AR AR - Cassie Compton, 15, Stuttgart, 14 Sept 2014 #4

[iamnotagolem]

Poking around facebook, i saw something really odd. I can't post a screenshot darn it. But.... Cassie was tagged on 9/17/14, and a reply in the comments noted that she hadn't been seen in a month. My head cocked to the side like a curious labrador......

Which page?

 

[Caring4Many]

What all do you plan on asking him?

I'd like to know

-where BR is living since his release.
-if there are any pictures of Cassie at the derby in Dewitt

Do you mean what do I plan to ask the reporter? I tweeted a bunch of media asking them why they haven't done a follow up with BR to get his side of the story. He was the first to do more than favorite my tweet. He just replied to my email asking me if he could call me later in the week to talk. I obviously said he could. I would like to get a few things together to share with him that we could use to help light a fire for a media outlet to want to cover Cassie's story in a different way. Even just to get him to get to BR and ask "his side of the story" and response to being a suspect.

 

[Vail]

There is no actual concrete evidence regarding BR's arrest or the circumstances other than the fact that he was indeed arrested, and the dates he was held (according to the vinelink). The interesting thing about that is the Arkansas Dept of Corrections website has no record of him, so make of that what you will. The details we got previously about the circumstances were from one of the previous VIs (I don't think it was got4lilgirls or the FB page admin).

I remember someone asking awhile back if maybe BR was put into protective custody. I think it is very possible his arrest was to help LE stall for time to get answers from him, or to protect him as a witness. It irritates me that they have not organized all of their findings in a way that allows them to make a coherent public statement about the status of the case. If we can get this reporter on board to ask some of the hard questions, that would be amazing. The huge list of questions believe09 put forward would be a good start in addition to hitting hard on the suspect angle. Some things I would like to add that the reporter might ask LE:

Why is the case being presented to the public as a runaway case, yet you have criminal investigators working on it and have publicly cited suspects?
What are you doing to investigate and clear up the many obvious discrepancies in witness testimony and available facts?

I hope he can contact each Dept so we can get a balanced response, since I am not sure SPD can answer all of these questions. I really do believe they are trying their best, but as Bobo said, this is the hardest thing he has ever worked on so I really feel like this is over their heads. Just reading the police reports alone and seeing the sheer amount of crime in this tiny town blows my mind. I don't know how they keep up with any of it.

 

[believe09]

Are you looking from a BR perspective? I would highlight what has happened and send him the police report of Cassie's disappearance. I would give him the charges and sentences for BR and the release info. I would also send him a link to the article that JC participated in indicating that she sent him a no contact letter.

Sometimes, if you do a lot of the digging for the media, they are quick to hop on the story.

Good job!!

 

[believe09]

We need to present this case to the media as simply as possible imvho. In a way, it is straightforward. The twists imo have to do with the inconsistencies in information. This is a great opportunity to get some of it cleared up.

 

[Caring4Many]

There is no actual concrete evidence regarding BR's arrest or the circumstances other than the fact that he was indeed arrested, and the dates he was held (according to the vinelink). The interesting thing about that is the Arkansas Dept of Corrections website has no record of him, so make of that what you will. The details we got previously about the circumstances were from one of the previous VIs (I don't think it was got4lilgirls or the FB page admin).

I remember someone asking awhile back if maybe BR was put into protective custody. I think it is very possible his arrest was to help LE stall for time to get answers from him, or to protect him as a witness. It irritates me that they have not organized all of their findings in a way that allows them to make a coherent public statement about the status of the case. If we can get this reporter on board to ask some of the hard questions, that would be amazing. The huge list of questions believe09 put forward would be a good start in addition to hitting hard on the suspect angle. Some things I would like to add that the reporter might ask LE:

Why is the case being presented to the public as a runaway case, yet you have criminal investigators working on it and have publicly cited suspects?
What are you doing to investigate and clear up the many obvious discrepancies in witness testimony and available facts?

I hope he can contact each Dept so we can get a balanced response, since I am not sure SPD can answer all of these questions. I really do believe they are trying their best, but as Bobo said, this is the hardest thing he has ever worked on so I really feel like this is over their heads. Just reading the police reports alone and seeing the sheer amount of crime in this tiny town blows my mind. I don't know how they keep up with any of it.

Which list are you referring to? We've had a few since we started so I want to make sure I know which you're looking at.
I do think someone had found an entry in the Stuttgart Daily Leader of BRs arrest & charges. I don't think they were made up, jmo though.
I will take not of the questions for LE. From the way that media has reacted thus far I'm trying to to get my hopes up or expect too much.

