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

[Oriah]

Yeah, this post in general is strange. Almost as strange as daughter JuM posting that when Bob went missing, she called the local hospitals and coroner's office, then went down the hill to Bob's house to get the house ready, linens changed for Bob and his new wife.

Uh huh.

Yeah.
I really want to know why it was obvious he had been getting so many calls. Not making calls. Getting them. I think exploration of that issue might help us firm up the timeline even more.

Does anyone know how many actual phones were in the Harrod home at that time, and if so- where they were located?

 

[zwiebel]

No worries, the timeline is all over the place. Times Bob was last seen range from ~10AM to 2:40PM per information we have access to, which is outlined here:
Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - CA CA - Bob Harrod, 81, Orange County, 27 July 2009 - #9


The first report, the Missing Person Report written by the PPD on July 28, 2009, said Bob was last seen at 11:00AM. The information was provided to the PPD by Fontelle, who received it from JuM.

July 28, 2009
Missing Person Report
Time of Report: 0022

[snipped]

Fontelle said on 07-27-2009 at approximately 2100 hours (Pacific time) she was contacted by her daughter in law, Julie Michaels, who told her that Fontelle’s husband (Julie’s father), Robert Harrod, had not been seen since approximately 1100 hours on 07-27-2009. Fontelle said Julie told her that Julie’s husband, Jeffrey Michaels, had been at Robert and Fontelle’s home (522 Carnation) on 07-27-2009 at approximately 1100 hours.

Fontelle said Jeffrey saw a black Chevrolet Tahoe drive slowly past 522 Carnation a few times over a 10 minute period. She said nobody saw Robert leave his home at 522 Carnation, but they suspect he got into the black Tahoe and left the area.

[snipped]

July 30, 2009
Placentia Police Department website

Robert Harrod was last seen at his residence on July 27, 2009 at 1100 A.M. in the city of Placentia. When a family member returned to the house at approximately 1:00 P.M., Harrod was gone.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6994844&postcount=3
http://placentia.org/index.aspx?NID=129

JeM saw the black vehicle over a ten minute period? So it would be interesting to know if the bathroom he was supposed to be working in overlooked the street. Otherwise, if he had gone outside especially to look at it, I would have thought it meant his suspicions were really aroused. Aroused enough to react immediately when Bob disappeared.

 

[Angelo]

Wanted to bring these videos over. They show the Honda Ridgeline's storage capabilities. Thanks Cloudajo!



Honda Ridgeline White - YouTube


Fitting inside the "trunk" of a Honda Ridgeline - YouTube

 

[GrainneDhu]

I don't trust myself at the moment, but doesn't that transcript on previous page say she left after JeM?

I was going by an earlier article that someone, I think Claudajo, re-posted. It clearly said that JeM left after the CL, which surprised me because I had missed that the first time I read the article.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-214111--.html

Interesting how JeM's movements of that day have a certain fluid quality about them, isn't it?

 

[GrainneDhu]

And she sensed it.

I think she definitely sensed something was not right.

My theory is that she unknowingly saved her own life that day by mentioning that there was someone who knew where she was and when she was supposed to be done that day.

If she had been single, if there was no one who knew her schedule for that day, if there was no one expecting her to be somewhere specific for a day or more... things might have been very different for her.

Sobering thought. How many people go running about their lives with no one really knowing where they are supposed to be in anything more than general terms? An email acquaintance of mine, Kim Remmel, is one of the missing, possibly because no one really knew what her daily plans were.

 

[GrainneDhu]

Thank you, I was unaware one could request their name and number come up as private through their telephone provider.

So what we know then, is that a number may have appeared as "private name, private number" on Bob's caller ID and PB is claiming it was she who called and spoke with her dad. How would LE verify that if both the name and number both read private?

What if JuM went through the caller id on Tuesday and said someone private name, private number called? Then they decided to try and use that call as part of an alibi?

At least in this state, LE can subpoena telephone company records and get the telephone number and name it is registered to for any call that comes up private on Caller ID. I know someone who was being stalked by an ex who thought there wouldn't be any evidence proving it was him since he instituted a private number subscription.

He was so, so wrong. It took LE all of about a day and a half to have enough evidence for a judge to sign his warrant. <snrk>

Other states, other phone companies may differ. But it seems to me like it would not be all that difficult for the phone company to have a full register of calls in and out.

