GUILTY FL - Jill Halliburton Su, 59, murdered in her Davie home, 7 Sept 2014 *retrial 2022*

[SavvyRose]

Wow. Glad they got who they believe is at least a suspect, even if they're not fully certain yet he's the only one.

Very strange and very senseless. And some of the stuff that had just come out before the arrest have me even more puzzled now given the arrest.



Given his age, and the son being 20 also (and the daughter 24) I wonder if it'll end up that he knew one of them or even just of one of them b/c of mutual associations or something and that perhaps he knew of the wealth or something and decided to target their family?

And if he thought the house would be empty, apart from her schedule, some degree of knowledge of them could mean perhaps he thought they were still out of the country and the house was vacant at the time (meaning not just vacant during the day b/c of someone being out) Or maybe he just has really bad "luck" and missed having the house very vacant while they were gone...

Just interesting they'd not even been back in the country for 24 hours when it happened!

It just seems so bizarre to have been that cruel - and senseless like many of you said if they are entirely unknown to one another - just because he unexpectedly found her home if it was truly solely a robbery attempt initially?

Curious to see where it goes.

Also interesting is not just a record, but a record since he was 14! But given they were more robbery related, it's a little surprising he'd jump all the way to murder if he broke in and found the home occupied.


He went to the effort to rent the Mercedes, presumably to stand out less, but he wore a construction vest thing prior?! :waitasec:

The vest would make him stand out enough as it was, but it'd be even more odd to see a guy in a construction vest going in and out of a Mercedes... Strange.

.

Very strange. I almost jumped to thinking he could have been hired ( Please No! I want to believe this woman who seemed to have spread love and knowledge could NOT have been brutally murdered by someone who knew her! )

But seeing he has a criminal history of robbing a wealthy home, it helps to keep the faith that the other arrests won't be family.

Renting the car to drive past security cameras and then wearing a Vest while on the property in front of personal security cameras is how I am thinking the luxury car / vest disguise worked.

Jumping to Brutal murder from a thief though ...

Praying for the truth. Justice for Jill.

 

[TravelingBug]

Very strange. I almost jumped to thinking he could have been hired ( Please No! I want to believe this woman who seemed to have spread love and knowledge could NOT have been brutally murdered by someone who knew her! )

But seeing he has a criminal history of robbing a wealthy home, it helps to keep the faith that the other arrests won't be family.

Renting the car to drive past security cameras and then wearing a Vest while on the property in front of personal security cameras is how I am thinking the luxury car / vest disguise worked.

Jumping to Brutal murder from a thief though ...

Praying for the truth. Justice for Jill.

Yeah, definitely likely as far as the combo of the car and get up, I guess I was just thinking if I'd seen someone drive up in a Mercedes but getting out looking like a construction worker w/ the vest and all making me think something was fishy, but I'm sure he was probably smarter in how he went about it. My head just was thinking it could be almost more attention grabbing if it had been seen in combo than it probably was!

I agree I hope he acted alone (and esp. not known) though I suppose on the other hand something that violent (with zero history, yet a history of the same supposed initial crime) and that apparently random in an area with NOTHING like this before and far less likely to have issues just b/c of the security and access, etc has got to be awfully unsettling.

 

[TravelingBug]

Well, now we know how they got him...and definitely explains the earlier info about responses from the son and pool guy.

DNA on the knife.

Also explains pool guy's comment (that raised a flag to me as it varied from what media was giving as his account initially but I didn't comment on b/c by the time I saw his FB comment above the suspect was arrested so it seemed irrelevant) about the son yelling as soon as he got there and NOT once he'd been inside, etc. since initially it sounded more like what raised the alarm and the son's reaction was actually finding her.

What was believed to be her blood was in multiple areas of the home, according to an arrest affidavit. More evidence was found on either side of the front door: A knife on the doormat, a looped green belt on the foyer mat.

And so the broken glass door (apparently that not a window) likely wasn't seen until later and was more included b/c it was the apparent entry point, but he knew something was very wrong upon arrival.

As he apparently lives there, it's also not specified if he entered the house through the garage or the front door (as if it was the latter, then he'd have known before going inside, it sounds like, b/c of evidence on both sides there)

Poor son!

Heartbreaking FB post from the daughter on there also (shown in the video there)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/br...-murder-suspect-folo-20140919,0,5290962.story

 

[TravelingBug]

Also interesting is the specification of why they're not ruling out possible other suspects - and it makes total sense.

Especially given the lack of history of incidents there and all the security systems in place.

"We're looking at other people as possible suspects," Engle said. "Part of normal police work is to look at vendors and contractors who may have entered the community. We did that initially, and now that we have someone in custody, we'll go through them again to see if he worked for them."

One mystery detectives want to solve: how Halliburton Su's killer got into the guarded, gated community of 98, well-appointed homes that is just a mile from the police station and had no criminal incidents this year.

I'd assume that there could be A LOT of video available.

