IL - Krystal Tobias, 9, & Laura Hobbs, 8, found dead in Zion park, 8 May 2005 - #1

[richandfamous]

I think his dying daughter was looking up at him basically her eyes pleading "why, daddy? why?"
He had a surge of rage and stabbed her eyes.

he only stabbed Laura in the eyes.

"Hobbs, 34, told investigators he had gone out looking for his daughter between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday"

that's a long time to "hunt" for them in such a small town.

"Authorities said additional charges could still be filed in the girls' slayings but did not specify what those might be."

see where I'm going here?
maybe i'm wrong...but jmo

 

[golfmom]

I'm still thinking that he saw himself reflected in his own daughter's eyes and that set him off even further.

He had only been living with the family a few weeks. Laura looked like a fiesty girl and there was no evidence of sexual abuse at the crime scene. But, Hobbs has been unemployed and I wonder what other mischief he had gotten into.

 

[SauerKraut]

And one more thing, sorry for my long posts, I feel very strongly about this: YOU CANNOT THINK THAT PUNISHMENT TO PEOPLE LIKE THIS DETERS OTHERS FROM DOING IT! People like Hobbs, Couey, Davis, I can go on and on....do not rationalize with what we rational people think are rational. Their definition of justified is not ours. It's like trying to talk sense into your cat. They live in a whole different world. People that show signs like killing animals, or violent behavior, are sending out the smoke screens to the rest of us...."I cannot function in this society." We think we can make them. And we can't, most of them anyways. This guy sent out enough signals, Texas just set him free.

 

[PolkSaladAnnie]

Oh, he had beat them in the head first, I forgot about that part. This will not fly with the insanity defense. Why the hell was HE the one that found the bodies? He thinks he's smarter than anyone else, isn't that the case with these wackos going in and out of jail. Texas is famous for sending its castoffs elsewhere.........

Yes, insanity defense just flew out of the window.... the very fact he 'acted' as though he'd just 'disscovered' the bodies and then burst into tears and screaming "They're here!" when he knew all along PROVES he was covering up. And WHY cover up if you are unaware of what you did was wrong?

Over and above that, he may have taken grandpa to the park in case they found pollen, soil, foilage (etc) on his clothes. He may have scratches on him that he'd LATER attribute to searching in the rough bush.

Calculating brute! NOT remorseful at all ... instead he was out looking after his sorry @$$. He knew what he was doing ... no insanity defense about it.

 

[MsPooh]

he only stabbed Laura in the eyes.


that's a long time to "hunt" for them in such a small town.


see where I'm going here?
maybe i'm wrong...but jmo

I think I see where you are going and I REALLY hope that it does not turn out that way, to not only murder them but doing God only knows what to them in that window of time that he was "searching" for them, makes me sick to my stomach and I hate it that these monsters have made our world the way that it is.I can almost bet that we know what tyhe other charges will be.:furious:

 

[golfmom]

Yes, insanity defense just flew out of the window.... the very fact he 'acted' as though he'd just 'disscovered' the bodies and then burst into tears and screaming "They're here!" when he knew all along PROVES he was covering up. And WHY cover up if you are unaware of what you did was wrong?

Over and above that, he may have taken grandpa to the park in case they found pollen, soil, foilage (etc) on his clothes. He may have scratches on him that he'd LATER attribute to searching in the rough bush.

Calculating brute! NOT remorseful at all ... instead he was out looking after his sorry @$$. He knew what he was doing ... no insanity defense about it.

How else would he explain the forensics pointing to him unless he was the one who discovered their bodies? I bet he was crappin in his pants worried that the searchers would discover the girls before he could.

 

[richandfamous]

I'm still thinking that he saw himself reflected in his own daughter's eyes and that set him off even further.

He had only been living with the family a few weeks. Laura looked like a fiesty girl and there was no evidence of sexual abuse at the crime scene. But, Hobbs has been unemployed and I wonder whatever mischief he had gotten into.

yes, she looked like a fiesty girl with a defensive stance and the light had gone from her eyes. sad sad sad....

thx all for all the feedback and links and updates...i've got to do some work around here...later

 

[Becba]

It occurred to me that in all the discussion about what a potato knife was, it is not a pocket knife that can be closed and put in your pocket.
He said the girl pulled a knife on him. She certainly was not riding around all day with a knife that cannot be folded and placed in her pocket.
That knife had to be brought to the crime by him.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I was more making a reference to what someone had posted yesterday, that there was a question as to whether he was allowed to leave the state of Texas upon his release and they didn't really seem to care that he might have been violating some terms of his release.

