CA CA - Bob Harrod, 81, Orange County, 27 July 2009 - # 9

[Cubby]

I want to know where the grandson was the day his grandfather disappeared.

Did he and his father meet at anytime during the day which Mr. Harrod disappeared?

I'd also like to know if AH is making ANY attempts to repay his enormous debt to his grandfather.

How much money did he owe his grandfather, when his grandfather disappeared?

 

[Cubby]

The more I think about possible involvement by the grandson, perhaps the grandson and his father as a team?

I wonder why SIL JeM did not go straight to his son's home around the corner from Mr. Harrod's, to enlist him in searching for Bob rather than driving home to RS after leaving Bob's.

It makes no sense for JeM to not have stopped at his sons prior to returning home, if there is not possible involvement by both of them.

The more I consider the grandson's enormous debt to Mr. Harrod, the more I consider both were involved the day Bob disappeared.

Especially since there has never been a peep about where AH was and what he was doing the day his grandfather disappeared.

Hmmm....

 

[shana]

You know what I would LOVE to know? Where all the stuff currently is. It was a lot. Unless these women live in some pretty spacious homes, where would all of it fit?

Can you imagine if they went to all of this trouble to strip their father's house and then put it all into storage or sold it?

I can imagine. Even giving some of it away could serve the same purpose.

If kept, the stuff could be spread among 4 residences as well as stored in garages or sheds.

Also, you can jam a lot into a rented storage unit with high ceilings.

btw, the self-storage rates in San Bernardino are far less than half of what I pay in Santa Barbara County for a like facility, based on the table at this site:

Self Storage Facility in San Bernardino, California (CA) - W Highland Ave

If sold, the property as listed might not return so much cash as one might think at first glance. How very disappointing. :-o

~based on personal experience/jmo~

 

[shana]

I wonder if AH was 'assigned' the task of meeting the officers on the welfare/wellness check at apx 9:30 pm and if so, by whom and what he may have been 'instructed' to report.

Since this was his only 'public appearance' as far as I know, his words & actions as described are worth a careful read.

Had he not entered the residence earlier to look around for himself? Who called-in the request for the check and was its purpose to have certain information on-record?

~jmo~

 

[cloudajo]

I wonder if AH was 'assigned' the task of meeting the officers on the welfare/wellness check at apx 9:30 pm and if so, by whom and what he may have been 'instructed' to report.

Since this was his only 'public appearance' as far as I know, his words & actions as described are worth a careful read.

Had he not entered the residence earlier to look around for himself? Who called-in the request for the check and was its purpose to have certain information on-record?

~jmo~

Middle daughter RB called in the request for the welfare check. Two officers from PPD were dispatched at 2132 (9:32PM) to do check at Bob's house.

Daughters PB and RB live about 25-35 min from Bob's house, yet neither went to his house that evening to check as far as I know.

Maybe they were too exhausted from the heated family meeting the day before - the one PB posted about "...there were NO threats and we all left on good terms."

 

[cloudajo]

Bob’s son-in-law JeM told Fontelle the evening of July 27, 2009 (either through JuM or directly) that he saw a black Chevy Tahoe (similar to the one owned by hairdresser) drive slowly by Bob’s house a few times over a 10 min period. JeM also told same to his sister-in-law PB. According to one article, JeM told police he concluded Bob had visited a neighbor or gone for a walk (apparently, a walk lasting many hours even though Bob had bad knees and couldn’t walk very far). I wonder if JeM mentioned the black Tahoe to "A" the housekeeper that day, or if he only “remembered” it after he got home to RS.

July 28, 2009 – PPD Missing Person’s Report

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.
​

August 11, 2009 – Daughter PB on IS

There was a report that my BIL saw the type of car that the POI drives go by my Dad's house very slowly and then pull over on the wrong side of the street.
​

August 12, 2009 – Daughter PB on IS

Not aware of how many trips BIL made out, but feel that POI was lurking in the neighborhood or at least someone using her car. Maybe he promised to give her more money for the last time? This is all SPECULTION on my part. Heard from BIL that a car matching the description of hers was seen earlier that morning.
​

October 8, 2009 OC Register Article

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.
​

[url="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6994844&postcount=3"]Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - CA CA - Bob Harrod-Documents No discussion[/url]
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-214111--.html

 

[Cubby]

Bob’s son-in-law JeM told Fontelle the evening of July 27, 2009 (either through JuM or directly) that he saw a black Chevy Tahoe (similar to the one owned by hairdresser) drive slowly by Bob’s house a few times over a 10 min period. JeM also told same to his sister-in-law PB. According to one article, JeM told police he concluded Bob had visited a neighbor or gone for a walk (apparently, a walk lasting many hours even though Bob had bad knees and couldn’t walk very far). I wonder if JeM mentioned the black Tahoe to "A" the housekeeper that day, or if he only “remembered” it after he got home to RS.