 

[Caring4Many]

Are you looking from a BR perspective? I would highlight what has happened and send him the police report of Cassie's disappearance. I would give him the charges and sentences for BR and the release info. I would also send him a link to the article that JC participated in indicating that she sent him a no contact letter.

Sometimes, if you do a lot of the digging for the media, they are quick to hop on the story.

Good job!!

We need to present this case to the media as simply as possible imvho. In a way, it is straightforward. The twists imo have to do with the inconsistencies in information. This is a great opportunity to get some of it cleared up.

Honestly I think discussing the charges & actions surrounding what BR was just in custody for is a waste of time. I think that will take the focus off of Cassie which defeats the purpose. Discussing that won't get BR to talk about her or JC. I previously tried to get them to cover the story & all I received back was "oh it's not related." I don't think going there will keep this medias interest. I will ask if he knows the story & see his reply but I honestly think we need to be smart about what is presented to them in hopes that they won't be overwhelmed or run the story in a different light. How many of these stories are all "Oh poor JC" sob sessions?

I definitely agree they need to see the missing persons report-although I'm sure they have since how many times have we tweeted that darn thing? Mentioning the letter, him being 1 of 2 named suspects are more obvious ones but I'd also like to throw in things like-did BR see Cassie come home? Was anyone else there? What time? Did he see her leave? What time? Why wasn't she reported missing on Sunday? (Let him say he did!) how many times had Cassie run away before? Was she ever reported missing? Etc etc

 

[believe09]

I get what you are saying, Caring4-I just think that if this interview is about BR stating his side, he needs to be free to do so. The fact any of the media can do FOIA requests to get BR's court case info. I really want to hear his side of his trespassing conviction. It is over and done with. He cant be tried again for it. I would like to know if he was trespassing because he was made homeless by JC. Did Cassie's disappearance bring him to where he found himself? I would like to know if he thinks he has been named as a suspect because he is the weird guy in town. I would love to know if he sees his influence on Judy the way she sees it. Is he a scapegoat? Can he shed light on the actions of others who were with Cassie in the days before she disappeared? This is his chance to put misconceptions to rest.

If this is an article solely about Cassie, then the focus should be different for sure.

I want him to be the focus of the story.

 

[believe09]

I guess a simpler way for me to state what I envision is does BR think he is being scapegoated and railroaded? Since Cassie disappeared, everyone is laying the responsibility at his door. Including JC. He has been arrested and incarcerated. Can he shed light on anyone else who was with Cassie in the days before she disappeared? Or even the day she disappeared? What does he think happened to her?

That's interesting that you were told it isnt related to her disappearance. Maybe it really isnt. Maybe we have been chasing our tails about it and it has absolutely nothing to do with anything except for a dispute between himself and someone else.

Hmm.

 

[GigTu]

I really hope he does this. He is entitled to a say.

To be honest, we could have been totally railroading him all this time, and he's perfectly innocent (of harming Cassie).

I know we can't get down n dirty about other possible POI, more than conversing possible theories, but son of a gun if those theories don't seem just as likely, if not more so.

 

[GigTu]

Do you mean what do I plan to ask the reporter? I tweeted a bunch of media asking them why they haven't done a follow up with BR to get his side of the story. He was the first to do more than favorite my tweet. He just replied to my email asking me if he could call me later in the week to talk. I obviously said he could. I would like to get a few things together to share with him that we could use to help light a fire for a media outlet to want to cover Cassie's story in a different way. Even just to get him to get to BR and ask "his side of the story" and response to being a suspect.

Maybe it would be a good idea to tag the findcassie twitter account in any communications so those followers see it too.

 

[GigTu]

If BR is innocent, he should be willing to talk.

I want to know where he was at 1:30 when Cassie was picked up. Who did he see? Where was he all day Sunday? And especially from 5:00 pm Sunday night - 9:45 Monday morning. Every single minute should be accounted for. People sleep, so include bed time and waking up.

Did he communicate with HS or DB at all during that weekend? JC? Anyone?

If he was drunk, smoking pot, taking other drugs, passed out, hanging with loser friends, cheating on JC, burglarizing a house, or whatever...... ANY substantiated alibi and its temporary consequences have to be worth dealing with over being accused of murder/selling to traffickers.

