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

[jerseygirl123]

My prayers go out to each and every mother on this sight. And a special prayer for Meghan's mother. I don't know how she feels, but can only imagine. I was just telling my husband about the feeling I had in my stomach when someone stole our 4 month old puppy. It was like an empty, sick feeling. It honestly felt like the end of the world. Sort of like semi-shock. You're still in your right mind, but your mind seems to connect to your stomach and there's so much pain, like a numb pain. (Hope I make sense). You'd have to know the feeling to actually know what i'm talking about. So I can only imagine her mother's feelings and thoughts at the time. It is very important for us as mothers (and fathers) to keep the line of communication with our children open at all times. I'm pretty sure Meghan did, but there are those times, those one occasions when a child thinks they're doing or keeping something from their parents is going to help. Talk to your children, pray with them, and let them know that no matter what, you're there for them. And last but definately hug them and tell them you love them every chance you get.

 

[CAgirlatheart]

I can't even imagine losing a loved one through murder. It would be hard enough to get through 'natural causes' or an accident/illness.

If anything, this has definately been a wake up call for me to keep better track of my own children. Not that I didn't before, but I got slack with the before/after calls when my kids would go out, and locking our doors has been a priority for me to instill in my family yet again. Not that you can necessarily stop someone who has their mind set on harming you, but any precaution is helpful. I don't think I'm going overboard getting angry with the husband or kids when they leave the back door unlocked or a window open when nobody is home.

 

[jerseygirl123]

I can't even imagine losing a loved one through murder. It would be hard enough to get through 'natural causes' or an accident/illness.

If anything, this has definately been a wake up call for me to keep better track of my own children. Not that I didn't before, but I got slack with the before/after calls when my kids would go out, and locking our doors has been a priority for me to instill in my family yet again. Not that you can necessarily stop someone who has their mind set on harming you, but any precaution is helpful. I don't think I'm going overboard getting angry with the husband or kids when they leave the back door unlocked or a window open when nobody is home.

No, you can't stop someone for acting out their crazy thoughts or deeds, but you can help prevent them from harming you, someone you love, or anyone for that reason. You are right to get very angry when someone leaves the door/windows unlocked. People may do crazy things, but we should not give them the opportunity. Your getting angry is just showing them that you love them and care for them. There is supposed to be an update on the Meghan case tonight at 11pm. I'm not sure which station, but I did hear as I passed the television. Not really listening, just heard.

 

[bigmike]

A new story today from wtkr channel 3 , http://www.wtkr.com/global/story.asp?s=8312843 The last sentence puzzles me. The state crime lab is so overworked that they haven't looked at the evidence from Meghans murder? For 32 days the state lab can't seem to find the time to look at evidence that may take a violent killer of a little girl off the street? Portsmouth Police has a lot to be desired as it is, now the state lab doesn't think a brutal case like this should go to the front of the line? Is this animal going to kill some other innocent person before the state lab thinks it might be important enough to front of the line status? I'm sorry to sound so mad, but if this article is true, there are serious problems at the state crime lab. The lack of Portsmouth LE warning the public if they don't have a suspect under 24/7 surveillance shows lack of good judgment on the part of LE.

 

[CAgirlatheart]

Bigmike, I understand your frustration but it didn't say that the state hasn't looked at the evidence. It just states that the PD hasn't received the lab work yet. There was a lot of evidence to process in this case, and although 32 days is a long time, I don't think it's extreme.

I personally believe that each day that an arrest isn't made, a stronger, better case is going to be made against Meghan's murderer. Maybe it's blind home in the PD, I don't know. I'm just not willing to criticise any department, PD or State, just yet.

 

[jerseygirl123]

A new story today from wtkr channel 3 , http://www.wtkr.com/global/story.asp?s=8312843 The last sentence puzzles me. The state crime lab is so overworked that they haven't looked at the evidence from Meghans murder? For 32 days the state lab can't seem to find the time to look at evidence that may take a violent killer of a little girl off the street? Portsmouth Police has a lot to be desired as it is, now the state lab doesn't think a brutal case like this should go to the front of the line? Is this animal going to kill some other innocent person before the state lab thinks it might be important enough to front of the line status? I'm sorry to sound so mad, but if this article is true, there are serious problems at the state crime lab. The lack of Portsmouth LE warning the public if they don't have a suspect under 24/7 surveillance shows lack of good judgment on the part of LE.

