GUILTY NH - AH, 14, North Conway, 9 October 2013 - #12

[skibaboo]

(I'm scared to ask...what is catfishing...I don't want to google it and need brain and eyebleach later, so if someone please could gently explain, tia.)

catfish
A catfish is someone who pretends to be someone they're not using Facebook or other social media to create false identities, particularly to pursue deceptive online romances.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=catfish

 

[bakerlady]

(I'm scared to ask...what is catfishing...I don't want to google it and need brain and eyebleach later, so if someone please could gently explain, tia.)

Catfishing would be if an older man went online trying to meet younger girls by using fake photos of random, usually good looking, guys of similar age to the victim. They do this over weeks, months, years and try to form a close bond with the person.

In this case a hypothetical situation could be that Abby met some 'boy' on FB and developed a crush on him and this man came up in the truck and claimed to be his dad or brother and was going to take her to him and she complied.

I'm sure you all can remember being a teenager and how easily it was to become infatuated and all of the ranges of emotions that go along with teenage hormones going out of control. Teens are so vulnerable and naive.

 

[margarita25]

Thanks everyone for your replies to my question about catfishing.

An interesting side note, I saw a documentary about an older WOMAN who did this USING HER OWN TEENAGE DAUGHTER'S PHOTO!!

 

[zwiebel]

He's short and has a darkish skin and black stubble. Wish to heck that drawing had some color, it would really help.

 

[looks like rain]

Who knows what has happened to Abby while she was gone. Maybe she came back addicted to drugs or something. I'm sure her thinking isn't quite right at this time. JMO

 

[Fireweed]

Look, LE really got the public involved in this case. I agree that LE's only "real" responsibility is to investigate this case, but when any person or organization asks for (and gets) the assistance of the public at large, then they should expect that there will be a huge response from the public at large when the case turns out like this. LE and the investigators of this case have an ethical duty at this point to address the public and at the very least try and put an end to some of the nastiness that is infecting the online discussions at this point. Heck, they could even lie in order to do that. "At this point, we have no reason to believe that Abby was pregnant" or "As of now, we have asked the family and Abby not to give interviews or address the public" or "We understand that we have asked for assistance using vague and cryptic information. We regret that is all we can give you right now, but your help stills means a lot to us and to the family".

To me, any of those things would really go a long way right now.

 

[newguy123]

I just wish, if they could, LE would say this sketch guy drove her away and then what? Dropped her somewhere? Handed her to someone else? Confined her? I wish they could expand on that somewhat.

 

[SurfieTX]

I imagine things are pretty tense today with regard to LE and the AG. Today marks the 3rd year of Celina Cass' murder, which is unsolved. Celina's mom provided a statement to WMUR.

http://www.wmur.com/news/celina-cass-case-remains-unsolved-3-years-later/27048128#ixzz38VVDSTOp

 

[Fireweed]

I just wish, if they could, LE would say this sketch guy drove her away and then what? Dropped her somewhere? Handed her to someone else? Confined her? I wish they could expand on that somewhat.

Another bone they could throw us right now is where (generally) they think this guy might be.

 

[Jacie Estes]

http://www.mtv.com/shows/catfish/

(I'm scared to ask...what is catfishing...I don't want to google it and need brain and eyebleach later, so if someone please could gently explain, tia.)

 

[LookingHoping]

I highly doubt LE is worried about "quelling rumors" at this point. Is that really their responsibility? And no matter if they make a statement or not, the rumors will abound. It's just the nature of the beast and happens in every MP case.

What they do have a responsibility to do is carefully, methodically and responsibly investigate the facts of what happened and prosecute any and all those involved with any wrong doing. I have no doubt that they are doing this to the best of their ability. They also have a responsibility to make sure the victim and her family are treated respectfully and cautiously. This is a child and whatever happened to her could seriously affect her for the rest of her life. They do have a responsibility to make sure she is protected and handled carefully to some extent.

Thank you, well said and right on.

Hoping the sketch that is out will help LE in their quest.

 

[margarita25]

http://www.mtv.com/shows/catfish/

Thanks for the link, Jacie Estes. Going to watch now!
(nice to meet another mma, btw, jmo :wave

Also, the documentary I mentioned above is called something like "Tall hot blonde", iirc, available on netflix.

 

[margarita25]

I'm back in Thread 1 (good work SurfieTX and everyone!).

One post that is standing out to me is this:
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?223995-NH-Abigail-Hernandez-14-North-Conway-9-October-2013-1&p=9893480#post9893480

 

[AnaTeresa]

Look, LE really got the public involved in this case. I agree that LE's only "real" responsibility is to investigate this case, but when any person or organization asks for (and gets) the assistance of the public at large, then they should expect that there will be a huge response from the public at large when the case turns out like this. LE and the investigators of this case have an ethical duty at this point to address the public and at the very least try and put an end to some of the nastiness that is infecting the online discussions at this point. Heck, they could even lie in order to do that. "At this point, we have no reason to believe that Abby was pregnant" or "As of now, we have asked the family and Abby not to give interviews or address the public" or "We understand that we have asked for assistance using vague and cryptic information. We regret that is all we can give you right now, but your help stills means a lot to us and to the family".

