LA - Mickey Shunick, 21, Lafayette, 19 May 2012 - #7

[charminglane]

Just thinking that there might be video of Mickey that hasn't been released that has her pedaling very fast or looking behind her--acting in an extremely aware way.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

Its tough to look back because, as they say, hindsight is 20/20....but I do wish the parents had attempted to report Mickey missing on Saturday morning. I also understand the delay. My husband and I delayed calling LE about our son for about 10 hours. We just kept thinking we would find him. We kept thinking...he missed work because he lost track of time or he went to a friend's house and fell asleep. Of course, we knew that wasn't the case but its amazing what your mind does to you. Calling LE to report your child missing, an older child, is difficult. You simply don't want to believe something is wrong.

The bad thing is that precious time is lost.

Of course, even when LE is called, there are often delays on their part due to statistics, she'll turn up, etc. Sometimes things just are what they are. It appears LE has been working hard to solve this case. There is no one to blame but the bad guy - whoever that turns out to be.

 

[whatsthatnoise]

I've been reading and keeping up with this for about 3 days now. I've only recently been granted the ability to post so I'd like to share my thoughts/opinions/views.

1. I wish people would quit critisizing the victim for riding her bike at night. This was her means of transportation whether it be cause its what she could afford or what she preferred. She obviously understood the risks, as she carried mace. It is not her friend's fault for not stepping in and stopping her from leaving on her bike. It wasn't raining, she wasn't drunk, there was no reason for alarm or hesitation. Hindsight is always 20/20

2. Its frustrating not knowing exactly what block or alley or parking lot the 'incident' took place. If she was hit and knocked off her by from a vehicle from behind (which makes the most sense to me), one would think that there would be blood on the sidewalk or gravel, no matter how minute. She would have scraped her hands at the very least, possibly her head. Now going along those assumptions, would she have been struck hard enough to render her unconscious? Cause if so, that would definitely cause blood loss, or shred of clothing to maybe rip and get left behind. I think it rained last Monday so I guess if there was some trace evidence it would be washed away.

3. What reason would the police have for NOT wanting to release more pictures of the trucks or car, if there are in fact more? It seems that finding these vehicles would be of utmost importance as they are the only confirmed vehicles in the area. The picture of the Cadillac in front of the apartment complex appears to be approaching an oncoming vehicle in the top right corner of the picture, but really all I can see is headlights.

4. I personally think that this is a case of 'wrong place/wrong time' for both Mickey and the driver. I think the driver is a local because St Landry and Versailles aren't roads that a person not from here would be traveling on (just my opinion). I think he might have prior DUIs or possible warrants and couldn't have another go on his record. He may have not seen her, struck her, then doubled back down the road to see if she was okay and panicked when he realized what he did. He could have wanted to do the right thing, but being worried about losing driver's license or something along those lines prevented him from taking her to the hospital or calling police. Then this begs the question of 'Why not just hit and run her?" Maybe he thought the Cadillac saw him (assuming the perp is the truck) and didn't want to be seen leaving the scene of the crime.

Just a few thoughts.....Of course I have no idea what transpired. I'm just speculating as everyone else it.

 

[JurysOut]

IMO she went willingly because something would have been found of hers on the ground. Anyone remember Kristi Cornwell? She went for a walk in a very rural area and was talking to her BF on her cell. She told her BF a car was following her. Later they found her sneaker and her eyeglasses on the ground. Maybe MS knows this person and trusted him. Also with Cornwell case, LE knew who the suspect was because HIS cell pinged at a nearby tower. Im hoping LE knows more and they find her safe.

The Cornwell case is what made me think of the bump and snatch scenario.

I'm thinking a bicyclist probably carries everything zipped up or pocketed, without a lot of loose stuff to drop.

Then again, I'm not a bicyclist.

 

[wfgodot]

Hello and welcome to WS, whatsthatnoise.

 

[wfgodot]

The Cornwell case is what made me think of the bump and snatch scenario.

I'm thinking a bicyclist probably carries everything zipped up or pocketed, without a lot of loose stuff to drop.

Then again, I'm not a bicyclist.

Very good point.

 

[Wondergirl]

Bloomington, Indiana police have contacted Louisiana authorities to investigate similarities between the disappearanes of Lauren Spierer and Mickey Shunick.

http://www.indystar.com/article/201...t-cases?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com

Both women are petite blonde college students, traveling alone at night/early A.M hours.

A white four door newer model pickup truck was seen by surviellance cameras near both women at the time of their disappearance. In the Spierer case, the white truck was seen circling the block twice, and police later identified the driver and said he was not a person of interest.

However unlikely, maybe there were two white pickups, or the driver's story was false?

Probably just some amazing coincidences, but creepy nonetheless.

Oh, no.

 

[Foxfire]

Facts are facts. Statistics are statistics. And profiling saves lives. Sorry if I offended you but this is not a time to be politically correct.

I agree, jbiggoose. In my eyes the predator/s that abducted should face justice, and Mickey Schunick deserves a competent investigation..Justice is blind.
We have been discussing Derrick Todd Lee, who incidentally was a black serial killer.
As a firefighter in Atlanta in the 1980s, I was stationed near where a beautiful girl was abducted, raped, & murdered by a gang of psychopaths. An APD officer pulled up next to them at a red light, yet didn't pursue his suspicions due to pc. Julie Love, was in the floorboard with the abductor's foot on her neck.

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/julie-love-case-baffled-814366.html
Julie Love case baffled Atlanta police for a year

 

[LanieCoz]

I really feel dumping the bike was a diversionary tactic to fool LE into believing they're headed eastbound and dropped the bike on the way. It's my take that she's being held in Lafayette.

