ND ND - Thomas 'Tom' Bearson, 19, Fargo, 20 Sep 2014 #1

[Rocco]

The local news has reported that the FBI has been involved since the beginning of the investigation, before they even found the body. But they did not say publicly the FBI was involved until the next day (evening) after they found TBs body. Some headlines read like the FBI didn't get involved until after the body was found, but quotes from LE on another article had them saying they had been involved the whole time. Not on regular computer so hard to do links etc. right now. Reporting has been confusing on that, can't guarantee I figured that out but I think so.

Interesting stuff about geographic profiling, I'd never heard of this before, learning new things!

I wonder why they became involved. Any ideas? Obviously it had nothing to do with crossing state lines since the body had not been found.

 

[human]

I applaud your obvious extreme interest in attempting to understand this very complex issue. My suggestion now would be to go review the Dru Sjodin case as it pertains DIRECTLY to this issue and Minnesota and North Dakota specifically.

Please, do not talk this way. I am more than familiar with Dru Sjodin. Please do not assume.

 

[IBsleuthin]

I'm not ashamed to show my ignorance. I always thought that geographic profiling was used for serial crimes (serial killers, multiple burglaries, robberies, arsons, etc.). How is it used in a case like this that is seemingly an isolated murder? TIA

Not knowing something doesn't mean you are ignorant! The very fact that you are so willing to learn about something just shows how very smart you really are! Thank you for asking. eace:

I would go into the whole explanation, but this thread is about Tommy Bearson as you know. Maybe a thought would be to start a thread on geographic profiling. I think we had one several years ago.

 

[overclockedgirl]

I wonder why they became involved. Any ideas? Obviously it had nothing to do with crossing state lines since the body had not been found.

My guess is because there was a good possibility from the start that the case was going to involve two states. Before they searched Moorhead they did a cursory search of the river, and you're talking the state border there. Unofficially, the local FBI are probably really interested in such a big case and just want to be involved. Officially, they probably didn't want to come in behind on an ongoing investigation that wasn't done the way they wanted it done. If it turned out to be 2 states in a few days, and they weren't involved from the get-go, they would lose time trying to get caught up with the investigation instead of moving forward, so they might have just wanted to get a handle on things since there was such a good possibility of it involving two states. That is my best guess anyway!

 

[DonnaParker]

The local news has reported that the FBI has been involved since the beginning of the investigation, before they even found the body. But they did not say publicly the FBI was involved until the next day (evening) after they found TBs body. Some headlines read like the FBI didn't get involved until after the body was found, but quotes from LE on another article had them saying they had been involved the whole time. Not on regular computer so hard to do links etc. right now. Reporting has been confusing on that, can't guarantee I figured that out but I think so.

Interesting stuff about geographic profiling, I'd never heard of this before, learning new things!

Hi overclockedgirl - I believe you, but can't find an article stating that the FBI was involved before they found TB's body. All I can find are articles stating they became involved after he was found. Am I blind?? Probably! I know you said you weren't able to send a link at this time but I hope you can maybe guide me in the right direction?

 

[north dakota]

http:// http://www.inforum.com/content/ndsu-says-bearson-killing-might-be-schools-first-fbi-involved-investigation-slain-student

 

[overclockedgirl]

Hi overclockedgirl - I believe you, but can't find an article stating that the FBI was involved before they found TB's body. All I can find are articles stating they became involved after he was found. Am I blind?? Probably! I know you said you weren't able to send a link at this time but I hope you can maybe guide me in the right direction?

Stafford says the FBI has been assisting with the investigation from the start:

http://www.inforum.com/content/ndsu...irst-fbi-involved-investigation-slain-student

Yeah doesn't help with clarity when the news has headlines like "FBI now investigating" but that article actually cites a source, Stafford, saying the FBI have been involved since the beginning.

 

[human]

A question for the locals.

For people who live in Fargo, how familiar do you feel residents are with Moorhead?

Is Moorhead someplace people may go for some reason?

Do you feel there are a lot of cameras around? For instance how about on the bridge?

If in fact Tom was out that late, I imagine not many cars are not out at that time

 

[overclockedgirl]

A question for the locals.

For people who live in Fargo, how familiar do you feel residents are with Moorhead?

Is Moorhead someplace people may go for some reason?

Do you feel there are a lot of cameras around? For instance how about on the bridge?

If in fact Tom was out that late, I imagine not many cars are not out at that time

People who have moved to Fargo from someplace else probably would not be very familiar with Moorhead. People who grew up in Fargo would however be fairly familiar with Moorhead.

Reasons people from Fargo go to Moorhead:
-Hjemkost center (historical),

-Bluestem center (arts, concerts, a newer place),

-lots of classes for very young children and their parents (as opposed to there aren't those specific types of classes offered by Fargo or WF park boards, it seems like the cities kind of split up who specializes in what types of classes I doubt it's a total coincidence),

-Tax free clothes, more of a thing among young people and another reason among several that people who grew up here would be more familiar w Moorhead than people who moved here college or later

That's about all I can think of, the only times I've been to Moorhead the past few years are for the Bluestem center or just passing through on my way to the lake.

