Found Deceased MT - Rebekah Barsotti 33, & dog (fnd deceased), Town Pump, Superior, Mineral Co, 20 Jul 2021 *Reward

[Gina20]

Is it fair to say that outdated, harmful and dangerous attitudes toward women don't stop at city boundaries?

Has anything changed since Jon Krakauer wrote his book
"Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town"?

Et tu, Superior, Montana.

 

[Gina20]

From my area today: police are looking for tips in a historical missing persons case. A police press release notes that the woman had left an intimate relationship almost 30 years ago, then disappeared. Cases like this are never closed until they are solved. Police here wouldn't dare say something like, "We don't know what happened, but we assumed she accidentally drowned," without witnesses to a drowning. They also don't tell the public to investigate and bring them the evidence. They ask for "tips" and "help".

 

[yurintroubl]

I have never before heard of LE asking the public to show them the evidence in a case, but that happened in last night's TV interview. I have heard LE asking for tips and information. "Evidence" is up to the police.
...

...I would like to propose that LE in Montana look for evidence themselves, instead of waiting for the public to do it. A person like me cannot get a search warrant, etc. As much as I would like to browse the case files, etc., they are in the hands of LE, <modsnip>.

Hearing LE saying "bring us evidence" rubs me the same wrong way as when a Person of Interest says "you aren't going to find any evidence against me" in regard to a case.

 

[Steve McQueen]

A bump and some more musings

For me, the key to what makes this case a suspicious disappearance and not an accidental drowning is RB's dog Cerebus. The reasons are three fold:

1. I find it difficult to believe that a dog like Cerebus would be unable to swim to shore even if caught in a swiftly flowing river. I know my 13 pound Bichon would have no problem staying afloat and making it to safety under those circumstances.

2. Supposing Cerebus did drown, I find it inconceivable that his body ended up 10 miles downstream of the Alberton Rocks. The Clark Fork River has too many bends and probably too much debris for Cerebus' lifeless body to travel that distance without getting hung up on the shoreline or in submerged tree branches. Ten miles is a long, long way. The initial searches by experts in water recovery were focused much closer to the Alberton Rocks.

3. DB had previously threatened to drown Cerebus (and RB). I can imagine him killing/drowning her dog in her presence to exact some kind of twisted revenge.

 

[Bit of hope]

Thank you!

I did send you part one.....

 

[laurawlms]

I did send you part one.....

Thank you I will read it. I also sent to AM to read too. Once I hear back from her I will let you know. We appreciate it!

 

[laurawlms]

A bump and some more musings

For me, the key to what makes this case a suspicious disappearance and not an accidental drowning is RB's dog Cerebus. The reasons are three fold:

1. I find it difficult to believe that a dog like Cerebus would be unable to swim to shore even if caught in a swiftly flowing river. I know my 13 pound Bichon would have no problem staying afloat and making it to safety under those circumstances.

2. Supposing Cerebus did drown, I find it inconceivable that his body ended up 10 miles downstream of the Alberton Rocks. The Clark Fork River has too many bends and probably too much debris for Cerebus' lifeless body to travel that distance without getting hung up on the shoreline or in submerged tree branches. Ten miles is a long, long way. The initial searches by experts in water recovery were focused much closer to the Alberton Rocks.

3. DB had previously threatened to drown Cerebus (and RB). I can imagine him killing/drowning her dog in her presence to exact some kind of twisted revenge.

I agree. Not only is 10 miles a long, long way but the part of river that Cerebus would have travelled is also heavily populated with recreational boats, rafts, boogie boards, etc. When I was there, the Cyr access area had atleast 5 big yellow school buses off loading people to go on these river excursions. Cyr access is one of many on the river route that Cerebus travelled. Somebody on one of those boats would have seen the dog floating down river.

 

[Steve McQueen]

I agree. Not only is 10 miles a long, long way but the part of river that Cerebus would have travelled is also heavily populated with recreational boats, rafts, boogie boards, etc. When I was there, the Cyr access area had atleast 5 big yellow school buses off loading people to go on these river excursions. Cyr access is one of many on the river route that Cerebus travelled. Somebody on one of those boats would have seen the dog floating down river.

Agree with you about the heavy population on the river. I'm having a little more difficulty with the staging of her personal items. That seems pretty sophisticated. Would the perpetrator be smart enough to think of this? To me it suggests there was premeditation, but how could they be sure she would be at the Alberton Rocks beach that afternoon.

