CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #4

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  • #621
I was wondering why RT would hide a key when most men's shorts and pants have pockets? I was also wondering why, IF she was heading back to the truck/RV ahead of him, she would not have simply asked him for the key. Give me a sec and I will find that truck pic for you.
You know one thing I hadn’t thought of... what does an RV key like that look like? Like a single house key? I certainly wouldn’t put my car key under a rock- too expensive.

Also, when I posted the pic of the turnout I saw NO ROCKS! And one strategically placed near the door of the camper would surely be suspicious to a possible thief.

Edited: added clarifying words
 
  • #622
Ok it seems everyone is missing my question. I’m asking you to speculate on this as apparently that’s what everyone does here.

We don't speculate on things we already know the answers to though. We already know why LE doesn't give the public information unless they have to. I don't know what we are meant to speculate on? I'll give it a try though.

LE has said they don't suspect foul play. They haven't changed that.

Just because the husband thinks he's a suspect doesn't mean that LE feels he is.

They may have told him he failed just to test his reaction, maybe he didn't.

Or if they do consider him a suspect, it doesn't mean LE wanted that released.

Or maybe LE wanted the information out there but didn't want the information to come from them and knew he'd tell the media.

Maybe LE wants someone else to believe they are looking at someone closer to home, so that person will be confident instead.

Maybe LE didn't suspect foul play when they said it and just don't feel the need to update us if it changes.
 
  • #623
Following up in the thought of her surprising someone at the trailer.

1. The key was still under the rock so if that happened she would have either gone in knowing someone was inside— unlikely— or met them at the area around trailer.

2. I can’t imagine someone taking her if they were in process of theft— and- if they did .
A. Nothing disturbed in trailer
B. RT noticed no vehicle or dust kicked up from that pull off area. I’d think if someone took her they’d be getting the heck out of dodge ... fast.. and dust would surely fly up with tires leaving fast. He noticed no dirt lingering in the air. He wasn’t that far behind, supposedly.
Yeah. I have a hard time with that, too. That's a really nice truck and RV. It was undisturbed, but BT is gone. That makes no sense to me. MOO
 
  • #624
Why keep information from the public?
There are a few reasons from what I have observed.

One is that they do not want the suspect to know what they know. It may cause them to panic and get rid of important evidence.

Another is to protect the privacy of the subject or the victim. There can be a lot of judgement or rumors from the public if they release information too soon. They may want to ensure that they have enough evidence before announcing that they have a suspect. Many times the public doesn't know LE is investigating someone until there is an arrest.

Another reason is they need to make sure the defendant has a fair trial. Public opinion can be very influential and damaging.

I'm sure there are other reasons, but that's all I can think of right now.

I don't think LE wants to or likes to be dishonest with the public, but I can see how they can't always be forthcoming. That's probably why they are so often vague or non-commital in their answers to questions by the media. Imo
 
  • #625
Hey everyone,

Please do not argue with or challenge a VI. We are always fortunate to have a VI here to discuss a case and they are not here to be grilled or challenged about every single statement or post they make.

You can respectfully ask questions and the VI can choose whether or not to even answer them. Consider what they have to say and you can either believe it or take it with a grain of salt, but don't badger them. Nobody wants to be responsible for a VI deciding they've had enough and leaving the discussion.

Scroll and roll.
 
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  • #626
We don't speculate on things we already know the answers to though. We already know why LE doesn't give the public information unless they have to. I don't know what we are meant to speculate on? I'll give it a try though.

LE has said they don't suspect foul play. They haven't changed that.

Just because the husband thinks he's a suspect doesn't mean that LE feels he is.

They may have told him he failed just to test his reaction, maybe he didn't.

Or if they do consider him a suspect, it doesn't mean LE wanted that released.

Or maybe LE wanted the information out there but didn't want the information to come from them and knew he'd tell the media.

Maybe LE wants someone else to believe they are looking at someone closer to home, so that person will be confident instead.

Maybe LE didn't suspect foul play when they said it and just don't feel the need to update us if it changes.
Only the last was related to my question. Let’s leave it. It’s not productive or as interesting to others obviously.
 
  • #627
We don't speculate on things we already know the answers to though. We already know why LE doesn't give the public information unless they have to. I don't know what we are meant to speculate on? I'll give it a try though.

LE has said they don't suspect foul play. They haven't changed that.

Just because the husband thinks he's a suspect doesn't mean that LE feels he is.

They may have told him he failed just to test his reaction, maybe he didn't.

Or if they do consider him a suspect, it doesn't mean LE wanted that released.

Or maybe LE wanted the information out there but didn't want the information to come from them and knew he'd tell the media.

Maybe LE wants someone else to believe they are looking at someone closer to home, so that person will be confident instead.

Maybe LE didn't suspect foul play when they said it and just don't feel the need to update us if it changes.
Or maybe LE didn’t want it out there because they wanted to see if there were witnesses or tipsters that might come forward even though difficult to do. A potential witness/tipster who thinks the case is wrapped up and they aren’t needed might not come forward in some situations.

Why keep information from the public?
There are a few reasons from what I have observed.

One is that they do not want the suspect to know what they know. It may cause them to panic and get rid of important evidence.

Another is to protect the privacy of the subject or the victim. There can be a lot of judgement or rumors from the public if they release information too soon. They may want to ensure that they have enough evidence before announcing that they have a suspect. Many times the public doesn't know LE is investigating someone until there is an arrest.

Another reason is they need to make sure the defendant has a fair trial. Public opinion can be very influential and damaging.

I'm sure there are other reasons, but that's all I can think of right now.

