2011.01.18.: "Briefcase" found that *may* contain evidence in Zahra Baker case

[Reannan]

Here is a picture of the briefcase.

 

[Allusonz]

MOO i am thinking that it truly was the lawyers that retrieved the prosthesis whether it be from a home or whatever, i dont mean the gel liner that LE found with the bone

you have 2 that have travelled from australia to the states and probably bought new suitcases or maybe it was more of a soft laptop type cover

they then find this case across from the place (being the house) across the road but further into the woods like someone walked it in and tossed it a ways into the woods

wonders if that made any sense to any of you rofl

as you know in my mind the prosthetic is not the gel liner it is the knee joint, socket etc

 

[Allusonz]

But whatever the cause of the blood, there would have to be something particularly damning about it to cause them to hide it. If Zahra was raped, the "Random Stranger Abductor(s)" could have done that just as easily, so why hide it more than anything else?

maybe it was from the home of the alleged rape?

 

[Allusonz]

Well if this is related, and confusing it is...clothing, blanket, clothes...?? I hope there is DNA and finger prints all over it. Just because we have not heard that EB mentioned this briefcase to LE, doesn't mean she did not. We have only heard a few bits and pieces of her discussions with LE I'm sure. I recall that after Zahra's buried remains were found, they were still quietly sending out two man search teams. Could be this item was one of the things they were looking for. Only futhers my belief that EB only knew second hand where some items/remains were disposed of.

it could potentially indicate more than AB/EB being involved as we know that AB is being watched like a hawk

 

[Allusonz]

Just too add to the confliction...

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/26530132/detail.html

Snipped:

It’s unclear whether the briefcase and blanket are related to the investigation into Zahra’s disappearance and death. Police said only that the blanket was covered in mold and mildew and that they plan to test it at the state lab.

mold and mildew would indicate to me that it had been there for a while or the "items" had been someplace for a while

 

[Reannan]

But whatever the cause of the blood, there would have to be something particularly damning about it to cause them to hide it. If Zahra was raped, the "Random Stranger Abductor(s)" could have done that just as easily, so why hide it more than anything else?

BBM: Or something particularly special about it; as in momento, keepsake, relic. :sick: If someone else with a tiny bit of conscious knew of this item, maybe they would want to put it in a briefcase that could be linked back to someone involved and casually toss it close to the memorial site because someone would be bound to find it sooner or latter. All of this is just my opinion, obviously! Honestly, I am not even 10% convinced this is going to end up related to the Zahra case. It is just too stupid!!! If it does end up being connected, then it is going to be just weird.

 

[netsleuther]

Here is a picture of the briefcase.

Could it have come from the work vehicle as a briefcase used to carry around while quoting jobs etc.?

 

[Allusonz]

Just continuing to ponder why hide the bag but not the leg - the effort to pass the murder off as abduction. The leg could have been discarded by the "Random Stranger Abductors," while the blanket (or whatever) could have been easily traced to their house, somehow... Though the abductors could have also taken it from their house, they could have claimed. So, it could have linked it to a another house, maybe... Or someone else might have discarded it, as Myzzy suggests.

If not a blanket, might have been EB's or AB's clothes, bloodied, which would have ruined the "Random Stranger Abduction" story.

Or it could be not connected to the case at all. :sigh:

i dont believe that the prosthetic leg was hidden i believe that is what the lawyers retrieved again though MOO

 

[Kimberlyd125]

mold and mildew would indicate to me that it had been there for a while or the "items" had been someplace for a while

I don't know if it's just because it's more humid down here in Louisiana, but mold and mildew sets in REALLY quick here. If something stays wet for a day or two, you can smell it starting. I think a couple days after that, you would be able to see it on clothing.

So, IMO anything from Zahra's case could very easily be moldy or have mildew on it by now.