 

[Gina20]

Agree with you about the heavy population on the river. I'm having a little more difficulty with the staging of her personal items. That seems pretty sophisticated. Would the perpetrator be smart enough to think of this? To me it suggests there was premeditation, but how could they be sure she would be at the Alberton Rocks beach that afternoon.

Was she at Alberton that day, or is all this part of the scenario we have been led to believe?

We have:

1. An alibi provided by the employee of Rebekah's estranged spouse.

2. No search warrant executed on the estranged husband's home, phone or computers, to our knowledge.

3. No questioning of the estranged husband beyond him providing an alibi, to our knowledge.

4. A video from security camera footage of her vehicle at a gas station in Superior, Montana on the day purported to be the one when she met with the employee to pick up her belongings left behind at the marital home.

5. We do not know if either Rebekah and/or Cerberus were seen on that footage. We don't know if the footage was from high-quality digital equipment or outdated grainy video. If the quality was poor, it might reveal at best a woman bearing a resemblance to Rebekah. What about her dog?

6. We do not know if the date and time stamp from that security footage was verified. I recall a case where this was not done, and the time was off.

7. Rebekah's belongings after six years of marriage fit in a plastic bag, which was found in the trunk of her vehicle.

8. Her vehicle was found at the Alberton rest stop.

9. No eyewitnesses can verify that they saw her and/or her dog at the rest stop on the date and time that fits the scenario as explained to us.

10. Her belongings were placed beside the water, either neatly folded or in disarray...reports vary. She took off her glasses, for some strange reason.

11. An Oregon family that doesn't seem to exist phoned police to report her belongings on the riverbank.

12. Rebekah's phone had a video of her throwing sticks for Cerberus at the river.

13. Rebekah's phone did not undergo forensic examination?

14. Rebekah's phone pinged, but phones ping even when their owners are not with them.

Please add on or correct this list as you wish.

I think that Rebekah was missing before July 20, because no eyewitnesses saw her. Where is the receipt for fuel or purchases from the Town Pump? When did she last use her bank and credit cards? When did she last text or call someone?

When did she last go to work or visit one of her friends?

 

[Gina20]

A bump and some more musings

For me, the key to what makes this case a suspicious disappearance and not an accidental drowning is RB's dog Cerebus. The reasons are three fold:

1. I find it difficult to believe that a dog like Cerebus would be unable to swim to shore even if caught in a swiftly flowing river. I know my 13 pound Bichon would have no problem staying afloat and making it to safety under those circumstances.

2. Supposing Cerebus did drown, I find it inconceivable that his body ended up 10 miles downstream of the Alberton Rocks. The Clark Fork River has too many bends and probably too much debris for Cerebus' lifeless body to travel that distance without getting hung up on the shoreline or in submerged tree branches. Ten miles is a long, long way. The initial searches by experts in water recovery were focused much closer to the Alberton Rocks.

3. DB had previously threatened to drown Cerebus (and RB). I can imagine him killing/drowning her dog in her presence to exact some kind of twisted revenge.

Last night's news coverage said Cerberus was found 10 miles upstream, as if Cerberus were a spawning salmon. That was even harder to believe.

 

[Steve McQueen]

Was she at Alberton that day, or is all this part of the scenario we have been led to believe?

We have:

1. An alibi provided by the employee of Rebekah's estranged spouse.

2. No search warrant executed on the estranged husband's home, phone or computers, to our knowledge.

3. No questioning of the estranged husband beyond him providing an alibi, to our knowledge.

4. A video from security camera footage of her vehicle at a gas station in Superior, Montana on the day purported to be the one when she met with the employee to pick up her belongings left behind at the marital home.

5. We do not know if either Rebekah and/or Cerberus were seen on that footage. We don't know if the footage was from high-quality digital equipment or outdated grainy video. If the quality was poor, it might reveal at best a woman bearing a resemblance to Rebekah. What about her dog?

6. We do not know if the date and time stamp from that security footage was verified. I recall a case where this was not done, and the time was off.

7. Rebekah's belongings after six years of marriage fit in a plastic bag, which was found in the trunk of her vehicle.

8. Her vehicle was found at the Alberton rest stop.

9. No eyewitnesses can verify that they saw her and/or her dog at the rest stop on the date and time that fits the scenario as explained to us.

10. Her belongings were placed beside the water, either neatly folded or in disarray...reports vary. She took off her glasses, for some strange reason.