July 28, 2009 – PPD Missing Person’s Report

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.
​

August 11, 2009 – Daughter PB on IS

There was a report that my BIL saw the type of car that the POI drives go by my Dad's house very slowly and then pull over on the wrong side of the street.
​

August 12, 2009 – Daughter PB on IS

Not aware of how many trips BIL made out, but feel that POI was lurking in the neighborhood or at least someone using her car. Maybe he promised to give her more money for the last time? This is all SPECULTION on my part. Heard from BIL that a car matching the description of hers was seen earlier that morning.
​

October 8, 2009 OC Register Article

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.
​

Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - CA CA - Bob Harrod-Documents No discussion
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-214111--.html

BEBM. Good point. It would be very interesting to know if he mentioned the black Tahoe to the housekeeper, A.

If he was at the HD for 45 minutes to an hour as Det. Loomis stated in one of the earlier MSM articles, if the timeline from Disappeared is accurate, he wouldn't have even been at Mr. Harrod's property at 11:00 am to see a black tahoe. Which leads me to believe the black Tahoe story was suggested by his wife AFTER he arrived home.

 

[Cubby]

Harrod was last seen by his son-in-law, Jeff Michaels, around 1:30 p.m. on Monday. Harrod, a former contract manager, sent Michaels to Home Depot, but when Michaels returned, Harrod was no longer in the house, said Loomis.

"His receipt showed that he paid for his items after 3 p.m.," Loomis said. "He thinks he was at Home Depot for 45 minutes to an hour, so given 15 minutes or so of driving time, you're looking at 1:30."
When Michaels arrived back at Harrod's house, a housekeeper was sitting on the porch, waiting to be let in, Loomis said.

Ok, if we are too look at what Loomis said above along with the info from Disappeared, it appears as if SIL JeM went to HD AFTER the housekeeper arrived to come up some sort of alibi. Where was he BEFORE the housekeeper arrived around noon?

http://www.ocregister.com/news/harrod-147900-loomis-family.html
Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - CA CA - Bob Harrod, 81, Orange County, 27 July 2009 - #9

 

[believe09]

Michaels locked the house and headed home to Running Springs outside San Bernardino.

Wait a minute. Where did he get the keys to lock the house?

 

[believe09]

Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - CA CA - Bob Harrod-Documents No discussion

I re read the police reports written by the sworn officers.

JuM called Fontelle and told her Bob had not been seen since approx 1100am on 7/27.

So much for PB's phone call. Again. Pretty discounted at this point.

I would think the closer you are to the event, the more accurate the information provided by the people who were the players.

The thing is, there was no black Tahoe and everyone knows it. BL and family were cleared, so it wasnt them. In spite of the implication being made to Fontelle.

How long did they think they could keep that ball in the air before it would come down?

 

[shana]

Wait a minute. Where did he get the keys to lock the house?

Did he have a key of his own (or did his wife) or did he use his son's?

~jmo~

 

[shana]

1. Even if RB called-in the request for the welfare check, I have a feeling that she did so at the direction of others.

2. What would the alleged POI in the Black Tahoe stand to gain by making Mr Harrod disappear?

~jmo~

 

[GrainneDhu]

1. Even if RB called-in the request for the welfare check, I have a feeling that she did so at the direction of others.

2. What would the alleged POI in the Black Tahoe stand to gain by making Mr Harrod disappear?

~jmo~

1. Seems to me that the natural response to discovering someone is missing is for the person who made the discovery to call LE. In cases where the guilty person was in a position to make the discovery, they often try to get someone else to make the call. It's pretty well known, I think, that the last person known to have seen a victim is often the first suspect.

2. The POI (to the family, not to LE) in the black Tahoe would have lost a friendship with an elderly man who apparently gave the family POI substantial sums of money. I'm assuming that the family POI did not appear in Bob's will, so that family POI could only lose by Bob's disappearance.

Slightly off topic but perhaps relevant in a sideways sort of way: My parents had the same housekeeper for close to 30 years. Part of the deal was that she brought some sort of dessert with her (cake, pie, batch of cookies, etc) each time.

