Sami,
I imagine right now you are rather busy but when you get a chance could you study on something ? Since there is no news on this case I have spent some time reflecting on things and have some questions that perhaps you are best capable of answering.
I'll answer a few asked, and not asked
as they tie in together.
First, LE had control of the crime scene for 14 days (roughly 10.5 working days but I suspect they used virtually every day). I'm thinking that since Michelle was found in the bedroom on the floor that, a fair amount of time would have been spent in that room but certainly not a majority of the time. I recall in a couple of interviews with Sheriff Harrison that he commented on how big the house was. Given this, how likely is it in your opinion that possibly more of the house was directly involved than just the master bedroom ?
Hiya RC,
14 days tells me that it would've been a very thorough examination. It would've involved gathering evidence every day, involving shift/weekend work as well as overtime for the examiners, as nearly 3000 square meters is a lot of space.
I do need to view some of all the news footage again as well as Nancy's stories (video) as I recall investigators taking photos or video footage in one of the rooms during a news pan of the outside of the house (if you look closely you will see a red light in one of the upstairs rooms).
They would've spent quite a bit of time going over the whole house with alot of concentration in the main bedroom but it's hard to say without knowing the crime scene. Other areas of concentration would be entry and dexits points, windows, garage, doors etc on both inside and outside for evidence of how the perp got in. IF the thing about the print is correct on the inside of the front door is correct, then we already know how the perp exited the house.
We have the comments from Meredith that the "place doesn't look like it normally does". This has always been a bit unclear to me as to whether she is referencing the house or just the bedroom.
I think that we can take Meredith's statement as literal. "This place" as opposed to "the bedroom". Coupled with "the dog was freaking out when I got here". It seems to me that Michelle was a particularly houseproud lady, so her sister would notice the state of the house if anything was out of place, as it would be 'unlike Michelle' to leave it such a state before going to work.
Then I start wondering if Meredith noticed something the second she entered the house but became distracted by Cassidy. Meredith was under the impression that MY was suppose to be at work (per the 911 tape).
As we've (WSer's) discussed before whether Meredith knew Michelle was supposed to be at work depends on who told her (how she knew). Did Michelle tell her or did Jason tell her in the voicemail "hey sis, Michelle's at work, I need you to pick up a fax for me before she sees it".
Now if he contacted her early morning, then Meredith may have been due at work herself so couldn't get over til her lunch break. The timing of the call as well as when the printout were made are more important than people think. What was done first? If the printout was done first then voicemail to Meredith then that is the usual turn of things in regard to them BUT if he rang and left the message at one time and the printout was done AFTER or at the same time, then IMO that's rather suspicious. But that too also depends on what message he left Meredith....ie; "Sis, there's a fax coming at **. Can you pop over and grab it before Michelle gets home as it's a surprise for her and I don't want her to see it" (means it was going to be sent) or "Sis, there's a fax at the house I need you to get before Michelle gets home from work as it's a surprise for her and I don't want her to see it " (meaning it's already there). However should it have been there before Michelle's est TOD, then mmmmm. If he printed it out Thursday night before leaving why didn't it go with him when he left?
Do you think it is possible that Cassidy could have tracked blood to the entrance area of the house ( I know we have no idea how far that would be). I am wondering since Cassidy asked for a wash cloth if it is possible in your opinion that there could have been blood smears on the wall(s) coming down the stairs and into the main areas of the house ?
Depending on the amount of blood, it's possible that Cassidy could've tracked it to the stairs and beyond. (And if the dog was in the house, it's paw prints would've been there also). With each footstep, the blood travels less (like walking on paint until on bits of footprints are seen). The blood would've built up between her toes as well if she was barefooted, which I suspect she was. If it's footprints on top of footprints then she could've picked up more blood from other previously made footprints and tracked it further. I have no idea of the temperature of the night, so I can't say how long the blood could've taken to congeal.
As this has been described as a gruesome, violent crime. I will assume that there would be a fair amount of blood. If the back of her skull was caved in to the point of opening the skin and fracturing (either fissure or compound fractures) the skull, there may have been a severing of the occipital or other arteries which will cause a good deal of blood loss. Not knowing the extent of the injuries but from what Meredith says in regards to blood all over the house, I'd say that Meredith knew that something was wrong before she got upstairs. Whether it be only Cassidy's footprints and some spatters elsewhere as well, I have no idea.
I think I mentioned here (or it may be on my blog which I haven't 'released yet', lol) that once the heart stops beating, so does the blood stop pumping, so I'm IMOing that death wasn't fast coming.
(It pains me to write this and apologies to any family who may be reading this part below...)
Michelle may have suffered a non complete preterm delivery, in which case mucous and possibly also amniotic fluid would be mixed in with blood in certain areas surrounding Michelle's body. If this had occurred, then it was indeed not only violent but also a most horrific and painful death and one that no woman should ever suffer. After death, the female body can not go into labour.
If the final autopsy report is released I can go into it further as I will then know if there is evidence that a partial preterm occurred.
I am suspecting that there were a significant number of wounds on Michelle on other areas of her body in varying degrees for force.
Enough for now but still pondering - will ask you more later when you have a bit more time. TIA