Missouri - The Springfield Three--missing since June 1992 - #7

[Talullah]

I don’t think it’s silly to consider kids as suspects-if they did suspicious things. Is suspicion is in the eye of the beholder. If no one involved has blabbed in 26 years how can LE have information to disclose?

 

[Betty P]

It doesn't matter is ideas are beaten to death. It's about keeping people talking about the case. If the guilty person is watching this thread then good. Let them lurk.

I can sympathize somewhat with Missouri Mule about following cases a long time, doing a lot of research and narrowing down suspects and theories about how murders happened. It happens, especially if you're trying to be really careful about only choosing credible information and discounting rumors. But even LE know they have to bring in new people on cold cases and allow them to go back and look at files, evidence and information with "fresh eyes". Same with us. Things you may have ruled out in the past as irrelevant may need to be reconsidered. Alibis may be questionable, same with witness reports. Leads that didn't seem important may end up relevant when reconsidered.

I've fallen in the same trap myself on some cases. You just have to remind yourself to keep an open mind on some aspects of cases. Go back and re-check. Today I've been reading many of the old news reports on this case at Newspapers.com, looking at the case with "fresh eyes". But, yeah, I can see where MM gets burned out. It happens.

 

[MooseMeMuch]

I thought Janelle had the new bed.

No. It was Susie...the way I understand, the water bed was a graduation gift from Sherrill so sad.

 

[Betty P]

I don’t think it’s silly to consider kids as suspects-if they did suspicious things. Is suspicion is in the eye of the beholder. If no one involved has blabbed in 26 years how can LE have information to disclose?

Yeah, it should probably be reconsidered, but the young kids seem less likely. They were immature, young and I'd have a difficult time imagining them kidnapping and killing Sherrill, a woman the same age as their own mom, in addition to the younger girls. Young people are also impulsive and not as good at planning and hiding such a complex crime with so many victims. That said, I have a feeling some of them knew who did it, that it was someone slightly older than them, who they knew socially, from buying drugs and/or partying. It's disappointing to read the old news accounts and see how much victim blaming was focused on Sherrill and Suzie because they weren't from more well to do families. JMO, the social status of some of the other kids may have protected them from closer scrutiny. I used to spend a lot of time in Springfield on business, even lived there on and off for a few months. Traveled there regularly for several years up until just a few years before the kidnappings. Springfield is that kind of town, where people gossip a lot, are judgmental and look down on those they consider less affluent.

The news coverage indicated LE really focused closely on Suzie and Sherrill's backgrounds that may have brought the killer into the picture. They didn't seem to think it possible the other kids could have had much darker connections.

14 Jul 1992, Page 6 - The Springfield News-Leader at Newspapers.com

Here's a link to an interview with Bartt. His own father accused him of doing it. That guy must have been a real prize, the father, that is.

24 Aug 1992, Page 5 - The Springfield News-Leader at Newspapers.com

 

[MooseMeMuch]

I don’t think it’s silly to consider kids as suspects-if they did suspicious things. Is suspicion is in the eye of the beholder. If no one involved has blabbed in 26 years how can LE have information to disclose?

would be nice if someone blabbed! ha That'd be awesome!!!....good point....and whatever I was watching last night, concerning this case......they (LE) do have more info but of course, we cannot be privy to all of it. They have to guard against false confession.

 

[MooseMeMuch]

Yeah, it should probably be reconsidered, but the young kids seem less likely. They were immature, young and I'd have a difficult time imagining them kidnapping and killing Sherrill, a woman the same age as their own mom, in addition to the younger girls. Young people are also impulsive and not as good at planning and hiding such a complex crime with so many victims. That said, I have a feeling some of them knew who did it, that it was someone slightly older than them, who they knew socially, from buying drugs and/or partying. It's disappointing to read the old news accounts and see how much victim blaming was focused on Sherrill and Suzie because they weren't from more well to do families. JMO, the social status of some of the other kids may have protected them from closer scrutiny. I used to spend a lot of time in Springfield on business, even lived there on and off for a few months. Traveled there regularly for several years up until just a few years before the kidnappings. Springfield is that kind of town, where people gossip a lot, are judgmental and look down on those they consider less affluent.

The news coverage indicated LE really focused closely on Suzie and Sherrill's backgrounds that may have brought the killer into the picture. They didn't seem to think it possible the other kids could have had much darker connections.

Totally agree on the 'victim blaming'.....I'm ashamed to admit I 'used to' think it had to be Sherrill and Suzie who brought the 'rabble' and Stacy was collateral damage but now...no. They were all 3 collateral damage and it's ridiculous (IMO) to think Sherrill and Suzie were some kind of murder magnets.
I grew up in Springfield and experienced the social status stigma. Sucked.
Yes, I agree with 'some of them knew who did it' and could add to the persons of interest list.

 

[Catmommy]

Bartt's own father thought he did it? Now isn't that interesting.

 

[Talullah]

Picking apart Sherrill’s and Suzie’s lives is easy since they’re not here to defend themselves and correct misinformation. It bothers me the people Suzie spent graduation night with act as if hanging out with her was a favor. People suggested Stacy would probably be here if she hadn’t spent the night with Suzie. We don’t know it isn’t the other way around if their being together was truly a freak situation.
I think if we knew as much about Stacy as Sherrill and Suzie our opinions of what happened would be different.

 

[asyousay]

Bartt's own father thought he did it? Now isn't that interesting.

Considering his relationship with his mum and sister and the fact it appears like they could of known the person I can see why the father would think that.

I have known a few people addicted to drink and they are very convincing liars and are very good at wearing masks when it suits them.


