Found Deceased FL - Tammy Alexander, 16, Brooksville, 8 Nov 1979

[Falling Down]

Hi, I saw a video about this investigation. I’m not even from the US, but I have some experience with forensics since I studied it in my country, so I’d like to help in any way I can.

<snip>

Also… maybe the killer listened to her story, realized no one would be looking for her, and then carried out something he had long been thinking about? From materials I studied earlier, I know some people dream of committing such acts all their lives, and in certain situations adrenaline drives them to do what they desire. And here everything lines up: a person no one will search for, underage, passing through an unknown place, before the rain, maybe months after the races he took her to (possibly?), waiting for the right weather. This could explain the shot to the head—as if it was the final step of a plan. Too many coincidences for a simple murder caused by an argument. Usually when it’s done emotionally or under the influence, the shots are random.


<snip>

Welcome to WS.

I take an interest in this case for the simple fact the murder happened close to where I live, as well as the fact it's unsolved.

There's a possibility here that the victim was with this perpetrator for a decent amount of time, say many hours or perhaps longer. Which I think maybe explains the close up and personal demise of this poor young woman. He had to be situated within a very short distance to her to shoot her in the manner described by law enforcement.

I believe the perpetrator knew he could carry out such an act because this young, vulnerable teenager needed him, and might trust him. He also would have known about her background, no doubt she told him during the car ride or perhaps at the diner. So we have a situation where the worst of humanity figured he most likely could get away with her murder.

Location:

The location of the diner where they ate, and the general area where he committed the crimes, I think was already known to the killer. The nearest, finished interstate highway during that time is a short drive north of there. He also had to have known U.S. 20 along there.

Interstate 390 was completed through there in 1982. U.S. 15 was the main north/south route through there, for many years. I maintain the killer knew that area well. I think he would have had to have known it well, in order to make a quick escape. The roads are generally not very straight. It's also very hilly due to glacial activity. Not many clear lines of sight over long distances. This happened in the evening hours.

My hunch is this was someone traveling a fair distance. Witnesses described a young man. One could surmise he was single, and no one was expecting him home during that period of the day. So most likely living alone.

He could have called ahead and told a family member he was delayed and decided to spend the night at a local motel. There were plenty of these motels located along both U.S. 20 and U.S. 15 back in those days, also near interchanges along the N.Y. State Thruway (I-90).

I agree @ZohanJB , it's most likely this was premeditated. The killer planned this ahead of time.

I would be inclined to look at similar cases around the same period of time, in nearby U.S. states.

In post #536 above, the documentary claims truckers saw Tammy Jo at a nearby truck stop. Most likely this was along I-90, but I will say "nearby" may be a relative term in this case. That could be Buffalo. There would have been maybe 2 or 3 along I-90 south and west of Rochester.

JMO