CA CA - Bob Harrod, 81, Orange County, 27 July 2009 - #10

[Cubby]

So, in other words, if any of our dads happens to go missing, we should not ask the last person to see him alive what time he last saw him and what work was done in the missing persons house?

Seriously? For all we know the work done in Bob's home was done to repair a crime scene. Why so much secrecy about the repairs done this many months/years later?

It's ridiculous to assume the time last seen and the repairs done in the home are irrelevant to Mr. Harrod's disappearance.

 

[shana]

bbm

So, in other words, if any of our dads happens to go missing, we should not ask the last person to see him alive what time he last saw him and what work was done in the missing persons house?

Seriously? For all we know the work done in Bob's home was done to repair a crime scene. Why so much secrecy about the repairs done this many months/years later?

It's ridiculous to assume the time last seen and the repairs done in the home are irrelevant to Mr. Harrod's disappearance.

No one suggested such notions. <Mod Snip>

LE has certainly interviewed the last persons who had contact with Mr. Harrod in any way...routine procedure in the case of a missing individual...and has the answers it considers relevant, including the extent of the 'repairs'.

As well, LE has conducted its investigation of the home more than once.

For all we know, the repairs were normal (record of 30+ years).

As for secrecy, LE has kept its findings close to the vest. Why would 'we' expect persons who were NOT there to have the answers to questions they could not answer, for that very reason?

~jmo~

 

[neesaki]

Thanks for coming onto the thread neesaki. Why would LE state that BL was cleared if she wasnt and yet not mention anything regarding the family I wonder? I am trying to make sense of that strategy from an LE perspective. Better off saying everyone has been cleared or no one I suppose.

Would your guess be that family then has been cleared if BL and her family are the only one's mentioned?

What makes her suspicious in your mind?

Unfortunately, I just don't know enough on the details of the investigation to even come close to giving an intelligent or educated opinion, so just questioning based on what I've read thus far; obviously still have a long way to go, lol.

As far as my comment on LE, I just don't put a lot of faith or trust in them on many of these cases, so I am always skeptical.

The only sense I can make of it would be if LE were trying to get a POI to let down their guard and make a mistake. Just a thought, nothing else to go on there.

I think my questions regarding the hairdresser (BL?) were primarily based on the previous posts made by the person who claimed to be a friend and neighbor of Mr. Harrod, I can't remember his name, on the assumption he's legit and knows what he's talking about. Other than that, though I know very little about the daughters and family, I guess the last thing I want to believe is that Mr. Harrod's daughters would do something to their own father. Unfortunately, if what I've read is true, then we have to factor in a considerable amount of what appears to have been dissension and greed among the family . If that's the case, then I realize that anything, again very unfortunately, is possible.

 

[shana]

According to daughter RB, JeM helped Bob and Georgia with handyman work for >30 years. And daughter JuM posted on her community forum several times about the renovations JeM had done on their house. So JeM had experience.

Good question on whether it was a job well done. Was it?

Interesting that over 1 year after Bob disappeared, RB said she still didn’t know what repairs JeM performed.

---------------------
August 28, 2010: My BIL has ALWAYS helped Mom and Dad throughout the last 30 plus years with handyman work. It has always been that way.

August 29, 2010: I don't know exactly what repairs my BIL had performed but knew he intended to return the next day to finish them up as the police had the note he left for Dad on the kitchen counter.

May we please have links/sources for those "direct quotes" from the daughter(s) as posted in August of 2010?

TIA

~jmo~

 

[neesaki]

LE has stated that they do not believe a stranger is involved in this disappearance. They released a statement clearing BL and her family...I guess I just assumed their whereabouts must have been completely and fully documented. To my recollection, she and her family were the only non family members associated with Mr Harrod, either by family members (posts on the www) or law enforcement who took the unusual step of stating that they had no role.

If there were no strangers involved and BL is cleared, I would think that the choices are pretty limited.

Thank you, believe09, this is just one of the many things I was not aware of.

You know what confuses me to a degree? Any discounting of the fact that the night before Bob's disappearance he was engaged in a heated exchange with his family about his estate. One subject specifically mentioned by PPD PIO in MSM was that he intended to add his wife to his estate planning.

And then poof he disappears the next day on the watch of his SIL-was SIL at the contentious family meeting?

I mean, not just the next day, but the next morning.

This seems very suspicious to me as well. Thanks for bringing this point out. Was it actually discounted by the family or someone else? TIA
As I said, I still have a lot to learn. :innocent:

 

[neesaki]

BEBM. Maybe after reviewing surveillance LE determined the hair dresser was where she said she was and the son in law was not.

Thank you, Cubby. This is another question I was thinking of earlier but got side tracked by the Presidential debates .... And never got around to asking - that is, how do we know that the SIL actually left when he did? Could he possibly have left earlier in the day? It was mentioned that he told Mr. Harrod that he was going to the hardware store somewhere around noonish, (11:30 or 12:00?) wasn't it? This was while Mr. Harrod was on the phone, and sounded very "agreeable"?
Then the SIL later claims he didn't leave until at least two or so hours later IIRC.

