CA-Sandra Cantu Missing 3/28/2009 from Tracy,#2

[Salem]

Ok, well, assuming there is a backpack with her..why would police/her mother/etc. lie and/or not disclose this information?

This is a really good question KaylynnCouture. I have watched that video several times, surrounded by a couple of different people and we have a difference of opinion as to whether or not she has something on her right side.

LE says they analyzed the tape extensively to be sure it was just a shadow - but...... I don't know. It does appear as if she has something. I have not made up my mind. I originally thought it was just her hair, but after the umpteenth time watching the video, I can see how it looks as if she does have a purse or something. Again, I can not see any strap over her right shoulder but I can definately see something that looks like more than a shadow on her right side.

Maybe an ipod case? Maybe a Hannah Montana purse? I don't know - maybe nothing.

Why would LE try to mislead us? But that takes me back to the question of the length of her long shadow. Would it really be that long at 4:00ish in the afternoon or was the video taken more like 6ish?

Salem

 

[Salem]

That is exactly what I see!

I agree - I see this at the end of the video, but what about when she is skipping and throwing her arms up in the air? Then I see nothing.

Here's a thought - maybe we should compare this video to the Christmas video just to check out Sandra's mannerisms? Maybe Sandra just has an odd way of using her arms? Or body movements? Or I don't know - too much company, maybe I need to put the bottle of wine away :crazy: Naw - it can't be that :crazy: I think I'll try the comparison....

Salem

 

[STEADFAST]

Yes - Sandra's home is #63.

Salem

Then the numbers are all weird.:waitasec:

Here's what it's like there, as far as I can tell. I wonder where Slayter's #43 is and where Sinclair and Wohler live?

 

[Salem]

Here is what I see... tell me what you think. I do not know if you can cast 2 shadows at once and when I look online all I can find is stuff about some game and a book called two shadows. Also my mom does not know and that is nuts cuz she knows everything! I call her my moogle (google haha).

Mew - interesting picture! Where you have noted "shadow of body" doesn't quite work because it would have to be the shadow of her arm and the shadow would have to CROSS her body to be consistent with her long shadow. Your picture, to me anyway, seems to indicate that there is actually something on the right side of her body. Maybe not a backpack, but a small purse or plaything that could be carried around.

Salem

 

[STEADFAST]

I thought about that too... It does seem like her father is dedicated to her. He lives quite a distance away, yet I get the impression that he visits. I don't know many fathers that go to that length to stay in their children's life. If it is someone outside the park, that makes sense to me, because I do not think I would want to be on the bad side of a man that has been to prison.

I think she has a tight knit family. I think I saw an uncle and an aunt talking to the press. That impressed me because its less pressure for her mom and dad.

The only thing I can come up with that would explain the friendliness with the older males in the park is that she is just friendly with all her neighbors and the media is focused on the males that are possible suspects.

It seems like she's just really trusting, and when men are friendly to her, she's innocently friendly back. Some of the men at the park seem to be a little too friendly.

 

[Salem]

Then the numbers are all weird.:waitasec:

Here's what it's like there, as far as I can tell. I wonder where Slayter's #43 is and where Sinclair and Wohler live?

I see what you mean. Typically, odd numbers are on one side and even on the other. Generally there are empty spaces between the numbers, meaning that the sequence on the odd side of the street would be 61, 63, 65, 67, etc. BUT I don't know if that holds true in a trailer park. There could be a couple of different scenarios: The started number the units at 1 and went around the outside edges, then came back and filled in the interior numbers OR they started at 1 and went up and down each row of homes, picking up the edge units in between the rows. If they used the second numbering system, it could throw the whole thing off. Hmmmm....

Salem

PS - can you look up the real estate records in Oakdale - or tell me how? The Assessor's info is not working out.

 

[daisy.faithfull]

I agree - I see this at the end of the video, but what about when she is skipping and throwing her arms up in the air? Then I see nothing.

Here's a thought - maybe we should compare this video to the Christmas video just to check out Sandra's mannerisms? Maybe Sandra just has an odd way of using her arms? Or body movements? Or I don't know - too much company, maybe I need to put the bottle of wine away :crazy: Naw - it can't be that :crazy: I think I'll try the comparison....

Salem

I think that is an awesome idea... my computer doesn't do well running videos so I can only look at the stills and I see why people would think its a backpack and I can see why people don't think there is a backpack.

