Found Deceased MT - Rita Maze, 47, Wolf Creek, 6 Sept 2016 #1

[eucalyptuz]

Nancy Grace said the back window was busted out of the car when police found it. So that answers my earlier question of whether police did that to get into her car or not. If she did this herself, why would she break the window? Forensics should tell if Rita broke the window or if it was a perp, IMO.

Wouldn't gunshots fired in a trunk (and perhaps ricocheted bullets) cause a window to shatter?

 

[Gardener1850]

It still doesn't add up to me though. For both casings to be in the trunk, the gun had to be shot from very close if not from inside the trunk IMO.

Perp leans over her with gun in his hand, she grabs the gun, there is a struggle, he shoots her once and the gun goes off again either shooting him or shooting in the air. Both shell caseings fall in the trunk. He releases the gun (maybe she was still grabbing for it or had a hold of it or he dropped it because he got shot) and gun falls in the trunk with her. He closes the trunk to hide the body and runs. Not that hard to picture, IMO.

 

[Inthedetails]

It's just my thoughts, but I think the day might have started out as something different from suicide. Maybe a kind of depression, despondency and hopelessness which worked it's way through to a decision. A plan that included elements that would absolve oneself of checking out and give a chance to say good-bye.

It's also possible that she made up the carjacking story (for whatever reason) and didn't intend to actually kill herself but accidentally shot herself with a fatal shot. Perhaps she meant to harm herself and be found alive. IDK.

I think suicide seems most likely at this point, but it's not definitive yet. I await LE's ruling.

jmo

 

[ttcRider]

Maybe she shot the window out?

 

[Inthedetails]

Nancy Grace said the back window was busted out of the car when police found it. So that answers my earlier question of whether police did that to get into her car or not. If she did this herself, why would she break the window? Forensics should tell if Rita broke the window or if it was a perp, IMO.

Why would the perp break the window?

Strange.

I assumed the police broke the window to gain access to the car.

Yet another hmmmm....

 

[GigTu]

Too many pages to try to catch up. I have some thoughts/questions:

1) What time were each of the purchases/withdrawals in Idaho and Washington?
2) Could the perp have been laying down in the back seat AT the gas station, then forced her to pull over at the rest stop, where he then bashed her head knocking her out?
3) If he thought he had killed her, but then started hearing her talk while she was in the trunk many hours later, would that explain why he really killed her?
4) If he thought she was alive when he put her in the trunk, do you think he was taking her to a place to keep her indefinitely?
5) Why keep her in the trunk for so long when there were so many remote locations he could have dumped her, especially at dusk or after dark?
6) Why did the perp NOT collect her cell phone and shut it off?

In my opinion, there is 0% chance this was a suicide. I also seriously doubt it was a hit job. No way. This was a nut job.

 

[Gardener1850]

Wouldn't gunshots fired in a trunk (and perhaps ricocheted bullets) cause a window to shatter?

Not the window that was busted. Look at photos of the car.

 

[Inthedetails]

Maybe she shot the window out?

Aha. That could be. There were two shots. Perhaps the first one went through the backseat and hit the window???

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

Perp leans over her with gun in his hand, she grabs the gun, there is a struggle, he shoots her once and the gun goes off again either shooting him or shooting in the air. Both shell caseings fall in the trunk. He releases the gun (maybe she was still grabbing for it or had a hold of it or he dropped it because he got shot) and gun falls in the trunk with her. He closes the trunk to hide the body and runs. Not that hard to picture, IMO.

But wasn't LE on the phone when the shots where fired? No mention of sounds of struggle.

jmo

 

[Gardener1850]

Rita's daughter on Nancy Grace sounds so shaken up and on the verge of tears to me. Her voice is slightly hoarse as if she has been crying. I'm amazed she has kept it together enough to do this interview. God bless her.

 

[Tillicum]

Wouldn't gunshots fired in a trunk (and perhaps ricocheted bullets) cause a window to shatter?

A shot could've been fired from within the trunk toward the window.

 

[bluesneakers]

Why would the perp break the window?

Strange.

I assumed the police broke the window to gain access to the car.

Yet another hmmmm....

Especially one of the back windows. I could understand the driver's side front window to grab her, the gun, the keys, or something, but to get to the backseat... why?

 

[cady]

I want to see the transcript of the daughter talking to NG. My impression was that Rita did not make phone contact until 10 hours or so later. Was she knocked out all that time? Shortly after the I LOVE YOU phone call, police called her number and reportedly heard gunshots????? JMO

 

[oceanblueeyes]

It still doesn't add up to me though. For both casings to be in the trunk, the gun had to be shot from very close if not from inside the trunk IMO.

I would think he did shoot her at very close range, maybe even a contact wound with part of his upper body leaning in the trunk, and the casings would eject and be found inside the trunk. I don't think he would stand back far away and shoot. The closer he is to the victim when shot the noise of the shot wouldn't be as loud especially inside of a trunk. Bullets fired in open spaces are heard much clearer and further due to not having any obstructions to muffle the sound. In the trunk there would be material/buffer to absorb some of the sound.

 

[Inthedetails]

Especially one of the back windows. I could understand the driver's side front window to grab her, the gun, the keys, or something, but to get to the backseat... why?

I think other posters have it right - it was the first gunshot.

jmo

 

[charminglane]

I thought I read car was unlocked.
No need to break window.

 

[Gardener1850]

Nancy Grace said Rita kept the gun under the seat of her car.

 

[Inthedetails]

I would think he did shoot her at very close range, maybe even a contact wound with part of his upper body leaning in the trunk, and the casings would eject and be found inside the trunk. I don't think he would stand back far away and shoot. The closer he is to the victim when shot the noise of the shot wouldn't be as loud especially inside of a trunk. Bullets fired in open spaces are heard much clearer and further due to not having any obstructions to muffle the sound. In the trunk there would be material/buffer to absorb some of the sound.

Well, the cop on the phone heard the shots. No mention of the sound of a struggle, screams, or of a trunk closing.

Maybe LE isn't sharing that info....

jmo

 

[cady]

I think other posters have it right - it was the first gunshot.

jmo

But why 2cartridges in the trunk?

 

[Paulas88]

Could the LE have broken the back window to get into the car?