VA - Meghan Landowski, 16, raped & murdered, Portsmouth, 10 April 2008 #1

[Chicogirl36]

Not to be disrespectful to the actual situation - I wish Gibbs were on this case - although Chicogirl, your research is fabulous. Thanks for the recap of the important points.

Thanks justche- I too thought about Gibbs...lol :crazy:

 

[Blink34]

Blink, Im sure your last quote is absolutely true!!

Just to clarify, I am reading 2 different rumors on these boards- I spent about 2 hours this am reading different forums and the rumors are either of the two stories:

1. The man who molested her was released that day and hunted her down in revenge for testifying. This is the one I am hearing the most of. This would also explain NCIS being involved since he was just released? I dont even know if it is true about his release, as I have only read it in forums. He would be pretty dumb to do that also. I cant imagine it happening, but you never know.

2. She was due to testify the following day against her bio-dad's friend (also ex-Marine). Maybe she had been threatened to keep her mouth shut and was scared to be alone? She didnt want to go to her house. She was asking people to go home with them, and usually she wanted people to go home with her. I dont know if she was nervous in the past, or just that day. If this scenario is true, Im sure her closet friends knew she had court the next day and she was scared to be alone.

To clarify also- The step dad is NOT considered a suspect at ALL!! From what I hear, mom and step-dad are very nice people and NOT involved in any way. Im glad to hear that. I apologize to him if he ever reads this for my doubting of him. Of course we wont know for sure until the whole story is out, but often times we are correct in rushing to judgement. I hope this is true, as it would be nice to hear she had someone as nice as he sounds in her life with everything that has happened to her.

The perp is also rumered to be a friend of bio-dad. Not sure if bio-dad is military yet.

The odd part of this is NCIS' involvement. Since she is a civilian, wouldn't local LE pick up the case? Im not an expert on miltary law by any means. Something had to make them JUMP to send their version of SWAT on the perp's house. They dont do that kind of stuff unless they have a really good reason to. IMO

CG- I wrote in my earlier post that if the NCIS were called in to the guy's house, it is because there either is or was a case against him which falls under jurisdiction. It had to be relative to him because they would not as you wrote be involved in a civilian criminal matter on it's own. My guess would be the military angle here is why they are so tight lipped, it could be as simple as they are literally determining jurisdiction over the crime. If that is true, there is a different set of standards for the "usual and customary" needs of an investigation ie: probable cause and search warrants, interrogation, use of attorneys or jags, etc..

I honestly think they know the who, why and when of this case and are guarding it to protect a succesful prosecution. That being said, I have 2 issues, how was this young girl in a position to be molested by a family friend in the first place, and if a perp was indeed released, or she was about to testify and had reason to fear for her safety, she should have been under police protection. My heart aches for the pain she must have gone through and I pray for her soul's peace and that of her family.

 

[Chicogirl36]

CG- I wrote in my earlier post that if the NCIS were called in to the guy's house, it is because there either is or was a case against him which falls under jurisdiction. It had to be relative to him because they would not as you wrote be involved in a civilian criminal matter on it's own. My guess would be the military angle here is why they are so tight lipped, it could be as simple as they are literally determining jurisdiction over the crime. If that is true, there is a different set of standards for the "usual and customary" needs of an investigation ie: probable cause and search warrants, interrogation, use of attorneys or jags, etc..

I honestly think they know the who, why and when of this case and are guarding it to protect a succesful prosecution. That being said, I have 2 issues, how was this young girl in a position to be molested by a family friend in the first place, and if a perp was indeed released, or she was about to testify and had reason to fear for her safety, she should have been under police protection. My heart aches for the pain she must have gone through and I pray for her soul's peace and that of her family.

Blink,
I havent seen an investigation stay this tight-lipped about a case for a while. Its been a few days, and there are so many conflicting rumors, but most of them center around the 2 main ones I already posted. I cant imagine her not being protected if she was scared also. I did see a post mention something about an uncle, but even the poster wasnt clear. The article I read also stated that NCIS aided civilian LE/SWAT in serving a search warrant. They said it was a POI and he was released after being questioned overnight. Maybe they are getting their ducks in a row before filing charges? Sounds good about it being a military matter- they are being VERY tight lipped! UGHHH
Wonder if mom and stepdad knew? I cant imagine anything more horrible happening to you. I also think that if her friends knew the reason for her anxiety that day' they would have stuck to her like glue. Girls at this age act very 'maternal' and caring- at least my kid and her friends. They are at an age where they are building the foundations for lifeling friendships. Damn the jerk that took that away from her! :furious:

 

[Indigator]

I would bet that LE has a good idea of the person who commited this crime and are tight lipped because they are getting their ducks in a row. I don't see a cause of death yet nor any other details which leads me to believe that they have a good bit of information that needs to stay sealed for some reason. There have been no warnings for the neighbors etc.,

 

[philamena]

Did your friend know her or her family? This is so hard to let go and not want to hear that someone has been arrested. I live across country, but it feels much closer. That poor baby. I havent heard or seen mom in any articles yet. Has she been in the news?
Is this is a suburb or rural area? It looked like a bunch of different housing developements, mut I may be wrong.
Have they mantioned anything on the local news that we havent posted yet? TIA philamena, I appreciate your response.