When she had to retire due to back problems, my parents were sad. They gave her a gift of cash that worked out to $1K per year she had worked for them plus enough extra to pay the taxes on it. Us kids thought that was a lovely gift, considering all the happiness she (the housekeeper) had brought with her over the years. That woman has a hand with pie crust that I can't even describe!

After three years off, she contacted my father recently, said that the back surgery and PT had really improved her symptoms and she would he be interested in her resuming her job if he wanted her.

Us kids were overjoyed to get that news! They like each other, she comes bearing good stuff to eat, she cleans the house and fixes him a homecooked meal... what's not to love?

The housekeeper sent us a group email recently saying my dad has been giving her moderately expensive gifts of jewellery, gift certificates for a day at the spa, etc, that she appreciated but felt uncomfortable accepting; what did we want her to do?

All of us wrote back saying "keep the gifts, it makes Daddy happy to give them to you, he likes you very much and looks forward to your day of the week."

In the aftermath, it came out that all three kids had been slipping her a small amount of money for years to encourage her to keep working for my dad. It's not that he's hard to work with (you could do all the cleaning his house needs in less than an hour because he does his own bed, vacuums, dusts and does his own dishes). It's just that he likes her, he trusts her and he looks forward to her pastries.

There are some things that are worth more than money. Having someone my dad trusts and enjoys go to his home once a week bearing goodies, socialising with him and cleaning up with him, while covertly reporting to us kids about anything she sees that might be of concern... heck YEAH that's worth a lot to us.

My dad can afford to give gifts. He's been doing so a lot since my mom died a year ago. The money means nothing to us kids. We've already decided that in the unlikely chance that he runs out of money, the three of us will contribute to continue to keep his income at the current level. I doubt that will come to pass because for the last couple years, he's made more off his portfolio than he has spent.

So I don't get the animosity towards the hairdresser. She clearly provided a service that Georgia probably really looked forward to, Bob liked and trusted her and in terms of his estate, his gifts to her were not outrageously large. None of the daughters were seeing Bob frequently, so they should have felt grateful to have a set of younger eyes to make sure Bob wasn't slipping mentally and in need of assistance.

I would have been begging the hairdresser to continue seeing Bob. Someone like that is beyond rubies and gold in value.

 

[cloudajo]

Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - CA CA - Bob Harrod-Documents No discussion

I re read the police reports written by the sworn officers.

JuM called Fontelle and told her Bob had not been seen since approx 1100am on 7/27.

So much for PB's phone call. Again. Pretty discounted at this point.

I would think the closer you are to the event, the more accurate the information provided by the people who were the players.

The thing is, there was no black Tahoe and everyone knows it. BL and family were cleared, so it wasnt them. In spite of the implication being made to Fontelle.

How long did they think they could keep that ball in the air before it would come down?

BBM. Exactly. There was no black Chevy Tahoe on Bob's road that day, IMO. However, there was a white Honda Ridgeline.

 

[cloudajo]

Keys to Bob’s House – Reference Info

Below is reference info about keys to Bob’s house. Bob’s keys were missing and the front door was locked. Articles say SIL JeM let himself in the back door and the housekeeper followed. Was the backdoor left unlocked or did JeM have a key? Sounds like a neighbor had a spare key. Did Andrew get the key from the neighbor to let the PPD in for the welfare check? Did he keep the key after they left? At a minimum, daughter JuM and grandson AH were in Bob’s house the day after he went missing.

October 8, 2009 – OC Register Article

Michaels said he returned to the house after 3 p.m. to find the Harrods' longtime maid sitting on the front stoop, saying the door was locked. Bob Harrod talked to the housekeeper on the phone earlier that morning and told her to come.
Michaels told police he thought Bob Harrod may have retired for a nap, and said he let himself and the maid in the back door.

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.
​

February 2, 2010 – LA Times Article

About 9:30 a.m., Bob's son-in-law Jeff Michaels arrived to help get the house ready. Michaels told police that he worked at the home, then went to Home Depot about 2:40 p.m. to buy supplies. When he returned about 3:30 p.m., Bob's housekeeper was sitting on the front stoop because no one had answered the door. Michaels let himself in the back door and the housekeeper followed and cleaned.
​

July 27, 2009 – PPD Missing Persons Report / Welfare Check Supplemental

Upon arrival on scene, Officer Alcala and I were met on the front driveway of 522 Carnation by Robert Harrod’s grandson, Andrew Robert Harrod. Andrew explained to me that he had a key to his grandfather’s residence and wanted officers to check the interior of Robert’s home with him. Officer Alcala and I followed Andrew to the front door of 522 Carnation, he unlocked it and we made entry.
​