I should probably go back and dig all that info up that I read, as hard as it is to find, guess I need to start a journal, lol...

 

[neesaki]

SBM

Knowing that she started making home visits to do Georgia Harrod's hair before she died, I don't find either the person or the relationship suspicious.

My father is within a week of the same age that Bob would be (sadly, I don't think Bob has been celebrating any birthdays since he disappeared). I've seen how attached my parents were to their long time cleaning lady. When she had to quit due to arthritis (they'd basically grown old together, she was only about 15 years younger than they were), they gave her a huge bonus. One thousand dollars for each year she'd cleaned their house. Since she'd been doing it for over 30 years, that was quite a bonus.

It isn't hard to imagine that Bob's contacts with her were more pleasant than his contacts with his daughters.

My memory is terrible but I think I recall that the BL is married and that both she and her husband had been cleared by the PPD.

When the co-conservators took her to court, the judge ruled that they had not succeeded in proving a single element against her and he ordered them to pay her legal fees (which is quite a rebuke from a judge).

Again, I have to go back, as I have forgotten some of what I have read. Did this hairdresser allow Bob to give her money, outside of her pay for doing his / his wife's hair, that is?

I agree with you, but depending on the character of the person, there are always those who are looking for someone to take advantage of. And if she took money from him and didn't pay it back, that makes me question her character, jmo. So if she did, did she pay him back? TIA

 

[shana]

One noteworthy aspect of this case is that it has been well-covered on the Internet for over 3 years since inception. A forum with a good deal of information has long since closed, although its posts have been quoted (sometimes loosely) since that time.

There remains MUCH out there to read, readily found on net searches.

Just today, I wanted to see what Det Radomski had actually stated in any press releases from his department on the Harrod case. I turned-up an email interview with him from 6/11; and altho he could not answer every single question posed due to the ongoing investigation, those he did answer were helpful. I realize that the interviewer is 'just' a blogger, but I do not question the legitimacy of the interview, and certainly not only on that basis.

~jmo~

 

[GrainneDhu]

Again, I have to go back, as I have forgotten some of what I have read. Did this hairdresser allow Bob to give her money, outside of her pay for doing his / his wife's hair, that is?

I agree with you, but depending on the character of the person, there are always those who are looking for someone to take advantage of. And if she took money from him and didn't pay it back, that makes me question her character, jmo. So if she did, did she pay him back? TIA

Yes, she apparently did accept money from Bob. Her side of the story is that it was a gift.

He thought well enough of her that he invited her along when Georgia's ashes were scattered at sea.

The co-conservators took her to court to get it back. Although Bob kept extensive financial records, including the amounts he gave her, he did not note them down as debts. He did note down other sums of money as debts.

The judge in the civil case ruled the co-conservators had not proven one single element of their case. His ruling is quite, ah, interesting to me, since I can't stop imagining him laughing as he wrote it. I don't imagine he sees many suits in which not one single element could be proven in court.

 

[zwiebel]

Others on this thread can give a much better answer, but as far as I can make out the hairdresser was givenmoney by Mr Harrod. I think that's what the court case with the family was about. A case that the family lost so resoundingly they had to pay her costs. Mr Harrod was an extensive note taker and I think documentation was found confirming a gift, not loan. Not sure though so I'll have to go back and find that info, which is going to take this newbie so long that one of our knowleadgable posters will have given you an exact answer long before I get back.
Ha, I didn't even manage to get going before GrainneDhu came up with an answer

 

[zwiebel]

bbm

BBM


No one suggested such notions. (Note: the bolded assertion is a compound sentence.)

LE has certainly interviewed the last persons who had contact with Mr. Harrod in any way...routine procedure in the case of a missing individual...and has the answers it considers relevant, including the extent of the 'repairs'.

As well, LE has conducted its investigation of the home more than once.

For all we know,the repairs were normal (record of 30+ years).

As for secrecy, LE has kept its findings close to the vest. Why would 'we' expect persons who were NOT there to have the answers to questions they could not answer, for that very reason?

~jmo~

It just doesn't seem normal to me to leave the repairs unfinished though, especially after leaving a note saying he would. Not for a conscientious, long-term handyman who didn't know if his FIL was going to turn up the next day and be disappointed he'd been let down. Especially since JuM wanted the bedding changed so a return trip was required anyway.

 

[cloudajo]

Thanks for the input, cloudajo!

Like you, I've also read that JeM was helpful for many years with home repairs to his PIL. Good on him!

I would not think that such experience would include a 2-man job (hauling a heavy plumbing fixture upstairs), and so my questions above still stand.

And IF he had been doing handyman work for 30+ yrs as you say, how would RB know his Punch List for that one particular day?

