MI MI - Jessica Heeringa, 25, Norton Shores, 26 April 2013 #1

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  • #401
Good call. Someone could have said the vacuum ate their quarters or something. The vendor angle also makes sense. Beer, pop, fuel...there are probably 10 vendors in there every day. I bet they are all being checked out. Also, anyone who works over at the strip mall or across at G&L Chili Dogs might know the routine. There are lots of factories right down the road on Old Grand Haven Rd. It crosses Sternberg, and would be on the direct route from the factories to the highways. Second shift would be letting out at about 10:30-11:00 pm.

Still trying to catch up. But another reason for attendants to go to the pumps is if there is a problem with the pump. Sometimes they can be reset from inside but sometimes not. I'm thinking that may have been the ruse to get her outside --- that 'something' wasn't working right.
 
  • #402
Still trying to catch up. But another reason for attendants to go to the pumps is if there is a problem with the pump. Sometimes they can be reset from inside but sometimes not. I'm thinking that may have been the ruse to get her outside --- that 'something' wasn't working right.

Another good thought! Hi belimom, good to see you here and look fwd to your insights in helping to find Jessica...

I wonder where exactly the van was parked when the abduction took place (by the gas pump, pulled up to the building...)
 
  • #403
This gym actually shares a parking lot with the Exxon station. This gym is in the strip mall. It is open 24/7 and members get a key card so they can enter whenever they want. I am pretty sure it would not be staffed at that time of night. My own gym works that way. My gym definately has cameras inside, not sure about outside. But I bet this gym has them inside too. They want to make sure they keep an eye on things when the gym is unstaffed. I hope the police are checking into this. The key card keeps an electronic record of everyone who comes in and out, and what time they do so.

And I think that might be a camera on that stoplight. It seems like I remember talk of putting cameras at those intersections when they put the mall in.

Really tired, exams tomorrow. Going to bed. Hopefully when I wake up, Jessica will be home with her family.

Good luck with your exams tomorrow and thank you for all your posts and help.
 
  • #404
There are some points of interest one could search, it appears from looking at the map, such as the Lake Harbor Park area, or Mona Lake area, PJ Hoffmaster Campground & State Park, Little Black Lake...

C'mon LE, give us something to go on!

ps: good luck with your exams Flutter!

Unfortunately, there are several points of interest within a 3 mile radius both apparent on a map such as the ones you pointed out, and also not on a map that would be familiar to someone local. I believe the first area that should be searched is the industrial area across the street strictly because of its close proximity to where the abduction occurred.
 
  • #405
Another good thought! Hi belimom, good to see you here and look fwd to your insights in helping to find Jessica...

I wonder where exactly the van was parked when the abduction took place (by the gas pump, pulled up to the building...)

There's a comment by a co-worker (SS) at this link. Her info contradicts other reports of where the vehicle was, when/how Jessica left, etc..

http://abcnews.go.com/US/michigan-m.../comments?type=story&id=19061637#.UX34zzn9u9s
 
  • #406
If you look into surrounding counties, look at Ottawa. Jessica's family said they were heading to Grand Haven and Spring Lake. These towns are in Ottawa County, just to the South of Muskegon County. They are literally 10 minutes South, down US31, of Norton Shores.

I wonder if there's a specific reason they have prioritized this area...

<edit, maybe this just happens to be an area that they have not covered yet with flyers, etc....the family is soooooo proactive in the search, bless their hearts!>
 
  • #407
Unfortunately, there are several points of interest within a 3 mile radius both apparent on a map such as the ones you pointed out, and also not on a map that would be familiar to someone local. I believe the first area that should be searched is the industrial area across the street strictly because of its close proximity to where the abduction occurred.

So glad you are here as a local are here to provide insight and updates. Thank you!
 
  • #408
  • #409
Yes. If you look at the street view that you posted, there is a road that runs next to the G&L. If you're looking at the G&L from Sternberg, there is a field to the left (East). The State Trooper and K9 were in that field between the road that runs next to G&L and the on ramp to US-31 South. If you see the building at the south end of the field, that is where the police vehicle was parked.

Thank you.
 
  • #410
If I were LE, I would look at any current or former employees that fit the description. I would also interview current employees and her family members to see if a customer had inquired as to the presence of cameras recently. Whoever did this knew that she was closing, what time her shift ended, knew what her end of day activities were, knew that she would be alone and also knew that there wouldn't be any cameras.
 
  • #411
What bothers me about this disappearance is that robbery wasn't a primary or secondary motive. The question becomes what was the motive for the abduction? Although I hope for the best, I have a bad gut feeling. If the perpetrator's plan wasn't to bring Ms. Heeringa to a secondary location and keep her (at least for some period of time) alive, what could he have done?

