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

[laurawlms]

1. The 911 call needs to be released.

2. By my calculations, Cerberus was found 10 miles downstream, not six.

3. DB lied about his military service and is likely lying about everything elsse.

4. There needs to be justice for Rebekah.

I agree with all. I guess there seems to be confusion, the only way to try to get the 911 call at this point is to appeal the decision to not release it in court. The FOIA hotline attorney said it in his reply to me. He wrote a courtesy letter on my behalf that he would normally write to get the ball rolling and received no reply. So anyone else that has requested the 911 call and received a denial would also have to appeal the decision in court. The FOIA Hotline attorney quoted me $10,000.00. I agree with your calculations and it concerns me now two people have released the 6 mile calculation without correction. I believe miles and days have been confused. Cerberus was found 10 miles down stream 6 days after RB went missing. I still agree with your 2nd scenario provided months ago.

 

[Bit of hope]

Here is a new review of Rebekah’s case

A Family Search For Truth: The Case of Rebekah Barsotti, Montana, USA, 2021 - Reasoned Crime Chronicle

Thank you Laura for sharing. It's good to have the whole story in one piece. What is so secretive with the 911 call as this is a missing person's case and not a criminal investigation. If LE is so afraid Rebekah's family is going to harass the caller (which I think is ridicule) why not share the basic content and beeping the name of the caller out. Or share the content on paper/transcript or only with the PI. I'm afraid there wasn't a family from out of state or LE "simply" erased or lost the recording by now and they are unable to reproduce it.

<modsnip: Discussing rumors is not allowed>

 

[laurawlms]

According to Sheriff Toth, "the SPD is big on community policing and very transparent on how officers and complaints are handled. I’m trying to bring that here....."

In my opinion, he failed miserably on this aspect of his career as Sheriff of Mineral County, MT in the handling of the Rebekah Barsotti case.

Mineral County Sheriff's Office Profile: Sheriff Mike Toth

 

[Gina20]

According to Sheriff Toth, "the SPD is big on community policing and very transparent on how officers and complaints are handled. I’m trying to bring that here....."

In my opinion, he failed miserably on this aspect of his career as Sheriff of Mineral County, MT in the handling of the Rebekah Barsotti case.

Mineral County Sheriff's Office Profile: Sheriff Mike Toth

On April 24, 2022, LE in Mineral County logged a call about a missing cat. That's community policing.

Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls

Mineral County Sheriff's Office calls

vp-mi.com

 

[Gina20]

I have posted this important link in another thread. Solid research breaks apart the myth of intimate partner homicide as crimes of passion. These are not crimes of passion.

Domestic abuse: Killers 'follow eight-stage pattern', study says

Men who kill their partners follow a timeline that could be tracked by police, a new study suggests.

www.bbc.com

The eight steps she discovered in almost all of the 372 killings she studied were:

• A pre-relationship history of stalking or abuse by the perpetrator
• The romance developing quickly into a serious relationship
• The relationship becoming dominated by coercive control
• A trigger to threaten the perpetrator's control - for example, the relationship ends or the perpetrator gets into financial difficulty
• Escalation - an increase in the intensity or frequency of the partner's control tactics, such as by stalking or threatening suicide
• The perpetrator has a change in thinking - choosing to move on, either through revenge or by homicide
• Planning - the perpetrator might buy weapons or seek opportunities to get the victim alone
• Homicide - the perpetrator kills his or her partner, and possibly hurts others such as the victim's children

"We've been relying on the 'crime of passion, spontaneous red-mist' explanation [of killing] forever - and it's just not true," Dr Monckton Smith told the BBC.

"If you start looking at all these cases, there's planning, determination, there's always coercive control."

Greater awareness of the stages of the homicide timeline is needed if LE want to save lives instead of picking up the pieces. The timeline is consistent and predictable. Coercive control is at the core of these murders.

 

[Gina20]

I have posted this important link in another thread. Solid research breaks apart the myth of intimate partner homicide as crimes of passion. These are not crimes of passion.

