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

[Gina20]

Yes, two caretakers. The two most vocal defending DB on social media. The one that passed Rebekah her personal belongings at Town Pump is the caretaker I described above and I believe the alibi you describe. She has a wife. However it is my understanding she has been let go from the agency recently. The other caretaker I know little about other than what I have surmised from her mouth on social media. Others that read her comments felt like she might be romantically involved with DB. This individual arrogantly confronted AM at the last vigil at Mineral County Courthouse and told her she didn't want the flier at her hotel and balled up the flier and threw it on the ground. Maybe caretaking is/was a second job for her or maybe she is no longer a caretaker and working at the local motel???

The Mineral County Sheriff's office, courthouse and that motel in Superior are just down the street from a Conoco station. I wonder why the exchange of Rebekah's belongings was done on a side road outside the town centre, by a Flying J/Pilot truck stop. This might indicate who chose the venue. Did Rebekah have a gas station credit card for either Conoco (where the police cars fill up, according to a news story) or Exxon (on the side road by the truck stop)? So she went from a truck stop to a pullout used by truckers, and then she vanished into thin air.

 

[Gina20]

Also wondering why the words "truck stop" were not used in this case? That seems very relevant, as people have disappeared from truck stops and from other locations of that particular chain in recent history.

Missing Persons of America -Two people go missing. What is going on at the Flying J?

Two in custody after missing 14-year-old girl found in cab of truck near Sayre, authorities say

Remains identified as woman who was stabbed to death after vanishing from truck stop

 

[laurawlms]

The Mineral County Sheriff's office, courthouse and that motel in Superior are just down the street from a Conoco station. I wonder why the exchange of Rebekah's belongings was done on a side road outside the town centre, by a Flying J/Pilot truck stop. This might indicate who chose the venue. Did Rebekah have a gas station credit card for either Conoco (where the police cars fill up, according to a news story) or Exxon (on the side road by the truck stop)? So she went from a truck stop to a pullout used by truckers, and then she vanished into thin air.

These are all great questions. Looking at a map it seems like the Conoco or even the Sheriff's Office would have been the most logical place to exchange RB's personal belongings since they are directly off the exit. Obviously the Sheriff's office being the best option.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Eight years of Dateline's Missing in America: 169 still missing

Rebekah Barsotti, 33, and her dog, Cerberus, went missing on July 20, 2021, from the Town Pump station in Superior, Montana. She was last seen around 2:15 p.m. Her vehicle was found at the I-90 rest area/truck stop, and some of her personal belongings were found on the beach along the Clark Fork River on the east side of Alberton Rock, prompting a massive search of the area. Among the items found were her driver’s license, credit card, cell phone, car keys, a dog leash and the remote to her dog’s e-collar. A week later, on July 26, Rebekah’s dog was found dead in the river by the Mineral County Search and Rescue team, about 10 miles downriver. Rebekah’s parents traveled from their home in Virginia to Missoula as soon as they found out their daughter was missing. Angela Mastrovito told Dateline her daughter had been living in Montana since 2007 and had recently left her marriage. She moved from Mineral County to her own place in Missoula and was working as a server at Plonk, a local wine bar and restaurant. Angela last spoke to Rebekah in July when she was sending off a care package of fuzzy socks, Christmas ornaments, and dog toys for Cerberus. She told Dateline the package arrived at the post office in Missoula on July 20 - the day Rebekah went missing. Angela told Dateline she found out her daughter was missing from Rebekah’s estranged husband. Deputies from the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office had contacted him after her belongings were found on the shore of the Clark Fork River. Authorities believe all signs point to a drowning, but the family wants to explore all options and expand the search to land. Rebekah is described as being 5’5” tall, weighing about 135 lbs. She has sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a tattoo of a snow drift on her right foot and ankle and a tattoo of a hummingbird and flowers on her left rib cage. Anyone with information on Rebekah’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office at (406)-258-4810, CASE# 2101-12676.

 

[Gina20]

I'm glad we're going back to page one of this thread.

I'm not familiar with the radio training collar Cerberus was wearing when he was found. Is this this type used to train service dogs and police dogs -- maybe even the same brand?

 

[Gina20]

I'm confused. Does the Mineral County Sheriff's Office still have a K-9 unit, and if so, are these dogs trained only for drug detection? Back in 2014, drug detection dogs were on patrol. It is my understanding that some dogs are specifically trained for certain purpose. Multi-purpose dogs used by some police forces combine abilities, such as drug detection and tracking people.

K-9 units to patrol Mineral County

 

[Gina20]

How did Cerberus get his name? Was someone a student of ancient Greek mythology, or was it more like this?

Cerberus (Mass Effect) | Villains Wiki | Fandom

A three-headed hound guarding the gates of hell does seem a rather unusual choice. I've only heard that name once before for a dog, and that was on the British soap Coronation Street. They also had a dog named David. Winters are long in Montana, so Coronation Street and Greek mythology help pass the long, dark nights?

 

[Steve McQueen]

How did Cerberus get his name? Was someone a student of ancient Greek mythology, or was it more like this?

Cerberus (Mass Effect) | Villains Wiki | Fandom

A three-headed hound guarding the gates of hell does seem a rather unusual choice. I've only heard that name once before for a dog, and that was on the British soap Coronation Street. They also had a dog named David. Winters are long in Montana, so Coronation Street and Greek mythology help pass the long, dark nights?

