CA CA - Heidi Planck, 39, left son’s football game in Downey, dog found in Los Angeles, 17 Oct 2021 #2

[Knox]

He has made it seem like they still had a good relationship but I wonder if that's true.

If I had an ex who took me to court several times during a 10-year period to adjust child support or custody, I don't think I would be very happy with him. The cost and time to fight a single petition is enormous. If he filed three times, she would have been paying to retain an attorney nearly the entire 10 years. Yeah, I don't think I'd be happy with him at all.

It makes me wonder what the power balance was like in the co-parenting relationship? Did she frequently have to prove she was a good parent? I say that because of JWs comment about their different parenting styles, and her friend's about how hard Heidi worked in her custody " battle". The friend didn't use the word case ...

 

[Curiosa20]

How would he know she doesn’t have much money in her account if he didn’t look in her records?

Typically, he obfuscated again.
He said the police informed him of that tidbit.

 

[slowpoke]

Random thoughts swirling in my mind:

Regarding JW taking the phone and laptop from Heidi’s house, I can see one good reason to do that— for safekeeping. A home with no one home for an extended period is prime for a break-in and burglary, or squatters. It is surprising the police didn’t (I presume) ask him for them right away, though. Did the police not know JW had them? JMO

I was thinking about, how did JW unlock the phone. How did he know her passcode? And the dog’s microchip number. Did Heidi have a file at home where she kept all these important numbers, and JW and the friend with the key DN found it? How else might they have been able to unlock it? Do you think he was able to open the laptop with a password, too? JMO

About JW being inclined to talk maybe more than he needs to— it’ll probably sound like an unfair cliche, but he’s in the hair stylist business, and many clients love to talk to their stylists about their lives, often oversharing about their lives. So, he could be accustomed to talking like he does at work. JMO

 

[NCWatcher]

I'm still confused about the dog and the chip. I understand the "retrofit chip" issue is a non-issue and came up simply due to a bad translation by a foreign news service. But here is what was said in the Sun.

"Jim added: “I found its chip number and started tracing it all the way through. They finally told me at the central data place that the dog had been found."

What does JW mean by he started tracing it all the way through? And where is he saying he found the chip number? Did he find the number for the chip company the same place? I'm not following what he says happened. If he had HP's phone and could access it, I understand he could have seen msgs from the people who had the dog. That could have happened without him trying to "trace it all the way through." But he seems to be saying he was "tracing it [the chip] all the way through" 3 or 4 days after she went missing. But he didn't manage to find a msg on her phone about the dog being found until a few days after that? In other words he says he got her electronics from her house on tbe 21st, 4 days after she went missing but didn't start going through them until the 25th? Four days later and 8 days after she went missing? That seems weird in itself but if he knew the dog had a chip days earlier, why didn't he look at the msgs days earlier? Or forget the dog, why not look at the msgs earlier anyway since she was missing? Since he apparently could access her phone?

New clues revealed in missing mom mystery from odd text to multiple phones

JMO

 

[katydid23]

that would mean he took their son to a therapist the day or two after Heidi went missing. Seems premature imo.

Maybe the boy had already been seeing a fAmily therapist because of the divorce and custody issues. Mom not picking him up from school, then being missing, would certainly be a crisis in a young child's life. Even if it was only a few days....JMO

 

[katydid23]

I have been with my husband for 31 years and raised our sons in California. I never once was asked about my husbands consent or permission, at any doctor appt, or ER, etc.

Me neither. My husband was usually at work when I took our kids to an ER or to a doctor's appt. No one ever asked me for any info concerning 'the father' of the child. Maybe though, it helped that I was using health insurance that was from my husband's employee benefits?

 

[LRinCA]

I haven't read every post in both threads, but this has crossed my mind. Dog wandering, car missing, she's missing. Could she be the victim of a carjacking? Perhaps I'm way off base here, but it does happen. If the dog was riding in the front seat with her, someone may have opened the door and yanked the dog out, leaving it to wander.

Range Rovers are pretty popular vehicles for carjackers.

MOO/speculation, etc.

 

[SouthAussie]

<RSBM>
That seems weird in itself but if he knew the dog had a chip days earlier, why didn't he look at the msgs days earlier? Or forget the dog, why not look at the msgs earlier anyway since she was missing? Since he apparently could access her phone?