To me, any of those things would really go a long way right now.

So you'd rather LE lie than keep quiet about an ongoing investigation? That seems counter-productive to me, and likely to backfire spectacularly when people find out they've been lied to.

Further, these rumors about Abby being pregnant or whatever - if LE addresses them, that's giving credence to them. And those sorts of statements will stick around for a long time. I think LE is right to not address the rampant, unnecessary speculation that's going on among some quarters of the internet. They don't in most cases. Making an exception for this one would only lead to more conjecture.

They've given what is, to me, a very clear statement that the investigation is ongoing, asked for assistance regarding certain information, and released a sketch. That's not a complete freeze out in communications. I could understand this attitude we're seeing in demanding answers or statements if LE had said nothing other than confirming that she was home, but they've done more than that. And it's only been FIVE days. Even if Abby returned home in perfect condition, that's hardly enough time to comprehensively question her about where she has been for the past nine months.

It's unrealistic to expect LE to address every salacious rumor on the internet, and it would be unprofessional of them to LIE to us, just to placate the mob mentality, in my opinion.

 

[Dixie811]

This case will always run rampant with crazy speculation and rumors, IMO. Probably even after it is "solved" and LE reveals the result of their investigation. I think people have been so fascinated by this case that they will never stop speculating and buying into rumors.

 

[gitana1]

The thing of it is, is that if Abby was with an adult male who "took" her, then she cannot be given time and space right now. She needs to be interrogated. Predators of this type never do it once. They do it until they are caught. I know it is insensitive and not how we wish the world was, but at this point this man could be out there hunting for his next victim. It is crucial that Abby is not given "time" right now. I feel badly for her, but answering questions and catching this guy is just one more thing she is going to have to go through before the time, space, and healing process can start.

I think I'm going to trust that LE knows what they're doing here and how to question victims. Btw, only criminals or criminal suspects are "interrogated". In our country, in every state, the protocol for crime victims and minor children who are witnesses to crime, is to question them very carefully and with sensitivity and compassion. Children are never "interrogated" when they are victims or witnesses. (At least they are not supposed to be).

The use of that word is interesting. It's a strong word to be used to describe how one thinks this little, 14 (now 15) year old girl should be treated.

Frankly, I will defer to the professionals. If they think she needs time, then she needs time. We know so little, I don't think it's appropriate to be arm chair quarterbacking.

I'm shocked at the sense of entitlement people are showing over this case. I also think people have lost perspective regarding the passage of time. It has been five days since she has returned. FIVE. We do not know what condition she returned in. We do not know her physical or mental state. It's easy to sit here and say what she "needs" to do - but we have no idea what's going on behind the scenes.

Instead of celebrating, people are making demands. And in my opinion, there's something terribly wrong with that.

Just, BRAVO!!!!

 

[Fireweed]

LE lies all the time if they think it will benefit the case. They are asking for help from the public. The public ain't going to give it to them if they think they are being played. Right now, LE has said something to effect of "we are trying to determine where AH was these past 9 months". You know what people are writing in the comments? "Well then just ask her already!" I know that we do not know what the heck is going on, but LE is going to have to give a little more information when asking for the public's help, because overwhelmingly the public has concluded that they do not need their help in determining where Abby was, because Abby has since returned, as perfectly capable of just freaking telling them already. Now that may or may not be the case, but I am getting the impression that a large majority of people out there are having a really, really hard time wrapping their heads around why they would be enlisted to try and solve where Abby has been, when Abby herself, who is 15 and not 5, is capable of supplying that information.

From all that I am observing, it would seemingly be helpful the case right now if just some of this stuff was addressed. There are many commenters out there, for example, who think that the sketch of the guy is something Abby is lying about.

 

[margarita25]

Loads of good stuff in thread 1 (maps, initial statements, etc):
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?223995-NH-Abigail-Hernandez-14-North-Conway-9-October-2013-1

 

[Kimster]

If you guys don't veer away from suggesting the family and LE is doing something nefarious, the thread will be closed again. You need a MSM link to make such comments. This is a victim friendly site. :tos:

 

[Psychic Sleuth]

I hope that decent people will still offer assistance if they know anything about this possible person in the sketch or had seen a similar truck in the area. I know I would and I would never expect to be informed of details of a possible criminal case in return. I've reported things I've seen or information I had to my local LE before and not once did I ask them to tell me anything about the outcome or details, nor did I think I was entitled to know.