 

[Caring4Many]

I get what you are saying, Caring4-I just think that if this interview is about BR stating his side, he needs to be free to do so. The fact any of the media can do FOIA requests to get BR's court case info. I really want to hear his side of his trespassing conviction. It is over and done with. He cant be tried again for it. I would like to know if he was trespassing because he was made homeless by JC. Did Cassie's disappearance bring him to where he found himself? I would like to know if he thinks he has been named as a suspect because he is the weird guy in town. I would love to know if he sees his influence on Judy the way she sees it. Is he a scapegoat? Can he shed light on the actions of others who were with Cassie in the days before she disappeared? This is his chance to put misconceptions to rest.

If this is an article solely about Cassie, then the focus should be different for sure.

I want him to be the focus of the story.

I said to each of them, "with Brandon Rhodes no longer in jail, will there be a follow up done on the Cassie Compton case." Based off that I received a reply. I totally understand where you are coming from, and yes I know that while we can acquire FOIA its just not coming. But we have to also acknowledge that media in that area isn't what it is elsewhere. Not to mention if town people aren't that interested the media isn't going to cover as much as we would like. Lets be honest, we here could cover at least a 20/20 episode with the guy. I can see asking him about the letter, being named a suspect and if he thinks he is being thrown under the bus etc. But I don't know that the media will do all that we would want them to. I guess maybe what we should do is make a "wish list" and a "priority list"?

I guess a simpler way for me to state what I envision is does BR think he is being scapegoated and railroaded? Since Cassie disappeared, everyone is laying the responsibility at his door. Including JC. He has been arrested and incarcerated. Can he shed light on anyone else who was with Cassie in the days before she disappeared? Or even the day she disappeared? What does he think happened to her?

That's interesting that you were told it isnt related to her disappearance. Maybe it really isnt. Maybe we have been chasing our tails about it and it has absolutely nothing to do with anything except for a dispute between himself and someone else.

Hmm.

I think to the media a trespassing charge isn't connected. Or simply being told by SPD that it wasn't related was enough for them not to ask?

 

[Caring4Many]

Maybe it would be a good idea to tag the findcassie twitter account in any communications so those followers see it too.

With only 140 characters you can only fit so much! If they look at my feed they will see it. Most end up following me after so I would hope they take a look.

 

[GigTu]

@FINDCASSIE needs to retweet.

 

[Vail]

I agree with all the above regarding giving BR a chance to defend himself in the media. If he is innocent, he can provide very important background information. If he is not, then hopefully it shows. It would be ideal if the interview is on camera - I feel like he could potentially provide too much (more) misleading info otherwise that would be hard to discredit without seeing his body language and so on.

believe09, I was referring to your big huge list of questions that need answers which others have been adding to. That may be more appropriate for a different feature on Cassie herself if this reporter is willing to go back to LE to try clearing up some of those inconsistencies. Mainly why they maintain it is a runaway when they have been treating it like a murder/recovery since very early on.

And speaking of JC's letter to BR, we've asked before, why did that require a lawyer? Does she still have one? I'm always a bit suspicious of potential perps that lawyer up after saying they are innocent when they haven't been arrested yet.

 

[believe09]

The media is going to be looking for streamlined and soundbite material. "Now that Brandon is out of jail..." is a great teaser and I can see why the reporter said to email him. It may be just as simple as recommending he do a follow up with Brandon because he was also named as a suspect in Cassie's disappearance and no one has heard his side. Brandon has an opportunity to shed light on events leading up to and including her disappearance. If he has already made sworn statements to SPD, he has nothing to worry about in terms of incrimination.

This is a chance for BR to clear the air now that he has been released-after all, we have been told that the townsfolk overwhelmingly believe he has something to do with this and they felt safe while he was locked away.

Vail, I am with you regarding JC using an attorney to write a no contact letter and having it delivered to BR...at the jail I think? It is a strange thing to do. But then again, that is the theme of this disappearance. The players have all acted in very strange ways imvho.

 

[believe09]

If the media is going to do a story following up specifically on Cassie's disappearance, than it would be great if they would clear up the inconsistencies we have found in abundance. If they are going to stick to BR, it would be good to hear his side and his thoughts.

I am really pondering the idea that the trespassing nonsense was unrelated to Cassie's disappearance. I am leaning more towards a personal dispute with someone he knows/knew.

 

[believe09]

To be honest, we could have been totally railroading him all this time, and he's perfectly innocent (of harming Cassie).

I know we can't get down n dirty about other possible POI, more than conversing possible theories, but son of a gun if those theories don't seem just as likely, if not more so.

I see your point. Now that the timeline seems to be dissolving, it looks worse for those who shall not be named.

 

[GigTu]

Indeed. Specifically now that we've caught the 5:00 vs 6:05 discrepancy. How did we overlook that before? Was it improperly transcribed? I need to go back and listen to the JVM interview all over again.