Nancy Cooper, 34, of Cary, N.C. #20

[jilly]

If LE considers it a crime scene - they have documented it, no need to quarrantine it - same with the cars. Can't drag either of those into a courtroom.

RC, I think if they had found anything incriminating in those cars, they would have impounded the vehicle(s).

 

[Just the Fax]

RC, I think if they had found anything incriminating in those cars, they would have impounded the vehicle(s).

I agree. The cops likely did not find blood evidence in their BMWs.
Hair, fiber or prints would be expected since they shared the cars.

We know the 325 has been parked in the drive.
That is likely cause the X5 is in the garage.
You know Brad would prefer to slip in the garage anonymously

 

[SleuthyGal]

IMO, go with Acura, Infiniti or Lexus if you want a nice car that will last.

I SWEAR I was thought I was going to read "....if you want a nice car that will will easily hold a body!" :laugh:

 

[raisincharlie]

RC, I think if they had found anything incriminating in those cars, they would have impounded the vehicle(s).

Jilly

I have thought about that and quite honestly I was surprised they did not haul both of them in to do more extensive testing just to verify. I would tend to agree it is very likely they did not find evidence of blood or bodily fluids in the cars but without luminol type testing I'm not sure how they could visually determine that. Unless portable units such as lasers have improved drastically I don't see anyway they could reasonably conclude an absence of bodily fluids. And if such units have been improved, it is equally possible there was no need to haul the vehicles in and sampling was conducted on scene. Not sure I am ready to believe there was no evidence of forensic value found just yet.

With that in mind, it also tells me they conducted the search of the vehicles with COD firmly in their minds. COD could have ruled out such things as blood and possibly other fluids if you think about it.

 

[SleuthyGal]

In the descriptions some of you have given of all those lights on in BC's home...I think he must be 'afraid' of the shadows and darkness therein. I don't think all the lights are on for security purposes. It was said that Scott Peterson had been visited by Laci after her death (he told someone this) and, if you believe such things, I imagine NC would be hanging around that house to watch over things....

 

[SleuthyGal]

Jilly

I have thought about that and quite honestly I was surprised they did not haul both of them in to do more extensive testing just to verify. I would tend to agree it is very likely they did not find evidence of blood or bodily fluids in the cars but without luminol type testing I'm not sure how they could visually determine that.

RC, your took the words right out of my mouth...or rather the thoughts right out of my head. I could NOT understand why they hadn't impounded both vehicles and taken them somewhere they could do a proctology-level exam of every nook & cranny of each of those vehicles. I feel *some* evidence, no matter how miniscule, was left in the trunk of the car that was used to transport her body. It's just a feeling of intuition I have. I worry that they may have missed that miniscule something by not impounding his car(s). :frown:

 

[Just the Fax]

The cops would need probable cause and a SW to search and impound a vehicle.
From the media video, the cops inspected the BMW X-5 from the outside.
W/O some sort of evidence a crime was committed using one of the cars, the cops
could not get a SW to search the interior.

If Major Johnson had not seen what looked to be blood, the WCSO could not have impounded Jason Young's SUV.

Though Brad was cooperative, he obviously did not allow the cops access to the interior of his cars w/o a SW.

 

[momto3kids]

That must be a good sized trunk to easily fit a 5-9" woman's body in there without leaving some evidence behind - snagging some hair, fluids, DNA in strange places etc. And I don't see WHAT BC would have had on hand (like a suitcase or duffle) that would hold a tall woman's body in one piece? I know he could have used plastic, etc - but that does not always work - hair, fibers etc always seem to remain in most cases. And once she got into rigor, it would have been even harder to move her body. Plus the body would have shown what position she was in at or shortly after death - curled up, on her side, back, etc.

BC would have had to fold Nancy up to get her into the trunk and then unfold her to get her out - from an awkward height. I can see a possible body dump by one man with an SUV, much less so with a BMW sedan trunk.

My Opinion

No matter what vehicle was used it would have the same evidence behind being it a 325 or SUV, and as you say, hair, fluids, DNA. He could have wrapped her in a sheet, plastic or nothing and got her into the sedan or SUV, but you are stating suitcase or duffle bag. I haven't heard anything about this.

He certainly could place her in the sedan trunk. I had one and my husband is 6'2" and got in it to fix something.

Specs on this 2001 325 is 68.5" width. Taking into consideration the interior dimensions reducing this width, it still will certainly hold someone 5'9" @120 pounds. The inside of this trunk extends up behind the back seats. I have a photo of the interior of a 325 trunk to show it is big enough for someone NC size.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/LuvClaysVoice2003/325BMW2001.jpg

 

[SleuthyGal]

Oh I didn't know that. Hmmmm... That's too bad; I can't help but think there is/was some tiny little forensic morsel awaiting discovery in his car. No matter how careful he was during a body transport, something could easily have been left there from contact.

 

[jilly]

That must be a good sized trunk to easily fit a 5-9" woman's body in there without leaving some evidence behind - snagging some hair, fluids, DNA in strange places etc. And I don't see WHAT BC would have had on hand (like a suitcase or duffle) that would hold a tall woman's body in one piece? I know he could have used plastic, etc - but that does not always work - hair, fibers etc always seem to remain in most cases. And once she got into rigor, it would have been even harder to move her body. Plus the body would have shown what position she was in at or shortly after death - curled up, on her side, back, etc.

