Omaha Double Murder #2

[tapu]

Great info, and great thinking, everyone!


I wish I could add more, but I have only this to offer in response to the distinctive SUVs question:

I had a girl friend whose brother drove a Chevy Blazer, and she would say things like, "Look out for that Blazer!" whenever an SUV make/model completely unlike that would go by on the freeway. Even if it were, say, a Hyundai Santa Fe or whatever. So, yeah, I think some people (dare I say it?--women) may do that easily.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Glad you posted tapu! I agree with you about the SUV. Abuelazam's SUV was an older model like a 1996, IIRC. I could make that mistake too!

Our super sleuth Belinda is helping me research the incarceration date (Thanks Belinda!)
And she found this.....

Nothing on the new name. All I have on the incarceration is:

Offense Date: 10/19/2007
Arrest Date: 12/17/2007
Disposition Date: 04/24/2008

Offense: False Report/Summon to Police
Sentence: 6 months with 5 months suspended

No record of actual incarceration dates. I will keep checking.

ETA: I located the court record for the above case, but it gives no further information than what I have already listed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


does anyone know what a disposition date is?

(Above is from post # 72 on this thread....

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5518916&posted=1#post5518916

wm

 

[Belinda]

Forgive my complete lack of a sense of direction, but where is this in relation to his other known locations? He was apparently based in Virginia at this time, so is this a reasonable distance to travel? I do believe there are probably other victims, but I'm not sure he would go that far, do one crime and then go all the way back. Further, since not from the area, how would he have selected this residence?

It said he was in healthcare at one point. Is it possible he somehow had contact with the parents of the boy and was seeking some sort of vengeance? Possibly a healthcare convention of some type? Just jotting down random thoughts.

If any of this is way off base, forgive me. I have been following the thread, but have probably forgotten a lot of the important information.

ETA: Just bothered to look up a map. This seems way off his beaten path. Still not impossible, but I find it rather improbable unless he was settling a personal score of some type.

 

[Belinda]

WM - Are there any other POI's you are looking at that I could check on for you?

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Belinda, I have had the same thoughts and considerations as yourself. One theory that has been discussed is online gaming. At OPD's last presser it was stated that they were focusing on computer forensics and felt Tom may have have contact with his killer online.
Abuelazam reportedly filed a police report in Bradenton, FL that his Wii was stolen from his apt. So we know he plays video games. Some games allow players to play and converse through a headset, with peeps from all over the world, so alot could be learned about a person in this way.

Also, Abuelazam does have a history of drug abuse and also worked in the medical field. So perhaps he thought drugs or prescription pads were in the Hunter home. It could also be possible that he crossed paths with either of the Drs Hunter at a medical convention, like you suggested.

Just trying to connect the dots as to his whereabouts during this time frame in 2008 so that we can rule him in or out as a potential suspect. If disposition date was in April for the Dec 2007 conviction then he would not have been incarcerated yet in March '08.

I agree, Omaha is far away from his homebase, but he was a loner and traveler so I'm not ready to rule him out as a supect in these horrible murders.

Thank you so very much for all your help. I feel I can speak for all the posters on this thread in saying that we appreciate your expertise and generosity of your time in helping us research this guy.

above is MOO

wm

 

[waltzingmatilda]

WM - Are there any other POI's you are looking at that I could check on for you?

Not at this time, Belinda. This case has everyone stumped, even OPD. It's like a phantom entered the Hunter home on March 13, 2008.....stabbed Tom and Shirlee to death.....then disappeared off the face of the earth without a trace.

A traveling, stabbing stranger committed these murders, IMO.

I feel it would be a disservice to the memory of Tom and Shirlee if we didn't at least consider this possible lead.

Thank you for the kind offer. As time goes by, more info is bound to come out about this guy so maybe we'll have more to research re: his movements in the days to come.

MOO

wm

 

[Belinda]

Wait a minute - am I remembering correctly that Tom had knifed someone in a game and that is considered a bad thing? That would be truly bizarre. If Abuelazam is a gamer, he seems like the type that could take something like that very personally. Could that have possibly been the trigger for all that has followed?