I think that last sentence is a statement from WTKR itself. It seems as if they probably contacted the state crime lab for answers, and the SCL can only answer to that extent that they did. Didn't earlier reports say that the man's wife was a babysitter? If I do recall, when the navy guy was first approached by the police at his home in norfolk, a lady at the scene made the statement that that was her babysitters house. I can't say who was on the video tape, but it makes one wonder. I think this guy would have been friends with the family before they were a friend of Meghans? This guy sounds like a crazy pervert that thought he wouldn't get caught. What goes on in the dark always comes to light. And thanks for the story page.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Bigmike, I understand your frustration but it didn't say that the state hasn't looked at the evidence. It just states that the PD hasn't received the lab work yet. There was a lot of evidence to process in this case, and although 32 days is a long time, I don't think it's extreme.

I personally believe that each day that an arrest isn't made, a stronger, better case is going to be made against Meghan's murderer. Maybe it's blind home in the PD, I don't know. I'm just not willing to criticise any department, PD or State, just yet.

I am sorry, but I do think 32 days IS extreme to wait on lab results in a brutal murder! A month is certainly long enough to not only have the results, but to have put the pieces together to name a POI. They don't have to make the arrest or name him an official suspect until the case is stronger, but the public should be aware it is someone they are interested in investigating further.

We already know they got evidence from the street drain and by their reaction it sounded as if it could be a weapon. I would hate to think this has not been tested and confirmed or ruled out by now.

They have had plenty of time and if the hold up is the lab...they need to do what Reno did and beg for money.

 

[philamena]

A new story today from wtkr channel 3 , http://www.wtkr.com/global/story.asp?s=8312843 The last sentence puzzles me. The state crime lab is so overworked that they haven't looked at the evidence from Megan's murder? For 32 days the state lab can't seem to find the time to look at evidence that may take a violent killer of a little girl off the street? Portsmouth Police has a lot to be desired as it is, now the state lab doesn't think a brutal case like this should go to the front of the line?....

Yep bigmike, the local news channel 3 reporter said that sadly the forensic lab is so far behind, that evidence from Meghan's murder is waiting to be analyzed.

The reporter also said blood was found in the home, but of course that hasn't been tested yet. :furious:
Sadly this is almost normal for this area. I have a friend who's 20 year old sister was brutally raped, tortured and murdered in Norfolk a few years ago. He killer wasn't caught for 4 years and it took our previous governor to do get the ball rolling.

All crimes are important, but imo, the killing of a young teen should be top priority. The forensics lab could knock a few cases back and put Megan's on top.

 

[lizzybeth]

So what can we do? Should we write the governor and see if he can bump this evidence to the front of the line? Should we try to raise money like they did in Reno?

I just can't believe that this case wasn't given a priority. I understand all crimes and especially murders are important but this was a sixteen year old girl for goodness sake!! She was a good girl and murdered in her own home in broad daylight.

Personally I feel like shaking the out of somebody until they get their acts together and find this person.

 

[Gayle23074]

What I think is odd from the report of Channel 3 is that they actually spared his name! I understood the fact that they did not release his name in the beginning because he was just a , but since they found child *advertiser censored* on his computer...hello? Tell the public! I have no mercy for anyone who appears to be a fan of child *advertiser censored*. Let the b@st@rd be outted for his sick addiction! JMHO:furious:

 

[lew657]

I wouldn't judge the teens to harshly that say Meghan was upset or shakey. They are young and probably looking for something they missed.

I had a friend growing up - she was out with us all and went home for the night. The next morning we found out her sisters BF had killed her sister, mother and stabbed her, she luckily survived. I was only 14 but I spent a lot of time looking back at that day and rethought every slight thing as maybe she knew something was wrong. I knew she didn't like the BF and that there were issues there before.

 

[Blink34]

I wouldn't judge the teens to harshly that say Meghan was upset or shakey. They are young and probably looking for something they missed.

