Found Deceased MI - Venus Stewart, 32, Colon, 28 April 2010 - # 9 *D. Stewart guilty*

[Natal]

Awe - so now we know about the Busch Gardens passes. Thanks for keeping us updated!

The bigger question would be if that were the case, why would LE have been so interested in the passes so early on?

 

[TigerBalm]

The judge is talking now, it is so hard to understand him tho b/c the fan for the computer of MLive's feed is SO LOUD (honestly, can't believe they don't have an external mic for this). ugh lol

 

[TigerBalm]

"Thank you, your honor" and the hearing is done ....

 

[PickieChickie]

I find it hard to believe they had anything solid on him, unless there were actual e-mail communications it would have been allmost impossible to have tracked this guy down and implicated him. I think most of what they "have" on him would have been volunteered by him, not come through investigation.

Here is how I think Richard Spencer was found ...
if in fact there was no communication,
either by phone or Internet,
between Doug Stewart and Richard Spencer which would link them together


NOTE: During the press conference announcing Doug's enlisted impostor had been located and identified as Richard Spencer, the St. Joseph County prosecutor, when asked if Richard came forward willingly, indicated the information about the impostor released to the media did not contribute to locating Richard Spencer, that he was found because of having some of the best Michigan State Police detectives investigating the matter.

One would think Ricky Spencer's fingerprints were left behind in Doug's car that he drove around while pretending to be him.
If there were none, perhaps this is how it went, although I do think there was more to it than this.

1. A witness reports seeing a gray four door truck in a field near Venus's parent's home, during the time when Venus disappeared, with a man ducking behind it who then quickly speeds away shortly thereafter.

2. Detectives, who thought Doug's alibi was strong, become suspicious that the man seen ducking behind the truck was in fact Venus's husband driving her gray four door truck.

3. Investigators, who already know the impostor had to look somewhat like Doug, have already determined, after looking at the photos, descriptions, locations, etc. of all of Doug's approximately 20 MySpace friends, that Ricky Spencer (age 20) of Bear, Delaware is a suspect and most likely the imposter.

4. Law enforcement releases information to the press about the impostor, although they believe they know who he is, hoping it will generate some activity on MySpace or compel Doug Stewart and the impostor to get in touch with each other.

5. Investigators know they have the right guy, Ricky Spencer (age 20) of Bear, Delaware when he suddenly deletes his account from MySpace two days after the information about the impostor is released to the press.

6. Investigators from the Michigan State Police locate Ricky Spencer and he admits being the impostor.



​

 

[PickieChickie]

Awe - so now we know about the Busch Gardens passes. Thanks for keeping us updated!

I am more inclined to believe the passes were listed on the search warrant because of all the videos Doug posted on his MySpace page that were taken at Busch Gardens.

I wouldn't think that they suspected Richard Spencer of anything that early on in the investigation because they weren't aware of the impostor yet, unless law enforcement was simply watching Richard the entire time waiting for communications between him and Doug Stewart; otherwise they would have located and interrogated him much sooner rather than almost a month later.

 

[Natal]

Ya, but he could still deny it, there wouldn't have been evidence of direct involvement. Or if there was, he could still say he was just goofing around, helping out a buddy with some chores. There is no way they could prove otherwise unless actual e-mail messages were involved.

Admitting direct involvement for no obvious reason would be just crazy.

It couldn't have been guilt because he apparently wasn't too phased at being involved with kidnapping/murder.

It is just very odd.

 

[grayjay]

It kind of makes you wonder if this guy has some sort of mental issue. That might explain a lot.

DaniCarlsonTV8: Spencer: "I asked him before, 'was it all worth it?' and he said 'to protect his kids and give them their future it is.'"

I know it is just so very very sad, I just can't imagine. What on earth was Spencer thinking. This is a human being we are talking about not a fricken video game. :furious:

Well, if this guy really did what he says he did (even if he didnt), he is a joke of a human being. Pathetic.

Spencer's so clearly a loser in the whole game.

I hope people can get beyond the part Spencer played after seeing how {young and stupid} he has been. He has been used as a pawn, by DS and now LE. He's toast, but more of a joke than a real player.

 

[Natal]

I am more inclined to believe the passes were listed on the search warrant because of all the videos Doug posted on his MySpace page that were taken at Busch Gardens.

Well that doesn't make sense. They didn't take any clothes, or answering machines, or cell phones, things you would think would be more relevant to the investigation.

 

[TigerBalm]

Doug Stewart bound for murder trial
Estranged wife Venus vanished April 26

Updated: Thursday, 01 Jul 2010, 3:50 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 01 Jul 2010, 9:16 AM EDT

By Dani Carlson
CENTREVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - After a lengthy preliminary exam with dramatic testimony and events, a judge ruled there is enough evidence to try Doug Stewart for the premeditated murder of his estranged wife, Venus.

