Applebee's at Valley View mall years ago and took off and left me stranded. I had no money, no one to call, so stubborn me decided to walk the 25 miles back home. It was a January night, snow still on the ground and very cold. I made it from Applebee's down to almost the Orange Avenue exit and then a state trooper pulled over behind me. He said 5 people had called in to say the someone was walking on the interstate and he asked me if I knew it was illegal to walk on the interstate, to which I replied, No sir. He drove me to the gas station right below Home Depot so I could call my daughter and son-in-law, who were 45 minutes away. The state trooper was kind enough to drive me part the way to meet my son-in-law. I have been in the situation where you have to deal with the estranged husband and it's unpleasant. I'm not being unkind to Joan's husband/soon to be husband, whatever. I'm just merely stating that when you're in that situation it doesn't matter what time of the day or night it is, you just want to be away from the person you're not comfortable being around. I hope Joan is alive and ok and that she will come back to her precious little daughter and family.

 

[doughgirl07]

dr 0915 -
My sis-n-law states that cop's brother (last name Bl*******) clearly remembers that she left, was gone for a time, 10-15 mins, and then returned and left again. She really didn't have any details on how long she stayed the second time, etc..... He remembered because he knew it was her pattern to leave on Sun night and he thought it odd to see her coming back down the street.
Not much more information, but if you hadn't heard of the "eyewitness" sighting of her leaving and coming back, atleast you have that.

Yes, I imagine contacting a bank to set up an account and then getting the reward info to the media would be the way to go in setting up a reward.

I keep seeing that the police state cell phone records show there was a text received at 5pm - is that from the bf? I can't believe they are telling you that they can not request her complete cell phone records. Thats crazy.

 

[MBLover]

LE is full of you know what if they are telling you they cannot get her cell records... If you feel that you are not getting full cooperation from local LE you have every right to contact the State Police - especially since her cell pinged on/near I-81.

The first time Joan supposedly left - would it have been possible she was going to a neighbor's to ask for a ride somewhere? I don't think in 10-15 mintues she would have had time to walk to the convenience store on Main St. and back.

May it have been possible the above scenario happened and the neighbor said I can't do this right now but give me an hour or two (or whatever time frame)?

 

[dr0915]

I've contacted the neighbor on FB who has a bro that is a police officer. Hopefully he can provide info shortly. Doughgirl...I appreciate it. I truely do. Will update a.s.a.p

 

[Calliope]

I've contacted the neighbor on FB who has a bro that is a police officer. Hopefully he can provide info shortly. Doughgirl...I appreciate it. I truely do. Will update a.s.a.p

I'd like to know if he saw her carrying her duffel and other stuff either time she left that night. It wasn't reported on the news that she was carrying anything when she left the house which seems odd because it would make her stand out. Who reported that she was carrying those items?

ETA: I just saw your post about the husband reporting what she carried with her when she left. I'd still like to know what the neighbor saw her carrying each time she left.

I'd also like to know his take on her demeanor either time he saw her leave; did she appear angry, walking faster or more determined than usual. Did he notice her talking on her cell?

LE is full of you know what if they are telling you they cannot get her cell records... If you feel that you are not getting full cooperation from local LE you have every right to contact the State Police - especially since her cell pinged on/near I-81.

The first time Joan supposedly left - would it have been possible she was going to a neighbor's to ask for a ride somewhere? I don't think in 10-15 mintues she would have had time to walk to the convenience store on Main St. and back.

May it have been possible the above scenario happened and the neighbor said I can't do this right now but give me an hour or two (or whatever time frame)?

Just to be clear, dr, WHO told you that LE can't get those records?

 

[Calliope]

dr0915... I think you should contact the police immediately, as in yesterday, and tell them there is a witness from the neighborhood who saw Joan leave the house that night on foot twice.

You said this is the first you've heard of this, which means the husband did not tell you... and I'm betting he didn't tell the police, either.

 

[dr0915]

The person who told me what she was carrying was the husband (green duffle bag, cream colored toiletries bag and purse). The neighbor has yet to respond to my FB email. The neighbor may be mistaken as to when he saw her leave twice that night. I asked the husband today if she left twice that night and he said no. She had previously left and returned (a couple weeks prior) only to leave 15 minutes later so the neighbor may be mistaken about the date that he saw her leave the house twice. There had been an argument that night (a couple weeks prior) that she left and returned only to leave again 15 minutes later.

As to who told me they couldn't get the cell phone records....The detective and his superior (sargeant) BOTH told me that was impossible without the help from a poice dept in the state that the records were kept.