I had a friend growing up - she was out with us all and went home for the night. The next morning we found out her sisters BF had killed her sister, mother and stabbed her, she luckily survived. I was only 14 but I spent a lot of time looking back at that day and rethought every slight thing as maybe she knew something was wrong. I knew she didn't like the BF and that there were issues there before.

I agree with Lew- these are "tweens" and teens, how they process a trauma like this really is all over the place. I don't feel there was any malice intended on their part. SO SOrry Lew- that's horrible.

 

[lizzybeth]

What I think is odd from the report of Channel 3 is that they actually spared his name! I understood the fact that they did not release his name in the beginning because he was just a , but since they found child *advertiser censored* on his computer...hello? Tell the public! I have no mercy for anyone who appears to be a fan of child *advertiser censored*. Let the b@st@rd be outted for his sick addiction! JMHO:furious:

Gayle, they did give his name in this report (WVEC).

http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_050908_landowski_child_porn_.e4e01ef3.html


It's LTJG Robert Allen Hicke and I agree. People who look at child *advertiser censored* should have their name reported.

 

[Gayle23074]

Lizzy,

Oh, yes, I knew they outted him on WVEC, but I was just appalled the other station did not out him. kwim? Because some people in this area are totally loyal to one tv station and might not know it was someone they might have known or there kids might have known.

 

[yumyum]

bump

 

[Anuniaq]

Thanks for posting that yumyum. Whether this is the guy or not he's still a . I would have thought they would have gone ahead and arrested him for the child *advertiser censored*. He has to know he's at least going down for that.

LE can't just arrest him for suspected child *advertiser censored*.

From the article: "suspected child *advertiser censored*, one involving a girl who appeared to be six to 10." (bolding by me)

Unfortunately, child *advertiser censored* investigations were made more complicated by a Supreme Court decision 7 or 8 years ago where images are not considered to be verified child *advertiser censored* until the victim in the picture is identified so that it can be proven that they are real (not a digital image) and that they were really under age at the time the picture or video was taken. It is very frustrating, but there are "books" in place with known images and I'm sure they are running every single one they found on the computer for a match. I've never seen a case where there was only one image. Usually there are 100s or 1000s.

Also, I see that you are a local and I would like to say, try to be patient with the police. I was involved in a case where LE knew who the killer was, even were pretty sure what had happened almost from the first day but it took time to put the case together. The general public didn't know and LE couldn't tell them (it could have ruined the case forever) but, trust me, they never gave up and multiple agency continued to work until the killer was brought to justice. It was almost 5 years from murder to sentencing, but he will never be free again.

Thinking of Meghan's family.

 

[jerseygirl123]

Yes, it seems if they have a picture from this child *advertiser censored* case they know who it is, the navy guy knows who it is, and even Meghan herself may have know. Just like the dog fighting ring, there may well be a child *advertiser censored* ring that is bigger than you think. The guy gunned down walking with his family may have even known. Not a fact, just my guess.

 

[Anuniaq]

You may very well be right. It could all be related. I was just saying that cases are complicated and therefore often take longer than a week or two to publicly see progress. Just because it looks like it could be child *advertiser censored* doesn't make it so and doesn't necessarily give probably cause for an arrest warrant.

It would be very surprising if the guy NCIS talked to isn't involved somehow, given that that last article at least somewhat backs up the rumors of previous abuse. However, that doesn't automatically make him the murderer. Doesn't mean he isn't either.

It sounds like LE is working the case aggressively. I hope for the family's sake and the community's that there is a quick resolution. BUT, most importantly that the guilty (s) never see the light of day again!

 

[jerseygirl123]

It just seems they're focusing on this guy a little too much. The initial investigation is what led to them finding the *advertiser censored*. Either he did it or he knows someone that did.

 

[philamena]

Wish we knew how Meghan was connected to the Navy guy.
Was she the child found on the guys computer?
From this article dated May 9:

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/05/inv...h-leads-suspected-child-*advertiser censored*

A search warrant affidavit from a Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent says that authorities investigating her April 10 slaying had questioned a Navy man “considered a person of interest due to a prior NCIS investigation” involving him and Landowski.