Found Deceased NH - Celina Cass, 11, Stewartstown, 25 July 2011 #10 *Arrest*

[Chris_Texas]

BBM

I don't believe the toxicology reports are back yet from the laboratory in Pennsylvania.....

I think that this is what they have said.

I do not believe for a minute that the lab in Pennsylvania is incapable of moving tests associated with a potential homocide to the head of the line, or that this glacial dispay is what anyone would call a "Rush job."

At this point I believe (my opinion) that the DA's office has asked the lab to slow-play this in the hope that the case will drop out of the public eye. When the state starts posting rewards and making statements about how hard at work they are, and all the cool clues they are following up, that basically tells me that they have nothing.

Justice for Celina might well be a lost cause at this point. The people in the town are rightly freaked out, other girls her age are probably terrified. The DA's office needs to stop playing coy and start talking.

 

[Chris_Texas]

Right. So what do they do?

He may have information that could change the direction of the case or he may be the direction of the case but without being available to "help " move the case then evidence which is inconsistent or consistent with him may need to be matched to what he could or may say. Might be risky to charge him without farther questioning if the evidence is DNA and testimony because he lived in the house. The case might not be as solid as they like due to him not coorperating. Part of what he says is evidence and they will want as much as they can get ,without any statement from him they have to rely on forensics and he lived there so they imo would want a bit more for an arrest.

Even if he isnt the suspect, his help would be important and could be considered evidence. IMO I do not think any charges will come to anyone until he is coorperative. Or arrested.

I highly doubt that his attorney (and at this point you have to assume he has one) would allow him to chat with the police. His reported lack of cooperation is probably just that. And here in America we have that right, nor should anyone assume that his reported lack of cooperation is evidence of guilt.

 

[Chris_Texas]

Oh I have a hunch that the tox results have nothing to do with proving how she died. I think the tox results simply are required to issue a complete autopsy report. And Ms Young also stated they were waiting on further investigation results... to me, she's using fancy concepts to simply say we aren't ready to make our arrest yet.
And I do think she will make one, when she's ready.

If they had the evidence to make an arrest they would make the arrest.

 

[Kiln Wood]

I think that this is what they have said.

I do not believe for a minute that the lab in Pennsylvania is incapable of moving tests associated with a potential homocide to the head of the line, or that this glacial dispay is what anyone would call a "Rush job."

At this point I believe (my opinion) that the DA's office has asked the lab to slow-play this in the hope that the case will drop out of the public eye. When the state starts posting rewards and making statements about how hard at work they are, and all the cool clues they are following up, that basically tells me that they have nothing.

Justice for Celina might well be a lost cause at this point. The people in the town are rightly freaked out, other girls her age are probably terrified. The DA's office needs to stop playing coy and start talking.

BBM

Chris Texas, what is your source for this statement?

 

[cluciano63]

I can't remember where the reports came from that the stepfather was being uncooperative-the media?
Anyway, maybe he did not take a LD test. That probably doesn't mean much, with his mental health issues...not sure the results would be very reliable. JMO

 

[MarthaM]

And remember that they haven't even called this a homicide yet. As of now, they're still calling it 'suspicious', but that covers a lot of ground.

 

[Soulmagent]

I highly doubt that his attorney (and at this point you have to assume he has one) would allow him to chat with the police. His reported lack of cooperation is probably just that. And here in America we have that right, nor should anyone assume that his reported lack of cooperation is evidence of guilt.

I get what your saying but my post was in relation to why they are asking for the publics help and what they mean by that.

Nothing to do with if he has a lawyer or would be able to talk if he had one.

LE is playing nice with him IMO. Trying to compell him to talk. I really dont think they think he will confess .

It is a stale mate at this point and the plea's for the help are IMO a stratagy.

I am not sure he is a suspect but I am sure if he hasnt talked to them ,they want to talk to him because thats is how investigators work. Over and over they will come and ask you the same questions ,different ways an in different enviroments.

So suspect or not..imo this case isnt going anywhere until he is spoken too ..they need to hear whatever it is he has to say as he was the last person to see her and without knowing what he has to say it leaves the case a bit in the dark ..JMO.