11. An Oregon family that doesn't seem to exist phoned police to report her belongings on the riverbank.

12. Rebekah's phone had a video of her throwing sticks for Cerberus at the river.

13. Rebekah's phone did not undergo forensic examination?

14. Rebekah's phone pinged, but phones ping even when their owners are not with them.

Please add on or correct this list as you wish.

I think that Rebekah was missing before July 20, because no eyewitnesses saw her. Where is the receipt for fuel or purchases from the Town Pump? When did she last use her bank and credit cards? When did she last text or call someone?

When did she last go to work or visit one of her friends?

You could be right. I like how you think outside the box.

 

[Gina20]

I would like clarification from Sheriff Mike Toth about why the estranged husband who had a restraining order against him, who was due to appear in court on charges, and had threatened to kill Rebekah and her dog is not considered a suspect and apparently has not been subject to search warrants or interrogation. Boggles. the. mind.

Also, please advise if anyone involved in this case in any way has ever been a client of the side businesses: private investigations and security. Surely the public has a right to know. Was Rebekah ever under surveillance or protection by either?

 

[Gina20]

You could be right. I like how you think outside the box.

I reject the premise of boxes.

 

[Steve McQueen]

I think we can all agree that there is something rotten in Superior, MT. We need to crack this case for the sake of the family. They seem like such wonderful people who don't deserve this tragedy in their lives.

 

[Gina20]

This scenario is going to unravel quickly if it is subjected to scrutiny by an independent third party. IMO.

 

[Steve McQueen]

This scenario is going to unravel quickly if it is subjected to scrutiny by an independent third party. IMO.

\

Yes, but which third party? An investigative reporter? The Montana DCI? We need someone to step up.

 

[Gina20]

Another nagging question: what is the name of the security company that provided security coverage and the video cams that captured Rebekah's vehicle? Thanks!

 

[?!?]

Was she at Alberton that day, or is all this part of the scenario we have been led to believe?

We have:

1. An alibi provided by the employee of Rebekah's estranged spouse.

2. No search warrant executed on the estranged husband's home, phone or computers, to our knowledge.

3. No questioning of the estranged husband beyond him providing an alibi, to our knowledge.

4. A video from security camera footage of her vehicle at a gas station in Superior, Montana on the day purported to be the one when she met with the employee to pick up her belongings left behind at the marital home.

5. We do not know if either Rebekah and/or Cerberus were seen on that footage. We don't know if the footage was from high-quality digital equipment or outdated grainy video. If the quality was poor, it might reveal at best a woman bearing a resemblance to Rebekah. What about her dog?

6. We do not know if the date and time stamp from that security footage was verified. I recall a case where this was not done, and the time was off.

7. Rebekah's belongings after six years of marriage fit in a plastic bag, which was found in the trunk of her vehicle.

8. Her vehicle was found at the Alberton rest stop.

9. No eyewitnesses can verify that they saw her and/or her dog at the rest stop on the date and time that fits the scenario as explained to us.

10. Her belongings were placed beside the water, either neatly folded or in disarray...reports vary. She took off her glasses, for some strange reason.

11. An Oregon family that doesn't seem to exist phoned police to report her belongings on the riverbank.

12. Rebekah's phone had a video of her throwing sticks for Cerberus at the river.

13. Rebekah's phone did not undergo forensic examination?

14. Rebekah's phone pinged, but phones ping even when their owners are not with them.

Please add on or correct this list as you wish.

I think that Rebekah was missing before July 20, because no eyewitnesses saw her. Where is the receipt for fuel or purchases from the Town Pump? When did she last use her bank and credit cards? When did she last text or call someone?

When did she last go to work or visit one of her friends?

I'd sure like to grill that employee/caretaker -- under oath: did they go to Town Pump alone, or with someone else (either same vehicle or separate) and what did they do afterward; what is THEIR alibi; were they in contact with DB immediately before or after meeting with RB. They are, after all, the last person to see RB alive AFAWK. There's more to be asked, but this is a public forum....

 

[Gina20]

I'd sure like to grill that employee/caretaker -- under oath: did they go to Town Pump alone, or with someone else (either same vehicle or separate) and what did they do afterward; what is THEIR alibi; were they in contact with DB immediately before or after meeting with RB. They are, after all, the last person to see RB alive AFAWK. There's more to be asked, but this is a public forum....

And were they captured on the security footage? Where did their phones ping?

 

[Gina20]

I have learned that deputies also serve as the coroners in Mineral County, and that deputies can train on the job without attending police college first. This is astounding to me.