Hello all. Again wanted to apologize earlier for making comments that violated TOS, making remarks that were damaging to the victim and also sharing investigative processes without being validated here . However, I will provide some answers to various questions asked by citing public, reputable sources to affirm many of the past statements I’ve made. Moderator, please feel free to object and delete this post if still not appropriate.
1. Why is May’s missing person case unusual and can be deemed a potential homicide or act of criminal endangerment?
- By identifying sudden disruptions in the missing person’s normal routine that have no plausible explanation, investigators can prove the negative: The victim did not plan the departure, and, consequently, the disappearance may be the result of a criminal act or other endangerment. (FBI Behavioral Analysis, BAU 2012)
2. Why would Chula Vista seem to not share as much information with the public?
- The key to most if not all suspicious missing persons cases is to “protect the integrity” of the evidence. Evidence that may and will be used in future legal proceedings.
3. What reasons and general facts would make the CDP consider the husband as a top suspect or person of interest ?
- the evidence, atypical scenario, and investigative reason above, this case has been conducted beyond a simple missing persons case and would then be dual investigated as both a homicide and criminal endangerment case at the same time.
- Objectives of missing adults cases shift from finding a live person to locating a body typically within 7-14 days since the last know alive date. (Gomez/FBI, 2018)
- 93 percent of murdered females was at the hands of a romantic partner. 80% were the current partner, (Center for Disease Control and Prevention - July, 2017)
- Top motive for intimate partner homicide in the US is “Fear of abandonment and loss.” And typically after a spouse is threatened of divorce or separation. ( Forensic Psychologist, Dr Park Dietz, 2017). Maya inquired support from a Divorce and Separations Facebook group in January of 2021.
4. What reason would an intimate partner have to paint a negative picture of a missing person or provide answers irrelevant to the questioning?
- in the investigative world, the official term is called “staging”. A suspect typically paints a picture that removes them as far away from the time, location and place as possible (Eg I’m in a different room) and they create an illusion that the missing person left voluntarily (Eg. We had an argument) or the person may be located in a specific area (Eg she usually goes hiking). “Offenders sometimes believe that the longer a victim is presumed missing and not found, the easier they remove themselves from culpability.” (Yoder/FBI, 2016)
5. If this case is potentially deemed as a homicide, what options do the Chula Vista Police Department have?
- in these situations, CDP can request additional support from the FBI to work towards a “no-homicide” indictment. In this situation, FBI would provide guideline and legal support, helping the prosecutors optimize the evidence and legal strength of the charge. “investigators must invalidate any fabricated alibis. A concise timeline, forensic evidence, and behavioral analysis help link offenders to the crime scene and wipe away any false illusions” (Yoder/FBI, 2016)
- in other words, if a body is never found, a suspect can still be charged and found guilty. As an alternative to finding a body, prosecutor just needs to prove that “the loss sustained is felt and known”.
6. Why would the husband retain a lawyer? This will help the husband avoid making any statements that may implicate him as a suspect. If he is a person of interest, the police primary motive is to dispel truths and invalidate alibis and data. Having a lawyer will insure integrity of information.
No opinions stated above.