 

[LisRho]

I highly doubt that his attorney (and at this point you have to assume he has one) would allow him to chat with the police. His reported lack of cooperation is probably just that. And here in America we have that right, nor should anyone assume that his reported lack of cooperation is evidence of guilt.

Honestly, I don't assume anything.

Last report I heard was him in a psychiatric facility, and being that it is well documented that has previously been diagnosed with a serious psychiatric illness, I am guessing he is still in the hospital.

I think all possibilities are still open at this point. If I have missed it I apologize, but I do not believe Celinas death has been labeled a homicide but is being called suspicious.

Tox results, whether positive or negative, could play a very large role right now into what LE is thinking.

 

[bstnh1]

I think that this is what they have said.

I do not believe for a minute that the lab in Pennsylvania is incapable of moving tests associated with a potential homocide to the head of the line, or that this glacial dispay is what anyone would call a "Rush job."

At this point I believe (my opinion) that the DA's office has asked the lab to slow-play this in the hope that the case will drop out of the public eye. When the state starts posting rewards and making statements about how hard at work they are, and all the cool clues they are following up, that basically tells me that they have nothing.

Justice for Celina might well be a lost cause at this point. The people in the town are rightly freaked out, other girls her age are probably terrified. The DA's office needs to stop playing coy and start talking.

Jane Young stated at the outset that they had asked the lab to put a "rush" on the toxicology tests. Some of these tests simply take time (weeks) from the day they are started.

 

[Texsun]

Is there a law in NH that prevents LE speaking to "him"??? Just because someone is in a "Medical" facility, doesn't automatically prevent one from speaking with LE does it? Could be that LE has talked w/him and he really is incapable of communication. I don't think he was home that evening while Celina and Mother were watching Tv.

Also want to tell everyone what excellent posts and ideas you all have. I enjoy reading each and every one! Glad I registered.

 

[bstnh1]

In my opinion, the state is baffled on this case. By now any DNA testing is complete and surely at least some of the toxicology tests have been completed. And still no cause of death, no arrest and no one named as a suspect or POI. Putting all that together with the fact that Jayne Young has asked for the public's help tells me that they are nowhere near solving this case. Hopefully I'm wrong, but nothing to date shows me that the state is zeroing in on anyone.

 

[~n/t~]

I get what your saying but my post was in relation to why they are asking for the publics help and what they mean by that.

Nothing to do with if he has a lawyer or would be able to talk if he had one.

LE is playing nice with him IMO. Trying to compell him to talk. I really dont think they think he will confess .

It is a stale mate at this point and the plea's for the help are IMO a stratagy.

I am not sure he is a suspect but I am sure if he hasnt talked to them ,they want to talk to him because thats is how investigators work. Over and over they will come and ask you the same questions ,different ways an in different enviroments.

So suspect or not..imo this case isnt going anywhere until he is spoken too ..they need to hear whatever it is he has to say as he was the last person to see her and without knowing what he has to say it leaves the case a bit in the dark ..JMO.

That's assuming they haven't spoken to him. I'm not sure where that assumption comes from. Do we know he hasn't? He did say when the last time was when he saw Celina. Mom hasn't said much either.

 

[AnaTeresa]

If I recall correctly, toxicology tests take up to 6 weeks. Depending on what evidence was collected, those tests may be crucial to the state's case. I don't think that waiting on those results would necessarily indicate that they are baffled or without a case.

To be honest, I don't think we can truly determine anything at this point, since not all tests are back and the AG and LE are playing this very close to the vest. They could be close to an arrest or completely baffled - we have nothing to go on with either supposition at this point.

We don't even know if Celina was murdered - her death has only been noted as "suspicious." At this point, anything goes.

 

[Kaybug]

Is there a law in NH that prevents LE speaking to "him"??? Just because someone is in a "Medical" facility, doesn't automatically prevent one from speaking with LE does it? Could be that LE has talked w/him and he really is incapable of communication.

I don't know about NH law on this, but I thought psych hospitals were pretty much the same on some things. I do know here in NC, whether you are involuntarily or voluntarily committed, LE can't talk to you. One of the 1st questions you are asked is are you hiding out/running away from LE. No one can visit you unless you have put them on your list of visitors that you will see. Then the psych doc can also not allow someone to see you even if on visitors list if they see it as jeopardizing your mental health. I don't know about everywhere but here in NC you are protected from everything in the psych hospital.

