Found Deceased OH - Joey LaBute, 26, Columbus, 4 March 2016 #2

[eric136]

Here is my guess---- and only a guess based on what is most common from following other cases.

I don't think it was a drug overdose (cause he was in the river). I don't think it was a serial killer (its almost easier to think there is one big bad person out there than to think about SO many bad people out there all around us, but I don't think it is reality in this case). I don't think it is a "hate" crime of someone who didn't like him due to his race, creed, color, sexual orientation.

What I do think is that it is someone he knows. I think they maybe had it out (jilted, called out, told off?) and he got strangled. I think they dumped him in the river after he died. I think the police have already questioned this person and pinged their phones. I think that the reason the investigated that area was because of phone pings (maybe even killer and Joeys phones both pinging in the area). When he was found there, it was immediately considered suspicious because killer suspect's phone was already proven to be there at some point in that night after Joey went missing. And killer suspect probably lied and said he was home, but the police knew his phone pinged somewhere else. The same somewhere else that Joey's dead body was eventually found.

I guess we will see. This line of logic is (unfortunately) pretty common around these parts (the Websleuths parts, that is). If I think about how close really bad people are to every where we go, it makes me terrified. I am sorry that it seems like Joey's path was crossed with one of those people. I really hope that the police are on to whatever happened to him. I have a feeling they are. I hope the killer is arrested and convicted. I hope that justice is served, in the form of a very long sentence behind bars, where killer can spend the rest of his days.

Yep. Just my opinion.

Strangulation would have shown up on the autopsy.

 

[eric136]

But you can see the date and time -- click on the link I sent with the interview of Matt.

I see the date and time for the gibberish text and the date and time of Matt's response of 'Hey you there' ! There is nothing showing for the "liar" and dental hygenist conversation

 

[anonypotomous]

Joey wasn't weak like that. He faced trouble head on and didn't hide behind his phone. Joey had a backbone.

How long did you know Joey? He really seemed like a great guy.

 

[mpnola]

Strangulation would have shown up on the autopsy.

Did they get the autopsy results already? I must have missed that.

 

[Rstlne]

I also think the "liar" conversation was a different day or even days prior to the gibberish text. Because when you continue a conversation via text, the date and time isn't displayed if it's happening all on the same day. Just the time is displayed. If the date changes, then the date is displayed. That "liar" text could've happened days and days prior. Unless someone has the time/date stamp of that text, we'll never know when that conversation happened.

It was the same night... The reason the time stamp with the jibberish text was at 1' something Saturday morning... So it was technically a new day, hence the new time stamp.

 

[VTX88]

It was the same night... The reason the time stamp with the jibberish text was at 1' something Saturday morning... So it was technically a new day, hence the new time stamp.

How do you know the "liar" conversation was the day before? It's not date stamped. Do you actually know or are you guessing? It could've been 2 months prior or the day before. The snippet of a screen shot we all have doesn't include the date that conversation actually took place. Seems people are concluding that this massive fight lead to a person getting killed. I just ain't buying it. And if this guy was responsible do you think he would've showed his screen shot to a news reporter and exposed himself to all this scrutiny? This is exactly why people don't come forward with information; the minute they do, everyone starts trying to paint them in the picture as a suspect. When in fact they're just trying to be helpful.

 

[Rstlne]

Does anyone have an actual link that mentions the "I'm driving" phone call? I have not seen or heard any mention of this in the local news. I have seen a lot about the date texting "goodnight cutie" at 10:19 and Joey responding "byeeee" at 10:28, and then of course the infamous "pocket text" at 1:22, but am not sure where the "I'm driving" response to his aunt's phone call fits in. I don't see mention of it in any local news articles/stories. TIA

http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/columbus-detectives-searchinh-for-missing-26-year-old-man

watch the clip of the story and it's mentioned in there.

 

[VTX88]

http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/columbus-detectives-searchinh-for-missing-26-year-old-man

watch the clip of the story and it's mentioned in there.

I watched it. It says "this is a text message conversation family members say he had with a friend that night" it doesn't says anything about that conversation above the gibberish text was had that night.

 

[Rstlne]

Link to the interview: http://myfox28columbus.com/news/local/columbus-detectives-searchinh-for-missing-26-year-old-man

Edited, somebody already posted the screen shot. Link to interview above.

 

[Rstlne]

I watched it. It says "this is a text message conversation family members say he had with a friend that night" it doesn't says anything about that conversation above the gibberish text was had that night.

Correct, none of the news media have mentioned anything other then Joey's last text message with the jibberish letters, and the fact that his aunt called and he stated he was driving.

