MO - Elizabeth Olten, 9, St Martin's, 21 Oct 2009 #4

[crimecurious]

Where was Ab's BF at the time of the crime? Were there other teens missing from home? I thought LE received a letter as a tip and then traced it back to AB - where she then lead them to the body?? Am I wrong about this?

There may still be others involved.

I think so too. However, wouldn't they have arrested them also?

 

[Mendara]

I think so too. However, wouldn't they have arrested them also?

Not if Ab is claiming she was the only one - in order to protect someone - say a true love or dear friend. This is my opinion of course. I just don't see why she would committ this crime and HIDE THE BODY SO WELL and then write a letter to LE and risk it all. Unless there was another person involved and she felt some remorse or regret.

 

[Jules71]

I thought that would probably be considered rumor, so I didn't say.

And as for my daughter, my Mother has tried to talk to her also. We've taken her to counseling and she won't talk them. And every time something crazy happens, I always ask her what made her feel that she couldn't come to me and she promises she will the next time. She continues to keep everyone closed out except her friends. She actually did open up to a parent of a friend, the parent took advantage of that and I just got back from getting a restraining order against the parent.

How awful! Geeez. Hang in there - and keep telling her all the time you love her and are there for her. It's not easy for sure.

 

[Capri]

I think so too. However, wouldn't they have arrested them also?

I would hope so. I hope all of them are telling what they know b/c as we know too well, friends & boyfriends are the first ones to get thrown under the bus, when somebody needs an "out".

 

[tlcya]

As far as the comments on the article in question, the comments are only as factual as the persons who made them. Let's all keep in mind, anyone can comment on a website saying almost anything and claim to know this or that person or live here or there but bottom line, the manner of death and other info being described there are not fact, they are simply rumor and hearsay.

 

[Bibliophile]

I think (and just kind of guessing here) that a lot of people are assuming that the ENTIRE crime was committed in the 45 minute window from when Elizabeth was supposed to have left 6:15 PM until the 911 call at 7:00. Let's keep in mind that the teen was not considered a suspect and questioned until a few days later

It is my understanding she was considered a suspect almost immediately. Small window of time/limited area/small number of possible suspects.

The houses on Lomo Drive/Rt D are sort of set apart from other development in a semi-rural setting - like their own little neighborhood backed by woods. Its been stated she often walked across the backyards from her friend's house just four houses away.

 

[Bibliophile]

I thought that would probably be considered rumor, so I didn't say.

If your daughter knows AB then it is her opinion, but not a rumor.

 

[akashana]

It is my understanding she was considered a suspect almost immediately. Small window of time/limited area/small number of possible suspects.

The houses on Lomo Drive/Rt D are sort of set apart from other development in a semi-rural setting - like their own little neighborhood backed by woods. Its been stated she often walked across the backyards from her friend's house just four houses away.

MY BOLD

Wow, she must have really set off the vibe or hinky meters or whatever you want to call it. How could they have not seen how troubled she was before this lethal act?

 

[Jules71]

Do we know any specific info about where the body was found? Here is a map of their neighborhood - my guess is it wasn't too far away.

Elizabeth left at 6:15, called her mom to say she was coming home -- we have heard the perp could possibly have called her and told her to come back - she could have been 1/2 way home, maybe less... the perp meets her as E is walking back -- I just wonder how she got E to go into the woods? I think she was killed at the site where she was buried. JMO.

 

[Bibliophile]

Crowd lines up to say goodbye

Even strangers felt connection.


JEFFERSON CITY — Dozens of people lined the streets yesterday, and nearly 100 vehicles made up a seemingly endless procession of mourners trailing behind the horse-drawn carriage that carried the body of 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten. ...

More here -

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/oct/29/crowd-lines-up-to-say-goodbye/

 

[Mendara]

It is my understanding she was considered a suspect almost immediately. Small window of time/limited area/small number of possible suspects.

The houses on Lomo Drive/Rt D are sort of set apart from other development in a semi-rural setting - like their own little neighborhood backed by woods. Its been stated she often walked across the backyards from her friend's house just four houses away.

hmmm IIRC - i thought she became a suspect after the letter was received by LE? I didn't know it was immediately.

 

[tlcya]

Crowd lines up to say goodbye

Even strangers felt connection.


Sorry, that photo of the white horse drawn hearse really got me. Goodbye pretty girl

 

[lishac23]

It is my understanding she was considered a suspect almost immediately. Small window of time/limited area/small number of possible suspects.

The houses on Lomo Drive/Rt D are sort of set apart from other development in a semi-rural setting - like their own little neighborhood backed by woods. Its been stated she often walked across the backyards from her friend's house just four houses away.

Thanks Bibliophile.

I've kind of heard that "she was considered a suspect almost immediately" floating around and thats why an amber alert wasn't issued. I just wasn't sure how "true" that was. I was just taking a wild guess that maybe the time line wasn't as small. Its kind of hard to imagine that she was able to lure her, kill her, bury her, clean up and return home so quickly.

I've seen on NG that the suspect was in the home at the same time as Elizabeth, is it possible the reason she was looked at so soon was because she was missing from the house when the police came to look for Elizabeth?

 

[Jules71]

hmmm IIRC - i thought she became a suspect after the letter was received by LE? I didn't know it was immediately.

I thought so too, just after the press conf on Friday. Also, I wonder if the grandparents didn't give LE a note because they were suspicious of AB or thought things weren't adding up. ???

 

[crimecurious]

If your daughter knows AB then it is her opinion, but not a rumor.

I might should clarify. She knows who she is, has seen her around, knows her rep, etc. She has never spoken to the girl and they are not friends.

 

[tlcya]

Mendara,
Both statements could be true. LE may have only been able to bring her in and really start interrogating her after a letter but they may well have been focused on her as a "person of interest" almost immediately.

 

[Bibliophile]

MY BOLD

Wow, she must have really set off the vibe or hinky meters or whatever you want to call it.

Yes.

How could they have not seen how troubled she was before this lethal act?

Almost everyone in every horrific crime ever committed by a young person says this exact, same thing. Remember the old saying - hindsight is always 20/20. We may see things that set off our radar, but unless they are so blatant in-your-face we often dismiss them or rationalize them away. Deep down, we want other people to be good. We want them to be incapable of committing such acts.

 

[Betty P]

Do we know any specific info about where the body was found? Here is a map of their neighborhood - my guess is it wasn't too far away.

Elizabeth left at 6:15, called her mom to say she was coming home -- we have heard the perp could possibly have called her and told her to come back - she could have been 1/2 way home, maybe less... the perp meets her as E is walking back -- I just wonder how she got E to go into the woods? I think she was killed at the site where she was buried. JMO.

I recall one of the local news stories saying it was "several" hundred yards behind the houses. Quite a way back there.

 

[cornfed_hick]

If I remember correctly, the Amber alert wasn't issued because the sheriff didn't have any reason to suspect foul play until Friday morning, presumably after he got the 'written' note or whatever it was.

 

[akashana]

Yes.



Almost everyone in every horrific crime ever committed by a young person says this exact, same thing. Remember the old saying - hindsight is always 20/20. We may see things that set off our radar, but unless they are so blatant in-your-face we often dismiss them or rationalize them away. Deep down, we want other people to be good. We want them to be incapable of committing such acts.

You are right of course, I know that deep down. It's just so frustrating to realize that AB was so damaged that others could see that something was wrong with her enough to suspect her almost immediately of such a grotesque murder, yet she slipped through the cracks. And poor little Elizabeth paid with her life.