Found Deceased MI - Venus Stewart, 32, Colon, 28 April 2010 - # 8 *D. Stewart guilty*

[Kimberlyd125]

They might not want to tell everything they know, and yet want to tip enough of it to get help from the public. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they can already place him directly at the scene.

It could also be cheaper, to send the tire cast to NN and have a tire expert there make the comparison, than to ship the truck on a flatbed. They could very well also have that information nailed down and not feel the need to tip the public on it.

I agree. They said they know he was in MI but are not ready to say how they know.

 

[believe09]

As far as more searching...now that they believe they know DS was in MI only to return to VA, how on earth could they decide where to expend their resources and efforts in locating her? She could be in any one of several states, as I doubt he would have made any more stops nearby if (he thought) he was lucky enough to that point to grab her, unseen. Even if he drove twenty or forty miles before leaving her, that's just too much distance to search effectively with no clues. And it is usually someone other than LE who finds a body, unfortunately, someone just going about their business. Maybe that will happen in this case.

Well my point about strategizing her location is because IF DS returned to NN by 8PM, he had a limited period of time to dispose of her. He would have had to plan where he was putting her and to prepare the area. Now, IF the stuff he bought at Walmart was in preparation for his means of hiding/diposing of her, then it is unlikely he chose to dispose of her "on the back end." meaning in NN. A lot of risk there, one being if he was stopped. I mean, he had to figure on the BOLO once someone realized she was gone.

So IF she is in MI, where would she be that would allow him to grab her, incapacitate her and dump her while still maintaining his time line?

 

[BeanE]

Kim, those digital voice recorders.

You know how there are some businesses whose phone is always answered by voice mail? And you have to wait for someone to call you back? I have two doctors and a dentist like that. They all have an option to hit a key if it's an emergency and you need to talk to a real live person, but their phones are never answered by a live person, but by voice mail, and for everything but a dire emergency, you leave a message.

Now that I think of it, one of the pharmacies I use is the same way. Leave a message, and someone will call you back.

Suppose Doug recorded messages, and instructed the impostinator to use his (Doug's) cell phone, and play the recorded messages to the voice mail? It would leave an appearance of Doug being in NN using his own cell phone to make local calls and leave messages.

"Hi this is Doug Stewart. Please cancel my appointment on April 30th. I'll call back to re-schedule."

"Hi this is Doug Stewart. I'm afraid I've misplaced my copy of that physical I had a few months ago and I need it for a potential job I just interviewed for. Could you please mail me another copy of it? My address is.... Thanks!"

"Hi this is Doug Stewart. I need a refill of my prescription for xxxxxxx. The prescription number is xxxxxxxx. I'll run by and pick it up tomorrow, so no hurry on getting it ready. Oh and please add a roll of gauze to my order. I burned my finger. Thanks."

And what about a friend who you know always has their VM going during the day while they're at work, and you know never picks up their VMs until they get home at night?

"Hey Billy ol' buddy ol' pal! This is Doug. Gimme a ringy dingy and let's go out for a coupla brewskies tonight!"

"Hiya Joey. This is Doug. Returning your call. Sorry I missed you. Phone tag. Your turn."

 

[believe09]

Now, if DS was a fisherman like one of our poster's dad-would he have known a good spot on the river to dump her where she would be unlikely to surface? Like in a backwash. Again, there is a lot of risk there to me-I am a bigger fan of him choosing an area that if people would see him, they were unlikely to comment. Like on his parents property. I mean, clearly they did not tell MSP he was there the day before VS disappeared....or the morning for that matter.

I realize MSP searched their property, but this is where my strategizing has led me...I think they should look for a storm drain, a well, a sink hole. Again, JMO.

