Found Deceased WI - Kathleen Ryan, adult, teacher, car found burned with body inside, St. Francis, 2 Feb 2019 #2

[owsley]

Scenarios I find least likely - an accidental death or completely random carjacking. I'm 50-50 on suicide vs foul play by someone who knows her. (I was about 1% suicide before, but agree silence by LE and family pushes that probability higher).

I lean towards there having been an accelerant and that it just hasn't been released publicly. In my mind, the presence of accelerant and any indications of purchase are the biggest determining factors as to whether I believe she committed suicide or foul play was involved.

In the case of suicide, I would expect that there was the use of accelerant, and some record of purchase or container at some point, either at a gas station or something found in the car. Arson investigators should be able to find some evidence, even in a very destructive fire.

In the case of foul play, I would expect that there may or may not have been accelerant but if there was, the assailant took any containers with them so as to not leave evidence linking back to them.

Very well-said. I agree throughout.

I have to believe LE has found evidence of an accelerant and a container at the scene -- they have something firm, or else they would not have made the reply they did in April ("There is nothing that has brought us to any conclusion that somebody did this to Kathleen. We don't have any evidence somebody caused this to happen to Kathleen."), something they would never have done unless they had in their possession physical evidence of what they all but say -- it's not just that there are no sightings of her, no video of the start of an assault, no tips from the public, no jailhouse snitches, those sorts of things. LE doesn't go out on limbs and all but state that a middle-class teacher, a woman with a strong family behind her, committed such an act unless there is physical evidence that she may have done it.

 

[BradB]

Just doesnt add up. She was found in passenger seat too.

Even if she planned to commit suicide, she wouldn't have cared about the basketball game. To even make the attempt to go screams something went wrong. (I think its confirmed she talked to one of her sons and she was going) The car was found not even on the same path she normally took. Something bad happened to this poor woman.

 

[BradB]

No wonder why the sons are ticked. You're not going to even make the attempt to go if you plan on committing suicide.

I'm assuming there isnt many cameras out in those parts.

 

[owsley]

Something bad happened to this poor woman.

We can agree on this.

 

[BradB]

I could have accepted suicide (I'm even accepting the way it went down even though one would suffer tremendously that way) if she did it at home. Wasnt on her way to something that's a significant part of her life. Just doesnt add up to me.

I hope they find something though.

 

[MntnHiker]

Whether it was suicide or foul play or something else, my big question is, where was she all day? I was hoping by now we'd have more answers on that. It had been awhile since I revisited the specifics of this case, so I went back to page 1 and re-read some of the excerpts from articles. At one point they mentioned they had no evidence of her stopping anywhere (which doesn't necessarily mean she didn't, just that they have no evidence of it). In March, it looks like they said they were still going through the electronic evidence.

Did anything ever come of tracking her phone? Was it turned off all day? (Sorry if this has been posted). I think finding out where she was gets to the bottom of this. I wonder how much publicity this case got locally in northern IL/southern WI right after it happened. Maybe someone would have remembered crossing paths with her that weekend (doubtful to remember now). It's too bad no traffic cams (that we know of) picked up her car driving. We also have no idea if she would have stopped at some out-of-the-way store that wasn't in this area at all and perhaps was on camera there but police would have no way of knowing.

Very sad for her family and I wish they could get some answers.

 

[Kittybunny]

Did anything ever come of tracking her phone? Was it turned off all day? (Sorry if this has been posted). I think finding out where she was gets to the bottom of this.

RSBM. Agree - this would be a very critical investigatory avenue to go down. If she turned her phone off early in the day, then she obviously did not want anyone to track her or bother her, I'd lean more towards suicide. However, if foul play by someone close was involved, her phone also could have been turned off early in the day. Aimless driving could go either way. Hmmm and now I've confused myself thoroughly and what I think the phone could show, lol. But yes, no matter what - very important information.

Again, the lack of updates and info do make me think suicide. However, it could just be how difficult it is to extract evidence, on the other hand, hello - middle-aged lady set on fire in a random driveway!?!?! There seems to be no urgency whatsoever.

 

[owsley]

Very sad for her family and I wish they could get some answers.

I think the family may have the answers. I can think of little other reason that they are not demanding progress in the case.