There is a large industrial area just to the south of the station. The borders for the industrial area are Sternberg to the North, US-31 to the East, Grand Haven Rd to the West and Pontaluna Rd to the South. There are a lot of wooded areas and vacant lots in the industrial area.

I drove up to the area today around 5:00 pm and saw a Michigan State Police K9 unit searching the field directly across Sternberg in the Northeast corner of the industrial area. It is very possible that the perpetrator took her to this remote area across the street. The State Police K9 unit searching the area makes it seem like they have a similar theory. I pray she is found safe. What is wrong with people today?

this sounds exactly like a gas station abduction that happened late at night, with a young woman working alone. they had cameras and a special force of the FBI was able to extract an image of the abductor. I can't remember where or when or the name, but it was on Discovery - one of their true crime shows. I can't remember if the guy was caught. I believe he was and had burned her in his fire pit. but I may be confusing episodes. So probably not the same perp, but a similar location. I'll try to find the episode.
I don't think it was Disappeared. I think it was Solved, or something.
 
  • #412
  • #413
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/04/norton_shores_police_departmen_5.html

"There was no struggle inside the store and it is apparent that &#8220;burglary or robbery was not the cause of this incident,&#8221; Shaw said during a press conference Sunday, April 28."

"A task force of investigators from the Norton Shores Police Department, Michigan State Police, Muskegon County Sheriff's Office, Muskegon Police Department and Muskegon County Prosecutor&#8217;s Office are all investigating the case."
 
  • #414
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/04/search_for_missing_muskegon_co.html

"We spent the day tracking down additional leads, but we have no firm direction yet with the investigation. We are going to continue to track down what we get,&#8221; said Norton Shores Police Chief Daniel Shaw.

Shaw said authorities have received tips from all over the country, including New Jersey, Arkansas and St. Louis, Mo. Any tidbit of information is welcomed by investigators at this time, Shaw said. "
 
  • #415
(It never ceases to amaze me, the insensitive, idiotic comments by trolls under news articles).
 
  • #416
this sounds exactly like a gas station abduction that happened late at night, with a young woman working alone. they had cameras and a special force of the FBI was able to extract an image of the abductor. I can't remember where or when or the name, but it was on Discovery - one of their true crime shows. I can't remember if the guy was caught. I believe he was and had burned her in his fire pit. but I may be confusing episodes. So probably not the same perp, but a similar location. I'll try to find the episode.
I don't think it was Disappeared. I think it was Solved, or something.

ok, there's 2 of them. One is one Solved. Season 2 Episode E9. also a mother. abducted from her car in the lot early AM on the way in to work.

the other one I can't find. young blond girl closing up at a gas station abducted. it was caught on surveillance tape. pretty sure it was in a north western state. Minn, WI etc... the perp burned her and other girls in his fire pit at a remote cabin.
 
  • #417
here it is:
Katie Poirier's murder

he was transfered to a min security prison/camp/medical center but I think they moved him back to max sec.

"On 26 May 1999, 19-year old Katie Poirier went missing from the D. J.'s Expressway Conoco convenience store in Moose Lake, Minnesota, where she used to work as a night clerk. A passer-by, who noticed that there was no attendant present in the store, reported the odd incident. A grainy black-and-white surveillance video showed Katie being forced out of the store around 11:40 pm, by a man wearing jeans, a backwards baseball cap and a New York Yankees baseball jersey with the number 23 on the back. The man's hand was at the back of her neck, and from the way she touched her throat, there might have been a cord tied around her neck.[4]

The police estimated that the abductor was 5'10" and weighed around 170. He had long light-colored hair, and appeared to be around 25 years old. The witnesses reported that they had seen a black pick-up truck near the convenience store that evening. One of the witnesses gave a partial license plate number (three numbers and a letter).[4]

A composite sketch of the abductor, based on statements of four witnesses, was broadcasted on the local media.
Blom's arrest

Donald Blom was checked soon after Katie's disappearance, since he had a pickup truck registered to his name, with a license plate number matching the partial number provided by the witness. But this vehicle was white-colored.[4]

Blom had been working at the Minnesota Veteran's Home under the name "Donald Hutchinson" prior to Katie's death. On June 18, his former co-worker Darrel Brown, called the police tip line. He stated that Donald Hutchison looked similar to the man in the composite sketch provided by the police. He had been absent on the day following Katie's disappearance. He had recently cut his hair, and had stopped driving his black pick-up truck. Shortly after that, he had suddenly quit his job as the janitor without any notice.[4]

Donald Blom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
  • #418
Prayers to Jessica and her family tonight.

I feel the worst for her little boy. a child like that can't understand and can't live without mom.
 
  • #419
I hope all hospitals have been checked for suspicious injuries! (I'm sure LE has checked this).
 
  • #420
Well, goodnight all. Hoping for good news tomorrow as we all are.
Good luck fellow sleuthers. I have faith in you guys!
 
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