 

[BeanE]

Well my point about strategizing her location is because IF DS returned to NN by 8PM, he had a limited period of time to dispose of her. He would have had to plan where he was putting her and to prepare the area. Now, IF the stuff he bought at Walmart was in preparation for his means of hiding/diposing of her, then it is unlikely he chose to dispose of her "on the back end." meaning in NN. A lot of risk there, one being if he was stopped. I mean, he had to figure on the BOLO once someone realized she was gone.

So IF she is in MI, where would she be that would allow him to grab her, incapacitate her and dump her while still maintaining his time line?

Since he bought the shovel around 6pm in Ohio, he had all evening and all night to dig a grave. So after abducting her and doing whatever he did to her, all he had to do was drive there, dump her body, and get the dirt back in. He had plenty of time to get it all that done quickly.

My money is on Venus' body being in a place that's very convenient to the beginning of the route from Venus' parents' home to NN. Although I'm not entirely convinced that Doug rushed back to VA. He had no pressing need to. He had the impostinator taking care of thiings back home.

How long would it take, after backing a truck up to an open grave, to push a body from the truck into that grave, then push/shovel/whatever the dirt on top?

Suppose you had put all the dirt into the cab of the truck onto something like a big sheet of plywood that could be lifted to dump the dirt? Or in a wheelbarrow in the back of your truck? (Clearly I have little experience with this...)

 

[believe09]

Since he bought the shovel around 6pm in Ohio, he had all evening and all night to dig a grave. So after abducting her and doing whatever he did to her, all he had to do was drive there, dump her body, and get the dirt back in. He had plenty of time to get it all that done quickly.

My money is on Venus' body being in a place that's very convenient to the beginning of the route from Venus' parents' home to NN. Although I'm not entirely convinced that Doug rushed back to VA. He had no pressing need to. He had the impostinator taking care of thiings back home.

How long would it take, after backing a truck up to an open grave, to push a body from the truck into that grave, then push/shovel/whatever the dirt on top?

Suppose you had put all the dirt into the cab of the truck onto something like a big sheet of plywood that could be lifted to dump the dirt? Or in a wheelbarrow in the back of your truck? (Clearly I have little experience with this...)

Where ever he was Sunday night doing his prep work, it was somewhere he was not easily seen. Maybe it wasnt his parents property. Unless he prepped the container with something that would not draw a dog.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Kim, those digital voice recorders.

You know how there are some businesses whose phone is always answered by voice mail? And you have to wait for someone to call you back? I have two doctors and a dentist like that. They all have an option to hit a key if it's an emergency and you need to talk to a real live person, but their phones are never answered by a live person, but by voice mail, and for everything but a dire emergency, you leave a message.

Now that I think of it, one of the pharmacies I use is the same way. Leave a message, and someone will call you back.

Suppose Doug recorded messages, and instructed the impostinator to use his (Doug's) cell phone, and play the recorded messages to the voice mail? It would leave an appearance of Doug being in NN using his own cell phone to make local calls and leave messages.

"Hi this is Doug Stewart. Please cancel my appointment on April 30th. I'll call back to re-schedule."

"Hi this is Doug Stewart. I'm afraid I've misplaced my copy of that physical I had a few months ago and I need it for a potential job I just interviewed for. Could you please mail me another copy of it? My address is.... Thanks!"

"Hi this is Doug Stewart. I need a refill of my prescription for xxxxxxx. The prescription number is xxxxxxxx. I'll run by and pick it up tomorrow, so no hurry on getting it ready. Oh and please add a roll of gauze to my order. I burned my finger. Thanks."

And what about a friend who you know always has their VM going during the day while they're at work, and you know never picks up their VMs until they get home at night?

"Hey Billy ol' buddy ol' pal! This is Doug. Gimme a ringy dingy and let's go out for a coupla brewskies tonight!"

"Hiya Joey. This is Doug. Returning your call. Sorry I missed you. Phone tag. Your turn."

I agree. IMO those recorders were used to deceive folks into thinking he was in NN when he wasn't.
Alibi overkill?

