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

[Fireweed]

I think the father is being extremely immature and since day one he and his family have been incredibly self centered about this whole thing. Regardless of the fact that she has been returned home, questioning him, his son, and asking the questions they did are all standard procedure and they would have been horribly negligent had they not done exactly what they did. I don't think for a second that they would have asked big Jim for a polygraph unless they saw reason to do so, and that was more than likely Jim's attitude and his seemingly greater concern about how her disappearing affected him and his boy. From the beginning that family has acted as though her disappearance affected only them and I see they are just continuing with it now that they are back in the bright lights. If they cared anything about that girl and what happened to her they would keep their mouths shut and let LE do their jobs.
Fireweed, I am usually right in the same ballpark with the content of your posts but I seriously disagree with your assessment on this one.

I wish people would read what I wrote just a little more carefully. Perhaps I should have worded it better, but I thought that the phrase "subjectively to him" made it pretty clear. He sounds like a jerk because, based upon what he perceived to be the situation, the situation was extremely difficult and he felt that he was treated insensitively and unfairly. Look, the guy may be immature, but he sounds sincere in his belief that his son has been through a lot. His son is the same age as Abby, so he is a kid too, and I have a major amount of sympathy for a parent in his position.

Should he have gone to the Daily Mail and done an interview? Probably not, but he did not slander Abby at all in the interview. I read it twice. I know a lot of guys like him; they hate not being listened to and not being taken seriously. Their reaction then is to get someone to take them seriously and to listen to them; hence the Daily Mail article. Personally, I have always tried my hardest to deal with someone based upon what I perceive to be their character, and not what a person should and should not do. Someone mucked up when dealing with this guy. He was ignored after Abby was found, and he did what guys like him do: aired his grievances. I am sure that LE and the people closest to this case knew what he was like. As to why no one attempted to placate him is baffling to me. Guys like him will call a bluff just to prove a point. If he was furiously demanding answers and they blew him off, then he was going to show them he meant business. I am not at all saying they needed to give him answers. But I will say this: whoever is in charge of this case is doing a darn fine job of keeping people frustrated and feeling blown off and put upon. I read it all over the comments. And this guy was way, way, way more personally invested than those commenters.

 

[Idon'tneedthesame]

I just got home today after spending almost a week in North Conway. We stayed at a B&B. The talk around town was weird. We tried not to eat in the touristy places, although we did a few times. I listened carefully to what was being said. Of course there was a lot of gossip. Some people seemed almost angry that she just walked home after 9.5 months. I got the feeling they think she chose to walk away. That might be the case, I have no idea, but I won't jump to judgment until I have more facts. Even then I won't judge the child. I can't begin to know what she went through. I wish her happiness and peace in her life. I hope the town will ease up and or perhaps Abby and her family can move away. One of the workers from the B&B told me she was friends with a woman who formed many of the searches who was also a close friend of the family. She didn't tell me much, just that they were so very happy to have Abby home.

 

[gitana1]

So... why not come home in summer clothing?

I think wherever she was she had a uniform.

Any facility, whether religious, private group home, hospital, shelter, rehab, jail, troubled teen boot camp or wilderness program, home for teen moms, private mental health facility, etc., would have to divulge the whereabouts of a missing child, to LE and her basic condition- alive, seeking treatment.

If they did not, the adults in charge would face serious charges. Period.

And if LE, including the FBI who has been working this case, had the merest suspicion that this child had been mistreated by a family member and hidden to hide something, she'd be yanked out of her family's custody and placed into a hospital for testing faster than you can say boo.

These hypotheses aren't rational to me.

http://www.stargazette.com/story/news/crime/2014/07/25/steuben-sex-offender-sought/13183587/

I'm wondering if anybody thinks this guy looks like the sketch. He apparently has been missing for a while now - didn't show up for a meeting with his parole officer last Tuesday.

I've wondered if maybe Abigail had been texting with someone on the internet and thought she was going to meet with him - if an older person showed up they may have convinced her that they were going to take her to see the person she thought she was texting with. In other words - she may have went willingly, but that it turned out to be a setup.

Skin tone and height match. Good find.

 

[bessie]

MOD NOTE: LE has released no statement supporting a pregnancy theory. Therefore, the subject is OFF LIMITS.

FINAL WARNING


Thanks.

 

[Pensfan]

The father of Abigail's boyfriend could have ended up in jail awaiting trial while Abigail was missing for the last 9 months.
(Read http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...nine-months-reveals-moment-spared-ordeal.html)
The FBI questioned his son on several occasions about whether he could have abducted Abigail. LE even requested that he take a polygraph. He immediately took one and passed.