I think that is a very important issue. If mom didn't see her with a backpack it is possible she had it hidden because she was running away, and she was looking behind her to make sure that no one saw her. If she did run away she could be scared to come home because she thinks that everyone is going to be really mad because of the commotion-- which wouldn't be the case, she would have a whole lot of overjoyed people.

If I were an eight year old running away I would bring my favorite stuffed animal that I sleep with. Her aunt was showing the media her stuffed monkey, so to me that really says she did not run away.

 

[STEADFAST]

Mew - interesting picture! Where you have noted "shadow of body" doesn't quite work because it would have to be the shadow of her arm and the shadow would have to CROSS her body to be consistent with her long shadow. Your picture, to me anyway, seems to indicate that there is actually something on the right side of her body. Maybe not a backpack, but a small purse or plaything that could be carried around.

Salem

Another possibility is that what seems like a shadow or a backpack is really a video (compression) artifact caused by the high contrast between the dark street and her very brightly illuminated shirt. We're looking at a copy of the video, and the copying process can add these visual "artifacts" that weren't there in real life.

Where motion prediction is used, as in MPEG-1, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4, compression artifacts tend to remain on several generations of decompressed frames, and move with the optic flow of the image, leading to a peculiar effect, part way between a painting effect and "grime" that moves with objects in the scene.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compression_artifact

 

[daisy.faithfull]

It seems like she's just really trusting, and when men are friendly to her, she's innocently friendly back. Some of the men at the park seem to be a little too friendly.

I know, its very discouraging because those are the monsters we know about. With all the men busted for the , I'm worried about the unknown monsters.

 

[STEADFAST]

I see what you mean. Typically, odd numbers are on one side and even on the other. Generally there are empty spaces between the numbers, meaning that the sequence on the odd side of the street would be 61, 63, 65, 67, etc. BUT I don't know if that holds true in a trailer park. There could be a couple of different scenarios: The started number the units at 1 and went around the outside edges, then came back and filled in the interior numbers OR they started at 1 and went up and down each row of homes, picking up the edge units in between the rows. If they used the second numbering system, it could throw the whole thing off. Hmmmm....

Salem

PS - can you look up the real estate records in Oakdale - or tell me how? The Assessor's info is not working out.

I have no idea how to do that. I just looked up real estate ads that had the words "Tracy" and "Orchard Estates."

 

[Salem]

I don't think she ran away. I think someone called out to her. I think it was someone in a car - and I say that just from watching the movement of her shadow as she moves out of the camera's view. So I think she was immediately put in a car from the passenger side.

Also - I'm thinking it was not a backpack, per se, but maybe something smaller? I don't know.

I think it is important because, why would LE deliberately lie? I don't think they would. I know that LE has, can, and does twist the truth in interrogations when they are trying to figure out what happened, but I can't recall a time when LE actually lied outright to the public like would be happening her if she was carrying a backpack. Anyone else know of this happening?

Salem

 

[momtective]

Maybe this is a little clearer...I think it's the second or third skip/hop when the bag rises up. It's a split second and very difficult to pause at just the exact second.

Mew - interesting picture! Where you have noted "shadow of body" doesn't quite work because it would have to be the shadow of her arm and the shadow would have to CROSS her body to be consistent with her long shadow. Your picture, to me anyway, seems to indicate that there is actually something on the right side of her body. Maybe not a backpack, but a small purse or plaything that could be carried around.

Salem

I think these pics clearly show it is not a shadow...it is something...but I just can't figure out if it's her hair or a bag of some sort. I know I see sumpn' floppin' around back there when she's just a bouncing and skippin' along. It is very sad to watch this over and over again and know she might have gone from being this happy go lucky to being in a very bad if not deadly situation immediately after she's out of camera range.

 

[Salem]

Another possibility is that what seems like a shadow is really a video (compression) artifact caused by the high contrast between the dark street and her very brightly illuminated shirt. We're looking at a copy of the video, and the copying process can add these visual "artifacts" that weren't there in real life.

Interesting stuff Steadfast - so maybe, in nontechnical terms, what we are seeing is just "junk" added to the picture due to the many reproductions? I would buy that...except - why did LE make a point of telling us it was nothing? They should have been looking at the original without all this "compressed" stuff? And if her shirt was pink - would it have been "brightly illuminated"? White I can see, and I guess maybe a very bright/hot pink color.