 

[Amster]

I would like to hear someones theory of how this could have went down if DS did not do it.

Seems all the theories based on evidence and statements by LE have been shot down by some who think DS is being framed.

Can someone who thinks he did not do this share their theory of how someone else could have planted all of this to frame DS.

There seems to be a lot of things pointing to DS. There has been evidence that LE believes is related to the abduction that has been collected at his apartment, his truck, his car, his parents home, and now LE says they KNOW he was the one who bought the items at Wal-Mart.

IMO if you feel sure he did not abduct VS you have a theory in mind. Anyone have an theories?

I have a few....but don't think I'm allowed to post them, here.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I have a few....but don't think I'm allowed to post them, here.

IMO you can posts theories. You just can't name or blame someone.
IMO you can speak in general terms as how ANYBODY could have pulled it off.
I'm just really curious. I just can't see it. But, I do value thr opinions of others and would love to see other theories.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Wow my posts are full of typos. I'm useing tapatalk for iPhone and I don't know how to edit.
Sorry y'all.

 

[BeanE]

Now, if DS was a fisherman like one of our poster's dad-would he have known a good spot on the river to dump her where she would be unlikely to surface? Like in a backwash. Again, there is a lot of risk there to me-I am a bigger fan of him choosing an area that if people would see him, they were unlikely to comment. Like on his parents property. I mean, clearly they did not tell MSP he was there the day before VS disappeared....or the morning for that matter.

I realize MSP searched their property, but this is where my strategizing has led me...I think they should look for a storm drain, a well, a sink hole. Again, JMO.

Maybe he decided using that shovel to dig a grave was more work than he wanted to do, and chose water, storm drain, well, sink hole, etc. I can easily see that. Grave digging is hard, time-consuming work I believe.

 

[spamelope]

Impersonator sought in missing woman case
Police say someone created alibi for estranged husband.

By DOUGLAS FARMER
Tribune Staff Writer
Five weeks after Venus Stewart's disappearance, Michigan State Police have turned their search toward Virginia for a person who they said impersonated Stewart's estranged husband on April 25 and April 26.

Stewart was last seen on April 26 about 8 a.m. at her parents' home in Colon Township in St. Joseph County (Mich.). Her estranged husband, Douglas Stewart, was located in Newport News, Va., in the following days.

"At the start of all this, Mr. Stewart claimed to be in Virginia (at the time of Venus' disappearance), and had what we thought was a pretty solid alibi there," said Lt. Mike Risko of the White Pigeon Post. "Several weeks ago we were able to place him in central Ohio the night before Venus came up missing. Recently, more evidence has come to light that actually places him in Michigan the morning of her disappearance."

Risko added that Douglas Stewart then returned to Virginia that night, but has since returned to Michigan.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100603/News01/6030328/-1/XML

S and BBM

 

[LLLindsayy]

They would certainly have fingerprint results back weeks ago. If DS's fingerprints were on the tarp bag he would probably be under arrest by now or at the very least LE would be placing him directly at the scene. The fact that none of that has happened suggests there are no fingerprints, at least not his.

Hi again Natal,

I'm unsure if the only option for these fingerprints are either "here and obvious" or "definitely not here." Once for a school project I was spending several hours at a police station and I got the opportunity to watch some actual fingerprinting going on after some hi-tech devices had been stolen from a room on campus. Anyway, the man doing the fingerprinting was explaining to me that a lot of times the prints get smeared and so you can definitively tell who they are from. Also, sometimes they become contaminated. While I don't think anyone at the MI crime-scene contaminated the prints (at least not on purpose), I do think it's possible that the person stocking the tarp on the shelf and the person ringing Doug's purchase our may have come in contact with the same wrapper.

Maybe the results are inconclusive. Do I make sense here? I think this would especially be true if the tarp came packaged with a handle. I don't know how tarps are wrapped -- I've never bought one. But, it seems that if there is a handle then the chances for contaminated prints are even greater since most people that touched the wrapper (stocker, cashier) would touch it on the same place.