Domestic abuse: Killers 'follow eight-stage pattern', study says

Men who kill their partners follow a timeline that could be tracked by police, a new study suggests.

www.bbc.com

The eight steps she discovered in almost all of the 372 killings she studied were:

• A pre-relationship history of stalking or abuse by the perpetrator
• The romance developing quickly into a serious relationship
• The relationship becoming dominated by coercive control
• A trigger to threaten the perpetrator's control - for example, the relationship ends or the perpetrator gets into financial difficulty
• Escalation - an increase in the intensity or frequency of the partner's control tactics, such as by stalking or threatening suicide
• The perpetrator has a change in thinking - choosing to move on, either through revenge or by homicide
• Planning - the perpetrator might buy weapons or seek opportunities to get the victim alone
• Homicide - the perpetrator kills his or her partner, and possibly hurts others such as the victim's children

"We've been relying on the 'crime of passion, spontaneous red-mist' explanation [of killing] forever - and it's just not true," Dr Monckton Smith told the BBC.

"If you start looking at all these cases, there's planning, determination, there's always coercive control."

Greater awareness of the stages of the homicide timeline is needed if LE want to save lives instead of picking up the pieces. The timeline is consistent and predictable. Coercive control is at the core of these murders.

How many forms of coercive control did Rebekah experience before she went missing?

A Guide to Coercive Control

A comprehensive guide to coercive control, a nonphysical tactic of abusers that controls every aspect of a victim’s life.

www.domesticshelters.org

 

[laurawlms]

On August 29, 2021 this was found near the Saw Mill Gulch Trail head on a switchback in Mineral County, MT

The search volunteer first notified Mineral County LEO RF, He had originally asked the volunteer to meet him at the location in the evening at the location where the item was located. She then contacted the Missoula County SAR Captain BB, who made arrangements to pick up the item.

Since that time, the search volunteer has inquired about the forensics report on the item submitted as possible evidence. She also referenced the item during the Mineral County Commissioner's meeting held on November 26, 2021. She has also spoken directly to representatives of MCSO and they have informed her they are unable to locate the submitted article.

There are text messages from the search volunteer to Missoula SAR Captain BB confirming that the item was processed as evidence.

It is the understanding of the family, all items of evidence were returned to Mineral County. I wonder where this item is?

This is a site of a dig near the location the article was found.

 

[Gina20]

Lolo National Forest - Sawmill Trail #24.0

Lolo National Forest - Sawmill Trail #24.0

www.fs.usda.gov

So is this in the prescribed burn area of Lolo National Forest?

What led searchers to this area?

 

[Gina20]

Is the Sheriff's office obliged to keep any evidence in a missing persons case, or can they legally destroy it within months of a disappearance, even if the person has not been found?

 

[laurawlms]

Lolo National Forest - Sawmill Trail #24.0

Lolo National Forest - Sawmill Trail #24.0

www.fs.usda.gov

So is this in the prescribed burn area of Lolo National Forest?

What led searchers to this area?

This was last year. I'm not sure what led searchers there. I know AM was careful to only coordinate volunteer searches based on need.

 

[laurawlms]

MCSO Aborts Recovery Mission August 23, 2021
This image was released to AM from the Wings of Hope SAR team she privately hired in March 2022. This is the same team that was there in August 2021; they were never provided a photograph of Rebekah. They were never informed that a volunteer from the community with side sonar had retrieved several images of what appeared to be Rebekah on August 10, 2021. The volunteer from the community informed Sgt. RP (Missoula) of his findings. Wings of Hope SAR team retrieved their image on August 20, 2021. The out of state team was prohibited by the Missoula County Sherriff Department from participating in a recovery. Missoula SAR Captain BB called together the local SAR team to attempt a recovery. The local SAR team reported it was a "pile of rocks". The mission was immediately aborted. MCSO restricted Wings of Hope from any further participation on recovery efforts . The family is left wondering if this was a deliberate attempt to hopefully destroy any evidence? At 4 weeks, Rebekah's body would have been able to tell a story of what happened. Was this an attempt to keep Rebekah in the river with no further efforts so she would decompose enough to destroy any evidence? Captain BB has informed AM many times, "technology doesn't lie".
This report also states Missoula Sheriff TJM and Captain BB decided to return this case to Mineral County on August 23, 2021. We were not informed of this decision until September 29, 2021. That is the date reported to the local news agencies as well. AM is curious what the DCI report says that they are reviewing? Montana Attorney General's offices has refused to schedule an appointment with the parents. Despite Sheriff MT stating they have told the family everything - this is another incident where we were not informed.