That's just it. He wasn't violating any term of his release. He served his ENTIRE sentence. The state had nothing to say about where he went.

I watched something about Huntsville Prison not too long ago. Inmates being released said they wouldn't wish that place on their worst enemy - and these were guys serving a 2-5 years for first arrests for theft - baby stuff in comparision to murder/rape, etc. They said with the bus ticket they received upon leaving the prison, they were going as FAR away from Texas as possible because its so tough on crime. Something tells me this guy felt the same way.

Texas has the most prisons of any state in the U.S. and generally gives longer sentences for first offenders. If someone criminal wants to leave the state after serving his/her time, why should anyone not want to see him go?

I do agree with your statement about the prison system in general though. It needs some work. However, no one wants to pay for the programs.

 

[SauerKraut]

That's just it. He wasn't violating any term of his release. He served his ENTIRE sentence. The state had nothing to say about where he went.

I do agree with your statement about the prison system in general though. It needs some work. However, no one wants to pay for the programs.

The problem is that they do no follow up to see how these people do after being released. He served a sentence yes, and I don't know how the system works exactly, but wasn't he on some kind of probation as terms of his release? No one wants to pay, yeah but who is paying for his defense now, please tell me this? It's so screwed up. You can't put an already angry guy in jail and expect him to not be angrier upon release. The system amazes me.

As far as him looking for the girls, hunting them it seems, THIS GIRL WAS EITHER MOLESTED OR PREVIOUSLY BEATEN UP BY HIM, no doubt about that. The mother needs to get off her &*$#ss and fess up and stop protecting him (and herself.) She is not 100% innocent here. It will come out, either from the other siblings or friends. I doubt Laura didn't tell someone, not just Krystal. This whole thing is more complicated than just her being allowed to go off grounding. Something more was going on in that house. Come on Mom, fess up. Put down the Krispy Kremes and spill the beans.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

The problem is that they do no follow up to see how these people do after being released. He served a sentence yes, and I don't know how the system works exactly, but wasn't he on some kind of probation as terms of his release? No one wants to pay, yeah but who is paying for his defense now, please tell me this? It's so screwed up. You can't put an already angry guy in jail and expect him to not be angrier upon release. The system amazes me.

As far as him looking for the girls, hunting them it seems, THIS GIRL WAS EITHER MOLESTED OR PREVIOUSLY BEATEN UP BY HIM, no doubt about that. The mother needs to get off her &*$#ss and fess up and stop protecting him (and herself.) She is not 100% innocent here. It will come out, either from the other siblings or friends. I doubt Laura didn't tell someone, not just Krystal. This whole thing is more complicated than just her being allowed to go off grounding. Something more was going on in that house. Come on Mom, fess up. Put down the Krispy Kremes and spill the beans.

So, you want the State of Texas to follow this guy to another state to check up on him???? He was released - NO parole, no probation, nothing. He served his time and he was released. Period. He paid his so-called "debt" to the state and left.

I agree that the girl was most likely his victim before that day and the mother needs to do get her chit together.

 

[LovelyPigeon]

Sauerkraut, I think Hobbs had received a sentence of probation for the chainsaw assault but broke the probation and was therefore sent to prison for 2 years.

I haven't read that any kind of probation was assigned him after he served the 2 years.

I think you use "no doubt about that" just as an expression but of course there is doubt that Laura had ever been molested or beaten by anyone previous to her murder.

 

[lady-eowyn]

I think you use "no doubt about that" just as an expression but of course there is doubt that Laura had ever been molested or beaten by anyone previous to her murder.

You must have been reading my mind...I don't think anyone knows what might have happened before that night, except Hobbs...and Laura..and Laura can't tell us (LE might know something, but it isn't public knowledge)

 

[golfmom]

The problem is that they do no follow up to see how these people do after being released. He served a sentence yes, and I don't know how the system works exactly, but wasn't he on some kind of probation as terms of his release? No one wants to pay, yeah but who is paying for his defense now, please tell me this? It's so screwed up. You can't put an already angry guy in jail and expect him to not be angrier upon release. The system amazes me. .

Especially considering he was placed in prison for violating the terms of his probation including ANGER management classes.

As far as him looking for the girls, hunting them it seems, THIS GIRL WAS EITHER MOLESTED OR PREVIOUSLY BEATEN UP BY HIM, no doubt about that. The mother needs to get off her &*$#ss and fess up and stop protecting him (and herself.) She is not 100% innocent here. It will come out, either from the other siblings or friends. I doubt Laura didn't tell someone, not just Krystal. This whole thing is more complicated than just her being allowed to go off grounding. Something more was going on in that house. Come on Mom, fess up. Put down the Krispy Kremes and spill the beans.