 

[LLLindsayy]

Why did it take LE so long to locate Doug's truck? I realize probably no one here knows the answer to that beyond it was located a couple blocks from his house. I don't understand, though. Wouldn't LE think to look around for it? What happened when they asked DS where it was? "I don't know." Could he have said that and legitimately gotten away with that answer?

Do we have any evidence that Doug drove his truck back to Virginia? Who said Doug couldn't have had someone else drive it while he flew back? He'd certainly make better time that way. With the outrageous twists coming from this case, who's to say that there aren't even more accomplices?

This could potentially also account for why the truck wasn't located as swiftly as someone could locate my car if they needed to.

 

[LLLindsayy]

If it weren't for the statement I read yesterday with someone saying that the impostor might not even know that VS is missing (which I find very difficult to believe. If you know DS well enough to cover for him, I'm betting you know something is up by now), I'd suggest LE looks closer to DS's family. Who else is he going to trust with all that he needed them to do? And to keep this alibi even though LE said right out that they know it's false?

What are the alibis for DS's closest friends and family members, even if they don't live in NN.

 

[Cubby]

Impersonator sought in missing woman case

Police say someone created alibi for estranged husband.

"Obviously that alibi doesn't hold up, so someone was in Virginia, in the Newport News area, pretending to be Doug Stewart, in our belief, to provide an alibi," Risko said.

If the person or people impersonating Stewart knew where he was, they could be considered an accessory to any wrongdoing, Risko said.

"It depends on what they knew and when they knew it," he said. "By now that person or persons should know that this is serious, and that they should come forward."

from the following link:

http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100603/News01/6030328/-1/googleNews

 

[spamelope]

Here is the weather data for Ft. Wayne, Indiana on Sunday, April 25th. This is the closest town (77.6 miles) near Colon that I could find archived weather data for. While it is warmer than what was reported for the Colon area, it does show significant precipitation, as does Detroit's (.77 inch of rain) so I assume there was a fairly large storm over MI that day.
THE FORT WAYNE IN CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR APRIL 25 2010...

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1971 TO 2000
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1897 TO 2010


WEATHER ITEM OBSERVED TIME RECORD YEAR NORMAL DEPARTURE LAST
VALUE (LST) VALUE VALUE FROM YEAR
NORMAL
..................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
YESTERDAY
MAXIMUM 65 1110 AM 86 1994 64 1 84
1990
1915
MINIMUM 51 1159 PM 24 1967 41 10 61
AVERAGE 58 52 6 73

PRECIPITATION (IN)
YESTERDAY 1.11 1.87 1904 0.12 0.99 0.00
MONTH TO DATE 3.52 2.94 0.58 5.11
SINCE MAR 1 6.12 5.80 0.32 10.81
SINCE JAN 1 7.81 9.79 -1.98 15.58

SNOWFALL (IN)
YESTERDAY 0.0 T 1976 T 0.0 0.0
1968
1926
MONTH TO DATE T 1.1 -1.1 1.5
SINCE OCT 1 29.3 35.1 -5.8 27.6
SINCE JUL 1 29.3 35.1 -5.8 27.6
SNOW DEPTH 0

DEGREE DAYS
HEATING
YESTERDAY 7 13 -6 0
MONTH TO DATE 217 421 -204 452
SINCE MAR 1 879 1256 -377 1151
SINCE JUL 1 5489 5930 -441 5952

COOLING
YESTERDAY 0 1 -1 8
MONTH TO DATE 15 2 13 13
SINCE MAR 1 15 3 12 13
SINCE JAN 1 15 3 12 13
..................................................................