All the gated communities I know at least have video at the gate at least at some angle, including the ones without guards. I'd think it's probably even more likely at one that also had a guard (whether he's there 24/7 or not - but especially if not b/c if they want the extra step of having a guard, you've got to figure they're not going to want to miss anything in case something happens, etc.)

And I'd think many residents would have them as well, so it wouldn't be shocking to have residences or entrances residences (esp. w/ possibly having additional personal gates at some homes as that's not unheard of in neighborhoods with the apparent degree of security they already had in place community wise) so those that were 'en route' to the Su home surface street wise could be worth checking, especially since it doesn't seem clear if he drove in or entered through the water as had also been mentioned.

Plus, he could have parked one place and walked from near one residence to the Su home or something along those lines, meaning even checking cameras for pedestrian traffic would seem wise.

 

[TravelingBug]

I wonder if the reason the security system didn't work is that perhaps he could have disabled it somehow? :waitasec:

He had to have thought there'd be an alarm and cameras there, no?

I mean, many homes have them anyway, and certainly they're even more common in larger or more extravagant homes. But if someone wants to not only live in a gated community but also one with a guard, it seems like it'd be almost stupid to think they don't also have personal alarms and cameras.

And since it also doesn't seem like he was going into it intending to murder, but instead to break in and rob them, it seems like either he would have to have disabled the alarm you'd think he'd have presumed they'd have (and cameras as well) or else he'd almost have to have been sure she was there (thus possibly not having the alarm set)

Though saying the latter, even then many nicer homes tend to have residents that still keep the glass break type alarms set if they're home and just not like the movement based aspect.

So that seems it could almost up the odds of him having disabled it...which would be incredibly ironic as that's the thing that prompted the dad to have the son check the house.

 

[TravelingBug]

I'm very curious about some of the timeline things:

• Husband's first time noticing about the cameras not working
• Time husband made any calls (presumably he called the house and/or his wife several times before really getting huge red flags, no?)
• Time he called and asked his son to go check on things
• Pool guy's arrival time
• Son's arrival time

And of course (at the least) her time (or approx) of death.

As in, could the pool guy perhaps interrupted things unknowingly?

The whole house wasn't ransacked, by any means, from what they've said. In fact the reference is primarily to drawers that were open/gone through. Nor have we heard a bunch of things were missing.

If his motive was robbery, even if he was surprised to find her in the house and killed her for lack of knowing what else to do (which still would surprise me given he's never done that in the past) you'd think we'd have heard of at least some degree of loss of property also, no?

I mean, heck, if he wanted to break in enough that he escalated to killing her instead of fleeing (upping the things he'd be charged with if caught) then you'd really think he'd have taken a bunch...

If she's dead she's obviously not going to alert anyone. If you're already going to get arrested for murder if they figure out who did it, what's robbery on top of it?!

Could his plan have been thwarted perhaps hearing someone (pool guy) drive up?

The time of when the husband first realized the cameras weren't working could perhaps be telling if that were the case.

If he noticed it within a relatively short time range from when PG got there, it seems like one could think DOR could still have been in there.

And it could also indicate what I questioned in my previous post, of whether or not DOR might have actually disabled the system, inadvertently tipping off the husband.

 

[TravelingBug]

I'm also curious about the timeline because they had JUST gotten home the evening before, and they'd been on the other side of the world!

Jet lag would quite possibly have had them way off schedule, and even if one manages to not deal with jet lag, especially as internationally as their trip was, plus just how exhausting very long days on a plane can be all on their own (if one isn't impacted by the time change issue that factors in to jet lag)

How early had either or both even been up?

Did he go to work at his usual time? Definitely not a certainty given they'd not even been home much over 12 hours by the time this had happened (let alone having gotten to get a long night's sleep)

Was Jill even up (and out of bed, etc.) by the time he left for work?

Or might he have even checked the cameras to SEE if she was awake before perhaps calling?

Or had he called (or even made several calls) to see if she was up or something and not gotten a response and so then checked to see if that was why?

Given she was found partly clothed in the tub, had she been about to bathe and DOR walked in on her? Had she been sleeping and so he didn't realize she was there until walking in? Or did he also sexually assault her?

She obviously wasn't in the process of actually bathing (in the tub, since she was not fully unclothed) and she obviously wasn't showering or DOR would have heard the water and could have left having only broken in (even if he didn't risk to stop and take stuff)

 

[TravelingBug]

Going back to if PG could have actually interrupted something...

Why would DOR have left the knife there?

That seems stupid...he had to have realized there'd be DNA on it, no? :waitasec: Taking it would have at least probably slowed LE.

And even if multiple were used and on her, why did he leave a looped belt also by the door?

Why would he take it (or one of them, if there were multiple) OFF her?

Even if he actually killed her by the door and then moved her to the tub why would he have left the knife and looped belt there? Again, the belt would presumably have been on her somewhere, no? Plus why bother to move her to the tub at that point? That's just spreading more evidence.

If he bound her elsewhere (like near the door) and only used the knife in the tub to actually kill her, again, that still doesn't explain the belt not being with/on her. And then that'd go back to why the knife would be away from where the killing happened.