 

[waltzingmatilda]

We don't have evidence at this time that Tom cyber stabbed anyone while online gaming. We did learn that, in some games, being stabbed is considered to be shameful and in other cases it has resulted in real world retaliation.

But....something like this would certainly be enough to 'set off' a person who is mentally imbalanced, IMO.

All MOO.

wm

 

[Belinda]

Is there any way to find out? Any serious gamers here? Is this something that is tracked as part of game stats? I find this very intriguing. I can seriously see such a diss sending Abuelazam around the bend. Very interesting. If he would stab his own friend in the face, what would he do about a kid dissing him?

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Is there any way to find out? Any serious gamers here? Is this something that is tracked as part of game stats? I find this very intriguing. I can seriously see such a diss sending Abuelazam around the bend. Very interesting. If he would stab his own friend in the face, what would he do about a kid dissing him?

Our WS poster, Ryuzaki, has some knowledge regarding this and has posted on it in the past. He referred to the conversations of the players via headset as 'Gamespeak'. Perhaps he will check in here and be able to answer our questions.

I just wish we knew which games Tom played online. It would give us a much better perspective into this subject.

wm

 

[waltzingmatilda]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/08/1...ed-slowly-michigan-accelerated-spread-states/

I found some quotes interesting in above link.

~~~~snipped~~~~

"I'd have had my two pitbulls with me," said Richard Booker, 49, who lives near Flint in Genesee Township. Booker — who was stabbed in his side, abdomen and forearms — was on his way to the store late July 19 when a man standing next to a green Chevy Blazer asked for help opening its hood.

"I'm beating on his hood, trying to get it open, he takes a Bowie knife and sticks it right in my kidney and liver. ... And then he grabbed me around my neck," Booker said, pulling up his shirt to reveal an 18-inch scar from his chest to his pelvic area and a smaller hole on his right side. He lost 8 pints of blood.

"He's a stone-cold killer," Booker said. "He knows what he's doing, he's trained in it. He knows where to stick you to kill you."

above BBM-------

I'll try and locate a link to a photo of a Bowie knife. Has anyone heard even a rumor of the types of knives the killer left behind at the Hunter home?

~~~~snipped~~~~

Forensic profiler Robert Keppel believes the man responsible for the 18 attacks stalked and attacked his victims simply for a thrill, and he suspects other attacks preceded the spree in Flint.

"He's got a bunch of them. You're going to be trying to track him down in his travels, and probably every place he's been he's attacked someone," said Keppel, a retired Washington state homicide detective who profiles serial killers.


Above BBM-
Umm...... this profiler must be reading WS because that's exactly what we're doing! But seriously, I am not surprised that Mr Keppel made this statement.

"He's got a bunch of them."

I bet a glass of lemonade that there were other victims prior to him escalating to the spree of terror that began in May. This guy is a hunter and enjoys the thrill of the hunt and the power he feels with slicing human flesh. It is a sick game to him. MOO.

I have been googly eyed (pun intended) from googling this guy. We know he wasn't yet incarcerated in Mar. 08 but we need to determine when his job was terminated at the medical facility and if he traveled to conventions, etc. If anybody has time to google this info, it would be helpful.

One other thing......I hope you all are having a very nice and restful Sunday afternoon.

All MOO

wm

 

[Snick1946]

Last evening I sent an email to OPD Homicide division, this was not an anonymous Crime Stopper deal, I gave them my name and #. I commented that altho I was sure they were aware of the possibilities of a connection that I wanted to make doubly sure they were.
One of my fears at this point is that even if this is the guy, OPD will not persue it. There may be a feeling of wanting to just put it aside now that he is in custody and wont be getting out in this life. They wouldn't want to answer questions about why they handled this as they did. I hope I am wrong.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Last evening I sent an email to OPD Homicide division, this was not an anonymous Crime Stopper deal, I gave them my name and #. I commented that altho I was sure they were aware of the possibilities of a connection that I wanted to make doubly sure they were.
One of my fears at this point is that even if this is the guy, OPD will not persue it. There may be a feeling of wanting to just put it aside now that he is in custody and wont be getting out in this life. They wouldn't want to answer questions about why they handled this as they did. I hope I am wrong.

