GUILTY MI - April Millsap, 14, Armada, 24 July 2014 #1

[JLSChook]

Seriously, who has time to text: “Omg. Wtf. I think I’m being kidnapped.”, if they are being kidnapped?

Doesn't that strike anyone else as extremely odd?

 

[Lovejac]

Seriously, who has time to text: “Omg. Wtf. I think I’m being kidnapped.”, if they are being kidnapped?

Doesn't that strike anyone else as extremely odd?

I do kind of. But, I was thinking. If I was walking on a trail and I saw a van on it, I might think that same thing. But I wouldn't stop to text. I would maybe take a pic of the van and then text it, but I would haul tail sfterwards.

 

[tlcya]

the text is odd. But then this is a teen who may live and breath texting.

I wonder if she was half joking after seeing something that was unusual or troubling or a vehicle seemed to be following her.

Otherwise she would I think have texted something more urgent and descriptive (such as dirty white van, two guys!!!! help!!) The OMG would seem to make it a lighter or more puzzled text than frightened.

Kind of like when I say I have a horrible headache an my friend says "probably a tumor - brain cancer" As a means to lighten me up and remind me things could be worse. Now if one day I end up with brain cancer my friend is going to feel like chit.

I think she noticed something odd or off that made her uncomfortable. But blew it off and tried to make it funny. Laughed at herself for being silly in a way by sending that text. Also a way to reach out to see if BF would respond. So she would feel like he was there, attentive, with her if anything further made here feel funky.

 

[vasportsmom]

Seriously, who has time to text: “Omg. Wtf. I think I’m being kidnapped.”, if they are being kidnapped?

Doesn't that strike anyone else as extremely odd?

Yes, I hope that was contrived by a silly teenager that will soon return home. The other option is terrifying ...

 

[ttcRider]

Seriously, who has time to text: “Omg. Wtf. I think I’m being kidnapped.”, if they are being kidnapped?

Doesn't that strike anyone else as extremely odd?

I know its hard to say what anyone would text in that situation but you would think more along the lines of 'some guy is creeping me out' or I would just use the phone to talk and let the person know I am on the phone talking not just texting??

 

[vasportsmom]

I know its hard to say what anyone would text in that situation but you would think more along the lines of 'some guy is creeping me out' or I would just use the phone to talk and let the person know I am on the phone talking not just texting??

Yes, if you really think you're about to be kidnapped typing (or better yet calling) 911 is a much better option.

My teens are sleeping so I can't ask them but I'm pretty sure they would laugh off her text thinking it was a joke. They prob would have long since deleted it by the time anyone realized something was wrong.

 

[catatonia]

Does anyone have a map of the area where she was found?

I'm thinking of surveillance cameras. Not in the woods of course, but subject to the condition that there are stores nearby, cameras could have captured someone behaving suspiciously?

 

[tlcya]

need to go back and read. See if her phone was found with her body.

Always possible the text was from her killer. Maybe wanting her found quickly or at least people looking quickly.

Last night I watched Dateline and the case on there was about Michelle Le. Her killer was a jealous female who then used her phone to send lots of texts to her friends after she went missing, attempting to throw worried family and friends off.

 

[gam]

I live very close to Armada. I go out to Armada about once a week to the Orchards, vegetable stands and a Dairy. Small town, woods, farms, orchards. It's been built up a bit, not as many farms, some nicer homes, but still pretty remote.

The Nature Trail, starts in my town, it is not meant for cars, it's for bikes, joggers, walkers and such. You would not catch me on it alone, but then I read way to much true crime. On our last trip out there, as we were driving past where the road crosses the path, we both looked down the path and went while beautiful sure is spooky and we would not enter alone. The trail was put in to give people a way of enjoying nature safely, most the roads in this area are 2 lane, dirt shoulders, ditches running along them, so very hard to ride a bike or walk along side of the roads. But it's really not safe to be using the trail alone. We've gone on it as a family, but never as far as Armada, long haul even by bike. Lots of people use with dirt bikes, atv's and snowmobiles in the winter, but it really was not even meant for motor vehicles of any kind.