Salem

 

[Salem]

I have no idea how to do that. I just looked up real estate ads that had the words "Tracy" and "Orchard Estates."

Well that answers my question :clap: All I have to do is look up some Oakdale ads. I can do that tomorrow. :clap::crazy:

Salem

 

[daisy.faithfull]

I have no idea how to do that. I just looked up real estate ads that had the words "Tracy" and "Orchard Estates."

What about this?
San Joaquin County Recorder/ County Clerk
http://www.co.san-joaquin.ca.us/Recorder/

from the page:
"The Recorder - County Clerk serves as custodian of public records, recorder of real property documents, and notary public bonds. The office also issues and registers marriage licenses, vital statistics and other public documents. The office is committed to providing cost effective customer service to everyone we serve."

I'm looking to see if can look up stuff on line, but I don't see anything.

 

[Salem]

I think these pics clearly show it is not a shadow...it is something...but I just can't figure out if it's her hair or a bag of some sort. I know I see sumpn' floppin' around back there when she's just a bouncing and skippin' along. It is very sad to watch this over and over again and know she might have gone from being this happy go lucky to being in a very bad if not deadly situation immediately after she's out of camera range.

I agree Mom. This is one of those moments when it really hits you -- don't take life for granted. She was having a great time on her way home, so what the HE!! happened and why?

If she did go to the passenger side of the car - was that because there were 2 people in the car or was it because the perp told her to get in? If it was because the perp told her to get in - then we can pretty much guarantee she knew the perp and felt safe around him/her. Otherwise she would have headed to the driver's window to talk, before getting in the car (I think).

Salem

 

[STEADFAST]

Interesting stuff Steadfast - so maybe, in nontechnical terms, what we are seeing is just "junk" added to the picture due to the many reproductions? I would buy that...except - why did LE make a point of telling us it was nothing? They should have been looking at the original without all this "compressed" stuff? And if her shirt was pink - would it have been "brightly illuminated"? White I can see, and I guess maybe a very bright/hot pink color.

Salem

Well, the original could have had the artifacts, too, and probably did. The camera would have to convert the image in front of it to some kind of digital format, and surveillance cameras are not going to use the highest resolution possible. They are going to just get the gist of what's there, not make an exact reproduction. All kinds of little gremlins end up in digital images and even more in videotaped images.
In real life, it's likely that her shirt did not seem white like it does in the video. But the video is reacting to how bright it is compared to the background.

 

[Salem]

What about this?
San Joaquin County Recorder/ County Clerk
http://www.co.san-joaquin.ca.us/Recorder/

from the page:
"The Recorder - County Clerk serves as custodian of public records, recorder of real property documents, and notary public bonds. The office also issues and registers marriage licenses, vital statistics and other public documents. The office is committed to providing cost effective customer service to everyone we serve."

I'm looking to see if can look up stuff on line, but I don't see anything.

This is great Daisy! except Oakdale is in Stanislaus County. I have already spent several hours attempting to access the Assessor's database, but alas, it will NOT give me info, even though it promises too! San Joaquin County currently has all criminal info "temporarily unavailable. It has been very frustrating. I can not figure out if it was done on purpose because so many hits were coming in, or if it is a fluke or if they are doing maintenance :crazy: It is making me crazy. And, because I am one of those anal personalities - I don't stop to think sometimes that there are other ways of getting the same info.

Thank you for the link and tomorrow when I have a fresher perspective, I will give it a try and see if I can come up with anything.

Salem

 

[daisy.faithfull]

I agree Mom. This is one of those moments when it really hits you -- don't take life for granted. She was having a great time on her way home, so what the HE!! happened and why?

If she did go to the passenger side of the car - was that because there were 2 people in the car or was it because the perp told her to get in? If it was because the perp told her to get in - then we can pretty much guarantee she knew the perp and felt safe around him/her. Otherwise she would have headed to the driver's window to talk, before getting in the car (I think).

Salem

I agree. Maybe they'll be able to see something if they can expand the borders of the pictures.

It sure is a big mobile home park.

As far as the what happened and why... I wish we knew! :behindbar

 

[STEADFAST]

I would have been asleep hours ago if I hadn't seen Sandra skipping towards her kidnapper. I may have to forcibly remove myself from the computer. I'm definitely into the area of diminishing returns with my "sleuthing." Just going in circles.