 

[Rstlne]

How do you know the "liar" conversation was the day before? It's not date stamped. Do you actually know or are you guessing? It could've been 2 months prior or the day before. The snippet of a screen shot we all have doesn't include the date that conversation actually took place. Seems people are concluding that this massive fight lead to a person getting killed. I just ain't buying it. And if this guy was responsible do you think he would've showed his screen shot to a news reporter and exposed himself to all this scrutiny? This is exactly why people don't come forward with information; the minute they do, everyone starts trying to paint them in the picture as a suspect. When in fact they're just trying to be helpful.

There was no massive fight, from what I've been told by friends that were at Union that night. I don't know the significance of Joey's and Matts conversation earlier in the night.. But I will say, I know several friends that have brought it to the attention of detectives... I have complete faith, at this point, that CPD including the homicide detectives know so much more then we think they do and will bring whoever did this to justice very soon.

 

[Rstlne]

How long did you know Joey? He really seemed like a great guy.

I agree with you... Perhaps some people were only acquaintances with Joey, and not really on the friendship level.

 

[VTX88]

I just hope that the person(s) who dumped him in the river will come forward and tell what happened. Maybe they'll suddenly get a conscious.

 

[Rstlne]

Joey wasn't weak like that. He faced trouble head on and didn't hide behind his phone. Joey had a backbone.

What would give you that impression of him? I would never draw that conclusion, because Joey was more passive then aggressive. So I'm confused by your comment.

 

[Cbusguy]

What would give you that impression of him? I would never draw that conclusion, because Joey was more passive then aggressive. So I'm confused by your comment.

The quote was in regards to the phone text. Joey would have texted Matt directly asking what's wrong instead of Matt's text to Joey later in the day on Saturday.

<modsnip> The truth will eventually come out. You're in Columbus too and lik me, have heard a lot of speculation about what happened. I trust CPD and know they can and will solve this and get Joey and his family the justice and closure they deserve and need.

What we have in common is we both want whatever happened brought to light and a crime solved.

 

[MerryB]

How do you know the "liar" conversation was the day before? It's not date stamped. Do you actually know or are you guessing? It could've been 2 months prior or the day before. The snippet of a screen shot we all have doesn't include the date that conversation actually took place. Seems people are concluding that this massive fight lead to a person getting killed. I just ain't buying it. And if this guy was responsible do you think he would've showed his screen shot to a news reporter and exposed himself to all this scrutiny? This is exactly why people don't come forward with information; the minute they do, everyone starts trying to paint them in the picture as a suspect. When in fact they're just trying to be helpful.

VTX88, I tend to agree. The "suspect" would've had to have left his partner either at the bar or at home for hours while he committed this crime and disposed of the body. He would have to be extremely confident in his ability to evade investigation to contact JL's family with the "pocket text," not erase the prior texts where there is some kind of confrontation or argument (the degree of severity is up to interpretation), and then do interviews with local news stations that include screenshots of the texts between him & the deceased. Not saying it's impossible, but thinking it's unlikely or at the very least way too obvious. JMO

 

[CookieM]

Maybe I'm dense but I just don't see how this text exchange equates to a big argument. For all we know, Joey could have said "You know Chad has been bleaching his teeth for a decade." Matt may have said, "Heck no! He isn't so vain/was just lucky to born with great teeth/would never do that! I know this for a fact!" (or whatever) and then Joey responds with "Stacey says she is Chad's hygienist. So youre lying."

Something benign like that.

Also I still don't see a time stamp on any of those texts. Does anyone who is saying that they know they were sent just before the jumbled text have a link for that info or is it just speculation?
TIA

 

[anonypotomous]

Joey wasn't weak like that. He faced trouble head on and didn't hide behind his phone. Joey had a backbone.

How long did you know Joey? Were you pretty close?

 

[MerryB]

Maybe I'm dense but I just don't see how this text exchange equates to a big argument. For all we know, Joey could have said "You know Chad has been bleaching his teeth for a decade." Matt may have said, "Heck no! He isn't so vain/was just lucky to born with great teeth/would never do that! I know this for a fact!" (or whatever) and then Joey responds with "Stacey says she is Chad's hygienist. So youre lying."

Something benign like that.

Also I still don't see a time stamp on any of those texts. Does anyone who is saying that they know they were sent just before the jumbled text have a link for that info or is it just speculation?
TIA

LOL CookieM! Thanks for the laugh. :laughing:

 

[Sleuthster50]

I agree that this "argument" was likely benign, because if it was worth killing over, it would not have been shared. I've watched that video several times and the person sharing those messages looks very sincere and worried for his friend, IMO.