Found Deceased IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 #11

[WhimsicalWillow]

Mollie’s case reminds me of Tarah Grinstead’s. Everything down to the small town, how the apartment didn’t have evidence of a struggle, and how all of her belongings were still the here. Also, both kind-hearted young women with bright futures.

Someone knew she would be alone in that BIG house (read: NOT apartment) that night, alone.

 

[Seattle1]

Still no mention by LE or in news articles regarding activity or no activity on MT's bank accounts?

Does no mention, ever, mean LE never bothered to investigate that aspect? If so, why?

With at least 15 FBI agents brought on board to analyze Mollie's "digital footprint," rest assured her bank account activity is still being monitored!

 

[otto]

I know this question wasn’t for me but I’ll chime in...

I do not have a Fitbit but I do have an Apple Watch and they work the same... the Fitbit info would not transmit info to the cell phone until it gets back within range. Example: if I take a walk without my phone but wear my watch, my steps/pulse/exercise activity will not update onto my phone until I get back within range.
Wanted to add: it will only transmit the info to whatever device it has been paired with + only if it’s powered on. Also, you cannot pair it to any device without having both the Fitbit/watch and the phone at the same time because you have to allow the connection.

Thank you. So range could be : within range of a cell phone, assuming that it has been "paired" with the cell phone. As long as Mollie's phone was turned on and within range of her fitbit, her fitbit data would be transmitted wifi to, for example, a laptop or ipad?

 

[PhoebeTries]

The Fitbit device does not have to be paired to record information from the person wearing the device but it does have to be paired to sync / upload data.

Yes, and I assume there are privacy conscious people with an unpaired fitbit. For me, that makes no sense because the only way to read the data would be live on the display. For example sleep data would not be available. Also the calories would be off because the lack of your specific weight etc.

 

[PhoebeTries]

Not necessarily to a laptop or tablet but to the cloud/fitbit server, which could be accessed from a laptop/tablet by someone who had the log in details.

Thank you. So range could be : within range of a cell phone, assuming that it has been "paired" with the cell phone. As long as Mollie's phone was turned on and within range of her fitbit, her fitbit data would be transmitted wifi to, for example, a laptop or ipad?

 

[otto]

The Fitbit device does not have to be paired to record information from the person wearing the device but it does have to be paired to sync / upload data.

Thank you for your help to understand how this works. So the Fitbit can connect to wifi as long as it is within range, and has been paired with another device that can receive the data, such as an ipad?

 

[Seattle1]

Yesterday morning I noticed what looked like a garbage bag caught in the branches of the blue spruce in my front yard. It was in fact a travel bag filled with several toques/winter hats, bungee cords, a flashlight, overalls, and other contents (probably stolen). Maybe something like that happened here, except the red t-shirt was there for perhaps 2 weeks before the lawn guy arrived?

Sounds like you found a discarded bag from a car prowl, or one that flew off a roof rack. The Brooklyn community is living, breathing, eating, Mollie's abduction, and I believe they're on high alert to report anything down to a wet sock. Although red t-shirt found has not been confirmed by LE, I don't think it's Mollie's Day Camp red t-shirt.

 

[ChuckMaureen]

With at least 15 FBI agents brought on board to analyze Mollie's "digital footprint," rest assured her bank account activity is still being monitored!

My point is, activity status has never been mentioned by LE.

 

[otto]

Sounds like you found a discarded bag from a car prowl, or one that flew off a roof rack. The Brooklyn community is living, breathing, eating, Mollie's abduction, and I believe they're on high alert to report anything down to a wet sock. Although red t-shirt found has not been confirmed by LE, I don't think it's Mollie's Day Camp red t-shirt.

If the red shirt is unrelated to Mollie, are we back to a farm search in Geurnsey that resulted in nothing, and still no understanding of when, where and why she vanished?

 

[Seattle1]

My point is, activity status has never been mentioned by LE.

I believe LE has made it abundantly clear they will neither confirm or deny any details for us so here we are giving it another go...!

 

[Seattle1]

If the red shirt is unrelated to Mollie, are we back to a farm search in Geurnsey that resulted in nothing, and still no understanding of when, where and why she vanished?

Exactly... and LE has made it abundantly clear that they will not confirm or deny any details for us...

 

[otto]

I believe LE has made it abundantly clear they will neither confirm or deny any details for us so here we are giving it another go...!

That doesn't mean we can't figure it out for ourselves.

 

[ChuckMaureen]

Thank you for your help to understand how this works. So the Fitbit can connect to wifi as long as it is within range, and has been paired with another device that can receive the data, such as an ipad?

