I'd like to share my thoughts/opinions regarding the Missouri neighbor, who reported spotting MS at JR's trailer, and I invite others to do the same. I'm really interested in hearing anyone's thoughts, which will undoubtedly vary. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable, and the exact setting, time, and all circumstances of the eyewitness account should be examined thoroughly.
The only information given is that a neighbor reported spotting MS at JR's trailer, which report was confirmed by the Sheriff, who did not confirm the veracity of the statement. Moreover, the word "spotted" implies some distance between the witness and the person who was allegedly "spotted", as well as a sighting that was very brief.
Strictly relying upon what has been published about the fact that the neighbor reported seeing MS at JR's trailer, I do not put any weight on this witness' sighting at all. More information is needed, and certainly I have questions, the answers to which are unknown by the public at this time. For example,
- From what distance did the neighbor allegedly "spot" MS at JR's trailer?
- What time of day?
- What were the weather conditions, visibility factors, etc.?
- How long did the alleged sighting last?
- Was the neighbor and/or MS in a moving vehicle during the time of the alleged sighting?
- Was anything obstructing the neighbor's line of vision?
- Does the neighbor have vision problems? Is she/he prescribed vision aids? If so, was she/he wearing them at the time?
- Very importantly, did she personally know MS in order to recognize him? If so, how well? On how many occasions had he/she seen him prior to the alleged sighting? Had they every spoken to one another, socialized, etc.?
- Was the neighbor also on the property at the time of the alleged sighting?
- Did the neighbor interact with MS at the time of the alleged sighting?
- Does the neighbor know CWW? If so, how? How well? Had she ever seen CWW? How recently?
- If the neighbor did not know MS prior to the alleged sighting, did someone tell her the person allegedly "spotted" was MS? If so, who?
- Is it possible that the man the neighbor allegedly saw was in fact CWW or someone else who also looked very much like MS?
- Did the neighbor also "spot" CWW there at the same time as MS?
- When did the neighbor first realize that she/he had "spotted" MS at JR's trailer? At the time of the alleged sighting? After? How long after? Before the arrest(s)? After the arrests?
- When the neighbor realized that it was MS he/she allegedly "spotted" at JR's trailer, what triggered the realization/recognition? Personal knowledge of MS, coupled with instant recognition? Or did the recognition/realization occur at a time after the alleged sighting, and if so, what triggered the recognition/realization? A photo in the news (such as t.v. or publication)? Or maybe in a photographic lineup provided by law enforcement?
- Any bias or self-serving interests?