Missouri - The Springfield Three--missing since June 1992 - #8

[Valiant]

Did the paper man/woman report a person sitting in the van? If not, it was graduation wknd, lots of strangers in town, wasn't that the beginning of the 'van age'?

The late 70s were the van age. By the 1990s, it was the age of the minivan and the bigger vans were mainly used for commercial purposes. The few big vans used for families travels generally were window vans and not panel vans.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I had many contentious contacts with Mike both on and off the internet. I first got the impression he believed there was a connection to one of the “Grand Jury 3”. But as time went on he backed away and finally said he thought it was some mysterious unknown predator.

I have also gone round and round with Bartt to no avail.

I often wondered if Mike wasn’t pulling my leg. I concluded after literally hundreds of contacts that his last opinion was the more likely of the scenarios.

When all the likely perps are eliminated we are left with this one last possibility. I truly believe we are looking at a mentally unstable homicidal maniac.

 

[flute4peace]

Can you point me to cases where 3 women have been killed because a teenager is pregnant as I have only only ever followed about 5 cases on this forum. I have never come across another such case and it seems extreme so it would be interesting to gage how common such a crime is.

I’m not saying 3 women are frequently killed by an angry baby-daddy. I’m saying that it’s a theory that makes a lot of sense to me in this particular case.

One of the big questions in this case is motive, and it’s frequently mentioned that one of the women may have been the target with the other two as collateral damage. Well, if Suzie was indeed pg (upset stomach, needing a friend etc), that could have pushed the already-angry ex over the edge. Double motive - solve both his criminal & personal problem birds with one stone. It’s a known fact that women are at highest risk for DV- related homicides when pg and/or trying to leave. And the theory that she may have been targeted due to the criminal case has been around since day one. So, it fits.

Another big discussion is that the “amateur “ criminal couldn’t pull this off alone. Enter the fresh-from-prison, experienced felon family friend and you’ve got that question answered, as well.

 

[flute4peace]

I was informed by a good friend who identified such a man.
I provided a mug shot to the police station.

Does that mug shot/description match your current suspect?

 

[Missouri Mule]

Does that mug shot/description match your current suspect?

No. That person is deceased.

 

[flute4peace]

No. That person is deceased.

Mug shot guy is deceased or your suspect is deceased?

 

[Talullah]

There are other unsolved mysteries in and around the area, but none as mysterious. I haven’t studied homicidal maniacs, but from
what I have read their crimes usually escalate in violence and boldness. The disappearances of Sherrill, Stacy and Suzie is a major feather to add to a cap, hard to beat-so wouldn’t a homicidal maniac try to top this or do something to taunt LE?

 

[Missouri Mule]

I’m not saying 3 women are frequently killed by an angry baby-daddy. I’m saying that it’s a theory that makes a lot of sense to me.

One of the big questions in this case is motive, and it’s frequently mentioned that one of the women may have been the target with the other two as collateral damage. Well, if Suzie was indeed pg (upset stomach, needing a friend etc), that could have pushed the already-angry ex over the edge. Double motive - solve both his criminal & personal problem birds with one stone. It’s a known fact that women are at highest risk for DV- related homicides when pg and/or trying to leave. And the theory that she may have been targeted due to the criminal case has been around since day one. So, it fits.

Another big discussion is that the “amateur “ criminal couldn’t pull this off alone. Enter the fresh-from-prison, experienced felon family friend and you’ve got that question answered, as well.

I would argue that a person schooled in police work and evidence forensics could accomplish this crime.

We haven’t, to my knowledge, have a known or sususpected serial killer. It may very well be that this was a one-off crime of a lifetime.

He would be motivated by the desire to stay off death row or deal with a guilty conscience. He only has to come to grips with his conscience (if he has one) or contemplate the last minutes of his life on a gurney as the lethal chemicals enter his body.

It is true, of course, that pregnant women often meet their end at the hands of their former lover. The statistics are quite compelling.

 

[Ozoner]

I agree! It had to be that night. Other than graduation parties and Stacy going to Sherrill’s to spend the night what else set that night apart from other nights?

Going back to the pregnancy angle, which I don't necessarily see much evidence for in this case, if Suzie was pregnant, people would have seen her baby bump the next day at the water park, so the cat would have been out of the bag.

However, if it was a sex crime, it could simply be that that was the night the perp's sexual urges and fantasies compelled him to act.