 

[GrainneDhu]

Whoever committed this crime paces the floor nights. Or something else. No matter. Someone close to them knows. And they are not safe now either, because once a line has been crossed it's much easier to cross it again. Be careful.

OT, or maybe not OT, I did not get to the very end of my story about my aunt. I did not want to seem hating or gloating because that's not nice. And I'm not doing either. There's only sorrow here. Maybe it was just GrainneDhu's karma thing.

I told you my uncle was released very early from his life sentence for killing and burying my aunt, how he got a payout for a medical condition not diagnosed, how he was cared for by misguided women. How all that happened despite the fact he'd stabbed her so many times, buried and abandoned her, assassinated her character after.

I didn't mention how he died.

Like my aunt, silenced. He lost the power of speech. Like my aunt, suffocating; his breathing was so precarious washing his hair in the basin could kill him. Drowning.
He did not die easily or quickly or pain-free. All slowly, so slowly.

What can you say? I don't know. Maybe ask GrainneDhu......

Well, as a Buddhist, I don't believe that his loss of speech was inflicted upon him as karma. The Buddha teaches that suffering is inherent in life. Bad things happen both to bad people and to good people.

The (what seems to me) genius insight of the Buddha is that reincarnation is random. You aren't born into a life of ease because you were good in the last life nor are you born into a life of horror because you were a bad person.

Karma deals with the life lessons or emotional development of the soul. So someone who does the basic stuff that all Buddhists are supposed to do (show compassion, support family, support community, meditate) prepare one for when really bad things happen. In this life or the next. The bad thing happens but the more enlightened the spirit, the less effect the suffering has on them.

So, for example, Stephen Hawking hasn't done anything to deserve motor-neurone disease. It just happened. But because he is obviously more enlightened than your uncle, he continues to have a life rich with emotional and intellectual passions.

Your uncle suffered and probably could not find any good in life due to his suffering. That was what I think his karma may have been. The inability to enjoy the life he had rather than the infliction of silence.

 

[GrainneDhu]

You know what I think is the saddest thing about Bob's case, Angelo?
It was all so avoidable.
I think Bob's murderer knows that too by now.

Just the timing seems to indicate an action taken in haste, doesn't it?

 

[zwiebel]

Yeah.
I really want to know why it was obvious he had been getting so many calls. Not making calls. Getting them. I think exploration of that issue might help us firm up the timeline even more.

Does anyone know how many actual phones were in the Harrod home at that time, and if so- where they were located?

I suppose if he answered the phone with an 'Hello! Who the heck is it this time!' you might get that idea. Bob just doesn't seem of a generation or upbringing who would answer a call like that though.

 

[GrainneDhu]

Or voicemail could have picked up, then someone listened and deleted.

I see Bob as being a bit behind the times. It would make sense (to me) that he would have an answering machine in the house rather than voicemail as part of some provider's services.

That's what my father, within a week in age of what Bob would be, has. I tend to consult my knowledge of my parents and particularly my dad as my insight into how the over-80 set may tend to do things, which can be misleading, I know.

So I may be right, I may be wrong. I do tend to think that if Bob had voicemail from a third party provider, LE may have been able to verify that it existed or not. Erasing an old tape cassette or throwing a new one into the machine leaves fewer leads.

 

[zwiebel]

Good point. Older people can also be more reluctant to discard something that's still working, even if it's outdated.

 

[zwiebel]

:banghead:

Wanted to bring these videos over. They show the Honda Ridgeline's storage capabilities. Thanks Cloudajo!



Honda Ridgeline White - YouTube


Fitting inside the "trunk" of a Honda Ridgeline - YouTube

Can't think why JeM would need a vehicle like that - he doesn't even generate any waste to dispose of with his repairs.

 

[GrainneDhu]

Just had to let you know, Angelo, that Mr Zwiebel has just pointed out that Pomeranian dogs originally came from round our way - Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (which means 'this side of Pommern'). It just looks so sweet, and I know why it has a thick coat now!
They live to around 16 years of age max, so I guess in those last years in Placentia a short walk was all it needed, but I have been speculating about the time before that. I just wonder if there was someone who walked Bob's dog on a regular basis - maybe someone close to him who had dogs of their own?
As I said before, dog walkers can get to know their surroundings really well. And they often stick to regular routes. Depending on the temperament of their pet, they might seek out secluded places, or walks where dogs could roam free, off leash. I think it's an area worth exploring, especially if dogs are involved......I LOVE dogs!