Her text, I would assume comes from possibly seeing that van on the path, cars are not suppose to be on it. Perhaps it came up from behind, perhaps it passed her and turned around. If the person was on foot and near here, lots of things they could of been doing to spook her. She was 14, hard to compare what you would do compared to her age and even then you never know if you got scared what you would do.

I don't believe there is anyone is this area missing, short term missing would never make the paper. Armada is the northern part of Macomb County, as is the other spot mentioned for a possible missing person Washington township. Washington is a bit more built up, but the northern part of it is just like Armada, farms, orchards, woods. There was a woman that was killed in Washington Township, hit and run and I don't believe they have yet found the person responsibility. I do some digging around and see if I find anything.

 

[tlcya]

Only info on where she was found that I have found so far is Fulton Rd near Depot Rd. In google maps (which I am not good at since they changed them yet again - sigh) the walking/biking trail runs along Depot Rd. At that area it appears to be a mix of residential and industry. Depot dead-ends at its intersection with Fulton. I am not seeing drainage ditches in that general area but am noticing work vehicles in the vicinity so I would not think a van would have caused notice, had it not been on the trail/bikepath.

 

[tlcya]

thank you gam, so happy to have local perspective.

 

[tlcya]

since I can't get google maps to load right now (darn kids are eating up my broadband, don't they know I am sleuthing a case???) here is some general info on the trail.

http://www.macombcountymi.gov/MACOMBORCHARDTRAIL/index.htm

Map: http://www.macombcountymi.gov/MACOMBORCHARDTRAIL/pdf/MOT Trail Guide & Business 7-08-13-web.pdf

http://www.traillink.com/trail/macomb-orchard-trail.aspx

 

[gam]

I'm not good with maps at all, judging by what I have seen on the news, they were looking down the wooded parts of the trail. I would think based on that west of fulton street. I'm going to go back and view some of the news clips.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

...I don't believe there is anyone is this area missing, short term missing would never make the paper. Armada is the northern part of Macomb County, as is the other spot mentioned for a possible missing person Washington township. Washington is a bit more built up, but the northern part of it is just like Armada, farms, orchards, woods. There was a woman that was killed in Washington Township, hit and run and I don't believe they have yet found the person responsibility. I do some digging around and see if I find anything.

There is a discussion thread here about Sandra Lee Loepp: http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...)-Hit-and-Run-12-16-12&highlight=sandra+loepp

I live in Oakland County and haven't visited Armada for several years but recall that it seemed "out in the country" compared to the two communities where I have lived for the past 40+ years

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Police release sketch of person of interest in Armada teen's murder case

14-year-old April Millsap found murdered in wooded area Thursday

Published On: Jul 24 2014 11:31:08 PM EDT Updated 5 m

VILLAGE OF ARMADA, Mich. -
Police have released a sketch (above) of a person they are interested in talking to regarding the case of April Millsap's murder in Armada, Michigan. Authorities continue to investigate after a 14-year-old girl was found dead in a wooded area of the village...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/womans-body-found-on-edge-of-village-of-armada/27141128

 

[TedMac]

Seriously, who has time to text: “Omg. Wtf. I think I’m being kidnapped.”, if they are being kidnapped?

Doesn't that strike anyone else as extremely odd?

I can't help but think that she saw the van on the trail and knew that was out of the ordinary. She probably felt a little uneasy and texted her boyfriend just letting him know. She was probably wasn't really scared at his point-just suspicious seeing it there and likely a little leery.

Does anyone have an idea or theory about the motorcycle LE mentioned in the press release?

 

[tlcya]

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msi...ll=42.836876,-82.880044&spn=0.009582,0.013797

 

[Grammy717]

Seriously, who has time to text: “Omg. Wtf. I think I’m being kidnapped.”, if they are being kidnapped?

Doesn't that strike anyone else as extremely odd?

I had that exact thought when I read it (that she had texted).

 

[tlcya]

I imagine with some of the open country and woods that are available along the trail to the west of Fulton Street where Depot dead ends, that would be prime dirtbiking for locals. The van on trail is very unusual. Unless it was some sort of maintenance vehicle for the trails themselves. A dirt bike driving down the trail cutting from one street to another I would find less worrisome or noteworthy. If dirtkbiking is popular in the area anyway. Against the rules but I imagine the little stinkers cut across the trail at various points.

 

[tlcya]

assuming this area is near where April was found