GUILTY MI - Mariha Smith, 5, Detroit, 24 July 2011

[BeanE]

I'm just glad they made an arrest. I can wait a bit until they confirm whose bf it is.

And on the day of her funeral! Thank you, God, and thank you, LE!

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Still quoting a source without naming the source.

IMO that has been the cause of all the confusion in this case from the start. Too many sources talking to too many reporters.

IMO we will not know who was really arrested until LE announces it.

This is crazy.

 

[BeanE]

The girl's aunt and her boyfriend were initially questioned and then released. Neither of them attended Mariha's funeral.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/mariha-smith-case-detroit-police-arrest-20110805-wpms

 

[Kat]

BeanE your link was updated!

An arrest has been made!

 

[Kat]

Another link:

The man is the boyfriend of one of Mariah's aunts, a source told The Detroit News.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110805...est-man-in-Mariah-Smith-slaying#ixzz1UCDym5lA

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Another link:



From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110805...est-man-in-Mariah-Smith-slaying#ixzz1UCDym5lA

I posted this link above.

 

[Kat]

Sorry Bette!

 

[Kat]

I ran an errand and came back and read BeanE's post first, my apologies! I got too excited about the arrest :blushing:

 

[BeanE]

@ShawnLeyLocal4 Shawn Ley

#breakingnews Family of Darnell Cheatham confirm to @local4news that he's being held in the death of Mariha Smith. http://yfrog.com/kiizdegj

http://twitter.com/#!/ShawnLeyLocal4/status/99609044548993024

ETA: That's the boyfriend of Quanita, Mariha's aunt

 

[Kimberlyd125]

@ShawnLeyLocal4 Shawn Ley

#breakingnews Family of Darnell Cheatham confirm to @local4news that he's being held in the death of Mariha Smith. http://yfrog.com/kiizdegj

http://twitter.com/#!/ShawnLeyLocal4/status/99609044548993024

Oh yeah. We've seen that name before.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Still quoting a source without naming the source.

IMO that has been the cause of all the confusion in this case from the start. Too many sources talking to too many reporters.

IMO we will not know who was really arrested until LE announces it.

This is crazy.

Detroit's Police Chief spoke at Mariha's funeral this afternoon. Presumably, the information regarding a possible suspect and subsequent arrest has taken place within the past few hours - perhaps as a result of the police chief's comments at the funeral. Chief might have wanted to speak with Konesha before making a public announcement of the arrest. Earlier reports indicated that Mariha's mother hadn't returned to the neighbors' house where she is staying following the funeral service and burial.

 

[BeanE]

More on Darnell Cheatham:

@ShawnLeyLocal4
Shawn Ley

#breakingnews Family of Mariha Smith suspect in interview with @local4news say police raid at suspect home yielded key evidence in case.

1 minute ago

http://twitter.com/#!/ShawnLeyLocal4/status/99610924826107905

 

[yllek]

Gosh the server is really troublesome for me today. So anxious to hear the details and so glad a suspect has been arrested. Hats off the Detroit PD!!!

Any word whether the POI in the video at the gas station is indeed Darnell Cheatham? Odd that no one in the family would have been able to identify him. If he's not the video guy, perhaps 2 people involved?

Thanks for the updates all!

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I don't think it's been said yet if he's the gas in the beer can guy.

You are right that if he is, somebody should have been able to identify him.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Gosh the server is really troublesome for me today. So anxious to hear the details and so glad a suspect has been arrested. Hats off the Detroit PD!!!

Any word whether the POI in the video at the gas station is indeed Darnell Cheatham? Odd that no one in the family would have been able to identify him. If he's not the video guy, perhaps 2 people involved?

Thanks for the updates all!

Before WDIV amended their original report that the suspect was Konesha's boyfriend and not the aunt's, the on-scene reporter specifically mentioned that family members and friends recognized the man in the video even though his face was blurred. I believe that someone came forward today or within the last couple of days to tell LE what they knew.

 

[Tiki]

Is anyone surprised?
I'm not.
Best news we could hear in this case. It didn't go cold.

.

 

[yllek]

Before WDIV amended their original report that the suspect was Konesha's boyfriend and not the aunt's, the on-scene reporter specifically mentioned that family members and friends recognized the man in the video even though his face was blurred. I believe that someone came forward today or within the last couple of days to tell LE what they knew.

Thanks Bette! Just so I'm clear, the suspect was wrongly reported as Konesha's boyfriend and then correctly stated as aunt Q's boyfriend, right?

 

[SondraK]

Thanks Bette! Just so I'm clear, the suspect was wrongly reported as Konesha's boyfriend and then correctly stated as aunt Q's boyfriend, right?

Right

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Thanks Bette! Just so I'm clear, the suspect was wrongly reported as Konesha's boyfriend and then correctly stated as aunt Q's boyfriend, right?

Exactly. So, yes, there were people who were able to identify the man in the BP video, and maybe the announcement of the $10,000 reward early today was enough to convince someone to spill the beans.

 

[yllek]

I hope the suspect and Q start talking; I want to know how they can explain why on earth something so unthinkable could be done to a precious 5 year old girl. I hope Q wasn't involved, though I think it's clear she had guilty knowledge after the fact, imo. I wonder if more family, friends, or foes will be implicated when/if the suspect starts talking. Anyone involved in any way should be held accountable for his/her part. Hopefully, it was just the suspect.

Rest peacefully sweet Mariha...

ETA: Good point Bette - maybe the huge jump in the reward jogged someone's memory. Was that reward increased by the PD, CrimeStoppers or the family? TIA...