WIND (MPH)
HIGHEST WIND SPEED 30 HIGHEST WIND DIRECTION SW (210)
HIGHEST GUST SPEED 36 HIGHEST GUST DIRECTION SW (210)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 11.5


SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.8


WEATHER CONDITIONS
THE FOLLOWING WEATHER WAS RECORDED YESTERDAY.
HEAVY RAIN
RAIN
LIGHT RAIN
FOG


RELATIVE HUMIDITY (PERCENT)
HIGHEST 93 400 AM
LOWEST 78 1000 AM
AVERAGE 86

..........................................................


THE FORT WAYNE IN CLIMATE NORMALS FOR TODAY
NORMAL RECORD YEAR
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (F) 64 88 1986
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE (F) 42 29 2006


SUNRISE AND SUNSET
APRIL 26 2010.........SUNRISE 646 AM EDT SUNSET 832 PM EDT
APRIL 27 2010.........SUNRISE 644 AM EDT SUNSET 833 PM EDT


- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.

 

[Calliope]

I'm sure they want to, but they don't need to.

They don't need to prove (beyond a reasonable doubt, of course) that he abducted her?

Ok then.

 

[RubyRed]

Have you guys seen Michelle Sigona's latest article? She talked to Risko and gleaned this info:

1. Risko - "We know Doug Stewart was in Ohio at a Wal-Mart buying a shovel, hat, gloves and tarp at 6:45 p.m. on the 25th."
2. This Wal-Mart is only two hours away from where Venus was staying with her parents.
3. They have the impersonator on video at Stewart’s apartment complex, and visiting other businesses in the area.


I haven't been online most of the day, but this is the first time that I've seen the time of the Walmart purchase, that the Walmart was only 2 hours from Colon, and that Doug2 was on video at the apartment complex.

http://www.michellesigona.com/2010/06/bizarre-twist-in-missing-mom-abduction/

That is the first time I have seen an actual time.

 

[BeanE]

For Reference: Direct Quotes from LE June 1 through 3, 2010 (Updated June 4)

Risko: “The people he had contact with in that office that morning hadn’t seen Douglas Stewart before,” Risko said. “We know this person made multiple appearances in Virginia as Doug Stewart during this narrow timeline. But we now know Mr. Stewart was not in Virginia.” http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/06/impostor_posed_as_doug_stewart.html

Risko: “We can place him in Michigan now,” said Risko, declining to elaborate on what evidence investigators have turned up. “He had an alibi that he was in Virginia when Venus disappeared and we learned pretty soon that his alibi didn’t hold up. First we were able to place him at a Walmart in Ohio. We know his alibi is fraudulent.” http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/06/impostor_posed_as_doug_stewart.html

Filer: Meanwhile, Newport News Police Detective Todd Filer said his agency has “collected some evidence and conducted some interviews” in connection with the person who is suspected to have impersonated Douglas Stewart. http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/06/impostor_posed_as_doug_stewart.html

Filer: “We’ve been in contact with investigators from Michigan pretty much on a daily basis,” Filer said. “We’re vested in this case just like they are in Michigan. We’re hoping for people to come forward and provide us evidence.” http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/06/impostor_posed_as_doug_stewart.html

Filer: "He provided Michigan State police investigators with an alibi at that time," said Newport News Detective Todd Filer. "At this point we have reason to believe that there may have been someone that posed as Mr. Stewart in our area to provide that alibi." http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigators-question-husband's-alibi

Filer: Investigators have not released details about why they believe Douglas was in Michigan, but they are asking "anybody that has any information about someone posing as Douglas Stewart in the area between April 25 and April 26, around the time of Venus Stewart's, disappearance to contact us," Filer said. http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigators-question-husband's-alibi

Risko: “His alibi was he was in Virginia the whole time,” said Lt. Mike Risko, Michigan State Police, “well, we know that's not the case.” http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1377226-page-imposter.html

Risko: “We have learned here recently that he was in Michigan that morning,” said Lt. Risko. “What was confusing is that we had sightings of him in Virginia during this time period.” http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1377226-page-imposter.html