Why not keep the bike hidden with her? Because by dumping it they hopefully take some heat off. I believe if she were dead LE would have found a body also.

Makes no sense to dump just the bike if that were the case.

I've only been to Lafayette a handfull of times, and when I travel there I take I-10 West bound because I'm coming from the Hammond area. So, obviously I travel over the Atchafalaya Basin and I have to say, IMO, I wouldn't discount that she may no longer be alive and not have been placed in the water. I know their have been searches for her in the water there and on the grounds, but what about the wildlife getting to her? For example, alligators, would they drag her underwater, what would they leave behind? I'm pretty illiterate on these topics. I'm guess there were no underwater searches for her? Is that even possible in an area that has alligators? I'm guessing not, but I have no idea.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

I would like to read that... in my last year of doctoral school so I don't have a lot of time to read for pleasure but when I do I will check it out. APD is not that uncommon, but it is important to remember that not everyone with the disorder is a serial killer or rapist. Most people, myself included, have a hard time understanding what it would be like to live without feeling for others but it's amazing (and frustrating as a therapist) to talk to someone who can not describe a scenario in their life where they felt guilt.

And then there are those, mostly woman, who feel guilty if the other person stubs their own toe!

Mickey's case on Nancy Grace NOW.

 

[wfgodot]

I agree, jbiggoose. In my eyes the predator/s that abducted should face justice, and Mickey Schunick deserves a competent investigation..Justice is blind.
We have been discussing Derrick Todd Lee, who incidentally was a black serial killer.
As a firefighter in Atlanta in the 1980s, I was stationed near where a beautiful girl was abducted, raped, & murdered by a gang of psychopaths. An APD officer pulled up next to them at a red light, yet didn't pursue his suspicions due to pc. Julie Love, was in the floorboard with the abductor's foot on her neck.

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/julie-love-case-baffled-814366.html
Julie Love case baffled Atlanta police for a year

The discussion of Derrick Todd Lee is incidental at this point in time to a discussion based on the facts of what we know of Mickey's disappearance; it does not open the door to make statements of a racial nature.

Not saying this is your intent here; rather, just issuing a caution to all who read and post on this thread.

 

[Wondergirl]

Police probe similarities between 2 cases -- Lauren Spierer, Michaela 'Mickey' Shunick both missing

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/indiana&id=8679275

 

[JurysOut]

And then there are those, mostly woman, who feel guilty if you, the other person, stubs their toe!

Mickey's case on Nancy Grace NOW.

I like to pay attention to who's using the past tense when speaking of the victim.

 

[concentric]

IMO, Mickey stood her ground on that bike. That is what has been stressed all these years in self-defense scenarios for people who ride bikes: Don't let go of the bike because it's much more difficult to pick you up. Therefore, the perp. had to get both her and the bike at once.

As I see it: In the first photo of the white truck following, there is the image of a car's headlights through the trees turning and following as the white truck sits in the lane. It appears to be the car in question. That's JMO at the moment.

 

[wfgodot]

I like to pay attention to who's using the past tense when speaking of the victim.

Interesting. I admit I always notice (but then I'm an English teacher and might be considered weird that way, lol). I don't find verb tense to be indicative of guilt or innocene; how people frame responses at times of stress in their lives, e.g. a loved one gone missing, is not, in my opinion, an sufficient indicator.

Many in LE would disagree though.

 

[Ven]

Wondergirl I think it's more likely that the Indiana police are just trying to get their case back in the public's attention, and with no other leads to go on doesn't hurt to investigate.

Certainly some similarities, but probably only a super small chance they are connected.

 

[oddball62983]

From KSLA:

Crews had been combing through the area since fishermen found the 22-year-old's bike submerged in the water underneath I-10 Sunday.

(not much more) at link: http://www.ksla.com/story/18639942/shunick-search-called-off-in-whiskey-bay


(first time I've heard anything about the bike being in the water vs. on land, etc)
And of course take it with a grain of salt, MSM reporting and all that.

im running a bit behind on the thread, so just now seeing this, but i wouldnt trust anything KSLA writes up. they frequently report inaccurate information. (my local news station unfortunately) their actual live newscasts are pretty good though. it could be true though, just my two cents. : )

 

[Billiam]

So what does it tell us? Any ideas?

Yes, the fact that the search was called off due to a lack of evidence, is indicative of a suspect who was trying to get rid of evidence. Whether there is a link between Whiskey Bay's grizzly history and her bike being found there is speculation. However, the suspect certainly must have dropped the bike and moved on. Wherever LE thinks they may have went, the search will follow. Mickey is still out there somewhere and whoever did this must be brought to justice.... SO FRUSTRATING!

 

[JurysOut]

Interesting. I admit I always notice (but then I'm an English teacher and might be considered weird that way, lol). I don't find verb tense to be indicative of guilt or innocene; how people frame responses at times of stress in their lives, e.g. a loved one gone missing, is not, in my opinion, an sufficient indicator.

Many in LE would disagree though.

I noticed one person close to the case using the phrase "Mickey was...." within 3 days of her disappearance. It seemed rather odd in context.

 

[whatsthatnoise]

In regards to the bike, I would think that the perp would have dumped both Mickey and the bike at the same time, if she was in fact already dead. He had a reason to bring the bike to Whiskey Bay (a place that I believe only a local or someone familair with the area would be drawn to), I just can't figure it out. Is she still alive and being kept for sexual reasons to the perp? Is she being held hostage until he figures out what to do about the situation he's gotten himself into? Surely she has seen his face and knows even if he brought her to a public place, she would give a full description of his appearance and location. I am thinking that if she was dead and dumped in a different location than the bike, decomposition would have occured by now and someone would have found her. Why would he do a good job of hiding the body from being found, look how he dumped the bike