IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 *Arrest* #41

[kpm]

Or like some isolated abandoned buildings right along the way?

Could be but I think we would have seen LE doing a search of one, we only know they searched the house and trailer where he lived so far, but it could lead to other locations based on his phone map.

 

[MsBetsy]

It's a surveillance video. All have time stamps.
Perhaps you are thinking of cell phone triangulation ?

Yes, I'm not asking about the video at all. I thought digital foot print implied phone and fit bit data. And assumed cell phone towers only pertain to cell phone pings. Anyway, yes, I am asking about the accuracy of the location of the cellphone pings in regard to either the phone OR fitbit info. I have asked four different times in four diffeeent ways and still can't find the answer! Maybe no one has the answer here, but I am pretty sure someone said that pings can be off by a distance depending on which towers they bounce off or whatever they do. It was someone whose area of expertise is technology. So my question remains, Does the ping indicate an exact location or is it possible it can be off by 50 ft, 100 yards or whatever distance?

 

[kpm]

One thing that passed thru my mind and I do not think happened...and hope it did not...could Mollie have managed to escape the car near the cornfield and run out there, only to be chased and caught again. I only thought of this when discussions came up saying he could not have carried her that far.

But I believe he could and did carry her on his own and told no one what he had done until 8/20 when he was facing LE?

It’s a possibility, if he just disabled her and put her in the trunk she alive she could have tried to get away from him when he opened the trunk.

 

[cluciano63]

Every criminal has a first offense...and some are caught the first time. This guys fits that criteria to me by how quickly he told LE what they needed. Jmo

 

[MsBetsy]

This has been on my mind too. It makes me think LE thinks she was already passed before she was put in his car. Maybe? Jmo

I think so. Jmo

 

[otto]

Thanks to SharonNeedles for the correction - the suspect's home location is updated on this map.

I'm inclined to believe that the suspect took the most direct route between abduction and cornfield, then cornfield and his home.

 

[Bravo]

Poor Mollie, I'm sure she felt sheer terror. I just hope it was brief.

 

[otto]

Premeditation can be as short as circling back and forth looking for the opportunity to approach MT as he did.

We know there was more to it because he was seen on CCTV and then she was seen. He knew where she would be and waited for her. That tells us that the premeditation happened at the time that he learned her jogging route.

 

[MsBetsy]

Premeditation can be as short as circling back and forth looking for the opportunity to approach MT as he did.

I believe at the very least he was planning to do it for a few days. He had no reason to be there the day before, when he was driving around and saw her jogging. Why else would he be there?

 

[MsBetsy]

We know there was more to it because he was seen on CCTV and then she was seen. He knew where she would be and waited for her. That tells us that the premeditation happened at the time that he learned her jogging route.

Otto, are you able to answer my question about the cell phone pings concerning location?

 

[Sanz]

I believe the defense could easily challenge the reliability of the fitbit data.

ETA: Especially when someone has a pre-existing condition such as asthma.

Sure they could and even though I am an avid Fitbit user. You always have your doubts.

Police have started to use fitness trackers from companies such as Fitbit, Garmin and Jawbone, in court rooms as evidence.

Fitness trackers, and other smart devices such as smartwatches, are bound to join the long list of technology used in litigation.
https://www.google.com/amp/www.nyda...urt-evidence-article-1.2607432?outputType=amp

It is up to the Judge as to what is admissible.

Circuit Court Judge David Zakowski ruled Wednesday that prosecutors can present the Fitbit’s step-counting data to the jury but not its sleep-recording data.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.greenbaypressgazette.com/amp/1084388001

Fitbit Law Suit
The only thing I personally know about that is that strap must be firmly on your wrist. It can’t be loose.
The suit claims Fitbit's heart rate tracking tech is inaccurate
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.timeinc.net/time/4344675/fitbit-lawsuit-heart-rate-accuracy

 

[SharonNeedles]

I believe at the very least he was planning to do it for a few days. He had no reason to be there the day before, when he was driving around and saw her jogging. Why else would he be there?

Not meaning to sound snarky and sorry in advance if it comes across like that, but what exactly do you think he planned to do?

 

[kpm]

Thanks to SharonNeedles for the correction - the suspect's home location is updated on this map.

I'm inclined to believe that the suspect took the most direct route between abduction and cornfield, then cornfield and his home.

Wow, he lived closer than I thought

Could you add the spot where he worked or just tell me the vicinity?

Tia

 

[Deleted member 718]

We know there was more to it because he was seen on CCTV and then she was seen. He knew where she would be and waited for her. That tells us that the premeditation happened at the time that he learned her jogging route.

Maybe not waiting for her specifically. Waiting for someone. I posted an article today that says there are several runners in Brooklyn. I do think he was looking to 'hook up' with a female that evening.

 

[SharonNeedles]

Maybe not waiting for her specifically. Waiting for someone. I posted an article today that says there are several runners in Brooklyn. I do think he was looking to 'hook up' with a female that evening.

I agree with you 100% and then some.

 

[Peaches96]

Premeditation can be as short as circling back and forth looking for the opportunity to approach MT as he did.

I never knew this before following this thread and someone explained it to me. I always thought premeditation was a crime that was planned really far in advance.

 

[jillycat]

"With premeditation" is in the affidavit referencing that section of the Murder 1 statute so whether he plotted and planned to kill her for weeks, or decided during the course of the greater crime, he intended to do it according to LE.

 

[MsBetsy]

Not meaning to sound snarky and sorry in advance if it comes across like that, but what exactly do you think he planned to do?

Attack, assault, murder

 

[MsBetsy]

Does anyone know if there is any chance whatsoever if cell phone pings can be off slightly as opposed to an ( exact location) I thought I had read someone's post that depending on the towers , they may be off by as much as a mile. I'm not implying this is the case here, but is there some remote chance it could be off by about 100 yards or so? How much exactly and what does it depend on? This includes info from the fit bit data.

 

[otto]

Yes, I'm not asking about the video at all. I thought digital foot print implied phone and fit bit data. And assumed cell phone towers only pertain to cell phone pings. Anyway, yes, I am asking about the accuracy of the location of the cellphone pings in regard to either the phone OR fitbit info. I have asked four different times in four diffeeent ways and still can't find the answer! Maybe no one has the answer here, but I am pretty sure someone said that pings can be off by a distance depending on which towers they bounce off or whatever they do. It was someone whose area of expertise is technology. So my question remains, Does the ping indicate an exact location or is it possible it can be off by 50 ft, 100 yards or whatever distance?

Cell phones rely on cell tower triangulation. Beyond that, it really depends on the apps and other unique features of each phone.