BC would have had to fold Nancy up to get her into the trunk and then unfold her to get her out - from an awkward height. I can see a possible body dump by one man with an SUV, much less so with a BMW sedan trunk.

My Opinion

Seems to me we had a discussion about this on the Michelle Young case. I was surprised to learn that rigor doesn't start until a few hours past death (can't remember) and doesn't reach full rigor for about 12 hrs.

 

[Just the Fax]

Seems to me we had a discussion about this on the Michelle Young case. I was surprised to learn that rigor doesn't start until a few hours past death (can't remember) and doesn't reach full rigor for about 12 hrs.

Assume he killed her at 1 am.....ditched her body at 4 am (HT rumor)
Rigor is not an issue.

 

[lunarmodule]

Jilly
.

With that in mind, it also tells me they conducted the search of the vehicles with COD firmly in their minds. COD could have ruled out such things as blood and possibly other fluids if you think about it.

This is sort of what I'm thinking...that COD was perhaps strangulation..not blunt force trauma, stabbing or something that would leave lots of potential evidence, even if cleaned thoroughly. They would turn that house upside down if that was the case.

 

[Just the Fax]

This is sort of what I'm thinking...that COD was perhaps strangulation..not blunt force trauma, stabbing or something that would leave lots of potential evidence, even if cleaned thoroughly. They would turn that house upside down if that was the case.

They had a SW for the house.
You can bet it was turned upside down.

 

[ncnative]

FAX, we wouldn't have gotten the BMW if we couldn't afford the upkeep. We have an extended warranty. We bought the BMW and paid for it up front. I have trouble getting into/out of cars, but this one is perfect for me and my physical ailment. That was part of the decision too. Our other car, which is much bigger, is very hard for me to get out of. My wheelchair fits nicely into the trunk of the BMW.

I'm sure lots of the younger folk get BMWs as status symbols. At our age, we don't even care about status symbols. Don't need them. Now, Brad and Nancy obviously did. Nancy was quoted as saying she didn't want a minivan because it "...isn't our lifestyle...". Lifestyle? I think she meant a minivan isn't statusy enough for her? Although, I had a minivan when the kids were young. I did not like it.

 

[lunarmodule]

They had a SW for the house.
You can bet it was turned upside down.

How long was CCBI in the house?

 

[raisincharlie]

The cops would need probable cause and a SW to search and impound a vehicle.
From the media video, the cops inspected the BMW X-5 from the outside.
W/O some sort of evidence a crime was committed using one of the cars, the cops
could not get a SW to search the interior.

If Major Johnson had not seen what looked to be blood, the WCSO could not have impounded Jason Young's SUV.

Though Brad was cooperative, he obviously did not allow the cops access to the interior of his cars w/o a SW.

You might want to look again - 0.52 into this video it is obvious that LE is inside the X5 and searching it.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/3219919/

 

[Just the Fax]

FAX, we wouldn't have gotten the BMW if we couldn't afford the upkeep. We have an extended warranty. We bought the BMW and paid for it up front. I have trouble getting into/out of cars, but this one is perfect for me and my physical ailment. That was part of the decision too. Our other car, which is much bigger, is very hard for me to get out of. My wheelchair fits nicely into the trunk of the BMW.

I'm sure lots of the younger folk get BMWs as status symbols. At our age, we don't even care about status symbols. Don't need them. Now, Brad and Nancy obviously did. Nancy was quoted as saying she didn't want a minivan because it "...isn't our lifestyle...". Lifestyle? I think she meant a minivan isn't statusy enough for her? Although, I had a minivan when the kids were young. I did not like it.

Please don't take my post about BMW's personally.
They are great cars, just prefer the luxury Jap brands better.

 

[raisincharlie]

This is sort of what I'm thinking...that COD was perhaps strangulation..not blunt force trauma, stabbing or something that would leave lots of potential evidence, even if cleaned thoroughly. They would turn that house upside down if that was the case.

Not sure I would rule out blunt force trauma - any number of weapons can be used while drawing very little blood. Suffocation, strangulation definitely more possible however.

 

[momto3kids]

You might want to look again - 0.52 into this video it is obvious that LE is inside the X5 and searching it.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/3219919/

Yes there are several still photo's of them in the SUV searching.

Also, if the 325 was in the garage we have no idea what they did with or to that vehicle. The long package coming out of the house could have been the trunk lining.

I understand with a SW they can tear the carpet up, spray the walls and do what they want to get the evidence they need. They might have just taken the mat from the vehicle. It was a package about 6 feet long, not too heavy.

I am beginning to think they took that out in the bag.

 

[Just the Fax]

You might want to look again - 0.52 into this video it is obvious that LE is inside the X5 and searching it.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/3219919/

Thanks RC, I missed that clip.

Since it was parked on the premises, sounds like the search of the X-5 was done under the house SW.


"The police had the authority to search the car under O'Brien. In O'Brien, the supreme court held that a warrant to search the premises of a rural duplex allowed the police to search a car parked 200 feet from the duplex, near an outbuilding on the property. Id. at 315-16. The court applied the "physical proximity" test, concluding that the search was authorized by the warrant because the car was close enough to the residence to have been a plausible repository for the objects named in the search warrant"