Could he have been named after Cerebus the Aardvark, a comic book character?

Cerebus the Aardvark - Wikipedia

Cerebus is a misanthropic anthropomorphic 3-foot-tall (91 cm) bipedal gray aardvark, although like other anthropomorphic characters in the series, he was born to ordinary human parents.

Maybe RB was a fan.

 

[Gina20]

Could he have been named after Cerebus the Aardvark, a comic book character?

Cerebus the Aardvark - Wikipedia

Cerebus is a misanthropic anthropomorphic 3-foot-tall (91 cm) bipedal gray aardvark, although like other anthropomorphic characters in the series, he was born to ordinary human parents.

Maybe RB was a fan.

It's definitely Cerberus, though. I was wondering if this was his purebred name, and if a look into the dog's history might explain anything.

I did find another championship purebred with this as part of his name.

 

[Steve McQueen]

It's definitely Cerberus, though. I was wondering if this was his purebred name, and if a look into the dog's history might explain anything.

Oh thanks! I didn't even notice the spelling difference. Cerberus it is!

 

[laurawlms]

I'm glad we're going back to page one of this thread.

I'm not familiar with the radio training collar Cerberus was wearing when he was found. Is this this type used to train service dogs and police dogs -- maybe even the same brand?

I'm not sure of the brand. I only know is was an e-collar.

 

[laurawlms]

How did Cerberus get his name? Was someone a student of ancient Greek mythology, or was it more like this?

Cerberus (Mass Effect) | Villains Wiki | Fandom

A three-headed hound guarding the gates of hell does seem a rather unusual choice. I've only heard that name once before for a dog, and that was on the British soap Coronation Street. They also had a dog named David. Winters are long in Montana, so Coronation Street and Greek mythology help pass the long, dark nights?

Another family member questioned the name and the reason or purpose for it? I don't have the answer.

 

[laurawlms]

Oh thanks! I didn't even notice the spelling difference. Cerberus it is!

I have probably been mis-spelling the name as well.

 

[Gina20]

I looked for old news stories about the Town Pump in Superior, and all that came up was this one:

Shooting in Superior: Fatal dispute

In 1999, a man shot his wife to death in the the parking lot. A trucker was injured. I would hope that high-quality security cameras were installed after this murder.

 

[Gina20]

Another family member questioned the name and the reason or purpose for it? I don't have the answer.

If you watch dog videos on YouTube, there's a police dog from Seattle who sang to an auto parts store commercial on the radio. His name is Cerberus, too.

 

[Bit of hope]

I'm confused. Does the Mineral County Sheriff's Office still have a K-9 unit, and if so, are these dogs trained only for drug detection? Back in 2014, drug detection dogs were on patrol. It is my understanding that some dogs are specifically trained for certain purpose. Multi-purpose dogs used by some police forces combine abilities, such as drug detection and tracking people.

K-9 units to patrol Mineral County

I keep on wondering about all this people having dual roles. From the article above.

Montana Highway Patrol Sergeant and Mineral County Commissioner Roman Zylawy <chairman> said the K-9 units will provide a new weapon in the state’s arsenal against the transportation of narcotics through Mineral County.

My understanding is that this are only drugs detecting dogs.

 

[Gina20]

I keep on wondering about all this people having dual roles. From the article above.

Montana Highway Patrol Sergeant and Mineral County Commissioner Roman Zylawy <chairman> said the K-9 units will provide a new weapon in the state’s arsenal against the transportation of narcotics through Mineral County.

My understanding is that this are only drugs detecting dogs.

The commissioner job is only part time, and he has retired from the highway patrol. Like AM, he has family ties to Virginia.

Zylawy retires after 27 years as a Montana Highway Patrolman

Real salt of the earth out there, he also chops wood to heat his home.

 

[Steve McQueen]

This case is so frustrating. I know it's a million times worse for the family. <modsnip> After reexamining Google Maps, I believe it might have occurred further downstream, closer to where Cerberus was found (the beach opposite of Rock Creek). There is a small road by the Clark Fork River that parallels Lower Fish Creek Road. I can imagine <modsnip> tossing him into the river at a spot accessed by this small road. Lower Fish Creek Road leads to NF-344 and then to NF-7764 which leads to the Fish Creek State Park area. The area surrounding Fish Creek State Park is heavily forested and has what looks to be many back country trails and roads. It seems that RB could be anywhere, however, I think this might be a good area to search when Spring arrives.

 

[laurawlms]

This case is so frustrating. I know it's a million times worse for the family. <modsnip> After reexamining Google Maps, I believe it might have occurred further downstream, closer to where Cerberus was found (the beach opposite of Rock Creek). There is a small road by the Clark Fork River that parallels Lower Fish Creek Road. I can imagine <modsnip> tossing him into the river at a spot accessed by this small road. Lower Fish Creek Road leads to NF-344 and then to NF-7764 which leads to the Fish Creek State Park area. The area surrounding Fish Creek State Park is heavily forested and has what looks to be many back country trails and roads. It seems that RB could be anywhere, however, I think this might be a good area to search when Spring arrives.

This would be the south side of the river. I also had a strong feeling about this area.

 

[Steve McQueen]

This would be the south side of the river. I also had a strong feeling about this area.

Yes! Now if we could only get LE to agree to land searches.