GA - Katherine Janness, 40, fatally stabbed and dog killed, Piedmont Park, Atlanta, 28 Jul 2021 #3

[bookworm2012]

Could the many scars described in the autopsy report have any relevance to the case?

 

[moonriverfarm]

I am thinking a woman as involved in the slaughter.

 

[ArmchairDefective]

Could the many scars described in the autopsy report have any relevance to the case?

Could you elaborate? I'm not willing to peruse the autopsy report myself -- too sad and too graphic for my delicate constitution.

 

[bookworm2012]

Could you elaborate? I'm not willing to peruse the autopsy report myself -- too sad and too graphic for my delicate constitution.

Sorry, just raising a question and going back to my long-time lurking!

 

[Periwinkl3]

-- a person walking a pit bull is not a soft target

Unless you know the dog well.

 

[BGGS]

I am thinking a woman as involved in the slaughter.

Why? Just curious to know what leads you to that conclusion?

 

[Periwinkl3]

A side note: I hope a necropsy was done on Bowie. If he was tasered or somehow rendered numb or unconscious before he was killed, that might be useful info.

 

[cujenn81]

Could you elaborate? I'm not willing to peruse the autopsy report myself -- too sad and too graphic for my delicate constitution.

The autopsy notes the location and appearance of various scars the coroner observed on KJ’s torso and upper extremities. I think they are described in detail just to differentiate healed injuries from those that were obtained during the attack. Although, that’s just my opinion.

The way the scars are listed out and numbered kinda made it seem like she had way more scars than the average person might… but then I thought about all the various scars that I have and realized that’s totally normal.

From the autopsy (not graphic / only providing information about scars present on her body before the attack) —

Scars on the torso and left upper extremity are 3/16” to 3-1/2” in length:

1. Torso:
- Linear scars on the medial and lateral surfaces of the left side of the chest.
- A horizontal scar on the left side of the chest lateral to the distal clavicle.
- A vertical linear scar on the left side of the back.
- A group of overlapping linear scars on the top of the left shoulder.
- A linear scar extending into the tattoo on the lateral surface of the left shoulder.

2. Left Upper Extremity:
- A diagonal linear scar distal and lateral to the left antecubital fossa.
- Three diagonal faint linear scars on the lateral surface of the left forearm between the one described previously and the one described next.
- A diagonal linear scar on the left lateral wrist extending medially to the tattoo.

Link to Autopsy (for reference and backup) —
** WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT **
https://static.fox5atlanta.com/www.fox5atlanta.com/content/uploads/2021/11/Katie-Janness-Autopsy.pdf

 

[K.jill]

I have not posted in a while because I wanted to take a break from thinking about this case. It hits close to home for me.
Anyway, I am still processing the autopsy report but there are a few things I would like to say:
- FAT -I knew about the letters from very early on but I did not know the F &A were separated from the T. Could that be significant? A couple of months ago i had an idea about an alternative meaning to the letters but I can not remember! Frustrating. Anyway, I wonder if the letters might have a different meaning other than body fat.
—the more I learn about this case the more I think that the timeline is off. The easiest explanation for this would be that 1209 timestamp at the crosswalk was really 1109.
Even then the timeline would be tight, imo.
——I read a few posts asking if Katie and Bowie could have been killed elsewhere and dropped where they were found. As far as I know there is no evidence of that and it goes against occam’s razar. But, I think they may have been killed somewhere else. My theory is that they were abducted/initially attacked closer to Henrys. This is only my speculation! There is no evidence to support it so please remember that.
———there would have been a tremendous amount of blood from all of those cuts. How could the killer have seen in the dark thru all of the blood to cut legible letters into flesh?
Thinking about this makes me sick and so very angry!!!

 

[foragerhan]

In response to the chef knife talk I can offer some insight here since I am a chef. Yes, most chefs absolutely care about having knives with a good edge. Lots - if not most- restaurants have their knives sharpened weekly by either a knife service or that one chef who just loves to get out the whetstone. The "nicer" restaurants like those around Midtown where this happened, especially so. I often come back to thinking it may have been someone within the restaurant(s). I don't have any solid reasoning for thinking this other than the choice of weapon and just how wacky/deranged/strung-out/odd people are in my industry. I'm generalizing here of course but I've met some oddballs over the years and kitchens are a place where almost anyone of ANY background can get a job.

 

[Shamrock1]

In response to the chef knife talk I can offer some insight here since I am a chef. Yes, most chefs absolutely care about having knives with a good edge. Lots - if not most- restaurants have their knives sharpened weekly by either a knife service or that one chef who just loves to get out the whetstone. The "nicer" restaurants like those around Midtown where this happened, especially so. I often come back to thinking it may have been someone within the restaurant(s). I don't have any solid reasoning for thinking this other than the choice of weapon and just how wacky/deranged/strung-out/odd people are in my industry. I'm generalizing here of course but I've met some oddballs over the years and kitchens are a place where almost anyone of ANY background can get a job.

I’ve never worked in a restaurant, but I’ve heard that substance abuse rates are higher than the general population. I’m not trying to denigrate restaurant workers - just chiming in with your comment about the “oddballs.”