New clues revealed in missing mom mystery from odd text to multiple phones

JMO

My thought about that is that he may have had to break into her phone, to gain access.

There may have been a 4-day delay as he tried different combinations of things Heidi might have used for a password.

I have been thinking about this, because I also can't understand why anyone would take Heidi's electronics and not look at them right away to see if there are any hints as to where Heidi might be - if they had easy access.


“I got Heidi’s electronics on October 21, and I probably started going through and checking on October 25."
New clues revealed in missing mom mystery from odd text to multiple phones

 

[NCWatcher]

My thought about that is that he may have had to break into her phone, to gain access.

There may have been a 4-day delay as he tried different combinations of things Heidi might have used for a password.

I have been thinking about this, because I also can't understand why anyone would take Heidi's electronics and not look at them right away to see if there are any hints as to where Heidi might be - if they had easy access.


“I got Heidi’s electronics on October 21, and I probably started going through and checking on October 25."
New clues revealed in missing mom mystery from odd text to multiple phones

You could be correct. I had wondered how he got access if there was a password (unless the son knew the PW)

I'm not sure how her phone would have been set up. But I wouldn't think he could just keep trying PWs for days until he hit the jackpot. Don't those systems freeze if too many wrong passwords are entered? Maybe you are right though. His comment just makes it sound like he wasn't in any hurry to check her messages even though (among other things) he somehow had found out the dog's chip had been scanned at a vet or shelter days before so it was likely someone would try to reach HP. Just seems very odd but maybe the quote isn't accurate.

The quotes also make it sound like it was a big deal to trace the dog's chip even after JW located the chip number and contact info for the chip company. In the US it can be a problem because there are lots of chip companies and lots of databases. But most good ones can be found through the American Animal Hospital Association look up tool. Once he had the chip # & knew who to call, I don't see why there'd have been a delay or any "work" to trace the number. (I'd also think the son might be old enough to remember the name of their vet.) Just a computer entry by the company, press enter, and bingo. The company ought to be able to tell the database had been consulted for that chip # instantly. So why a delay? Unless the company didn't want to give JW any info because he wasn't the dog's owner? But gave in? But all they would have been telling him is that the database had been consulted for that chip #.

Somehow we are missing part of the story re: the dog, the phone, and the access. May not mean anything related to her disappearance but something is missing.

JMO

 

[Mimi in London]

It’s feasible Heidi may have been the key-holder for an apartment/apartments at the Hope & Flower. Perhaps she let people in for short stays, or met clients there on behalf of an employer. Or maybe it was something she did as a side-line of her own.

 

[Keyedin]

You could be correct. I had wondered how he got access if there was a password (unless the son knew the PW)

I'm not sure how her phone would have been set up. But I wouldn't think he could just keep trying PWs for days until he hit the jackpot. Don't those systems freeze if too many wrong passwords are entered? Maybe you are right though. His comment just makes it sound like he wasn't in any hurry to check her messages even though (among other things) he somehow had found out the dog's chip had been scanned at a vet or shelter days before so it was likely someone would try to reach HP. Just seems very odd but maybe the quote isn't accurate.

The quotes also make it sound like it was a big deal to trace the dog's chip even after JW located the chip number and contact info for the chip company. In the US it can be a problem because there are lots of chip companies and lots of databases. But most good ones can be found through the American Animal Hospital Association look up tool. Once he had the chip # & knew who to call, I don't see why there'd have been a delay or any "work" to trace the number. (I'd also think the son might be old enough to remember the name of their vet.) Just a computer entry by the company, press enter, and bingo. The company ought to be able to tell the database had been consulted for that chip # instantly. So why a delay? Unless the company didn't want to give JW any info because he wasn't the dog's owner? But gave in? But all they would have been telling him is that the database had been consulted for that chip #.

Somehow we are missing part of the story re: the dog, the phone, and the access. May not mean anything related to her disappearance but something is missing.

