CA CA - Kristen Modafferi, 18, San Francisco, 23 June 1997

[spartanx]

there are a lot of unknowns in this case... but little concrete evidence to rule it out... From what I've read, the report from the two colleagues who thought they saw her at the Galleria is pretty reliable, but it's not entirely solid... They knew her pretty well, got a good look at her, and there's no apparent reason to lie... This sighting was quite well-known, but no one's come up with an explanation... There's a good chance, though few certainties, that this mysterious blonde had something to do with her disappearance... Onuma is a character, no doubt about it, and her "clue" opened up a whole new world of possibilities for a case that seemed to be at a dead end... Unfortunately, as "interesting" as she is, it's very likely she had nothing to do with the case at all, other than an ill-timed attempt to stir up trouble for a couple of his girlfriend's enemies... If Onuma isn't involved, it means she quit her job and was "missing." If anyone knows where she went, they're not saying... The matchmaking ad in the Bay Guardian was a very important clue, but it appeared after the initial hype had died down... It might have explained the blonde woman... Apparently, no one came forward claiming to have posted the ad or responded... It's a shame... The only possibility I can't completely rule out is that a giant wave swept her out to sea at Lands End. It actually happened... A very sad case... Kristen seems like an adventurous young woman...
whatever
Rest in peace, Kristen

 

[ekardh]

The only possibility I can't completely rule out is that a giant wave swept her out to sea at Lands End. It actually happened...

This is my suspicion and for that reason the case will never be solved. Kristen's scent ended there, and many people have vouched for that area being treacherous, even in the summertime. Of course, foul play cannot be ruled out either, but apart from Onuma's antics we have nothing else to go on there.

 

[crcap]

I’m confused why the roommates aren’t bigger suspects/named when human decomposition was detected in or next to the house they all rented with her. Was there ever an explanation for this?

 

[Leprikawn]

I’m confused why the roommates aren’t bigger suspects/named when human decomposition was detected in or next to the house they all rented with her. Was there ever an explanation for this?

This is a really big red flag.

 

[crcap]

This is a really big red flag.

I know Wikipedia isn’t the best source, but this is on her page:

“In 2015, an independent search of the house Modafferi had been living in when she disappeared was completed; during the search, a cadaver dogwith a "world-class" reputation detected the presence of human remains in the basement. Paul Dostie, a former Mammoth Lakes police sergeant and owner of the dog, suggested that Oakland police excavate a concrete slab in the basement, and proposed that Modafferi's roommates at the time be re-interviewed by law enforcement.

Dr. Arpad Vass, a forensic anthropologist from the University of Tennessee, visited the house in February 2017 and scanned the area with a proprietary device he developed which detects human decomposition chemicals. The device pinpointed between 274 Jayne Avenue and the house next door, 278 Jayne Avenue. Dostie stated that the results of these searches likely indicated a crime scene rather than a burial; aside from the concrete slab, the home's basement floor consists of hard-packed clay which would be difficult to dig with a standard shovel.

Additionally, a chemical signature denoting the presence of human blood was discovered near a concrete slab at the base of porch steps at the 278 Jayne Avenue residence; according to Dostie and Vass, DNA testing revealed that the decomposing material matched that of Bob and Debbie Modafferi, who had provided samples for testing.”

It sounds like Vass and Dostie told police about this, police said to prove it and send them the samples, Vass and Dostie said “go to the house and find out for yourself.”

So…why do the roommates barely seem to come up when this case is talked about? Everyone’s worried about the blonde woman or a rogue wave at Lands End but not the male roommates. This is so weird to me.

 

[ekardh]

I know Wikipedia isn’t the best source, but this is on her page:

“In 2015, an independent search of the house Modafferi had been living in when she disappeared was completed; during the search, a cadaver dogwith a "world-class" reputation detected the presence of human remains in the basement. Paul Dostie, a former Mammoth Lakes police sergeant and owner of the dog, suggested that Oakland police excavate a concrete slab in the basement, and proposed that Modafferi's roommates at the time be re-interviewed by law enforcement.

Dr. Arpad Vass, a forensic anthropologist from the University of Tennessee, visited the house in February 2017 and scanned the area with a proprietary device he developed which detects human decomposition chemicals. The device pinpointed between 274 Jayne Avenue and the house next door, 278 Jayne Avenue. Dostie stated that the results of these searches likely indicated a crime scene rather than a burial; aside from the concrete slab, the home's basement floor consists of hard-packed clay which would be difficult to dig with a standard shovel.

Additionally, a chemical signature denoting the presence of human blood was discovered near a concrete slab at the base of porch steps at the 278 Jayne Avenue residence; according to Dostie and Vass, DNA testing revealed that the decomposing material matched that of Bob and Debbie Modafferi, who had provided samples for testing.”

It sounds like Vass and Dostie told police about this, police said to prove it and send them the samples, Vass and Dostie said “go to the house and find out for yourself.”

So…why do the roommates barely seem to come up when this case is talked about? Everyone’s worried about the blonde woman or a rogue wave at Lands End but not the male roommates. This is so weird to me.

Because Arpad Vass' "proprietary device" has not been scientifically peer-reviewed, and this is the same man who believes in divination to find buried corpses:

"Witching" To Find Corpses? This Police Training Alarms Experts.

At the National Forensic Academy, crime scene investigators learn to dowse for the dead, though it’s not backed by science.

www.themarshallproject.org

Scam Alert: The Human Remains Detector – Skeptical Science

 

[LookingForClues]

Because Arpad Vass' "proprietary device" has not been scientifically peer-reviewed, and this is the same man who believes in divination to find buried corpses:

"Witching" To Find Corpses? This Police Training Alarms Experts.

At the National Forensic Academy, crime scene investigators learn to dowse for the dead, though it’s not backed by science.

www.themarshallproject.org

Scam Alert: The Human Remains Detector – Skeptical Science

Thank you for sharing this article. It's a fascinating read. It's terrible that Vass convinces distraught families to believe in his unproven methods and devices. And much worse, some institutions are lending him credibility, and he's teaching his methods to others.