I don't think LE wants to or likes to be dishonest with the public, but I can see how they can't always be forthcoming. That's probably why they are so often vague or non-commital in their answers to questions by the media. Imo
 
  • #628
Why keep information from the public?
There are a few reasons from what I have observed.

One is that they do not want the suspect to know what they know. It may cause them to panic and get rid of important evidence.

Another is to protect the privacy of the subject or the victim. There can be a lot of judgement or rumors from the public if they release information too soon. They may want to ensure that they have enough evidence before announcing that they have a suspect. Many times the public doesn't know LE is investigating someone until there is an arrest.

Another reason is they need to make sure the defendant has a fair trial. Public opinion can be very influential and damaging.

I'm sure there are other reasons, but that's all I can think of right now.

I don't think LE wants to or likes to be dishonest with the public, but I can see how they can't always be forthcoming. That's probably why they are so often vague or non-commital in their answers to questions by the media. Imo
Yes. I can see most of those. Unfortunately ‘so the defendant gets a fair trial’ is not one I think happens often.
 
  • #629
Or maybe LE didn’t want it out there because they wanted to see if there were witnesses or tipsters that might come forward even though difficult to do. A potential witness/tipster who thinks the case is wrapped up and they aren’t needed might not come forward in some situations.
Interesting. I do think usually they make lots of pleas to the public for info though as otherwise no one hears about it.
 
  • #630
  • #631
Yes. I can see most of those. Unfortunately ‘so the defendant gets a fair trial’ is not one I think happens often.

Do you have any facts that support this expressed belief, or is it just based on your personal feelings?
 
  • #632
I've been following this case and my only Q at this particular point in time is:

**WHY have a key hidden (under a rock or whatever) when RT's Ford truck has a key code for the door?**

I have a Ford and my code is 5 digits - surely 5 digits isn't beyond the realm of what can be memorized by BT or RT. That is all.

MOO.

(I tried to find a pic of the truck to link but can not - sorry)

I thought the key was for the fifth wheel.
 
  • #633
Do you have any facts that support this expressed belief, or is it just based on your personal feelings?
Ha! The trial by media going on all over the country. And no, it’s not just my personal belief, it’s a real problem that causes courts needing to move trials across county’s and unfair trials to occur that have resulted in innocent people being accused of crimes.

I see you’re being facetious.
 
  • #634
Back to the topic of BT's disappearance, I have to say that after following many missing persons cases over the years, Barbara's disappearance is the most perplexing to me. If she disappeared so quickly from such a remote place all by herself, there has to be a plausible explanation, and there just doesn't seem to be one. I sincerely hope some new information will come to the fore ASAP that will help LE find her and give her loved ones some answers. MOO
 
  • #635
I thought the key was for the fifth wheel.
Yes but if you have a secure combination to get into the truck, leaving the fifth wheel key inside the truck is a lot safer than hiding it under a rock.
 
  • #636
I asked why the police might say they don’t suspect foul play in BT’s disappearance.

We’ve covered trying to get the suspect relaxed so he trips up, but at the same time we’ve polygraphed the guy and told him he flunked (which would freak him out), so they kind of blank each other out as the guy thinks he’s a suspect.

Potential reasons; they suspect he’s done something but can find absolutely nothing yet (many days in). Not even a blip on his cellphone or timeline, but they’re hoping to uncover something.

Anyone got anything else?

IMO in most adult missing persons cases, unless there is evidence right from the onset (i.e., blood drops, bedding is missing, history of DV, etc.) which makes LE immediately suspicious. The investigation will start off with an assumption of "no foul play". But the story RT gave must have given some cause for concern, especially since she wasn't found in the first 24 hours. We know they gave him a poly, so while that may be routine in cases where the spouse is the last person to see the MP. It also gave them the opportunity to see his reaction to the hard questions.

In this case, SAR worked for 10 days trying to find her with no luck. I think now the investigation has likely progressed to a different stage. They are looking at bank records, home and cell phone records, life insurance policies, interviewing family & neighbors, business records, etc.

I've seen cases where LE will stick to the no foul play comment up until a body is found. Every department, region and state is different.

I think this stage of a case drives WSers a little nutty. We start re-hashing the re-hash and arguing about inconsequential details.

I've written a long winded post about pretty much nothing, lol :rolleyes:
 
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  • #637
I thought the key was for the fifth wheel.
was it??? that seems even more illogical... IMO.

wouldn't one hide the key to the 5th wheel in, say, the key-coded cab of the truck??

They were on a short-ish trip, yes? barely a couple hours from the house?

to me... the key/code to the Ford would be more advantageous than JUST a key under a rock to the 5th wheel. JMO.

Seems an odd order of priorities, I guess.

MOO
 
  • #638
  • #639
Back to the topic of BT's disappearance, I have to say that after following many missing persons cases over the years, Barbara's disappearance is the most perplexing to me. If she disappeared so quickly from such a remote place all by herself, there has to be a plausible explanation, and there just doesn't seem to be one. I sincerely hope some new information will come to the fore ASAP that will help LE find her and give her loved ones some answers. MOO
Why do you believe BT disappeared from there?
 
  • #640
Ha! The trial by media going on all over the country. And no, it’s not just my personal belief, it’s a real problem that causes courts needing to move trials across county’s and unfair trials to occur that have resulted in innocent people being accused of crimes.

I see you’re being facetious.

That’s the media, not the justice system.

Intense media coverage can bias potential jurors. The courts don’t have any control over what the media does.

The legal system tries to remedy this, by occasionally moving trials.

It is set up for fairness, even though it doesn’t always work that way.
 
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