And since they must have found the knife and the looped belt immediately (given their location) yet were searching the water, I wonder if they expected multiple weapons?

Or if it also looked to them like maybe he were interrupted and fled in haste and perhaps also dropped anything he may have taken?

 

[ATasteOfHoney]

Just a nagging thought keeps popping up in my mind: could one of Jill's kids innocently posted on social media info/pics of the parent's vaca including any info about approximate time of return? Social media certainly give out too much information in a variety of ways---even including locations of pictures taken!
And setting-controls on acquaintances or "friends-of-friends" can be overlooked & create privacy issues. Even Jill had a FB account w/pics so who knows if this is how the perp targeted her & her house???

Or it could just be as simple as this perp had a friend at the gatehouse? Or a friend in the security system company?

Or it could be that this perp was just dumb, reckless, & escalating in his behaviors that he had been previously arrested for?

Moo

 

[Dallen]

So many great questions... This case is definitely baffling.

 

[colette]

The killer broke in empty homes before. He got into the area near the homes and picked one that looked empty. This time he was wrong. I think he may have used some ruse such as dressing like a cleaning crew, and conned his way in just as he did previously by having a nice rental car to fit in...just my guess.

 

[ATasteOfHoney]

Well, the ***manned*** gated communities where I live in FL have the guards stop your car, ask who you're going to visit, take your drivers license, and then phone call the resident to confirm they're expecting you to visit.
There are no surprises or just dropping in.

But we don't know if it was a manned, gated community.

 

[time]

On OkieGranny's link the news story says her arms and legs were bound and her throat slit. It was a stranger robbing what he thought was a house with no one home. The male was arrested with 3 females. If he didn't know her he didn't have to kill her. He could have left her tied up and taken what he wanted. So senseless.

http://www.local10.com/news/suspect-arrested-in-death-of-jill-su/28120798

Been checking in on this case occasionally... this just doesn't all sound right, but IDK. If this is the guilty one, I'd have to think he has someone older, wiser, and already richer in the background (at the least)? Same question as you, why kill here? Esp by cutting her throat. Maybe he was hired, but not sure it seems like that. :thinking:

 

[Quiet Time]

Been checking in on this case occasionally... this just doesn't all sound right, but IDK. If this is the guilty one, I'd have to think he has someone older, wiser, and already richer in the background (at the least)? Same question as you, why kill here? Esp by cutting her throat. Maybe he was hired, but not sure it seems like that. :thinking:

I know, it kinda sounds like overkill for a robbery. idk either. But she may have really surprised him and he reacted the only way he knew how?? Or he could have been very high and freaked out. imo

 

[time]

I know, it kinda sounds like overkill for a robbery. idk either. But she may have really surprised him and he reacted the only way he knew how?? Or he could have been very high and freaked out. imo

Yeah, I thought it was also a lot of specific preparation, but he did some of that when he was arrested before, that's how they caught him was my understanding... that kind of makes me think others may also be behind this one (unfortunately a murder) and the last time he was arrested (burglary). It just seems strange for a 19-20 year old, I guess.

 

[time]

The killer broke in empty homes before. He got into the area near the homes and picked one that looked empty. This time he was wrong. I think he may have used some ruse such as dressing like a cleaning crew, and conned his way in just as he did previously by having a nice rental car to fit in...just my guess.

Didn't he ask for a specific street or address in the first arrest?

 

[colette]

I think he got angry with her, that's why the overkill. He left evidence because murder was not in his original plan. The belt at the scene could have been his own. .....From the link:

What was believed to be her blood was in multiple areas of the home, according to an arrest affidavit. More evidence was found on either side of the front door: A knife on the doormat, a looped green belt on the foyer mat.

"The victim's DNA and the suspect's, the defendant's DNA, were both found on that item," Rossman said after court on Friday. "Actually, two items, a belt and a knife...You put two and two together and you say he was there, binding the victim."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/br...-murder-suspect-folo-20140919,0,5290962.story

 

[TravelingBug]

Seems like the belt may have belonged to someone else?

A belt was also found near the foyer which contained a mixture of at least three people's DNA, including that of both Su and Resiles, according to data collected in the Crime Laboratory Analysis Report.

Though obviously they gave no indication as to who the third person with DNA on the belt was.

Blood believed to have come from Su was found throughout the home in the upscale West Ridge community. There was also a knife found on the doormat outside the front door which had both Su's and Resiles' DNA on it.

Did he chase her down and fight her throughout? Or stab her and she tried to flee and then he bound her?

http://www.local10.com/news/jill-su...ng-home-invasion-in-davie-police-say/28185828

Truly amazing how nearly silent everything about this story has gone.

 

[willboo]

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/01/09/exclusive-crime-scene-video-reveals-evidence-in-davie-murder/

 

[colette]

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/01/09/exclusive-crime-scene-video-reveals-evidence-in-davie-murder/

Crime scene video, Jill was found in bathroom near the broken glass door that the killer used to gain entry. His DNA mixed with hers on green belt used to bind her. Had broken into other high-end homes in same manner. LE does not know how he got into gated community. Death penalty is an option.