I guess we'll be able to tell as time goes on, but I don't think she was beaten or molested by him. I think Laura hadn't seen him in over two years, he hadn't supported her family financially, and she (Laura) probably had zero respect for him. I think the whole thing is more complicated though and hopefully more details will come out over time.

I get angry every time I hear the quote about her being a discipline problem. WTF was he then? he couldn't follow society's basic rules ... not even registering his car.

 

[GrannyEdith]

Perhaps he said that the knife was Krystal's so that it wouldn't look like he brought it with him. As in "Premeditation". He's certainly been around the court system long enough to figure out the implications that would have.

Just a thought :waitasec:

Granny

 

[golfmom]

Perhaps he said that the knife was Krystal's so that it wouldn't look like he brought it with him. As in "Premeditation". He's certainly been around the court system long enough to figure out the implications that would have.

Just a thought :waitasec:

Granny

Well it's a darn good thought.

 

[kgeaux]

Unreal that this guy would say one of the girls had the knife! Even if they did....that is some justification? This guy sounds like he's had a life of rage and he was probably doing everything in his power to hold it in while getting back into their lives. Trying to force himself to be the nice guy with her family and that. Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time before it would get out on somebody! He sounds like a control freak that had to pick on someone smaller than him that he could overpower.

Still think the guy is mildly retarded.

What is the family THINKING defending him? Are they nuts??? :bang:

I think he thinks that if one of the girls had the knife and threatened him with it, thereby "forcing" him to grab the knife.....then it won't be premeditated. He probably thinks that his sentence will be less. What a total jerk this guy is. And the family? I cannot fathom that they would be defending him at this point. Maybe they're as bad as him.

edited to add: shoulda read the whole thread before replying. Golfmom beat me to it!

 

[Jeana (DP)]

DOES ANYONE THINK THIS THREAD IS TOO LONG?? If you want me to start a second one, lemme know.

 

[joanofarc]

Okay...here is a theory for you (my thoughts on why he might of stabbed her eyes):

Jerry had recently rejoined his family upon being released from prison. It was reported he tried to get a job but had no state card. Until he had returned from prison I believe mom would have been in charge of all the family money. It was reported Laura stole $40 from her mom and spent it while in the company of Krystal....(I would be interested if Laura had ever taken money before now)....... IMO...Jerry took the money for drugs/booze or "whatever" and placed the blame entirely on his daughter...just so mom wouldn't think he was "up to no good"...perhaps Laura knew that her dad took the money and threatened to expose the "scum" for what he was to her mother.....this festered in him all day long....especially when he found out the mom had relieved her from her grounding and let her go out and play.....loss of control for the FREAK!!

It was reported he went looking for the girls from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and to me this indicates that supper was probably being prepared somewhere around this time...and I surmise that maybe Jerry asked where Laura was and her mom told him she released her to go play. Upon hearing this information I believe that his anger/fear could of boiled over and he grabbed a paring knife that was in plain view on the kitchen counter and headed out the door....

If you believe this is a possibility then it is a clear indication of premeditation of murder to me.....

 

[golfmom]

Okay...here is a theory for you (my thoughts on why he might of stabbed her eyes):

Jerry had recently rejoined his family upon being released from prison. It was reported he tried to get a job but had no state card. Until he had returned from prison I believe mom would have been in charge of all the family money. It was reported Laura stole $40 from her mom and spent it while in the company of Krystal....(I would be interested if Laura had ever taken money before now)....... IMO...Jerry took the money for drugs/booze or "whatever" and placed the blame entirely on his daughter...just so mom wouldn't think he was "up to no good"...perhaps Laura knew that her dad took the money and threatened to expose the "scum" for what he was to her mother.....this festered in him all day long....especially when he found out the mom had relieved her from her grounding and let her go out and play.....loss of control for the FREAK!!

It was reported he went looking for the girls from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and to me this indicates that supper was probably being prepared somewhere around this time...and I surmise that maybe Jerry asked where Laura was and her mom told him she released her to go play. Upon hearing this information I believe that his anger/fear could of boiled over and he grabbed a paring knife that was in plain view on the kitchen counter and headed out the door....

If you believe this is a possibility then it is a clear indication of premediation of murder to me.....

You might really have something here with the idea that Laura told her mom that her dad took the money. edited to add: from what I've been hearing she was accused of taking the money, but no one is saying that she actually did take it.

Also, Laura left her home around 3:00 p.m and her curfew was 7:00 p.m.