JMO

Statements re: how dog was found
Dateline NBC - 11/1/21 - Text on HP's phone from woman who found Seven and tried to contact HP.
Daily Mail - 11/1/21 - JW found text in HP's phone from woman who found Seven and traced HP via microchip.
Fox News - 11/2/21 - JW traced Seven's microchip to the apartment complex after she was reported missing. Residents of H+F found and cared for the dog until JW contacted microchip company and tracked down location.
The U.S. Sun - 11/3/21 JW took "one of her phones" after reporting HP missing. This is quoted from the article:

"I found its chip number and started tracing it all the way through. They finally told me at the central data place that the dog had been found.
"I said, 'Okay, that means they're going to be calling or texting Heidi's phone.'
"I happened to have one of her phones because after we had done the police report I had gotten into her house and taken some of her electronics so I could talk to her friends and family whose numbers I didn't have.
"Then I found a text that said 'Hey, are you missing a dog?'
"I checked the chip and the central data place said the dog had already been found. I went to pick up the dog and the couple who had it said they had just found it roaming around their floor in the hallway."​

The strange thing to me about this particular quote is it couldn't have happened just like this. He either traced the chip and then looked through the phone, or he looked through the phone and then confirmed through the chip company. And I am in no way suggesting anything nefarious here, I think there's a lot going on, there's a kid who just had a birthday and is probably extremely upset and a dad who is really trying to do the best he can to get the information out there as fast as possible. I just think it's a good idea to have all statements in one place to better sort through.


Statements re: electronics
Dateline NBC - 11/1/21 Home was in pristine condition when LE performed wellness check, phone and laptops (plural) were left behind.
Fox News - 11/2/21 - LE have collected all of Planck's electronics (no itemization of what this includes) and BW's phone.
Daily Mail - 11/3/21 JS allegedly wanted business laptop back after HP disappeared, but JW did not return laptop and instead turned it over to LE.
The U.S. Sun - 11/3/21 - JW got HP's electronics (plural) on 10/21 and started going through them on 10/25.

I'm still working on these, but there's a lot of articles to sort through in the last few days so it may take a bit.

We don't really now how the dog was located. At first it seemed like the people who found him somehow used to the chip to track the owner down, but then that changed.

 

[bears10]

Maybe the boy had already been seeing a fAmily therapist because of the divorce and custody issues. Mom not picking him up from school, then being missing, would certainly be a crisis in a young child's life. Even if it was only a few days....JMO

yes, but if he was already seeing a therapist, a court modification wouldn’t be needed. I’ll leave it at that so I don’t continue the custody convo.

 

[bears10]

My thought about that is that he may have had to break into her phone, to gain access.

There may have been a 4-day delay as he tried different combinations of things Heidi might have used for a password.

I have been thinking about this, because I also can't understand why anyone would take Heidi's electronics and not look at them right away to see if there are any hints as to where Heidi might be - if they had easy access.


“I got Heidi’s electronics on October 21, and I probably started going through and checking on October 25."
New clues revealed in missing mom mystery from odd text to multiple phones

her son probably knew her phone password. My young nieces know their parents passcodes and they know mine as well. Kids love to play games on peoples phones lol

 

[?!?]

I haven't read every post in both threads, but this has crossed my mind. Dog wandering, car missing, she's missing. Could she be the victim of a carjacking? Perhaps I'm way off base here, but it does happen. If the dog was riding in the front seat with her, someone may have opened the door and yanked the dog out, leaving it to wander.

Range Rovers are pretty popular vehicles for carjackers.

MOO/speculation, etc.

Certainly a possibility, but given what we have to go on, I'd rate that a very low probability.

moo

 

[?!?]

It makes me wonder what the power balance was like in the co-parenting relationship? Did she frequently have to prove she was a good parent? I say that because of JWs comment about their different parenting styles, and her friend's about how hard Heidi worked in her custody " battle". The friend didn't use the word case ...

Can't be too specific here (I'm sure you understand) but I've gotten the impression that JW has been the more steady and responsible of the two: he may have found it necessary to initiate certain proceedings, vs. just being a control-freak pita. If the court was aware of the history here, that may have made the 100% easier to come by.

 

[NCWatcher]

We don't really now how the dog was located. At first it seemed like the people who found him somehow used to the chip to track the owner down, but then that changed.

I agree it's confusing. And it would seem the Fox story about the dog can't be true.

