I saw the episode too. "Baffling" is the word. And sad.I've got some lingering questions too, KristiA. A few reflections/questions for you guys:
Convenience store~
I just went back a few pages ("JerseyGirl"'s Post #59) to look at the 9 p.m. video of him in the store that last night...I don't know exactly what I was looking for, but I was wondering how he appeared. It's hard to really tell from that brief video of him, but I wanted to see it, nontheless. Anything strike you guys at all about that snippet, with him in the store? (He *was* in actual PJ pants...being that he was {apparently} feeling sick and that the store was just around the corner from his house, probably can't glean much from that I guess, but I did want to see if he changed into sweatpants or something, before going to the store). A question I had: he called his GF at the convenience store (to ask about extra things to pick up), so was it that she was not home when he left for the store? I think I'm confused on why he wouldn't have asked her about what to pick up at the store before leaving their house. I'm just trying to get some insight into how he was thinking that evening, but I'm not completely getting the timing on this one. Probably just me...I may have missed this aspect with the program.
Cellphone~
Also, I thought the ID show mentioned his cell showed a 28-second call that went to his girlfriend's voicemail sometime that night/in the wee hours. I thought it was mentioned that they weren't sure if it was just that he sat on his phone and it dialed to his GF (when he was on the sofa and she was in bed), or if he actually left a message on purpose for her (think that would be odd/significant to leave her a message on her cell at that time, so I'm curious on the time of that call and hope LE has a clear analysis of that call, to be able to hear if he said anything)...being that his phone was located in their home, at least it's clear that the call was made (accidentally or not) in their home. Please let me know if I got any of this wrong.
Details bugging me~
I agree about no way of knowing if something was going on with him (it apears those closest to him saw no clues on anything like that)...there *seemed* to be many positives: new house; upcoming work project with a higher level of responsibility; close to graduating, etc. But he could have been stressed/depressed or hiding something from his loved ones. With the report of the gunshot wound and his gun missing, that really does sound like suicide. But...
I know this is such a small thing, but the door to the house being left open is bothering me (the door that his GF pointed out was left open -- she said they always exited the house from that lower-level door). Here is what bugs me: even if his intention was to leave the house and, sadly, commit suicide...would anybody who was thoughtful enough to call his GF and ask what he could pick up at the store (when sick and/or even in a suicidal frame of mind) be a person who would then leave a door (accessing the house) wide open like that? Believe me, I'm not making a statement on someone in a possibly suicidal mindset being irresponsible to leave the door open. I am just wondering if it would *still* be unusual that he left the door open (for safety of GF, and I also noticed they have a dog, so I guess also thought to closing it to not let the dog out) -- I'm wondering if he still would just automatically have closed the door. I know it's a quirky thing to ponder, but we are often creatures of habit...so if he would typically close the door, it seems like he would still do that. So it opens up (no pun intended) some doubt for me. Did he step outside and intended to return? Did something else happen?
But I'm trying to think this all out in a logical way, and that just doesn't always work in these cases, as we all know. Obviously, if it's correct that he sustained a gunshot wound and his gun is missing -- and the dogs hit on his scent at a dock, as well as there being someone caught on surveillance around the time he may have been walking toward the lake -- well, that all does seem to point more toward self-harm.
Despite that, the other thing gnawing at me is if he was feeling ill (and/or was in such a sad/bad) frame of mind, staying up playing video games into the wee hours seems so "off" to me. But again, I'm trying to make this make sense...and it's impossible to understand another's thought processes unless they reveal them to someone. It's just hard for me to imagine someone playing video games lying on a sofa then (seemingly) putting themselves into a lake later that night. You're playing video games, and you're knowing that you're going to later walk to a lake and end your life? Or you suddenly decide to do that, while playing video games? It's so hard to take either in, for me. The only other thing I wondered is if he took medication that caused a very awful, bizarre reaction.
Anyway, very sad...and my thoughts, FWIW.
Wow! Really great post! I am actually watching the episode for the 3rd time as I am typing this. Here are my thoughts:
As far as the convenience store trip, I did not find anything unusual. The fact that he was talking to his girlfriend about items to purchase is normal in my world. (My husband can go to the store with a given list and still call me with questions while there.)
Watching the episode now, I believe it was stated that the 28 second vm was just minutes before the girlfriend saw him for the last time. I am guessing that call took place somewhere between 3:15-3:30 AM. It could have very well been an accidental call (I "butt dial" or "purse dial" people all the time and leave muffled voicemails). I am curious to know what "few words" you could hear on the message though.
I am not sure what to make of the door being partially open. The girlfriend did demonstrate that you have to apply some pressure to close it and it appears that it wouldn't open on it's own. Perhaps, he didn't close it hard in fear of waking up their dogs and causing them to bark? I have two dogs and any little noise, especially in a quiet house would cause them to bark.
I only see two options at this point, suicide or murder. The fact that it is reported that he had a gunshot wound, the idea of him accidently falling into the lake is no longer a possibility, obviously. I am sure LE enforcement knows if the bullet recovered from his body, matches the same kind of bullets his gun used. With how little they have released since February, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they have actually recovered the weapon. IMO, I think if it's determined that he was shot with his own gun, it will almost definitely be ruled suicide.