The day began when Venus Stewart's father, Larry McComb, was nearly held in contempt for a remark he made to his son-in-law, and continued with riveting testimony from his alleged accomplice.

The alleged accomplice, Richard Spencer, testified Stewart had been planning to kill his wife, Venus, and wanted him to help provide an alibi.

<snip>
He remains held in the St. Joseph County jail on $4 million bond, charged with open murder and conspiracy to commit murder in her disappearance.

Continued

 

[PickieChickie]

Well that doesn't make sense. They didn't take any clothes, or answering machines, or cell phones, things you would think would be more relevant to the investigation.

I agree! It doesn't make sense that it took them so long to locate Richard Spencer if the reason they wanted the passes was because they suspected an accomplice had touched one of the passes and left fingerprints on one of them. (I'm assuming the passes are laminated.)

And, what would make them think that someone who went to Bush Gardens with Doug had anything to do with her disappearance?

Unless they had a tip or read some comment or e-mail regarding a trip to Bush Gardens and were aware Richard Spencer went to Bush Gardens with Doug, I just don't get it at all and that someone thought they had conspired to murder Venus at that point in the investigation.

It's all so confusing, especially since we couldn't hear anything that was said, at least I couldn't.

 

[PickieChickie]

You'd think a reporter who was present at the preliminary hearing could write a more detailed article. Sheesh. Thank you to all of you who posted statements made by Ricky Spencer. I couldn't hear one word he said!

 

[Chili Fries]

Spencer's so clearly a loser in the whole game.

I hope people can get beyond the part Spencer played after seeing how {young and stupid} he has been. He has been used as a pawn, by DS and now LE. He's toast, but more of a joke than a real player.

It's no joke to go to those lengths trying to camouflage a murder. Thankfully LE was able to find him and pressure him into testifying but if they had not rooted him out his subterfuge could have caused serious problems for the case against Doug.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

IMO RSs testimony will be a big part of what puts DS away.
RS has no reason to lie about what he did.

DS is going down!

I only wish DS would have told RS where he put VSs body so she could be found.

The fact DS told RS that VS struggled but he got her in a headlock makes me sick. I can not imagine how her father felt sitting there listening to that.

JMO

 

[Chili Fries]

I bet Spencer is the kind of guy who felt like he had been screwed over by women before and went along with the plan because he believed it would give him a feeling of clawing back some of what he thought women/a woman had taken from him. I bet that's something him and Doug spent a long time talking about and Spencer was seduced by that feeling of wielding power over a woman.

 

[PickieChickie]

The story as reported just doesnt make sense. If she was in such extreme danger as they imply, why would that suddenly just pop out of nowhere? One moment she is driving to school, the next she is hiding out in a motel. Surely it would have made more sense to have not said anything and then discretely left? Things appeared to be OK then, BOOM! Massive and persistent drama! If something was going to set DS off, that seems like a pretty surefire way of ensuring that it would happen, it is just amazing to me . It is allmost like she wasn't expecting anything to happen, and got surprised when it did.

And if those were the circumstances prior to her going back to MI then why did she go to Virginia in the first place. The other strange thing is the apparent massive difference in how the various LE agencies saw things when they are supposed to be applying the law uniformly.

There has to be a very significant back story here that we aren't hearing about.

According to what I've read, and I can't give you a source, the only reason Venus went to Virginia with Doug was so she would be with the girls to protect them. (My take: Apparently she was afraid he'd file for and be granted custody of the girls or would be allowed visitation with the girls for major holidays and summers.)

Not only did Venus go into hiding at the motel, she, according to Ricky Spencer, cleaned out the bank account as well.

This matter PROVES that restraining orders do absolutely no good when someone has murder in their heart.

When I was in a similar situation when I was 20, without children, I moved 18 hours away and told nobody where I went, not my best friends, nobody. The only people who knew where I went were my parents. PERIOD.

My stalker - potential murderer - was seen looking in my parent's mail box by the neighbors almost every day, hiding in the bushes at night and sitting in a vehicle down the street waiting for me to drive by for almost a year!

He told me that I was his, that I could never leave him and no matter where I went, he would find me.

The day I was packing to leave, he came to the house, demanded to be let in or he would break down the door. Foolishly, I let him in where he pushed past me and went into my bedroom where he discovered all my clothes were missing.

He threw me on his shoulders, took me out to his van where he threw me into a bean bag chair and began to choke and smother me.

My father, who was supposed to be at work but who had stayed home to transport my things in his vehicle to the next town where we would meet up to transfer my belongings into the back of my truck, heard the commotion, came running out and attempted to stop him from killing me.

My abuser started up the van and threatened to run him over just as a cop car came around the corner and stopped to ask my father a question.

My abuser was arrested due to a warrant, after I told him what had happened. I did not stay in town to appear at a trial, nothing. I left and never went to visit my parents for TEN years.

