You aren't kidding about the ambiguous wording. Confusing language has been the mantle of LE since reporting on this case started. This last bit of news really has me scratching my head.
I wonder if this is the same report that nokeofduke mentioned as a rumor he'd heard. NoD- you out there ? Have any more details on this ?
And this bothers me. Alot. I was afraid that LE might not have had a grip on what turned out to be a/ the crime scene.
WBBM article, video & radio clips in the new developments vav a POI
http://bit.ly/bhvDxi
I have no info on the other fires if any. Only the mention about the one by a woman that I did not know prior to today. I do notice the Public Request for fire info followed the rumour int. I would ask also if anyone last took photos of the bonfire sites. Janet mentioned that the others looked recent too. She was more concerned about Bonfire 3 which didn't have much evidence of LE action yet the wood is more charred there than anywhere else. The public might have photos of these sites prior to the scene being roped off last week. Many might be scared of prosecution of fire violations so something would have to be done. I see bonfire photos on several kids FB and Myspace. I was thinking that some timeline and examination of these bonfire photos might show other clues.
Another issue was a scenario proposed here by another. Rape, Kill. Stash. Come back later to burn. Maybe at night. It would be nice to tie a past example of this happening in another case. It seems pausible. The CSI effect is causing people not to want DNA anywhere.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v395/jackhartmann/Janet/NIU missing student October 2010/ has photos of the five bonfires sites between the upper paved trail and the Kish river. The other two I could not take due battery fading. Bonfire #2 is where I would suspect the remains were found but I am not as strong since further review of the bonfire 3 photos.
AS for why would a killer show the fires?
I rem a fire chief who lit up places he visited. He then went to them and explain how the residue pattern and burn marks showed the fires origin. Yet he was the source of these fires. I know the case is out there, but as a fire protection engineer, the whole idea of a FC starting fires was a shock.
So the lingering questions on the PoI that i have are?
P1 - did the person burn themselves as said happens often.
P2 - what was the accelerant. My exp is that gasoline fires singe the trees in a huge bonfire. I hope LE documented the area above and residue was collected to verify the chemical traces.
P3 - Did the person borrow a relatives car so the charge is unauthorized vs. stolen?
P4 - was this person a townie resident, student, or transient.
P5 - Where did the person live? work? By the Junction?
P6 - How did the person carry the accelerant in? I saw a NIU student today carry a nice photo bag today in Prairie park and it was a size of a cooler. Easily could hold two gallons. The amount to start a bonfire is only a cup at best of kerosine. Even matches or flint/steel work. So why have the extra there? That would require preplanning or several trips to the nearest gas station. The Amoco on Rt 38/ lincoln hwy would have video and receipts. Same for the Speedway on South Fourth Street. I am not so sure for the Marathon on Pearl and 38.
p7 - I saw much bottlecaps from beer bottles and cans. not much food trash though in the time I was in the park today. There are garbage cans along the paved path. I hope they were checked.
p8 - The people who get questioned by police exhibit a wide variety of emotions. Many are trained in body language. I have seen several cases where some detective hinted that they might be involved to gauge the body language. It is not foolproof, but often makes prioiritizing people to re-interview again. If this person was young and not much interaction, the internal stress could cause the flight. The person overthinks the scenario and panics. Sorta like the celeb in the White Bronco in the 1990's.
p9 - Recently in IL, we have had numerous people put in jail, accused or convicted of a crime where DNA or other proof exonerated them. Everyone is innocent till proven guilty. The honey bee killer got 2 weeks extra and now is free due to the exonerated officer being charged erroneously. That case now has no leads.
p10 - Did the PoI have his apartment, place searched. Computer? Souvenirs? Stalking pattern? Prior arrests? Social media posts?
I will be doing a 16 hour jaunt to Cleveland and back Friday so won;t have net access. Text at 756 NUKE works tho if you need to get a text answer. I won't be answering the phone for most via plane and a site which will in all likelihood make me turn it off or surrender..,
Thanks for all the great thoughts here.
Why would he call attention to himself? This is really messed up.
