I read Roger told his wife of a work project in Cahokia, Illinois that would last a weekend. Instead he was planning to hang out with Rose off course.
That's very weird and confusing, don't you think? What destination they were pursuing? I think Roger was the one concerning the idea to stay at the Amana-Inn beforehand but he probably didn't thought the motel would be packed with a mortician convention. He surely thought they would check-in with no problem. But they got lucky and there was a last-minute cancellation, or should I say unlucky? What you're saying mcbrainder, puts us in the path of enigmatic questions and some possibilities: If they stopped out of the blue, how did the killer(s) knew where they were? They were following them? But how much time and since when? The only possibility I guess is that someone knew where they were thru someone, that directly or indirectly gave the place where they were staying. So, the 3 phone calls are very important to know about it. The two FROM the babysitter obviously implies that Rose had told her before leaving where they would stay, so the planning was indeed thought beforehand, even if neither of the two had phoned to the motel to book a room. The other call they say it was from a third party (unknown). The police must have checked this, and if they say it was unknown, we must eliminate the motel's calls.
I had heard the two calls were TO the babysitter. Maybe one to and one from? By the way, I'm getting confirmation on this, but in my notes on this, I had written that Rose may have made a call from the hotel bar. I can't even remember where I got that, but I noted it for a reason and it would fit the scenario I've been playing out.
I went ahead and put together a timeline from my notes and I'll add a few details I haven't mentioned.
On September 6th, Charles Ray Hatcher escapes from a Missouri institution.
In the previous week leading up to the murders, Roger had been in Kahoke for work, installing telephone lines with a crew.
Sometime during the week, days before the murder, Rose met Roger in Kahoke. She had met him a month before and they were having a relationship. It is rumored that Roger was also seeing another girl and may have even been engaged to her. His ex-wife was aware of his infidelities. Roger was divorcing his wife, but not sure where they were in the process.
Ex-wife had been babysitting two children, a boy and a girl. They liked Roger better than the wife. She told them they would all go visit Roger in Kahoke over the weekend.
Roger finished working Friday. He had to be back to work on Monday. Rose was starting a new job Monday and would have to leave Sunday. They planned on going to a touristy Amish event in the Amana colonies for the weekend.
Rose picked Roger up and Roger left his work vehicle at the work site.
They check in around 7:40. There had been a last minute cancellation.
They ordered room service around 9:00. (Unclear if that's when it arrived or when it was ordered)
Someone moved the car around 9:30.
Their bodies are found at 1:00 pm the next day after they miss a 12:00 check out time.
Somewhere in this time, at least Rose was at the bar and had a confrontation with the bartender. A call may have been made.
In addition, 3 incoming or outgoing calls were made from the hotel. At least 1 was to the babysitter. Other sources say 2.
Rose was fully clothed. Roger was in his undershorts. Both were lying face down with numerous lacerations to the back of the head that were caused by a 3 inch blade--possibly a roofer's hatchet. The covers were pulled over the bodies after the murder. The word "This" was written on the bathroom door out of soap, but was part of a larger message, most of what had been scrubbed out and couldn't be read. Toothpaste was left in the sink and tub. Two chairs were pulled up to the side of the bed that Roger was on as if a conversation took place. The person in the further seat had been carving soap and smoking cigarettes.
A few months after the murder, Roger's ex was remarried. Roger had 2 insurance policies on him. The hotel was also sued for 3 million and settled out of court.
Later, one of the children the ex had been babysitting said that Roger's wife changed the plan to visit Roger and instead, they visited someone else and were taken shopping.
I would LOVE to know who was at the bar, when they were at the bar, what the confrontation was about, and if a phone call was made.
Also of note, the room they were in was on the 2nd floor in the corner. An easy escape was provided by simply exiting the room, going down the steps, and out the side door.