Restaurant Workers and Addiction - Statistics, Recovery & Treatment Options

 

[K.jill]

In response to the chef knife talk I can offer some insight here since I am a chef. Yes, most chefs absolutely care about having knives with a good edge. Lots - if not most- restaurants have their knives sharpened weekly by either a knife service or that one chef who just loves to get out the whetstone. The "nicer" restaurants like those around Midtown where this happened, especially so. I often come back to thinking it may have been someone within the restaurant(s). I don't have any solid reasoning for thinking this other than the choice of weapon and just how wacky/deranged/strung-out/odd people are in my industry. I'm generalizing here of course but I've met some oddballs over the years and kitchens are a place where almost anyone of ANY background can get a job.

I absolutely agree with you and you explained better than I could have!
I was a chef for 12 years.
It is the only profession I can think of where one carries their own knives. And if you were attracted to knives it might be a profession you were drawn to.

 

[foragerhan]

Absolutely! It's a stereotype for a reason. I really get the feeling Katie worked with someone who was either obsessed with her or her girlfriend. As a young, married lesbian in Atlanta my wife and I get a lot of unwanted attention and at least every 1-2 months one of us has to get loud with some guy being rude or disgusting. Being fetishized is very...demeaning and a constant for us. I've lived in the South my entire life and have only dealt with such brazen harassment as I have while living in Atlanta. Granted, these are just my experiences but this is exactly what we feared before this attack and especially so since.

 

[K.jill]

-How long would it take to inflict the injuries we see in the autopsy report?

 

[foragerhan]

I absolutely agree with you and you explained better than I could have!
I was a chef for 12 years.
It is the only profession I can think of where one carries their own knives. And if you were attracted to knives it might be a profession you were drawn to.

Right! Every weekend I'm headed somewhere in Atlanta to a gig with my knife roll. And it's incredibly easy to steal knives from where you work and there are plenty of dumpsters in that area behind restaurants and apartment complexes to toss it.

 

[foragerhan]

Chef knife is a bad choice for murder weapon IMO though. It would be so easy to cut yourself with the knife. The tang of the knife is not going to offer much protection once your hand is slippery with blood and I would think the wounds would be deeper as well.

 

[K.jill]

Does anyone know of any crimes that are similar? With a message carved into the victim? Victim left in a public place?
Mutilation to the eyes and breasts?
Gruesome violent overkill committed in a short period of time? In an area with a high chance if exposure?

I am thinking this killer has killed before.

the only cases I know of that might be similar are The Black Dahlia and the red lipstick killer. The red lipstick killer’s victim had a message carved into her body.

 

[CrimeAway]

Does anyone know of any crimes that are similar? With a message carved into the victim? Victim left in a public place?
Mutilation to the eyes and breasts?
Gruesome violent overkill committed in a short period of time? In an area with a high chance if exposure?

I am thinking this killer has killed before.

the only cases I know of that might be similar are The Black Dahlia and the red lipstick killer. The red lipstick killer’s victim had a message carved into her body.

I'm sure that I have read of similar mutilation in other cases, but I can't recall specifics right now. Maybe someone else will remember other incidents like this.

 

[PrairieWind]

-How long would it take to inflict the injuries we see in the autopsy report?

this is a very good question. I have not fully soaked in that autopsy report. But it seems like it would have taken a couple of minutes. This was not a a 30 second attack. I am still unclear about some of the injuries.

 

[PrairieWind]

I have not posted in a while because I wanted to take a break from thinking about this case. It hits close to home for me.
Anyway, I am still processing the autopsy report but there are a few things I would like to say:
- FAT -I knew about the letters from very early on but I did not know the F &A were separated from the T. Could that be significant? A couple of months ago i had an idea about an alternative meaning to the letters but I can not remember! Frustrating. Anyway, I wonder if the letters might have a different meaning other than body fat.
—the more I learn about this case the more I think that the timeline is off. The easiest explanation for this would be that 1209 timestamp at the crosswalk was really 1109.
Even then the timeline would be tight, imo.
——I read a few posts asking if Katie and Bowie could have been killed elsewhere and dropped where they were found. As far as I know there is no evidence of that and it goes against occam’s razar. But, I think they may have been killed somewhere else. My theory is that they were abducted/initially attacked closer to Henrys. This is only my speculation! There is no evidence to support it so please remember that.
———there would have been a tremendous amount of blood from all of those cuts. How could the killer have seen in the dark thru all of the blood to cut legible letters into flesh?
Thinking about this makes me sick and so very angry!!!

With in days of the attack, there were some message boards that say the works "FAT" or PHAT were carved in her. I'd like to know who knew that then. But I am perplexed. Part of the autopsy leads me to believe the letters were upside down? Is that incorrect? But I do agree that we should consider that the letters may be initials for something else.
I find it hard to believe she could have been killed too far away and transported here. She was not a petite woman, and the dog is also found in the immediate area. The video, or lack thereof, should speak volumes.
I find your theory on the time stamp on the rainbow crossing interesting. The photo I have seen with the time stamp looks odd. Almost superimposed. But without seeing an original it is impossible to tell. The police have still put this out as her crossing at 12:09. So if it was in incorrect timestamp, I think they would have known and corrected by now. But I do think it it is interesting.