Hey Chicogirl,
My friend didn't know the family personally but she's seen Meghan out and about the neighborhood. The local news has been unusually quiet about this murder.

 

[Indigator]

Whomever did this must have been feeling pretty confident. He walked into a home in mid-afternoon, in a neighborhood where neighbors were around (Meghan borrowed Mac & Cheese around lunchtime from one) and where the chance that a neighbor would see him was high. Depending on the cause of death, he had to leave the house in daylight, perhaps with evidence on his clothes. He had to have some idea of the habits of the others in the house especially the younger sister since she obviously did not get out early that day, or if she did, did not come home. Most likely, the younger sister was not taking exams and had a full school day. Who would know all of this??

 

[Indigator]

Could a close friend or family member have gathered this info ahead of time and made plans to take advantage of this "window of opportunity"? Could his questioning of Meghan days before have raised some red flags in Meghan's mind which made her reluctant to go home? Did she borrow the mac and cheese so that she could spend some time elsewhere?

 

[Chicogirl36]

Whomever did this must have been feeling pretty confident. He walked into a home in mid-afternoon, in a neighborhood where neighbors were around (Meghan borrowed Mac & Cheese around lunchtime from one) and where the chance that a neighbor would see him was high. Depending on the cause of death, he had to leave the house in daylight, perhaps with evidence on his clothes. He had to have some idea of the habits of the others in the house especially the younger sister since she obviously did not get out early that day, or if she did, did not come home. Most likely, the younger sister was not taking exams and had a full school day. Who would know all of this??

Good points, and I havent heard anything about the mac and cheese. So, anyone know how long school was that day? This is why I am afraid it is someone VERY close to her since they had to know her habits, and have her visibly upset. :behindbar

 

[Indigator]

The school website says that there is early release on APril 10th at 10:55AM. It was an exam day for secondary school students.

 

[Indigator]

The middle school did not have early release

 

[Chicogirl36]

Sounds like you are on track Indigator. Your scenario fits in perfect. Are you a local? Have you heard anything about the molestation whether he was just released or due to go to trial? I would hate to think if this happened last year, that he served less than a year. I would HOPE that there were stiffer penalties.
That is what is frustrating. Neither scenario fits without a good explanation about her molestation/molester's whereabouts.

 

[Chicogirl36]

The middle school did not have early release

Isnt secondary school jr high? Was she a freshman?

 

[Indigator]

And her sister did not come right home even at the end of her full day or she would have been there before the dad. So, time of death is between noon and three?

 

[Indigator]

On the school website, secondary school is 9th-12th grade. Junior High is 6th to 8th.

 

[Chicogirl36]

On the school website, secondary school is 9th-12th grade. Junior High is 6th to 8th.

thanks for clearing it up- that makes it even stranger- Also, SOMETHING had to make LE/NCIS go straight to the perps house. I wonder if he had been harassing her and how did she meet him? Is he a friend of bio-dads?

 

[Malapoo]

I think any time military may be involved in a crime, NCIS has to take part in the investigation. They may be as an assistant to local LE when civilians are also involved, but if a POI is military, they would conduct their own investigation regadless.

 

[lizzybeth]

I'm really frustrated because they haven't arrested anyone yet. This was a sixteen year old girl, not involved in drugs, not involved in any illegal activity. They say it isn't random so how difficult could it be to find out who murdered her?

I'm thinking like someone else said that they know exactly who this person is and are dotting their "i's" and crossing their "t's". I hope so.

I have a friend that works for LE so I'll try to call today and see if there is anything that is okay to tell. I'm sure there isn't but it's worth a try.

 

[ceeaura]

I hope you guys are right and the police do know who killed this beautiful young girl and are just making sure they have all of their i's dotted and t's crossed.

Because I am a bit worried.This morning on the news There was a small story basically going over her age and how she was found and then a "Police ask if you know anything please contact them" Went to the news site I was wating and I can't find it posted yet.

 

[lizzybeth]

Our local news kept teasing that they would have information on her murder. When it finally got around to that story they basically told what everyone already knew and that no suspects had been arrested. Why did they even have the story?

One thing I've noticed is that with all the rumors going around LE or the media hasn't come out and said that the rumors are false.

 

[MeoW333]

If Meghan was being stalked, then the killer would know the family's habits and whereabouts during the day and night. Maybe he entered the house while she was at the neighbor's getting mac & cheese. If she was running just to a neighbor's, she may have left the door unlocked.