GUILTY MI - Paul DeWolf, 25, fatally shot in Ann Arbor frat house, 23 July 2013

[ATasteOfHoney]

I don't think it stands out. There are smart kids on every college campus, how many of them are killed for it? There were certainly smarter kids than Paul......
I just can't buy this theory. But I appreciate that others are tossing it around.

Drugs? Sex? Secrets? Jealousy? Money?
Those are motives for murder almost 100% of the time.

Yes.....secrets.....


moo

 

[SapphireSteel]

As I said, it's the similarities that alarm me.

And the reporter who put that article together, too, in my opinion.

However I don't know enough about either case to really claim I know, all I've done is point out that coincidences exist between the two that I personally find statistically significant.

:cow:

 

[Woe.be.gone]

The motive in 99% of murder cases will be one of those that I listed.

Sex
Drugs
Money
Secrets
Revenge

The other 1% is going to be the serial killer/madman.

And just because you apply Occam's Razor, doesn't mean a case is easy to solve. You begin at the innermost circle and work your way out. LE may have a suspect and a motive, but unable to arrest for a variety of reasons.
*As in the Kathy Jones case, featured cold case here at WS.

I think an important variable is where a crime takes place too. Inside one's own personal space versus the initial contact being outside of the victim's home.

If the crime in committed where the body is found and the body is found within a short timeframe, the more solvable the crime should be.

Two crimes, I learned lessons from, are Mickey Shunick and Jessica Ridgeway. Both happened outside of the home when the victim was enroute to their destination. Both, it turns out, were murdered by an opportunist stranger. I had always heard that, more likely than not, the perp is someone known to the victim. Both cases had what I call uncanny coincidences associated with them. Mickey's dad had been backing out of his driveway at about 2:00 a.m. to go to a meeting just as Mickey would have been arriving home on her bicycle. I couldn't imagine her father wanting to kill her but I couldn't get that strange info out of my mind. I got stuck thinking it may have been an accident that was intentially hidden. For that, I'm very sorry.

In JR's case the friend she normally walked to school with, who was also related to her in some way, father missed picking her up but took his own kid to school and dropped him off. It turned out this event actually happened the day before or something but it seemed so uncanny to me that I locked onto the idea that the uncle must have encountered Jessica after he dropped the boy off and most likely the perp. I believed, at the time, that the perp usually has some kind of relationship with the victim.
BUT THESE TWO CASES occurred outside the victims' homes. At the time though, even that info had to be taken on faith (LE assessed truth there).

When a crime takes place in one's own home, when there are no signs of struggle, break in or robbery, the perp is normally someone who knows the victim. But it could be a workman, a neighbor or a stalker type rapist - not necessarily a loved one or family member.

Since Paul was a guy, I don't think the last choice fits his case. I feel the perp is someone he knew. Still, he had a lot going on in his world. Like OldSteve asked, what were Paul's secrets?

 

[missgulfsouth]

Many child murders are crimes of opportunity by someone in the neighborhood, not necessarily known by the child. It is much easier for a stranger to get a child than an adult. The Mickey Shunick case should send shivers down the spines of women everywhere. When you realize that a SK doesn't even have to gain your trust to get you, but can hit you with their vehicle while you are riding your bike.........we are all vulnerable. MS put up the FIGHT OF A LIFETIME IN THAT TRUCK!!!!!! She wasn't going down without a fight. And the piece of garbage is now right where he belongs.
Her blood cried out from the ground.

 

[OldSteve]

The motive in 99% of your typical murder case will be one of those that I listed.

Sex
Drugs
Money
Secrets
Jealousy
Revenge

The other 1% is going to be the serial killer/madman. Those who kill for the thrill of it. Many of them kill for sex and power (Gary Ridgeway), power and revenge (Ted Bundy), money (Aileen Wuornos)........so you see, even SK kill for just a handful of reasons.

And just because you apply Occam's Razor, doesn't mean a case is easy to solve. You begin at the innermost circle and work your way out. LE may have a suspect and a motive, but unable to arrest for a variety of reasons.
*As in the Kathy Jones case, featured cold case here at WS.

I would add to your list "psychotic possessive" i.e., "control-freak". Many of the cases I've followed involved husbands and bf's who cannot let go of a person.

 

[missgulfsouth]

The interesting thing about Julia's case is the drowning. Very unusual. The perp could have been a woman. I believe I recall there being no evidence of sexual assault there, right? It reminds me a little bit of the Leah Hickman case.

 

[missgulfsouth]

I would add to your list "psychotic possessive" i.e., "control-freak". Many of the cases I've followed involved husbands and bf's who cannot let go of a person.

Which I consider to fall under jealousy. That's what I had in mind......

 

[ATasteOfHoney]

Some people lead a double-life and are comfortable with it. They have no problems living a life of secrets.
It's possible.
Or it could be possible that one of his close friends took the meaning of their friendship too far and wanted more. And just could'nt take no for an answer. It may not have been a pre-planned or well-thought-out crime....more done as a moment of quick anger and rage.

I feel in this case it is personal, and it might be a male perp.

moo

 

[Woe.be.gone]

Many child murders are crimes of opportunity by someone in the neighborhood, not necessarily known by the child. It is much easier for a stranger to get a child than an adult. The Mickey Shunick case should send shivers down the spines of women everywhere. When you realize that a SK doesn't even have to gain your trust to get you, but can hit you with their vehicle while you are riding your bike.........we are all vulnerable. MS put up the FIGHT OF A LIFETIME IN THAT TRUCK!!!!!! She wasn't going down without a fight. And the piece of garbage is now right where he belongs.
Her blood cried out from the ground.