 

[Allusonz]

Could it have come from the work vehicle as a briefcase used to carry around while quoting jobs etc.?

we dont know the size of the blanket or what other articles where it in it anything is possible at this point, i would think though it is prob something that looks similar to one of my travel bags which could be confused with a briefcase

 

[Peliman]

This couldn't have been missed during the original search, could it? and if someone wanted to hide it, why not bury it? Strange case, I guess we wait for lab results to see if it connects to Zahra. Weird events, weird case.

 

[Allusonz]

i apologize all this case truly hits home and yes i know i am ot so:

i believe any of the possibilites mentioned above could be the case or a combo of any of the above

 

[Jacie Estes]

Looking at the lock on the left side of the case, does it have some pinkish residue on it or is that reflection from the red color of the truck?

 

[Allusonz]

ok im confused AGAIN lol. Was it the prostetic leg and bone found or was it the gel liner? I thought EB said the leg itself was discarded in a dumpster. Ill have to go look exactly where I think it was in one of the warrants.

LE found the gel liner in the area of the bone

the prosthetic LE never disclosed how they got this particular item or from where HTH

 

[Reannan]

To me, it looks like one of those briefcases they use in movies to transport the ransom money or drug money in. The fact that a moldy textile item was found with possible blood stains on it in a briefcase in woods close to a memorial site for Zahra Baker is just beyond strange. I can't think of ANY reason to dismember a body, transport it to various locations - some in trash bags, some apparently not, and at some point in this escapade, you think to put the bloody blanket in a made-for-the-movies briefcase. Ridiculous......

 

[Mrs G Norris]

This couldn't have been missed during the original search, could it? and if someone wanted to hide it, why not bury it? Strange case, I guess we wait for lab results to see if it connects to Zahra. Weird events, weird case.

Yes, I am getting a very hinky vibe off this briefcase.

 

[Flakes]

Looking at the lock on the left side of the case, does it have some pinkish residue on it or is that reflection from the red color of the truck?

The red on the metallic hinge strip on the briefcase is, I believe, the reflection from the red strip on the tray of the vehicle.

 

[Peliman]

A little bit more detail on the suitcase find.

"Bristol said his coworker found the briefcase up a hill and about a quarter-mile into the woods.

“They found a briefcase with an old mildewed blanket inside,” said Hickory police Captain Thurman Whisnant. “We don’t know if it’s related (to the Zahra Baker case). It’s probably not related.”

The case and the blanket it contains will be sent to the SBI lab for analysis along with additional pieces of information.

“Obviously, we have hundreds of pieces of evidence,” Whisnant said.

Maj. Clyde Deal of the Hickory Police Department said the blanket is tan and was found folded in the case, but officers have not handled it and do not know what size the blanket is.

“You’ve got to be careful when you’re dealing with evidence like this,” Deal said. “We’re not going to handle it and open it up. It’s going to stay folded and go to the lab.”

The briefcase did not contain any thing else of substantive value, Deal said"

Story and video

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/...ds-briefcase-near-where-zahras-pro-ar-704576/

 

[Makara]

Can this case get any weirder? I've been tossing around a few scenarios in relation to the briefcase and it's contents. All MOO.

1. It has nothing to do with Zahra at all. It may have belonged to a worker out there and fallen from his truck, although you would think that if that was the case it would have been claimed by now.

2. It was put there by someone as a hoax and has nothing to do with Zahra.

3. It was put there by someone connected with Zahra's murder with the idea that it would not be discovered because the area had already been searched. The blanket may have something to do with the alleged rape or was used to clean up after Zahra's remains were buried.

4. Is Mr.Coffey missing a briefcase that AB perhaps had in his work vehicle? Was the blanket used as a 'liner' in the car and the plastic bags holding Zahra's remains placed on it to ensure there was no leakage onto the floor of the car?

If this briefcase and contents do turn out to be related to Zahra's murder and dismemberment, hopefully LE can obtain a lot of information including fingerprints, DNA, hair, body fluids including blood, soil, vegetation and much more.

 

[Verity]

I'm in the camp that doesn't believe the briefcase is connected to AB/ EB. I don't think either of them would have had a need for one, and it's not their style.

:twocents: