MN MN - Joshua Guimond, 20, Collegeville, 9 Nov 2002

[Jbrown324320]

sorry it was so much all at once. I have been studying this case for a while and I am frustrated with the secrecy, abuse and uncooperation by people who are supposed to be revered, christ-like.

 

[Jbrown324320]

Bump for Josh. Thinking about him and his family today.

 

[Jbrown324320]

Josh could still be somewhere on that campus. Someone has got to do something.

 

[ThePhantom]

Thoughts about Joshua's disappearance: the monks have access to various rural properties owned by the abbey. As already noted, the "supervision" received by sex offenders on campus was lax,period. Further, at the time Joshua went missing, there were a number of monks, who, at that time, had not yet been "outed" as being sex offenders. Also, an incinerator used to burn trash was allegedly put into service "off schedule" within a day or two after Josh disappeared. And -- there are numerous underground tunnels in and around the abbey. What exists in this abbey is an understood unspoken policy of "never, ever tell on anyone." It's no different from any other proverbial "old boy (or old girl?) network" -- it's similar to the way (many) doctors won't come forward when they observe misdeeds on the part of their colleagues. This mindset operates from a a value set of self preservation (I won't tell on you if you don't tell on me). There is a misguided rationalization and justification along the lines of "every one makes mistakes; he's only human; Christ told us to forgive," etc. This entire line of thinking is rooted solely in self serving behavior, and has nothing to do with doing the right thing. In order for a power system as vast as the church to change, issues must be addressed from *outside* the church, since history has clearly shown the church is unwilling or perhaps even unable to change from within. There is a longstanding culture of deception, corruption, power mongering and hidden criminal activity. The odds that anyone will succeed in uncovering the truth about Joshua's disappearance are small -- and yet, if we don't try, we have surrendered our own will to do the right thing. Forget about the sheriff, the local community, local media, local politicians to help -- most of these benefit in some way, shape or form from an affiliation with St. John's. In the community, it's all about "Go Johnnies." I am holding onto a belief that someday, a monk (or another soul) who has information will be convicted by the Lord to tell the truth. Because the man who did this crime, (I think) may have committed others, was as cunning and calculated as any serial killer. He was also able to hide behind his collar, put on a "holy" face, and fool people unable to see the black coldness in his eyes.

 

[Jbrown324320]

Phantom,
Did the sherriff ever investigate why the incinerator was used "off schedule"? Who noticed and reported this info?

 

[ThePhantom]

Hello, the info about the incinerator was noted by a (credible) person who is affiliated with the campus. The sheriff has all this information and more, but please bear in mind, the sheriff has numerous ties to St. John's University, and, in my opinion, should have allowed another individual or agency (that did not have a conflict of interest) to handle this case. The initial investigation was very poorly done, and Joshua's sudden disappearance was written off as being a "missing person." Next, the sheriff announced that he believed Joshua was in one of the lakes, his remains probably consumed by wildlife. Only due to intense pressure by his parents was the Trident Foundation called in to sweep the lakes with ground penetrating radar. Specifically, they told the sheiff that the investigation into Josh's disappearance needed to go in "another direction." To me, it would seem that anytime a young person abruptly goes missing within the vicinity of an institution that houses sex offenders, all of these offenders, plus the entire staff, should have been interviewed and had their alibies thoroughly checked out. I've no doubt that the man who did this performed this evil deed with wicked alacrity. Some people think Josh's disappearance was a crime of opportunity, while I tend to believe he was targeted. Either way, the perpetrator was a predator who lacked any kind of conscience but was adept at putting on a "professional" facade. However, I think there are souls on the campus who may have been suspicious of him...but they lack concrete evidence, and the sheriff threw the chance to find that evidence away.

 

[Jbrown324320]

I don't know if he was targeted or not, but I read somewhere that all the campus computers are on the same internet service provided by the college. This would allow an administrator to see what students were researching on the internet. I know where I work our computer staff can see what sites we have been on and can read our emails. We can get fired for doing or saying inappropriate things. I am wondering if a monk overseeing the computer system noticed Josh researching the Abbey monks, someone told someone else who instructed a student to "lose Josh" and delete files in his computer.

 

[Jbrown324320]

In my opinion, the Stearns Cty Sherriff dropped the ball big time on this case and allowed the influence of power and money of the college to affect his judgment and his work, leaving the family to suffer. Shame on him. "Take the search in another direction"? More like leading us away from the Abbey where the focus should have been.

 

[ThePhantom]

Yes, Jbrown, my thoughts as well. I'll never forget the day almost eight years ago when I went online and saw Joshua's picture and the headline "College Student Goes Missing." The first thing I thought was: "and the answer to what happened to him is right there." Imagine my bewilderment and disappointment when I heard the sheriff's blithe reseponse. You can make the diffedent statement of "college students go missing all the time," but to apply that thought to someone who didn't have any motivation to just up and leave is inappropriate and non productive. The sheriff and his staff KNEW AND KNOW that numerous sex offenders are housed right there on the campus -- and they DO mix with students, despite what the abbey says. And yet -- were any of them ever interviewed? No.....and now...some have died, possibly taking the horrible secret of Josh's disappearance to their grave.

 

[Jbrown324320]

I know they sealed one of the monk's rooms after his death and was conducting an investigation. I have never seen any results from that investigation. I think we should press them to make the details public.

 

[concentric]

http://www.findjoshua.com/

FYI--I just read on Josh's site that Bob Guimond, Josh's grandpa, will be on the radio, Sept. 18 to discuss the case. Go to the above link to get details. Also, I think they are planning another rally.

 

[Jbrown324320]

I have emailed the Stearns County Sheriff to see why they haven't made the findings public (search of Father BW who passed away in 2009). I'll see if he responds.

 

[concentric]

So, from what I've read, Josh left the party at the dorm. People at the party thought he probably left to go to the bathroom, right? Then I read that there are witnesses who saw him walking back to his dorm room. Which story is correct? Or is neither correct? I read that at some time the students went outside to smoke cigars. Maybe he went outside again to smoke?

In any case, he could have been nabbed:

- on the way to or from the bathroom, or in the bathroom, then dragged into another dorm room, passageway?
- when he went outside, if he was smoking a cigar and taken where?
- when he was walking back to his dorm, such as a car pulling up and either grabbing him or "giving -- him a ride." Or, grabbed and hauled into an underground passageway, etc.

What I want to know is: Why did Josh's friends at the party think he left to go to the bathroom? What did Josh say, if anything about why he was leaving the party?

Anyone have any clarification, or something to add?

Thanks. I'm sure some of you have played this over in your mind.

 

[Jbrown324320]

concentric
I have also read from the family's website that Josh made it back to his room and could have disappeared from his room. I am not sure if his last known whereabouts were actually confirmed.
Many people (IMO the more honest ones) said they last saw him at the off campus party and saw that he had left. I am thinking that some were "assuming" he went back to his dorm and some "assumed" he went to the bathroom, but I am not sure if anyone talked to him to actually know for sure why he was leaving and where he was going. From what I read, not many friends are cooperating with the family- only one or two. I guess I would start by questioning each person who was at that party. Were the security cameras looked at? Did he make it back to his room and use his keycard like the family said or did someone else have his card?
Someone from St John's (student or faculty) has to have some info they are keeping secret.

 

[Jbrown324320]

From what I have read, Josh had at least 4 dorm roommates. One roommate said he last saw him at 8:30pm when he went "downstairs with Josh and another friend to smoke cigars." But he politely declined. I believe this roommate did not go to the card party. I am not sure which roommate that was. It could have been Nick H, I believe to be the one roommate that has been helping the family. It could also have been Greg W (project jason said that Greg was a former roommate of Josh).

He must have went to the card party after smoking the cigars. The party was hosted by a friend of Josh's, Nate S, per website (footprintsattheriversedge).

Per project jason website, Josh's grandfather said he told a few people at the party he was going back to his dorm and a few others at the party assumed he was leaving to go to the bathroom (was there no bathroom in the apartment?). This was around 11pm or 12am.

I wonder if any witnesses actually saw him walking to his dorm room? Was he missing from the Metten Court Apartments? Were there any offenders living in the apartment building?

 

[concentric]

Thank you so much jbrown for the info. I guess I forgot that the party was at an apartment and not a dorm. So that kindof nixes that he just went to use the bathroom, unless, someone intercepted him and asked him to go outside for a smoke, for instance.

I read that someone near the trash receptacles near Metten Ct. witnessed Josh walking home.

 

[Jbrown324320]

There are priests in charge of dorms who live in the dorm (I think they are called "precepts"). One of the messages on the family website says that the priest in charge of Josh's dorm the night he disappeared lied to the family about his certain location. He explained it away as a misunderstanding by the investigator. I wonder if this priest is one of the priests on so-called "restriction" now, but maybe not at the time of Josh's disappearance.

 

[ThePhantom]

Thanks to those of you who have taken an interest in Joshua's case. Thanks for letting everyone know that Grandpa Bob will be on a talk radio show program on Saturday, September 18. Please go to the Guimond family's website at www.findjoshua.com to get details. Josh's parents have suffered so much from Joshua's disappearance that Grandpa Bob decided to take over and represent the family. You can imagine the toll it has taken on him and his wife as well. It is a deeply disturbing and puzzling feeling to watch the community in which St. John's University is located passively stand by and not get involved in this case. It's the same old, "if it doesn't affect me or my family personally, I don't care." This is a case that will be solved by a handful of people outside of law enforcement who are relentless in pursuing the truth. It's like chipping away at Mt. Everest with a teaspoon, because all the power is held by the university and the church. The best hope is victims who have been courageously coming forward to tell the truth about what happpened to them. And, there is still much we have not been told. What was found in BW's room after his death? How thoroughly was the room and every area in and around that abbey where he spent time searched? Has his background been investigated to see if other young men may have gone missing in places where he lived? In the best investigations, no stone is left unturned. In this investigation, the approach has been to look the other way, deflect, lie, rationalize, spin and make the family feel like they are the ones who have done something wrong. It's sick, unethical and cruel.

 

[ThePhantom]

Since it's been eight years since Joshua vanished, many opportunities to search for and locate evidence have been lost. Since the three lakes on campus were searched by the professional forensics team Trident Foundation, it is unlikely that any evidence was missed there. Valuable time was lost as the abbey did not allow searchers into the building for a period of time after Josh's disappearance. None of the church's rural cabins and properties were searched. The incinerator was never checked. The tunnels were not looked at, nor were remote areas of the campus. The obvious places were looked at -- the woods near the campus, Josh's dorm, the campus grounds. It is felt that this crime was meticulously planned and executed by someone who most probably had other victims. At the time of Josh's disappearance, there were monks on campus whose histories of sexual abuse had still not been made public. A few of them were still actively involved in the school.

 

[ThePhantom]

The sheriff held to a theory that Joshua fell into a lake. He had to be begged by Josh's family to allow Trident to perform the search. There is a heartbreaking video somewhere on line which aptly shows the futility of trying to get help from the sheriff and the county. The family was, for all intents and purposes, blithely dismissed. I can barely stand to watch it, but it was yet another motivator for me not to give up. I think it would be a genuine miracle if Joshua was ever found. But I do think it is possible that someone may someday finally feel convicted enough in their soul to provide information pertinent to the case. I have to believe that, otherwise -- what's the point of trying?