IMO

 

[Betty P]

Considering his relationship with his mum and sister and the fact it appears like they could of known the person I can see why the father would think that.

I have known a few people addicted to drink and they are very convincing liars and are very good at wearing masks when it suits them.


IMO

Bartt's father lived in the state of Washington and spent little time with him growing up. They had a poor, if non-existent relationship. Same with Sherrill and Suzie. From the article, it doesn't sound as if he tried to have much of a relationship with his children, so I discount anything he says. Frankly, IMO, he sounds like a jerk.

Bartt has been checked out ten ways to Sunday in this case. He's had to spend every day of his life since the murders being unfairly accused. He's always worked very closely with LE in trying to find the killers. They're certain he had nothing to do with the murders. I feel nothing but sympathy and compassion for him. Suggest you read the interview with him at the link above.

ETA: The lurid gossip surrounding these crimes resulted in some unfair news coverage that delved deeply into the personal lives of the victims. Much ado was made in public of Sherrill's previous marriages and divorces, etc. Small town mentality. AFAIK, the other victim's family was not subject to this level of scandalous reporting and investigation. The accusations against Sherrill and her kids, by both LE and the local news media, were unfounded and unfair.

 

[MooseMeMuch]

But, yeah, I can see where MM gets burned out. It happens.

MM needs to take a looooooooong break from this particular case...just my opinion.
This case has so many characters (like in a drama) any one of them, exception family of the women, could be the abductor/killer, that's also just my opinion.

 

[MooseMeMuch]

Picking apart Sherrill’s and Suzie’s lives is easy since they’re not here to defend themselves and correct misinformation. It bothers me the people Suzie spent graduation night with act as if hanging out with her was a favor. People suggested Stacy would probably be here if she hadn’t spent the night with Suzie. We don’t know it isn’t the other way around if their being together was truly a freak situation.
I think if we knew as much about Stacy as Sherrill and Suzie our opinions of what happened would be different.

Amen.....if anything, if could be the opposite! We just don't know and ALL angles need to be delved deeper into. It does strike me 'odd' that Stacy 'has to be seen' as the innocent one.

 

[MooseMeMuch]

ETA: The lurid gossip surrounding these crimes resulted in some unfair news coverage.... Small town mentality. AFAIK, the other victim's family was not subject to this level of scandalous reporting and investigation. The accusations against Sherrill and her kids, by both LE and the local news media, were unfounded and unfair.

Bravo and Amen! Well said!
Spfld MO is not a 'small town' but yes, it sure had/has that mentality! I grew up in it. Moved asap up to K.C. and never looked back.

 

[MooseMeMuch]

Considering his relationship with his mum and sister and the fact it appears like they could of known the person I can see why the father would think that.

I have known a few people addicted to drink and they are very convincing liars and are very good at wearing masks when it suits them.


IMO

That man (Bartt's dad) seems to be #1 unhappy #2. mean as a snake....hence why Sherrill left him. I'm betting dollars to donuts...'dad' was abusive in every way possible. Sad situation.

 

[Betty P]

Bravo and Amen! Well said!
Spfld MO is not a 'small town' but yes, it sure had/has that mentality! I grew up in it. Moved asap up to K.C. and never looked back.

I still know people who live there and my former employer is still pretty big there, but the city has gone through some changes. Back in the 70's, though, I always felt safe there. I stayed a lot in several different hotels and motels there over the years, sometimes for months, other times a few nights every other week or so. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I always felt safe.

Some of my co-workers were managers who, like me, had been transferred around from big cities. They joked about being transferred to Springfield and adapting to social life there. One said he was told if you wanted to buy booze, beer, etc. you should shop on the other side of town. When buying beer, etc. and when throwing out the cans, make sure you hide them in bags. Some people said they even disposed of their empties at the liquor store dumpster, after dark. I guess neighbors would look in trash cans and gossip if they saw someone with empty beer cans or liquor bottles. This was in the days before everyone used the big trash bags. Apparently, gossip got around quite a bit, even to your employer. It could cause you problems at work, apparently, especially if you weren't a native/local.

There was also a lot of hanky-panky among the upstanding, church-going citizens, haha. I used to love hearing some of the old stories, easy for me because I didn't live there. But yeah, I always felt safe there, maybe because my employer had their own private police force and they kept an eye out for me. Back then there weren't any residence-type hotels, so I stayed every week at a little homey motel on Glenstone while I did my training. The special agents told me which areas of town to avoid. I wonder if they had the hotel maid check my trash, haha.

To me, the missing Springfield Three came as a big shock. It just didn't seem like something that would happen there.

 

[Talullah]

I don’t think it’s irrelevant that Suzie changed her plans to hang out with Stacy that night.

 

[MooseMeMuch]

The special agents told me which areas of town to avoid. I wonder if they had the hotel maid check my trash, haha.
To me, the missing Springfield Three came as a big shock. It just didn't seem like something that would happen there.

Hammond? He was a BIG DEAL....
Yes, sure wasn't an everyday occurrence....thank goodness.
Makes you wonder if someone from 'out of town' (Kansas?) was at one of those parties. With this big of a case, Kirby's famdamily should have been interrogated, IMO.

 

[MooseMeMuch]

I don’t think it’s irrelevant that Suzie changed her plans to hang out with Stacy that night.

I repeat, IMO, Suzie and Sherrill would not have been abducted.
Stacy? Not as sure...

 

[beebosox]

I believe I am with those who think something serious happened at that after-prom party, and the target was the silence of the girls.

 

[Talullah]

No one went out of their way for Suzie. She changed her plans. She invited Stacy to stay at Sherrill’s-which Stacy chose to do though she had options. Stacy might’ve dated someone as “rough” as the grave robbers. We just don’t know.