Risko: “We believe that he was pretending to be Mr. Stewart or impersonating Mr. Stewart at a number of different businesses, paying bills, drawing funds, things of that nature,” said Lt. Risko. “He probably must have had a number of Doug Stewart's personal documents.” http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1377226-page-imposter.html

Risko: "So, his alibi being in Virginia doesn't hold water," said Lt. Mike Risko of the Michigan State Police. "He was not in Virginia at that time. It was also recently learned last week that we also now have him in Michigan the morning she disappeared." http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/sw_mich/Is-there-a-Doug-Stewart-impersonator

Risko: "Well, we believe he was dressed similar to what Doug would have been wearing -- a hoodie, a sweatshirt with a dark ball cap and a pair of sunglasses," Risko said. http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/sw_mich/Is-there-a-Doug-Stewart-impersonator

Risko: "Someone in Newport News, Virginia -- during the time period that Venus came up missing -- was purporting to be Doug Stewart. We know that's not the case. What we're looking for (is) that person or persons that were impersonating Doug Stewart in that time frame." http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/sw_mich/Is-there-a-Doug-Stewart-impersonator

Risko: "Our policy is, we're not going to call him a suspect until we have an arrest warrant in our hands," Risko said http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/sw_mich/Is-there-a-Doug-Stewart-impersonator

Risko: "At the start of all this, Mr. Stewart claimed to be in Virginia (at the time of Venus' disappearance), and had what we thought was a pretty solid alibi there," said Lt. Mike Risko of the White Pigeon Post. "Several weeks ago we were able to place him in central Ohio the night before Venus came up missing. Recently, more evidence has come to light that actually places him in Michigan the morning of her disappearance." http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100603/News01/6030328/-1/XML

Risko: "Obviously that alibi doesn't hold up, so someone was in Virginia, in the Newport News area, pretending to be Doug Stewart, in our belief, to provide an alibi," Risko said. http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100603/News01/6030328/-1/XML

Risko: "It depends on what they knew and when they knew it," he said. "By now that person or persons should know that this is serious, and that they should come forward." http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100603/News01/6030328/-1/XML

Risko: “We know that Douglas Stewart was not in Virginia the day he said he was — someone was impersonating him.” http://www.threeriversnews.com/articles/2010/06/02/news/local_news/doc4c06653fcc0c2393328092.txt

Risko: “The Michigan State Police is asking anyone who may have information regarding a person or persons who impersonated Douglas Stewart in the Newport News, Va. area between Sunday, April 25, and Monday, April 26, 2010, to contact police at 269-483-7611 or 866-666-6666 after 4 p.m. In Newport News contact 888-562-5887,” Risko said. http://www.threeriversnews.com/articles/2010/06/02/news/local_news/doc4c06653fcc0c2393328092.txt

Risko: "We believe that he was pretending to be Mr. Stewart or impersonating Mr. Stewart at a number of different businesses. Paying bills, drawing funds, things of that nature," said Lt. Mike Risko with the Michigan State Police. http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100602/News01/100609874/-1/XML

Risko: “We have him in the morning in Michigan,” Lt. Mike Risko, Commander of the White Pigeon Michigan Police Post said.
- “Somebody else had to be posing as him,” Risko said.
- “We need it for the tires,” he said
- “DNA takes awhile,” Risko said.
- “The blood is the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “There’s a lot we’re awaiting a response from.”
- “We have a slew of investigators,” Risko said, indicating that investigators from MSP posts in Niles, Paw Paw and Coldwater are involved. “Every day there’s work being done. It is moving forward. We’re working on a lot of things.” The goal is to get a “total case” to St. Joseph County John McDonough as soon as possible, he said.
-What if Venus’ body is not found? “That’s not insurmountable,” Risko said. “It has been done (prosecuted) in Michigan before.”
http://www.threeriversnews.com/articles/2010/06/03/news/local_news/doc4c07b51d1dccc423171244.txt