He was an adult figure in Abigail's life for a year while she dated his son and was frequently at his home. Because his freedom (from prison) was jeopardized because of his positive interactions with her, he was morally entitled to be upset that her family didn't contact him after she reappeared. IMO, he is morally entitled to know if Abigail's disappearance was legitimate or some type of a scam.

 

[east2west]

I think the sketch is bogus, but for other reasons. (I get the feeling AH is protecting someone, and very reticent to cooperate...*insert 'she's still a victim' here*...)

I agree. Can we stop the insanity now. It's really absurd to continue on with this charade. jmo

 

[gitana1]

Abigail's boyfriend's dad could have ended up in jail awaiting trial while Abigail was missing for the last 9 months.
(Read http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...nine-months-reveals-moment-spared-ordeal.html)
The FBI questioned his son on several occasions about whether he could have abducted Abigail. LE even requested that he take a polygraph. He immediately took one and passed.

He was a positive adult figure in Abigail's life for a year while she dated his son and was frequently at his home. Because his freedom (from prison) was jeopardized because of his positive interactions with her, he was morally entitled to be upset that her family hadn't contacted him after she reappeared. He is morally entitled to know if Abigail's disappearance was legitimate or some type of a scam.

Since he immiediately took and passed a polygraph, no, he couldn't have been in jail for nine months. There has to be evidence for an arrest. If we couldn't get one for months or at all in the multiple missing children cases we see where it is clear someone obvious has harmed the kid, this man was not at risk, unless he falsely confessed or someone lied about him and if we didn't have the team we have in this case. These are clearly not keystone cops pressuring people to make false statements so they can prove they're doing their job.

I dont know what "morally entitled" means. It's not a legal term. I do know that we pay our tax dollars to ensure the safety of the community. And satisfying an angry witness is not part of that, especially when doing so could jeopardize an investigation. I don't give a darn how upset any third party is or how put upon they've felt. I want LE to do its job and catch the bad guys.

This is is really just not making sense. Professionals cannot be ruled by emotions, especially not by the emotions of disgruntled third parties.

 

[bessie]

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[Fireweed]

The father of Abigail's boyfriend could have ended up in jail awaiting trial while Abigail was missing for the last 9 months.
(Read http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...nine-months-reveals-moment-spared-ordeal.html)
The FBI questioned his son on several occasions about whether he could have abducted Abigail. LE even requested that he take a polygraph. He immediately took one and passed.

He was a positive adult figure in Abigail's life for a year while she dated his son and was frequently at his home. Because his freedom (from prison) was jeopardized because of his positive interactions with her, he was morally entitled to be upset that her family didn't contact him after she reappeared. IMO, he is morally entitled to know if Abigail's disappearance was legitimate or some type of a scam.

I could not agree more. A person has every right to know if their nine months of suffering (both themselves and their family) was justified or not. BTW, can people not accept that this man and his son's feelings and what they have been through can coexist with Abby's need for privacy and sensitivity?

 

[Pensfan]

All it would have taken for the father of Abigail's boyfriend to have been arrested for her disappearance was an aggressive prosecutor and one false statement or one mistaken witness.

 

[Fireweed]

The father of Abigail's boyfriend could have ended up in jail awaiting trial while Abigail was missing for the last 9 months.
(Read http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...nine-months-reveals-moment-spared-ordeal.html)
The FBI questioned his son on several occasions about whether he could have abducted Abigail. LE even requested that he take a polygraph. He immediately took one and passed.

He was a positive adult figure in Abigail's life for a year while she dated his son and was frequently at his home. Because his freedom (from prison) was jeopardized because of his positive interactions with her, he was morally entitled to be upset that her family didn't contact him after she reappeared. IMO, he is morally entitled to know if Abigail's disappearance was legitimate or some type of a scam.

I could not agree more. A person has every right to know if their nine months of suffering (both themselves and their family) was justified or not. BTW, can people not accept that this man and his son's feelings and what they have been through can coexist with Abby's need for privacy and sensitivity?

 

[skibaboo]

I agree. Can we stop the insanity now. It's really absurd to continue on with this charade. jmo

What charade? I'm really confused.

Also I thought it was an ongoing investigation, how can the BF's father know if their 9 months of suffering was justified or not if LE are still investigating what happened?

My brain feels like scrambled eggs here, am I missing something?