[snipped]

The rear sliding glass door had to be unlocked before we were able to go outside. Andrew located an unlocked door leading to the garage on the west side of 522 Carnation, but it would only open approximately 2” due to the clutter inside the garage.
​

Forums

• Daughter JuM posted that she went down the hill to Bob’s house the day after Bob went missing to change the linens and get the house ready for Fontelle’s return.
• Daughter PB posted that she had her nephew (Bob’s grandson) try to go through Bob’s garage the day after Bob went missing.
• Daughter PB posted that if it had not been for the three daughters there on Wed to let Fontelle in, she doesn’t know how she would have gotten in.
• Daughter PB posted that she suggested Fontelle change the locks for her safety, and that she wouldn’t even give a key to the neighbor that had always had a key.
• Daughter RB posted “All of Dad's extra keys are in the Trust-owned house”

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-214111--.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/02/local/la-me-disappeared3-2010feb03/3
[url="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6994844&postcount=3"]Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - CA CA - Bob Harrod-Documents No discussion[/url]

 

[cloudajo]

At a minimum, daughter JuM and grandson AH were in Bob's house the day after he went missing.

Guess who wasn't at Bob's house the day after Bob went missing? Bob's SIL and JuM's husband, JeM. The one who supposedly said he saw a black Chevy Tahoe driving slowly past Bob's house and park on the wrong side of the street the day before. The one who daughter RB said didn't go back to Bob's house the next day to finish his home repairs because Bob still wasn't answering his phone.

 

[cloudajo]

Let’s picture it.

• The daughters claim they left Bob’s house on “good terms” the day before Bob went missing.
• 80 year old Bob has been missing for approximately 9 hours when welfare check is made by daughter RB (assuming housekeeper arrived about Noon and welfare check was called in at about 9PM or so).
• None of the 3 daughters or SIL drive to Bob’s that evening – instead, Bob's grandson AH goes or is sent to let the PPD in for welfare check.
• The reporter who interviewed daughter JuM the day after Bob went missing, states JuM “fears the worst,” insists her father has never done this, she said his knees are bad, he can barely walk for more than two blocks, and is showing signs of dementia.
• JuM states in the interview, “Our father means the world to us.”
• Daughter RB posted that Bob's SIL JeM was "like the son Mom & Dad never had."
• SIL JeM does not return to Bob’s house.

http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=ac85bbd7-919c-45df-8bff-de9407f59354&src=front

 

[Cubby]

1. Seems to me that the natural response to discovering someone is missing is for the person who made the discovery to call LE. In cases where the guilty person was in a position to make the discovery, they often try to get someone else to make the call. It's pretty well known, I think, that the last person known to have seen a victim is often the first suspect.

2. The POI (to the family, not to LE) in the black Tahoe would have lost a friendship with an elderly man who apparently gave the family POI substantial sums of money. I'm assuming that the family POI did not appear in Bob's will, so that family POI could only lose by Bob's disappearance.

Slightly off topic but perhaps relevant in a sideways sort of way: My parents had the same housekeeper for close to 30 years. Part of the deal was that she brought some sort of dessert with her (cake, pie, batch of cookies, etc) each time.

When she had to retire due to back problems, my parents were sad. They gave her a gift of cash that worked out to $1K per year she had worked for them plus enough extra to pay the taxes on it. Us kids thought that was a lovely gift, considering all the happiness she (the housekeeper) had brought with her over the years. That woman has a hand with pie crust that I can't even describe!

After three years off, she contacted my father recently, said that the back surgery and PT had really improved her symptoms and she would he be interested in her resuming her job if he wanted her.

Us kids were overjoyed to get that news! They like each other, she comes bearing good stuff to eat, she cleans the house and fixes him a homecooked meal... what's not to love?

The housekeeper sent us a group email recently saying my dad has been giving her moderately expensive gifts of jewellery, gift certificates for a day at the spa, etc, that she appreciated but felt uncomfortable accepting; what did we want her to do?

All of us wrote back saying "keep the gifts, it makes Daddy happy to give them to you, he likes you very much and looks forward to your day of the week."

In the aftermath, it came out that all three kids had been slipping her a small amount of money for years to encourage her to keep working for my dad. It's not that he's hard to work with (you could do all the cleaning his house needs in less than an hour because he does his own bed, vacuums, dusts and does his own dishes). It's just that he likes her, he trusts her and he looks forward to her pastries.