MT's Fitbit (assuming Alta) is Bluetooth, not wifi. That Fitbit connects to the paired device via Bluetooth. The paired device may or may not use wifi to connect to the Internet, it may use the device's carrier network to connect.

Fitbit Connection Path simplified diagram :

Fitibt ---> Bluetooth paired device (say, iPhone) --> iPhone wifi OR iPhone carrier network --> Internet/Cloud.

The Bluetooth Fitbit device does not know about the Internet. It only knows to upload its data to the paired device. The paired device, running appropriate software, uploads the data to the Fitbit (company) servers.

 

[ChuckMaureen]

Yes, and I assume there are privacy conscious people with an unpaired fitbit. For me, that makes no sense because the only way to read the data would be live on the display. For example sleep data would not be available. Also the calories would be off because the lack of your specific weight etc.

A person who owns a Fitbit doesn't necessarily use all of its features so your mileage may vary.

 

[otto]

MT's Fitbit (assuming Alta) is Bluetooth, not wifi. That Fitbit connects to the paired device via Bluetooth. The paired device may or may not use wifi to connect to the Internet, it may use the device's carrier network to connect.

Fitbit Connection Path simplified diagram :

Fitibt ---> Bluetooth paired device (say, iPhone) --> iPhone wifi OR iPhone carrier network --> Internet/Cloud.

That makes sense. So here's the question : something led investigators to Geurnsey on July 26. It wasn't a red shirt. At the same time, investigators were claiming that she was alive because her Fitbit was transmitting some sort of data? Is it possible that the Fitbit and device de-synced in the Geurnsey area, and that's why searches are carried out in the area?

 

[ChuckMaureen]

That makes sense. So here's the question : something led investigators to Geurnsey on July 26. It wasn't a red shirt. At the same time, investigators were claiming that she was alive because her Fitbit was transmitting some sort of data? Is it possible that the Fitbit and device de-synced in the Geurnsey area, and that's why searches are carried out in the area?

I would assume it's either the last-known area where MT's iPhone pinged a cell site(s) OR the most-recent GPS location as reported by the iPhone... BUT, GPS data should be specific enough as to where LE should have been able to locate the iPhone by now; we're talking accuracy measured in maybe tens-of-feet/meters. No joy, so far, and that bothers me. Unless, of course, they did find the iPhone and are simply searching for more clues...

 

[otto]

I would assume it's either the last-known area where MT's iPhone pinged a cell site(s) OR the most-recent GPS location as reported by the iPhone.

Investigatively speaking, wouldn't the most interesting location be where the signal dropped? Would bluetooth to wifi connection pick up location?

The wifi would be picked up from triangulation, wouldn't it?

 

[ChuckMaureen]

Investigatively speaking, wouldn't the most interesting location be where the signal dropped? Would bluetooth to wifi connection pick up location?

The location of a signal-drop doesn't necessarily mean the device will be found at that location. If I turn off my phone at the 50-mile mark during a 100-mile drive that doesn't mean I threw my phone out the window at that point, but since this is (assumed) an abduction case nothing should be left to chance... look for the phone at 50 miles.

Note that 'bluetooth' and 'wifi' do not know from location. They are simply communication standards. Think of them as a method to relay someone's speech; the person says the words, the communication standards send them to somewhere else.

GPS data is the "speech", wifi transmits that "speech" to the Internet (in context). GPS data typically is very accurate.

Cellular-signal level triangulations are determined after-the-fact; technicians obtain logged information regarding static signal levels or level variances over time and process that data to estimate a location range... not very accurate.

 

[Seattle1]

I read a sketchy news report that somebody "mowing" turned in a shirt he found. I assumed he was "mowing hay," as in a pasture and not a lawn. Is there a location cited to clarify the "mowing?"

 

[Seekingtruth08]

If fbi got a warrant, that means they suspected a crime happened at that location or that location has evidence from a crime that has been committed. When did the fbi get involved, datewise? How long does it take to get fitbit data? I am surprised they allowed anyone back in the house. Maybe from the beginning they didnt think foul play? When was the sheriffs first post about Mollie? I wonder what was learned between her going missing and Monday the 23rd that led them to believe foul play. She couldve very well gotten back from her run, done homework, stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air or to open the door before getting the dogs for their last potty break in the yard (its hard to manuever two dogs as a little lady and open a door and you dont need glasses for that). I am so confused about what she was last wearing. I wish the sheriff would clarify that. Who here sits in dirty sweaty gym clothes? Not me. Although, i guess if it was just a walk, sure. (A supposed neighbor commented they had seen her just walking). But why would there be two sets of shorts missing? Confusing.