Volunteer's side sonar image

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

On April 24, 2022, LE in Mineral County logged a call about a missing cat. That's community policing.

The newspaper posted a list of calls for service for the sheriff's dept. The list is very long and with a wide variety of types of events. What was the point of the "cat call" being singled out?
A sampling of the other calls:
4/20/22

Assist Motorist, I-90 EB MM 16, Dispatch contacted local tow company for assistance.

Controlled Burn, Terrace Court, Superior, Dispatch took information about a controlled burn.

VIN Inspection, Maple Street, Superior, Deputy responded.

Found Animal, I-90 EB MM 33, Dispatch contacted local dog helper who picked up the animal.

Child Welfare, Railroad Avenue, Alberton, Deputies responded.

Traffic Complaint, I-90 WB MM 32, Transferred call to MHP.

Mental Health Issue, Main Street, St. Regis, Deputy responded.

Suspicious Activity, River George Road, Superior, Deputy responded.

Road Hazard, I-90 WB MM 75, Deputy responded.

Traffic Complaint, MT Highway 135, St. Regis, Transferred call to MHP.

Disturbance, Cabin City Loop, St. Regis, Deputy responded citation issued for Disorderly Conduct.

 

[yurintroubl]

MCSO Aborts Recovery Mission August 23, 2021
This image was released to AM from the Wings of Hope SAR team she privately hired in March 2022. This is the same team that was there in August 2021; they were never provided a photograph of Rebekah. They were never informed that a volunteer from the community with side sonar had retrieved several images of what appeared to be Rebekah on August 10, 2021. The volunteer from the community informed Sgt. RP (Missoula) of his findings. Wings of Hope SAR team retrieved their image on August 20, 2021. The out of state team was prohibited by the Missoula County Sherriff Department from participating in a recovery. Missoula SAR Captain BB called together the local SAR team to attempt a recovery. The local SAR team reported it was a "pile of rocks". The mission was immediately aborted. MCSO restricted Wings of Hope from any further participation on recovery efforts . The family is left wondering if this was a deliberate attempt to hopefully destroy any evidence? At 4 weeks, Rebekah's body would have been able to tell a story of what happened. Was this an attempt to keep Rebekah in the river with no further efforts so she would decompose enough to destroy any evidence? Captain BB has informed AM many times, "technology doesn't lie".
This report also states Missoula Sheriff TJM and Captain BB decided to return this case to Mineral County on August 23, 2021. We were not informed of this decision until September 29, 2021. That is the date reported to the local news agencies as well. AM is curious what the DCI report says that they are reviewing? Montana Attorney General's offices has refused to schedule an appointment with the parents. Despite Sheriff MT stating they have told the family everything - this is another incident where we were not informed.

View attachment 343287

Volunteer's side sonar image

View attachment 343288
View attachment 343291

View attachment 343292

If that is truly a pile of rocks - A "fisherman" with a side scan should be able to find that same pile of rocks in that exact configuration right now. Otherwise - That isn't a pile of rocks and...

Holy Shmolly.... How the HELL does this not get further attention!!! There has got to be some way to have these LEOs investigated for [willfully.. perhaps lazily] botching (IMO) this investigation.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

It's good to have the whole story in one piece. What is so secretive with the 911 call as this is a missing person's case and not a criminal investigation. If LE is so afraid Rebekah's family is going to harass the caller (which I think is ridicule) why not share the basic content and beeping the name of the caller out. Or share the content on paper/transcript or only with the PI. I'm afraid there wasn't a family from out of state or LE "simply" erased or lost the recording by now and they are unable to reproduce it

Nothing I have read states that someone has said LE is unable to produce or "reproduce" the record of the 911 call. The Oregon family has exercised their constitutional right to not have the record made public. LE nor the family's claim to the right to public information can override the constitution. It cannot be "partially" released to satisfy the personal needs of anyone. The 911 system is recorded and records are kept in strict accordance with the law. It would be a felony to alter these records, (which would be difficult to do) and frankly, I don't see someone risking prison and losing their pension to participate in a conspiracy. The 911 call from the Oregon family is the property of the Missoula Highway Patrol Communication Center, not Mineral County. Rebekah Barsotti's family has not spoken about a request for information on this call, made to Missoula Highway Patrol, only a request to Mineral County for the caller's information.

I have previously linked the Montana constitution that states the facts limiting the release of information. The rest of the information is also public, such as how the 911 systems works, and I add this is based on my personal experience in LE and my personal opinion.
If you live in Montana and disagree with this constitutional right, you should challenge it. In my opinion, the rest of us should respect that LE has to follow the constitution and the advice of their city/county attorneys.

 

[laurawlms]

Nothing I have read states that someone has said LE is unable to produce or "reproduce" the record of the 911 call. The Oregon family has exercised their constitutional right to not have the record made public. LE nor the family's claim to the right to public information can override the constitution. It cannot be "partially" released to satisfy the personal needs of anyone. The 911 system is recorded and records are kept in strict accordance with the law. It would be a felony to alter these records, (which would be difficult to do) and frankly, I don't see someone risking prison and losing their pension to participate in a conspiracy. The 911 call from the Oregon family is the property of the Missoula Highway Patrol Communication Center, not Mineral County. Rebekah Barsotti's family has not spoken about a request for information on this call, made to Missoula Highway Patrol, only a request to Mineral County for the caller's information.

I have previously linked the Montana constitution that states the facts limiting the release of information. The rest of the information is also public, such as how the 911 systems works, and I add this is based on my personal experience in LE and my personal opinion.
If you live in Montana and disagree with this constitutional right, you should challenge it. In my opinion, the rest of us should respect that LE has to follow the constitution and the advice of their city/county attorneys.

Mineral County is the custodian of the 911 recording. I have quoted Montana law regarding 911 calls before in this thread. Mineral County has refused to release the 911 call to me personally (and to many others). This letter written on my behalf by the Montana FOIA Hotline Attorney states the law correctly. If pdf's are not accessible by anyone, I am also providing a screen shot of the letter.

 

[Gina20]

Here is a new review of Rebekah’s case

A Family Search For Truth: The Case of Rebekah Barsotti, Montana, USA, 2021 - Reasoned Crime Chronicle

How can they refuse to release the 911 call on the grounds that it is "public criminal justice information", while at the same time claiming that no crime has been committed, so they will not be doing a criminal investigation? Talk about double speak.

From the archives:

Family still seeking answers about missing Missoula woman

Rebekah Barsotti hasn’t been seen in seven months and law enforcement thinks they know why, but with no body, her case remains unsolved.

www.ktvh.com

"She's somewhere in the river, you know, we're 99.9% positive,” Sheriff Toth said."

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

How can they refuse to release the 911 call on the grounds that it is "public criminal justice information", while at the same time claiming that no crime has been committed, so they will not be doing a criminal investigation? Talk about double speak.

Mineral County is the custodian of the 911 recording. I have quoted Montana law regarding 911 calls before in this thread. Mineral County has refused to release the 911 call to me personally (and to many others). This letter written on my behalf by the Montana FOIA Hotline Attorney states the law correctly. If pdf's are not accessible by anyone, I am also providing a screen shot of the letter.

I disagree, the call from the Oregon family was responded to by a Trooper, dispatched by the Montana Highway Patrol. Just because the call record is included the report of the missing person, does not make Mineral County the custodian of the original 911 call record. Mineral County is not releasing their report for the standard reasons given when the case is ongoing, the type of case, report classification, etc., is not relevant. If one wants proof that a call record exists, a request should be made to Montana Highway Patrol. You probably will not be given the information you seek, but they will confirm there is a record of the call. Perhaps knowing that Mineral County is not the only agency with the information, will show how a conspiracy to invent or erase information is unlikely. If you believe that a Trooper did not meet with the Oregon family, ask for records that show his dispatch, arrival, and when he cleared the call. All the above is my opinion.

 

[cnmccarthy]

MCSO Aborts Recovery Mission August 23, 2021
This image was released to AM from the Wings of Hope SAR team she privately hired in March 2022. This is the same team that was there in August 2021; they were never provided a photograph of Rebekah. They were never informed that a volunteer from the community with side sonar had retrieved several images of what appeared to be Rebekah on August 10, 2021. The volunteer from the community informed Sgt. RP (Missoula) of his findings. Wings of Hope SAR team retrieved their image on August 20, 2021. The out of state team was prohibited by the Missoula County Sherriff Department from participating in a recovery. Missoula SAR Captain BB called together the local SAR team to attempt a recovery. The local SAR team reported it was a "pile of rocks". The mission was immediately aborted. MCSO restricted Wings of Hope from any further participation on recovery efforts . The family is left wondering if this was a deliberate attempt to hopefully destroy any evidence? At 4 weeks, Rebekah's body would have been able to tell a story of what happened. Was this an attempt to keep Rebekah in the river with no further efforts so she would decompose enough to destroy any evidence? Captain BB has informed AM many times, "technology doesn't lie".
This report also states Missoula Sheriff TJM and Captain BB decided to return this case to Mineral County on August 23, 2021. We were not informed of this decision until September 29, 2021. That is the date reported to the local news agencies as well. AM is curious what the DCI report says that they are reviewing? Montana Attorney General's offices has refused to schedule an appointment with the parents. Despite Sheriff MT stating they have told the family everything - this is another incident where we were not informed.

View attachment 343287

Volunteer's side sonar image

View attachment 343288
View attachment 343291

View attachment 343292

Absolutely sickening to hear this. I am so sorry.

 

[Steve McQueen]

I disagree, the call from the Oregon family was responded to by a Trooper, dispatched by the Montana Highway Patrol. Just because the call record is included the report of the missing person, does not make Mineral County the custodian of the original 911 call record. Mineral County is not releasing their report for the standard reasons given when the case is ongoing, the type of case, report classification, etc., is not relevant. If one wants proof that a call record exists, a request should be made to Montana Highway Patrol. You probably will not be given the information you seek, but they will confirm there is a record of the call. Perhaps knowing that Mineral County is not the only agency with the information, will show how a conspiracy to invent or erase information is unlikely. If you believe that a Trooper did not meet with the Oregon family, ask for records that show his dispatch, arrival, and when he cleared the call. All the above is my opinion.

I don't believe anyone is accusing LE of "a conspiracy to invent or erase information". The issue which has been raised by the family's PI is that the call may have been initiated by someone local.

 

[Gina20]

Right to Know and Right of Privacy Laws - Montana Department of Justice

dojmt.gov

As no link was provided, I have found this link that explains the right to know and right to privacy in Montana.

If you go to "initial offence reports", it leads here:

23.12.203 : INITIAL OFFENSE REPORTS - Administrative Rules of the State of Montana

rules.mt.gov

This does not address 911 calls about missing person reports.

FYI, the reach of the authority of Montana Highway Patrol seems to extend well beyond highways.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/montana/articles/2021-10-22/dems-seek-investigation-of-ags-possible-abuse-of-power