 

[NervousNellie]

I think the family may have the answers. I can think of little other reason that they are not demanding progress in the case.

But we don't know that they aren't demanding answers from LE, correct? We just know the media is not actively pursuing the case. One of her sons was interviewed on a radio program and at that time he seemed hopeful that LE would find some answers. Some people don't know how, or aren't inclined, to seek out media attention.

 

[owsley]

But we don't know that they aren't demanding answers from LE, correct? We just know the media is not actively pursuing the case. One of her sons was interviewed on a radio program and at that time he seemed hopeful that LE would find some answers. Some people don't know how, or aren't inclined, to seek out media attention.

Generally, one pressures for answers via the media. The sons are savvy enough to realize this and would, I think, take that opportunity. There seems to be a triangle of silence -- LE, media, family -- and, at its center, I think, is the truth -- a truth than need neither be published nor pursued any further.

 

[Curiousobserver]

Whether it was suicide or foul play or something else, my big question is, where was she all day? I was hoping by now we'd have more answers on that. It had been awhile since I revisited the specifics of this case, so I went back to page 1 and re-read some of the excerpts from articles. At one point they mentioned they had no evidence of her stopping anywhere (which doesn't necessarily mean she didn't, just that they have no evidence of it). In March, it looks like they said they were still going through the electronic evidence.

Did anything ever come of tracking her phone? Was it turned off all day? (Sorry if this has been posted). I think finding out where she was gets to the bottom of this. I wonder how much publicity this case got locally in northern IL/southern WI right after it happened. Maybe someone would have remembered crossing paths with her that weekend (doubtful to remember now). It's too bad no traffic cams (that we know of) picked up her car driving. We also have no idea if she would have stopped at some out-of-the-way store that wasn't in this area at all and perhaps was on camera there but police would have no way of knowing.

Very sad for her family and I wish they could get some answers.

By now LE has seen the video, looked at the phone records, found the credit card and ATM transactions, read her email and texts, seen any location data the phone captures, looked at her search history, seen the detailed toxicology and forensics and they still cannot say one way or another what happened. Absent a big break in this case (someone talks assuming there was a crime) this one may go unsolved for a very long time.

 

[Joe Friday]

By now LE has seen the video, looked at the phone records, found the credit card and ATM transactions, read her email and texts, seen any location data the phone captures, looked at her search history, seen the detailed toxicology and forensics and they still cannot say one way or another what happened. Absent a big break in this case (someone talks assuming there was a crime) this one may go unsolved for a very long time.

I couldn't agree more.

JMO

 

[Joe Friday]

Generally, one pressures for answers via the media. The sons are savvy enough to realize this and would, I think, take that opportunity. There seems to be a triangle of silence -- LE, media, family -- and, at its center, I think, is the truth -- a truth than need neither be published nor pursued any further.

If Kathleen died as a result of suicide it would make sense why the family is not pressuring the media and the media is not pressuring LE.

JMO

 

[The Night Watchman]

If Kathleen died as a result of suicide it would make sense why the family is not pressuring the media and the media is not pressuring LE.

JMO

Alternatively, LE knows who did this (and maybe the family), but don't yet have the evidence necessary to prosecute. So they have asked the family to step back while the investigation moves forward (slowly apparently).

 

[owsley]

Alternatively, LE knows who did this (and maybe the family), but don't yet have the evidence necessary to prosecute. So they have asked the family to step back while the investigation moves forward (slowly apparently).

So they let a murderous arsonist walk in society unchecked.

 

[kay74]

I believe LE probably knows she was a victim of homicide but they don't have the suspects and maybe never will.

 

[owsley]

I believe LE probably knows she was a victim of homicide but they don't have the suspects and maybe never will.

Why then are they not continuing to ask the public for help, nor alerting the public as to this monster in their midest.

 

[The Night Watchman]

So they let a murderous arsonist walk in society unchecked.

So if they don't have enough evidence to prosecute, what do you propose they do?

 

[owsley]

So if they don't have enough evidence to prosecute, what do you propose they do?

Keep the case alive; ask the public for information as a means of alerting them a madman is in their midst.

 

[kay74]

Why then are they not continuing to ask the public for help, nor alerting the public as to this monster in their midest.

I don't know. I wish they would.