Some men are so dangerous this is what must be done to be safe.

I hope any woman who is dealing with a dangerous man like Doug Stewart and my abuser can find the strength to start life over without contacting anyone who can enable their abuser to find them.

Unfortunately, when there are children involved, it makes it more difficult to hide. Now we know why some mothers disappear off the face of the earth with their children.

Thank you for enduring me.

 

[PickieChickie]

IMO RSs testimony will be a big part of what puts DS away.
RS has no reason to lie about what he did.

DS is going down!

I only wish DS would have told RS where he put VSs body so she could be found.

The fact DS told RS that VS struggled but he got her in a headlock makes me sick. I can not imagine how her father felt sitting there listening to that.

JMO

In my opinion, Doug Stewart will be found guilty, regardless if Venus's body is NOT found. There is absolutely no way a jury could find him innocent.

Doug Stewart didn't shed one tear.

Ricky Spencer didn't shed one tear.

Clearly there is no remorse.

I can't imagine how Venus's father felt listening to how Doug grabbed Venus in a choke hold. I wouldn't be able to be in that court room if Venus were my daughter. I would be a basket case. If I did attend, I'd have to be medicated to the hilt and would cry the entire time. This I know.

So, it appears Doug got Venus in a choke hold and strangled her right there on the property or broke her neck, that she was dead before he put her in the truck.

:furious: I am so angry and disgusted and feel almost ill right now. :furious:
​

 

[PickieChickie]

Ya, but he could still deny it, there wouldn't have been evidence of direct involvement. Or if there was, he could still say he was just goofing around, helping out a buddy with some chores. There is no way they could prove otherwise unless actual e-mail messages were involved.

Admitting direct involvement for no obvious reason would be just crazy.

It couldn't have been guilt because he apparently wasn't too phased at being involved with kidnapping/murder.

It is just very odd.

If RS, when he was first approached by the pair of Michigan State Police detectives, immediately admitted involvement, then I'd have to conclude he is perhaps a bit mentally challenged.

I'd be more inclined to believe they caught him totally off guard and used the good cop bad cop routine on him.

 

[PickieChickie]

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​

 

[Natal]

According to what I've read, and I can't give you a source, the only reason Venus went to Virginia with Doug was so she would be with the girls to protect them. (My take: Apparently she was afraid he'd file for and be granted custody of the girls or would be allowed visitation with the girls for major holidays and summers.)

Not only did Venus go into hiding at the motel, she, according to Ricky Spencer, cleaned out the bank account as well.

This matter PROVES that restraining orders do absolutely no good when someone has murder in their heart.

When I was in a similar situation when I was 20, without children, I moved 18 hours away and told nobody where I went, not my best friends, nobody. The only people who knew where I went were my parents. PERIOD.

My stalker - potential murderer - was seen looking in my parent's mail box by the neighbors almost every day, hiding in the bushes at night and sitting in a vehicle down the street waiting for me to drive by for almost a year!

He told me that I was his, that I could never leave him and no matter where I went, he would find me.

The day I was packing to leave, he came to the house, demanded to be let in or he would break down the door. Foolishly, I let him in where he pushed past me and went into my bedroom where he discovered all my clothes were missing.

He threw me on his shoulders, took me out to his van where he threw me into a bean bag chair and began to choke and smother me.

My father, who was supposed to be at work but who had stayed home to transport my things in his vehicle to the next town where we would meet up to transfer my belongings into the back of my truck, heard the commotion, came running out and attempted to stop him from killing me.

My abuser started up the van and threatened to run him over just as a cop car came around the corner and stopped to ask my father a question.

My abuser was arrested due to a warrant, after I told him what had happened. I did not stay in town to appear at a trial, nothing. I left and never went to visit my parents for TEN years.

Some men are so dangerous this is what must be done to be safe.

I hope any woman who is dealing with a dangerous man like Doug Stewart and my abuser can find the strength to start life over without contacting anyone who can enable their abuser to find them.

Unfortunately, when there are children involved, it makes it more difficult to hide. Now we know why some mothers disappear off the face of the earth with their children.

Thank you for enduring me.

That was your experience, not hers.

By all accounts she apparently had a feisty relationship with him, and that doesn't jive with extreme fear. Sorry. I know that she was saying all those things, but her actions would appear to suggest something else.

 

[Searchfortruth]

Early in the day, Venus Stewart's father, Larry McComb, was threatened with contempt of court after looking at Doug Stewart and saying, "Oh, hi, Doug. Murdered anyone lately?"

On the stand, he was asked the last time he saw his daughter. McComb replied, "The day before Doug took her."

He described Doug as controlling in their marriage, and said, "Toward the end, it was obvious she wanted a divorce."

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/sw_mich/Doug-Stewart-murder-prelim-begins