BBM ~ True, I agree. Unfortunately it seems just as many crimes against children are committed by someone they know - like a boyfriend a single mother brings around. Or, like in a current case where the seven year old, Willow, was brutally murdered by her mother's brother while the mother was out visiting a bar. Who would think to accuse him first? (maybe if you knew him - don't know.) My point is, the unusual imo, is when statistics don't play out as they often don't. That's what I've learned here by making my own mistakes. Mostly, I've learned to try to keep an open mind. I hesitate to give an opinion, which I have done in this case, because anything is possible really. When I'm feeling ambitious, I may try to look into statistics regarding children. More and more, it seems as if family members, or the peeps they bring around, are suspect which is alarming.

 

[OldSteve]

So sad, so much too young....

http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor...t_sometimes_people_get_aw.html#incart_m-rpt-2

 

[missgulfsouth]

Some people lead a double-life and are comfortable with it. They have no problems living a life of secrets.
It's possible.
Or it could be possible that one of his close friends took the meaning of their friendship too far and wanted more. And just could'nt take no for an answer. It may not have been a pre-planned or well-thought-out crime....more done as a moment of quick anger and rage.

I feel in this case it is personal, and it might be a male perp.

moo

I second that emotion.

 

[OldSteve]

In that news article, ^^ interesting to read, referring to Paul's case:

"However, the amount of evidence at the lab, waiting for analysis, is the reason why he says the case is still very active."

 

[OldSteve]

After thought - why is it whenever LE says two cases are not related, I try to think of ways they might be...

 

[missgulfsouth]

After thought - why is it whenever LE says two cases are not related, I try to think of ways they might be...

argumentative.
rebellious.
inquisitive.
analytical.
all the makings of a detective.
or a websleuther.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

After thought - why is it whenever LE says two cases are not related, I try to think of ways they might be...

Why is it that I don't believe anything LE says? (not really but usually true)
What do they usually say anyway? Not much. :banghead: lol!

No disrespect intended - one of my lame jokes. We know LE has to keep the integrity of the case and excuses like that!

 

[black_squirrel]

I think so - we only know he was shot from behind in the neck and the bullet entry was so small it wasn't realized he had been killed by gunshot...

Now LE would know if there was powder residue on him that would indicate the gun was held up to his neck..

we dont know for sure that he was shot from behind or that the bullet entry was small.
the ME ruled out suicide, but we do not know how they came to that conclusion. Perhaps he was shot from behind, or perhaps he was shot from a distance, etc.

Only after autopsy a cause of death was given. There was a visible injury, but the LE did not immediately see the cause of death. Perhaps the wound was covered with too much blood to see what caused the injury.

 

[missgulfsouth]

we dont know for sure that he was shot from behind or that the bullet entry was small.
the ME ruled out suicide, but we do not know how they came to that conclusion. Perhaps he was shot from behind, or perhaps he was shot from a distance, etc.

Only after autopsy a cause of death was given. There was a visible injury, but the LE did not immediately see the cause of death. Perhaps the wound was covered with too much blood to see what caused the injury.

It would be very unusual to commit suicide by shooting yourself in the neck. If there was no gun shot residue on his hands, suicide is ruled out.

Was the gun with his body, though? Wouldn't the killer take it??? Unless they wanted it to look like a suicide?

 

[black_squirrel]

He was pretty smart, and a real high achiever... but you know, when you mention "secrets" well, since we have no apparent motive (seems to be a secret), then something secret would be the most Ockham like reason for his murder...if only we knew what that :doorhide: secret might be.

He was pretty smart, but so is probably everyone in phi rho sigma. It is not so easy to get into the University of
Michigan Medical school. in his home time he is probably considered a super achiever, but among all these
other high achievers he may not stand out as much.

 

[black_squirrel]

Guys and gals - it appears there is a runaway train on this track!

The only info that has been confirmed officially is that Paul was shot in the neck by a single bullet by another person. Everything else is speculation (side, back, front). The back of the neck (near spine) info came from a comment someone posted under a news article.

Also, asfaik and I'm fairly certain, Paul did not have an official girlfriend. If someone believes he did, please provide the source of that information. From what I've read, Paul had two female friends and there are pictures of him dressed up, along with the two women on separate occasions, looking as if he's taking a date to a formal affair, banquet or the like. One of Paul's close friends commented that Paul liked the ladies - not sure if he used the term 'ladies man' but something close. This info, with links, is within the first few pages of the thread iirc. I saw a pic of Paul with one of his lady friends that looked more casual with nice scenery in the background indicating they did other things together other than just going on fancy dates.

No news story identified a girlfriend, but I can see why they would not want to do that. I am pretty sure though that LG was his girlfriend. For example, she posted on her fb a picture of Paul and her om Feb 14, wishing everyone a happy valentines day.

 

[black_squirrel]

The article you are talking of is jarring.

I think the reporter is wondering "serial" too. I believe he's implying it, merely by publishing that article with those pictures.

Yes I agree, they both look like exactly what they were - successful, wealthy, white, gifted, every parent's dream child and yes, they could have been brother and sister.

This is what I don't like - the similarities. They both had extremely low risk lifestyles, both straight arrows so to speak. Their profiles match, essentially.

Easy to look at both of them and feel resentful at all the apparent success, I would imagine - if you were that sort of person.

:cow:

I dont think that the reporter is suggesting that the two cases are linked. But they are both unsolved murders in this area
where the motive is not clear.