I would guess that over the 3 decades, JeM's work had been at least satisfactory; otherwise, Mr. Harrod would not have asked him again and again. Based on their history, I don't see a valid reason to question the quality of his work on that particular day. Heck, I don't even know why this is a question for us to wonder about!

~jmo~

Sorry, but I can't link the other quotes.

FYI, it's not necessarily a 2-man job - in the video from Home Depot it shows the guy lifting the tank and bowl by himself.

Also, stores like Home Depot and Lowes have these items in stock - you just have to make sure you have the correct dimensions or you might purchase and install something that doesn't fit correctly. Just something to ponder.

 

[cloudajo]

FYI, on the Disappeared FB page, several people posted that the new season (5) starts in November.

http://www.facebook.com/DisappearedonID

 

[zwiebel]

I'm so disappointed I can't get that channel here. Anyone know if it's likely to be available to download at some point? Hope so. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that someone will be kind enough to post a little summary after it airs, so I don't feel toooo left out.

 

[believe09]

One noteworthy aspect of this case is that it has been well-covered on the Internet for over 3 years since inception. A forum with a good deal of information has long since closed, although its posts have been quoted (sometimes loosely) since that time.

There remains MUCH out there to read, readily found on net searches.

Just today, I wanted to see what Det Radomski had actually stated in any press releases from his department on the Harrod case. I turned-up an email interview with him from 6/11; and altho he could not answer every single question posed due to the ongoing investigation, those he did answer were helpful. I realize that the interviewer is 'just' a blogger, but I do not question the legitimacy of the interview, and certainly not only on that basis.

~jmo~

As is your right, of course. I can question it if I choose to, of course. I am going to pick MSM if I have to pick between the two.

 

[believe09]

And maybe SIL did have help lifting any items he needed to work on. The evolving Home Depot timeline from the family precludes Bob from helping-he was already gone whether you pick 10AM or 3PM...or anywhere in between.

So of course it is possible SIL had another person who could help out. Just pondering-perhaps a neighbor, or the son who lived down the street?

I think we all agree that there must have been quite a few odd jobs to perform if they took such a protracted length of time, or he was having much difficulty performing some.

As to the multiple bathrooms within the home-does that matter? Honestly, would you leave a restroom in disrepair and not return, even while your wife was holding the fort, to fix what you have started??

That is just strange.

 

[believe09]

One noteworthy aspect of this case is that it has been well-covered on the Internet for over 3 years since inception. A forum with a good deal of information has long since closed, although its posts have been quoted (sometimes loosely) since that time.

There remains MUCH out there to read, readily found on net searches.

Just today, I wanted to see what Det Radomski had actually stated in any press releases from his department on the Harrod case. I turned-up an email interview with him from 6/11; and altho he could not answer every single question posed due to the ongoing investigation, those he did answer were helpful. I realize that the interviewer is 'just' a blogger, but I do not question the legitimacy of the interview, and certainly not only on that basis.

~jmo~

Could you give us an example of the loose quoting of the posts, shana? I feel pretty confident that there are screen prints in the hands of our sleuthers for fact checking purposes.

I was wondering if you can link your source for the interview. TIA!!

 

[believe09]

I would like to come back to the undisputed heated family meeting the night before and whether or not it is possible that it would have some bearing on the events of the next day.

Even AH mentioned the meeting in the Police report at the time of the well being check.

And I am still puzzled why Fontelle would need to file a MP report from MO at midnight her time-why didnt those folks with feet on the ground bother to do it themselves?

So confusing.

 

[zwiebel]

The lack of action and information from some quarters is what has really bothered me. An elderly man who can't walk well, doesn't drive much and had fixed a visit from his CL suddenly ups and disappears and nothing much happens among biological family for hours. There has been a little info about fear and following the rules (not wanting to upset Dad if he's run off by reporting him missing, and then 'having' to follow the 24-hour time lapse rule) but it doesn't sit right with me. There's a time and place for fear and following rules and this probably wasn't one of them.
And as for the reward for information from which family are excluded????? I still cannot believe that is true. Not doubting any posters, but why? What possible reason?:waitasec:

 

[zwiebel]

bbm

BBM

No one suggested such notions. <Mod Snip>

LE has certainly interviewed the last persons who had contact with Mr. Harrod in any way...routine procedure in the case of a missing individual...and has the answers it considers relevant, including the extent of the 'repairs'.

As well, LE has conducted its investigation of the home more than once.

For all we know, the repairs were normal (record of 30+ years).

As for secrecy, LE has kept its findings close to the vest. Why would 'we' expect persons who were NOT there to have the answers to questions they could not answer, for that very reason?

~jmo~

I think it may be not so much that people who don't have answers aren't giving them, that would be unreasonable. It is that they don't seem to be shouting out for those answers much, if at all. I saw firsthand a blanket of silence and no questions asked in my own family, because no-one knew or suspected anything. Yet when all was said and done, some people had harboured suspicions, had snippets of information that could have helped. They just pushed them away because the truth was too hard to bear.