 

[CrystalAnn]

I could not agree more. A person has every right to know if their nine months of suffering (both themselves and their family) was justified or not. BTW, can people not accept that this man and his son's feelings and what they have been through can coexist with Abby's need for privacy and sensitivity?

He knows she is safe and at home. I think that is all he needs to know. He doesnt need to know the details, what good would that do. Does he need to know if she was a runaway? Would he somehow be relieved if she was tortured and held captive because maybe that would justify the hassle that him and has son had to deal with?

I just don't understand why knowing she is home, alive, and safe is not good enough.

 

[nycgrl]

Can we just take a moment to remember the Elizabeth Smart case? And that Abby is a CHILD? That is all..

 

[Fireweed]

He knows she is safe and at home. I think that is all he needs to know. He doesnt need to know the details, what good would that do. Does he need to know if she was a runaway? Would he somehow be relieved if she was tortured and held captive because maybe that would justify the hassle that him and has son had to deal with?

I just don't understand why knowing she is home, alive, and safe is not good enough.

Well, I disagree. He and his family have been heavily invested in this whole thing. He has a right to know what happened. Now maybe he does not have a right to know at the moment, but he certainly is owed an explanation. He does not need to know every single detail, but yes, he and his son have every expectation of knowing whether she was a runaway or if she was kidnapped. That is not a secret and Abby is not entitled to any privacy in that regard. Obviously for the sake of sensitivity, details that are salacious should be only be released if they absolutely have to be, which is how LE always handles these things.

I also disagree that the child being "safe at home" is a good enough explanation. It most certainly would not be if I were him. I completely support this man in wanting to get some answers. Anyone with a vested interest in the outcome (i.e. no longer on LE's radar as a suspect), absolutely gets an explanation.

 

[CrystalAnn]

Well, I disagree. He and his family have been heavily invested in this whole thing. He has a right to know what happened. Now maybe he does not have a right to know at the moment, but he certainly is owed an explanation. He does not need to know every single detail, but yes, he and his son have every expectation of knowing whether she was a runaway or if she was kidnapped. That is not a secret and Abby is not entitled to any privacy in that regard. Obviously for the sake of sensitivity, details that are salacious should be only be released if they absolutely have to be, which is how LE always handles these things.

I also disagree that the child being "safe at home" is a good enough explanation. It most certainly would not be if I were him. I completely support this man in wanting to get some answers. Anyone with a vested interest in the outcome (i.e. no longer on LE's radar as a suspect), absolutely gets an explanation.

Abigail is a CHILD. He is not her father. He is not her mother. He has no relation to her whatsoever. He is not owed any explanation further than that she is home safe. If he cared about her like he says he did, he should be overjoyed and satisfied knowing that she is home and anything else is just him being nosey and uncalled for. Obviously Abigails family and the authorities feel the same.

<Mod Snip>. She is a CHILD. Come on.

 

[katydid23]

Abigail is a CHILD. He is not her father. He is not her mother. He has no relation to her whatsoever. He is not owed any explanation further than that she is home safe. If he cared about her like he says he did, he should be overjoyed and satisfied knowing that she is home and anything else is just him being nosey and uncalled for.

<Mod Snip>. She is a CHILD. Come on.

I think what you say holds true for most of us. She owes me no explanation, nor you. But I think her boyfriend and his father, because of extenuating circumstances, ARE owed some explanation. jmo :moo:

 

[CrystalAnn]

I think what you say holds true for most of us. She owes me no explanation, nor you. But I think her boyfriend and his father, because of extenuating circumstances, ARE owed some explanation. jmo :moo:

Please, tell me, what good what it do to know what Abigail has been through?

If he is told she ran away then what would it change now?

If she was tortured and held captive, what would it change now?

This random man who spent some time with this child, if he knows the details what good would it do him to know?

If she truly has been through a traumatic experience, how do you think ABIGAIL would feel sharing this with her ex-bf and his old man.

seriously. i just dont understand why he needs to know.

 

[Montjoy]

All of this talk about 'rights to information', being entitled or being owed an explanation -- it all leaves a bad taste in my mouth. There's never any reason given as to *why* anyone needs to know these things other than curiosity some have in the personal and private details of a minor's life. I think it reflects badly on the conversations we have here if people are participating as if it is an investment that will guarantee that they are owed information down the road. Abby is safe -- that's a greater reward than I think any of us ever expected.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

@bakerlady - thanks for posting the letter in #505. I hadn't read it in its entirety before. (Think it's a sweet letter, personally.)