There are some things that are worth more than money. Having someone my dad trusts and enjoys go to his home once a week bearing goodies, socialising with him and cleaning up with him, while covertly reporting to us kids about anything she sees that might be of concern... heck YEAH that's worth a lot to us.

My dad can afford to give gifts. He's been doing so a lot since my mom died a year ago. The money means nothing to us kids. We've already decided that in the unlikely chance that he runs out of money, the three of us will contribute to continue to keep his income at the current level. I doubt that will come to pass because for the last couple years, he's made more off his portfolio than he has spent.

So I don't get the animosity towards the hairdresser. She clearly provided a service that Georgia probably really looked forward to, Bob liked and trusted her and in terms of his estate, his gifts to her were not outrageously large. None of the daughters were seeing Bob frequently, so they should have felt grateful to have a set of younger eyes to make sure Bob wasn't slipping mentally and in need of assistance.

I would have been begging the hairdresser to continue seeing Bob. Someone like that is beyond rubies and gold in value.

What a sweet story. I can almost taste the pastries. See in your case Grainne, you and your siblings main interest is your father's happiness. Sadly, in Mr. Harrod's case his happiness was of no interest to his children, sil and grandson. They might say they were interested in their father's happiness but there are no actions, none, to support such a statement.

Bob was seen as a means to an inheritance. Anything which stood in the way of receiving that inheritance was a threat. The hairdresser had nothing to gain by Mr. Harrod's disappearance. Any gifts she received were stopped by his disappearance.

Additionally, Mr. Harrod remarrying was a liability to the inheritiance. Mr. Harrod marrying anyone who might out live him was a HUGE liability to the funds these greedy vultures expected. Too risky to get rid of his wife, plus he would have choices, if he were still living.

The only thing to prevent Bob from depleting his daughters, sil and grandsons perceived inheritance was to get rid of the person who could spend his own money, Bob.

It's all crystal clear when looking at the entire picture and all the known facts. Not the bit's and pieces of bs the daughters toss out to deliberate muddy the waters.

The day will come when PPD puts this case to bed and I'm willing to bet money more than one family member will be doing some serious prison time. IMO, all five will do time, two of whom will probably do less than the other three.

 

[Cubby]

Let’s picture it.

• The daughters claim they left Bob’s house on “good terms” the day before Bob went missing.
• 80 year old Bob has been missing for approximately 9 hours when welfare check is made by daughter RB (assuming housekeeper arrived about Noon and welfare check was called in at about 9PM or so).
• None of the 3 daughters or SIL drive to Bob’s that evening – instead, Bob's grandson AH goes or is sent to let the PPD in for welfare check.
• The reporter who interviewed daughter JuM the day after Bob went missing, states JuM “fears the worst,” insists her father has never done this, she said his knees are bad, he can barely walk for more than two blocks, and is showing signs of dementia.
• JuM states in the interview, “Our father means the world to us.”
• Daughter RB posted that Bob's SIL JeM was "like the son Mom & Dad never had."
• SIL JeM does not return to Bob’s house.

http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=ac85bbd7-919c-45df-8bff-de9407f59354&src=front

They knew from the get go the hairdresser had no involvement. If anyone other than SIL was responsible, he would have NEVER allowed his wife to go back to Bob's home fearing for her safety.

There is a reason SIL was not concerned for the safety of his wife and grandchildren.

 

[Angelo]

Let’s picture it.

• The daughters claim they left Bob’s house on “good terms” the day before Bob went missing.
• 80 year old Bob has been missing for approximately 9 hours when welfare check is made by daughter RB (assuming housekeeper arrived about Noon and welfare check was called in at about 9PM or so).
• None of the 3 daughters or SIL drive to Bob’s that evening – instead, Bob's grandson AH goes or is sent to let the PPD in for welfare check.
• The reporter who interviewed daughter JuM the day after Bob went missing, states JuM “fears the worst,” insists her father has never done this, she said his knees are bad, he can barely walk for more than two blocks, and is showing signs of dementia.
• JuM states in the interview, “Our father means the world to us.”
  [*]Daughter RB posted that Bob's SIL JeM was "like the son Mom & Dad never had."
• SIL JeM does not return to Bob’s house.

http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=ac85bbd7-919c-45df-8bff-de9407f59354&src=front

BBM in red~~~

Some "son". He can't even come DTH to look for Mr. Harrod and finish up the "small projects" which he started the day before. He wasn't working so why didn't he accompany his wife DTH to Mr. Harrod's house the day after Mr. Harrod disappeared? Hmmm.