I love dogs too, in fact they are my life's work.

Zweibel, if you try to put in a web site that comes out as all stars, that means that WS has blocked the site for some reason. For instance, there are highly unreliable blog sites that are so listed. Doesn't mean you did anything wrong, it's automatic in the WS software.

 

[GrainneDhu]

Duh, Mr Zwiebal's just also pointed out a Pomeranian was one of only three dogs to survive the sinking of the Titanic. He is so full of unnecessary facts - I'm officially withdrawing my invitation for him to join now!

Calling really loud: "MR ZWIEBEL! MR ZWEIBEL! WE DEFINITELY NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS THAT KIND OF KNOWLEDGE HERE!"

Think he heard me?

 

[cloudajo]

I was going by an earlier article that someone, I think Claudajo, re-posted. It clearly said that JeM left after the CL, which surprised me because I had missed that the first time I read the article.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-214111--.html

Interesting how JeM's movements of that day have a certain fluid quality about them, isn't it?

It's another discrepancy. The OC Register article from Oct 8, 2009 implies Jeff left after the CL, and in the Disappeared clip from April, 2012, the narrator says Jeff left before the CL.

OC Register

Bob Harrod wasn't in sight, but his keys and wallet were gone. Michaels told police he concluded Bob Harrod had visited a neighbor or gone for a walk. Michaels finished his tasks and the housekeeper cleaned and left. Michaels locked the house and headed home to Running Springs outside San Bernardino.

Disappeared

Narrator: Deeply troubled, Agnes finished up and left, shortly after Jeff, who had also completed his work.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-214111--.html

 

[zwiebel]

I love dogs too, in fact they are my life's work.

Zweibel, if you try to put in a web site that comes out as all stars, that means that WS has blocked the site for some reason. For instance, there are highly unreliable blog sites that are so listed. Doesn't mean you did anything wrong, it's automatic in the WS software.

Thanks but I'm afraid it is just me - I often write replies elsewhere and cut and paste them into the box. Something I do in the process causes single stars to appear on odd words, as if for emphasis or a wink!

You work with dogs? I am so jealous!

 

[zwiebel]

Calling really loud: "MR ZWIEBEL! MR ZWEIBEL! WE DEFINITELY NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS THAT KIND OF KNOWLEDGE HERE!"

Think he heard me?

He's smiling a little nervously, so I'm sure he's hearing!

 

[zwiebel]

Wanted to bring these videos over. They show the Honda Ridgeline's storage capabilities. Thanks Cloudajo!



Honda Ridgeline White - YouTube


Fitting inside the "trunk" of a Honda Ridgeline - YouTube

Just to get back to the vehicle for a minute as I was a little flippant before - I would love one of these. I just have a family estate (I think they are called something else in the US but I can't recall what).
I have terrible problems with large objects, mostly floorboards, carpets and doors. They have to be strapped to the top of my vehicle and I've had two broken back windows, a side and the front as a result. You could carry all of those objects easily in JeM's car, and I want one!

 

[zwiebel]

Oh, and just to add, I could get two of me in the space that teenager crawled into (why do they do these things? Was I the same as a teenager? Surely not!) but I don't think anything much bigger could get in.
However, Mr Zwiebel who hasn't even joined but feels that his height of 6ft3 entitles him to an opinion, says he is not supple enough to get into that space himself, but with help, is certain he could. He needn't expect any help from me if he gets himself into that situation- where was he when I locked myself inside the closet?

 

[GrainneDhu]

He's smiling a little nervously, so I'm sure he's hearing!

You know what's adorable when there are two partners or spouses on the same forum who really love each other?

They rat each other out in really cute ways.

Bob's case tilts so much towards the sad because of the mystery of his disappearance and probable death. But it was also about finding new love and seeing a new future.

Having both you and Mr Zweibel on the forum would honour those last wonderful weeks for Bob and Fontelle. At least to me it would.