Supposedly there is a SIGNED court order from a judge that allows the detective to search the computer files. That was told to the husband on Thursday the 11th.

I will be in contact with the sargeant or detective tomorrow morning....apparently they have weekends off.

Thanks again to all.

 

[MBLover]

I'm sorry to be asking questions all of the time...

Joan's cell phone carrier was out of state? Is that what I'm understanding?

All LE has to do is get a subpoena and can have the cell records within a few days. LE does this all of the time...and if Rke Co. PD doesn't know this...they're in the wrong business...

 

[Calliope]

The person who told me what she was carrying was the husband (green duffle bag, cream colored toiletries bag and purse). The neighbor has yet to respond to my FB email. The neighbor may be mistaken as to when he saw her leave twice that night. I asked the husband today if she left twice that night and he said no. She had previously left and returned (a couple weeks prior) only to leave 15 minutes later so the neighbor may be mistaken about the date that he saw her leave the house twice. There had been an argument that night (a couple weeks prior) that she left and returned only to leave again 15 minutes later.

Interesting. I'd like to know what the neighbor has to say and why he's sure she left twice the night she disappeared. Do you have contact with the BF? Could he confirm she argued with husband 2 weeks prior to her going missing?

As to who told me they couldn't get the cell phone records....The detective and his superior (sargeant) BOTH told me that was impossible without the help from a poice dept in the state that the records were kept.

Dear Lord Almighty. Here's some light reading for those two: http://topics.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleiv .

In any case, I contacted Verizon (live chat) and asked what their policy was regarding LE obtaining customer records. This is the contact info she gave me:

Verizon Legal Process Compliance
Custodian of Record
TXD01613
P.O. Box 1001
San Angelo, TX 76902

Telephone: 888-483-2600
Fax: 325-949-6916

I think it would be safe to assume other carriers have a similar department that can be contacted. I spoke directly with AT&T wireless, and was told that they honor all court orders from any level of law enforcement. The representative was as confused as we are as to why the police are telling you that they don't have jurisdiction to obtain a warrant or court order to obtain the records. He suggested contacting an attorney, and moving it up a step (contacting state police or FBI).

Supposedly there is a SIGNED court order from a judge that allows the detective to search the computer files. That was told to the husband on Thursday the 11th

. Whose computer? Where was it located? Given what you've told us the police said about obtaining cell records, I almost hesitate to even ask this... but please tell me that when they obtained the search warrant, they took the computer at that time....

I will be in contact with the sargeant or detective tomorrow morning....apparently they have weekends off.

Thanks again to all.

I'm going to try calling the Commonwealth's attorney's office. Maybe they can give us some answers on this.

 

[Calliope]

They referred me back to the police ...

Good grief.

I think the AT&T guy had a good idea; if you can't get satisfaction from the city police, take it up a step. And if this company is supposedly headquartered out of state, then seems to me that would then fall to federal jurisdiction (interstate commerce).

Heck with it.

I'm calling the local FBI office. Someone has to know what the hell they're doing around here...

 

[Calliope]

Regional and local FBI agents confused as well. Both say that all the police would have to do is get a court order / subpoena to obtain the records and the company will comply. Their only guess as to why the local police are telling you this (other than simply not being aware of the procedure) is that they feel they don't have reason to ask for the court order.

So. Joan has been missing since January and it's out of character for her to just up and disappear. Apparently the police thought there was cause to get a warrant for computer records. But no cause to obtain any cell records?

Excuse me????

This agent also said next step up (after the supervisor of those you've spoken with here) would be to contact the State Police.

 

[Calliope]

Just curious... does the husband have any connection to local law enforcement in his work or through friends or relatives?

 

[MBLover]

Great work Calliope!!! Something is fishy with RCPD...

 

[Calliope]

Supposedly there is a SIGNED court order from a judge that allows the detective to search the computer files. That was told to the husband on Thursday the 11th.

I keep coming back to this. What does it mean it was told to him?

I have visions of the cop calling Mr. Husband and saying, "Hey bud! Guess what?"

Please tell me when Mr. Husband was told of this it was when they knocked on his door and showed him the order as they carted off the computer.

The FBI agent in Richmond said they don't get involved in anything like this unless the local police ask for their help. Unless you suspect there is corruption at the local level.

Just sayin'...

 

[Calliope]

Great work Calliope!!! Something is fishy with RCPD...

Well judging from the responses I got from both the companies and the agents, someone down there doesn't know what they're talking about.