 

[Soulmagent]

That's assuming they haven't spoken to him. I'm not sure where that assumption comes from. Do we know he hasn't? He did say when the last time was when he saw Celina. Mom hasn't said much either.

The assumption ,which I am not really assuming I am more like guessing and stated I dont know if they talked to him in the post . My guess is based on a media report of someone being uncooperative,and his current location. The media report was made in the early days of them finding celina's body.

 

[BeanE]

Reading/reference document

U.S. Department of Justice - Death Investigation - A Guide for the Scene Investigator

https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/167568.pdf


and a wealth more of documents for case research from the US DOJ here:
https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/AlphaList.aspx

 

[Silkprint]

Check everyday Celina to see if there has been an arrest .

 

[Joe Friday]

Check everyday Celina to see if there has been an arrest .

Just theorizing here, but I think I may have found the reason why maybe an arrest has not yet been made.

I think we all know that if a certain person would be arrested today he would be found not competent to stand trial (heck he is in a mental institute now), so what the state or Attorney General might be doing is waiting until he is released from the mental institute before charging him with the crime (that is if the evidence points to this person). Meanwhile building their case and collecting as much evidence as possible. Charging him after he is released from the mental institute in which he currently resides, would ensure that he is competent to stand trial and the state would not have to worry about charges having to be dropped if he cannot be restored to competency within 12 months should he be found not competent to stand trial if charged now.

He is not going anywhere now, I don't believe there is any statute of limitations on this case and once the arrest has been made the clock starts ticking as far as the court proceedings. So why not sit back and wait????

(Click on blue links to read other statutes)

JMO

TITLE X
PUBLIC HEALTH
CHAPTER 135
NEW HAMPSHIRE HOSPITAL AND INSANE PERSONS
Commitment to Hospitals
Section 135:17-a​

135:17-a Competency Hearing; Commitment for Treatment. –


I. If, after hearing, the district court or superior court determines that the defendant is not competent to stand trial, the court shall order treatment for the restoration of competency unless it determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that there is no reasonable likelihood that the defendant can be restored to competency through appropriate treatment within 12 months. If the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the defendant cannot be restored to competency within 12 months, the case against the defendant shall be dismissed without prejudice and the court shall proceed as provided in paragraph V.

(Snipped)


V. If the court has determined that the defendant has not regained competency, and the court determines that he or she is dangerous to himself or herself or others, the court shall order the person to remain in custody for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 90 days, to be evaluated for the appropriateness of involuntary treatment pursuant to RSA 135-C:34 or RSA 171-B:2. The court may order the person to submit to examinations by a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist designated by the state for the purpose of evaluating appropriateness and completing the certificate for involuntary admission into the state mental health services system, the state developmental services delivery system, or the secure psychiatric unit, as the case may be. If a defendant who was charged with a sexually violent offense, as defined in RSA 135-E:2, XI, has not regained competency, the court shall proceed pursuant to RSA 135-E.


http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/X/135/135-17-a.htm

 

[Texsun]

Joe Friday, that was an excellent post! and that answers many of my questions. I believe you are right. Also sheds a new light on why the mother, the 23 yr. old live in and a couple others are saying nothing. If this is what is going on between LE and the subject we are thinking of, I'll bet my chips that LE is in close touch with the facility staff and knows everything that is going on and this patient isn't going anywhere

 

[Texsun]

Joe Friday's post would explain the silence of Mom and close aquaintenances. Mom must be in complete agony, reached the point of acceptance, remembered some incidents or remarks that didn't mean much before and had a lot of time to think about that night. I can imagine how shameful and disgraced she feels because she married him. Talk about the old saying, of not being able to show your face, this could very well be a pure example. I know I'd be so embarrassed and torn up, I couldn't come out of my house for a long time! I know I surely couldn't return to working in a public store where everyone knew me and my past with this guy either! Yeah, I don't know if I would make it or not, if I was this Mom. Guess, I would try for the sake of my other daughter, but it would be just torture day in and day out.