I would be surprised if there were many cameras, I actually doubt the city even has any around though I could be wrong. There is more than one way to get across the river one is a tiny toll bridge, the other is the more major bridge, I doubt the major one has cameras, I'd have to look at where Larrys is located to see if it's even very possible they went over the toll bridge.

 

[north dakota]

A question for the locals.

For people who live in Fargo, how familiar do you feel residents are with Moorhead?

Is Moorhead someplace people may go for some reason?

Do you feel there are a lot of cameras around? For instance how about on the bridge?

If in fact Tom was out that late, I imagine not many cars are not out at that time

There isn't a lot of activity at 3:00am unless they were going to a house party. Local pubs close at 2:00am, but the legal drinking age is 21 so not a concern if you're underage.
I'm not certain if they have cameras on the interstate from Fargo to Moorhead, or any of the public bridges that cross the river. There is a toll bridge on the north side of town (directly east of the university) that may have cameras.

 

[human]

NoDak has tax on clothes? Interesting. Lucky for MN!

It seems like every place has cameras nowadays.

It seems then that the activities are for children? I am guessing the killers are not parents who provide activities for their children.

How about the other way around, Do you think people from Moorhead would be familiar with Fargo?

 

[overclockedgirl]

NoDak has tax on clothes? Interesting. Lucky for MN!

It seems like every place has cameras nowadays.

It seems then that the activities are for children? I am guessing the killers are not parents who provide activities for their children.

How about the other way around, Do you think people from Moorhead would be familiar with Fargo?

Yep, and ND was also the first state to institute tax for sales online, many years ago. Everyone across the river was getting better deals on Amazon until now Amazon just announced theyre going to start charging tax in MN. So not getting by on sales tax unfortunately however groceries aren't taxed so that is a good thing.

I would guess that Moorhead residents would be more familiar with Fargo than vice-versa, but would defer to what other residents say about that too. North-Dakota what do you think?

 

[north dakota]

How about the other way around, Do you think people from Moorhead would be familiar with Fargo?

I would say definitely. A majority of shopping is done in Fargo along with most healthcare.

 

[human]

Picking the residents brain, if you will.

Can you tell if these cams would be useful in this case?

http://www.nddotfargo.com

 

[DonnaParker]

Stafford says the FBI has been assisting with the investigation from the start:

http://www.inforum.com/content/ndsu...irst-fbi-involved-investigation-slain-student

Yeah doesn't help with clarity when the news has headlines like "FBI now investigating" but that article actually cites a source, Stafford, saying the FBI have been involved since the beginning.

Thank you so much for the info OCG - I really appreciate it. Even more to chew on now.....

 

[overclockedgirl]

Picking the residents brain, if you will.

Can you tell if these cams would be useful in this case?

http://www.nddotfargo.com

Nice find! Didn't know this existed, will use it this winter actually to see how bad the roads are. I doubt this would be helpful though because the cams are only taking a picture every 60 seconds, don't appear to be of very good quality, and I doubt they are even on a stretch of road the perpetrators would have taken. The interstate headed west does lead over the river but I can't figure out where these cameras are exactly. But in any case this is the interstate and that is the southern side crossing so I doubt they used that bridge to cross over since CMs house ws the north side. Unless Larry's RV is south? I don't think so though.

On the north side where CMs house was:
-The 12th avenue toll bridge
-main avenue, nice big updated bridge, most likely way I'd go over for the situations I go to Moorhead
-1st ave and NP bridge, very highly doubt has a cam

On the south side there is the interstate bridge over the river, and the 52nd ave bridge.

The little toll bridge was built eons ago to accommodate people who worked at NDSU who wanted to get to work faster, but the city couldn't justify the costs of it. So if the toll bridge has a camera that might be useful. But I'm being dead serious also when I say even that toll bridge might not have a camera, and if it does it might be wiped by the time they got to it or might not have the info they need. I went over that toll bridge like 10 years ago and I swear it looked like a handwritten sign, probably wasn't but not what you would think of as high tech looking.

 

[human]

Here is another site that lists cameras. Any info here that is of use?

http://myplace.frontier.com/~rojobo/local.htm

 

[north dakota]

I would say yes if the crossed over by interstate during the early hours of the morning. The university is about a mile east of I-29 which intersects with I-94 to enter Minnesota. The RV location is just north of I-94.

My question is ...the RV business should have been open on Monday, why didn't any employees find TB??

 

[human]

I won't look for more, but here are some more cams. They mean nothing to me, so it is great that people can weigh in on this

http://www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info-v2/

 

[overclockedgirl]

I would say yes if the crossed over by interstate during the early hours of the morning. The university is about a mile east of I-29 which intersects with I-94 to enter Minnesota. The RV location is just north of I-94.

My question is ...the RV business should have been open on Monday, why didn't any employees find TB??

After reading your post it's more plausible to me now they used the interstate to get him to Larry's if he was transported in a car, thanks.

It's an elderly couple that I believe still own Larry's RV, maybe they don't go out to the yard with the RVs very often? Also this time of year maybe less RV sales with summer winding down? Don't know just speculating.