 

[Missouri Mule]

There are other unsolved mysteries in and around the area, but none as mysterious. I haven’t studied homicidal maniacs, but fromwhat I have read their crimes usually escalate in violence and boldness. The disappearances of Sherrill, Stacy and Suzie is a major feather to add to a cap, hard to beat-so wouldn’t a homicidal maniac try to top this or do something to taunt LE?

If after 26 years he hasn’t been brought to justice he may be hanging around to taunt the police and others.

 

[Alexsea]

Motive is critical. Why are they all taken on that night. I don’t think it’s because of who was home. There were watchers who were focused. IMHO.

 

[Talullah]

I’m not saying 3 women are frequently killed by an angry baby-daddy. I’m saying that it’s a theory that makes a lot of sense to me in this particular case.

One of the big questions in this case is motive, and it’s frequently mentioned that one of the women may have been the target with the other two as collateral damage. Well, if Suzie was indeed pg (upset stomach, needing a friend etc), that could have pushed the already-angry ex over the edge. Double motive - solve both his criminal & personal problem birds with one stone. It’s a known fact that women are at highest risk for DV- related homicides when pg and/or trying to leave. And the theory that she may have been targeted due to the criminal case has been around since day one. So, it fits.

Another big discussion is that the “amateur “ criminal couldn’t pull this off alone. Enter the fresh-from-prison, experienced felon family friend and you’ve got that question answered, as well.

I wouldn’t be stunned if an unwanted pregnancy set off whatever happened. It makes sense. I think the key to all of this isn’t nearly as complex as it seems after all of these years.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Mug shot guy is deceased or your suspect is deceased?

Mug shot guy. He had a bad ticker.

 

[MooseMeMuch]

I can’t imagine somebody who looked like that being able to pursued 3 women out of their home that night.

Some people think the smashing of the globe was a rouse to get somebody out of the home but nobody is answering the door to that at 3am!


Fixed error

LOL....you got that right.......Hell no freakin' way....did we have 911 yet? B/c that's the number I'd be dialin'....

 

[HmmWhoKnows]

There are other unsolved mysteries in and around the area, but none as mysterious.
what I have read their crimes usually escalate in violence and boldness.

Yeah, why is that? I wonder........

 

[HmmWhoKnows]

Find out who came to the house in those two months, and you'll find the perp.

Simple as that.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Going back to the pregnancy angle, which I don't necessarily see much evidence for in this case, if Suzie was pregnant, people would have seen her baby bump the next day at the water park, so the cat would have been out of the bag.

However, if it was a sex crime, it could simply be that that was the night the perp's sexual urges and fantasies compelled him to act.

I believe it very well be that simple. His hormones overrode his ability to envision the consequences.

Once he committed the crime he has had to endure 26 years of intense scrutiny. Eventually he will come unglued and make a mistake that will cost him his freedom and eventually his life on death row.

After all the police said from the very outset that it was a sexual assault.

 

[Talullah]

Find out who came to the house in those two months, and you'll find the perp.

Simple as that.

Any advice on how non-locals can find out who visited Delmar?

 

[MooseMeMuch]

Here is a full timeline from June 21, 1992 Newsleader.

Attached.

Thanks and I noted Steve Thompson, Apco clerk, reported seeing the 3 women 2 separate times. He was trying to help, God bless him. I worked at a Casey's for a few months, you do see and meet lots of people, IMO it's very possible he saw Ms. Levitt that night. And if it wasn't Levitt then you'd think whoever it was would connect with SPD to put that 'tip' to rest.

 

[Ozoner]

I would argue that a person schooled in police work and evidence forensics could accomplish this crime.

We haven’t, to my knowledge, have a known or sususpected serial killer. It may very well be that this was a one-off crime of a lifetime.

He would be motivated by the desire to stay off death row or deal with a guilty conscience. He only has to come to grips with his conscience (if he has one) or contemplate the last minutes of his life on a gurney as the lethal chemicals enter his body.

It is true, of course, that pregnant women often meet their end at the hands of their former lover. The statistics are quite compelling.

Suzie would have become acquainted with some investigators and some beat cops as a result of being asked to testify against her ex-boyfriend. Maybe a married cop paid a little attention to her in order to seduce her. If that happened and she got pregnant, we'd have our explanation.
Women of Springfield should ask themselves whether they remember any cops who were known to cozy up to young women back in the early 90's.