Missing California woman's ex-husband suspects foul play: 'Something's dirty here'

It's possible the Fox story could have been written by someone who thinks pet microchips are "tracking devices." They aren't. They merely carry a code number and that code number can be put into the proper database to access owner information, assuming the owner uploaded the info and kept it current.

If JW had the chip # and knew the chip company contact, then MAYBE it's possible for the company to determine where the chip was read? I don't quite see how that could work. Chips are passive devices that are activated just enough by the scanner to yield the unique chip #. I'm not sure how that possibly could leave a trail the company could read. But if the computer database was searched online at the same place the chip was read, that could have left a trail, I guess. That place (vet or shelter) might have contact info for the dog finders. Maybe. Not sure why that would be the case unless the people were already known-- say they took the lost dog to their own vet. (That's probably what I would do.) But no way the dog was found because the microchip was "tracked" to the H&F building. That absolutely couldn't happen. (But lots of people think it can...wonder if JW is one? In one quote he called the dog "it" so at best he's not a dog person.)

Dog microchip vs GPS tracker: What's the difference?

But even if some convoluted version of one of those stories is true, they all require lots of to and fro-ing & lots of contacts with vets, shelters, & the chip company...when apparently there was a message on her phone?
JMO

 

[SteveP]

Random thoughts swirling in my mind:

Regarding JW taking the phone and laptop from Heidi’s house, I can see one good reason to do that— for safekeeping. A home with no one home for an extended period is prime for a break-in and burglary, or squatters. It is surprising the police didn’t (I presume) ask him for them right away, though. Did the police not know JW had them? JMO

I was thinking about, how did JW unlock the phone. How did he know her passcode? And the dog’s microchip number. Did Heidi have a file at home where she kept all these important numbers, and JW and the friend with the key DN found it? How else might they have been able to unlock it? Do you think he was able to open the laptop with a password, too? JMO

About JW being inclined to talk maybe more than he needs to— it’ll probably sound like an unfair cliche, but he’s in the hair stylist business, and many clients love to talk to their stylists about their lives, often oversharing about their lives. So, he could be accustomed to talking like he does at work. JMO

BBM... I did consider that, but he thought those items were safer in his custody for a week and a half than in the custody of investigators? Nah, I'm not buying it, and I would be willing to bet he was doing some investigating of his own while they were in his possession. JMO

 

[SuziQ]

There are just so many things I would like to say about this claim made by the ex in the interview referenced. First and foremost, unless he is personal friends with investigators working the case, I cannot imagine them discussing her bank accounts with him. It would be highly unprofessional, imo, to say the least, and could even jeopardize the ongoing investigation, if it actually occurred. Again, he is a FORMER spouse, not her spouse, and no longer her family. Hasn't been for several years. Secondly, according to the news story posted here multiple times today, he allegedly took her work laptop and personal phone from her home on Oct 20, and kept them about a week and a half before turning them over to LE, but we are to believe that he was handed her bank statements, but didn't look at them, but instead just forwarded them to police? And thirdly, has LE been able to do such a thorough investigation into her finances at this point that they are certain that all the money she had was in the bank statements that JS allegedly had possession of? Maybe, but if she was smart enough to allegedly siphon money from him and get away with it for a period of time, I would assume that she would have been smart enough to put it somewhere other than her checking account. Just sayin'. I am almost inclined to call BS on most, if not all of this claim. JMO

Imo, JS gave JW Heidi's bank statements to bolster the claim she was embezzling money.

The one thing I see with JW is he is defending Heidi any chance he gets. If he were behind her disappearance, I would think he would be going along with the story she stole money and took off. But he is doing quite the opposite.

Moo.

 

[SteveP]

Imo, JS gave JW Heidi's bank statements to bolster the claim she was embezzling money.

The one thing I see with JW is he is defending Heidi any chance he gets. If he were behind her disappearance, I would think he would be going along with the story she stole money and took off. But he is doing quite the opposite.

Moo.

Oh, I am not pointing fingers at him as far as being responsible for her disappearance, just pointing out that I don't believe much that he is saying now (which may be due to an attempt to defend her). JMO

 

[SeattleStew]

Oh, I am not pointing fingers at him as far as being responsible for her disappearance, just pointing out that I don't believe much that he is saying now (which may be due to an attempt to defend her). JMO

I just don't see a motive for JW. Do you? MOO All hypothetical.