Kudos to you, Snick! Hopefully they will check it out. I also hope that OPD would enjoy the success of solving this case and will check out all leads.

The thing about Abuelazam that is worrisome to me is that we haven't yet pinpointed his whereabouts on Mar 13, 2008. Therefore, I can't rule him out as a possible suspect until I can place him somewhere far away from Omaha on that date. The facts that he was known to travel around, was an online gamer and worked in the medical field creeps me out!

MOO

wm

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Images of Bowie Knives.

http://www.google.com/images?rlz=1T...tle&resnum=4&ved=0CFsQsAQwAw&biw=1007&bih=479

I had no idea there are so many different 'styles'. But then I am only familiar with culinary knives......

wm

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Bumping up from page three.

There has been no news in this case lately. It is discouraging that there are no updates....even if OPD just stated that the investigation is still active.....that would be something.....

Anyway, I think of Tom and Shirlee each day and I pray for their families. This is the only way that I feel I can help, just keeping the thread bumped up so that they are not forgotten.

MOO

wm

 

[Snick1946]

Bumping up from page three.

There has been no news in this case lately. It is discouraging that there are no updates....even if OPD just stated that the investigation is still active.....that would be something.....

Anyway, I think of Tom and Shirlee each day and I pray for their families. This is the only way that I feel I can help, just keeping the thread bumped up so that they are not forgotten.

MOO

wm

Without revealing my source I think I can assure you- OPD still is working on this case.
There is not a day that goes by but that I think of Thomas and Shirlee and their families. I am very much aware that this crime may never be solved. Still, not to keep plugging away at this, no matter how little we may be accomplishing, would be unthinkable.
Has anyone else felt it strange that news about the Michigan serial killer has suddenly dropped off the media?

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Without revealing my source I think I can assure you- OPD still is working on this case.
There is not a day that goes by but that I think of Thomas and Shirlee and their families. I am very much aware that this crime may never be solved. Still, not to keep plugging away at this, no matter how little we may be accomplishing, would be unthinkable.
Has anyone else felt it strange that news about the Michigan serial killer has suddenly dropped off the media?

Snick, Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us and I understand your need to protect your source. That is great news!

I think we will be hearing more about the Flint stabber next week. IIRC, it was expected to take two weeks to extradite him to Mich., he is currently being held in Atlanta. I think he was arrested on a Thursday or Friday so once he is transported to MI and he is charged there, I feel sure the press will be all over the story! The suits are probably interrogating the H E double hockey sticks out of him during this time. I wonder if he's talked, asked for cigarettes or nice meals in exchange for talking, etc?

I can't help but wish that OPD had taken up AMW on their offer to cover this case. The composite looks very much like the serial stabber. Even if he isn't responsible for Tom and Shirlee's murders, someone may have connected the dots and Abuelazam caught sooner and lives saved. That's JMO and there's no need to focus on the what ifs.

Justice for Tom and Shirlee and their families!!

all MOO

wm

 

[waltzingmatilda]

School begins tomorrow where I live and all the kids are outside enjoying their last day of summer vaca. I thought of Tom and how he should be out skateboarding and enjoying life, etc. It made me sad.

Then I felt anger that some weirdo murdered him and cut his life short, and robbed Shirlee of watching her grandchildren grow up.

Anyway, bumping up from page 3 for Tom Hunter and Shirlee Sherman....

wm

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I'm struck by how much the so-called Flint serial killer, Elias Abuelazam, who has just been arrested after randomly stabbing people in at least three states, look like the sketch of the possible Hunter-Sherman suspect.

I wonder if he can be tied to Nebraska at all. I just read that one point he worked at a hospital in Leesburg, VA, so there's a background in hospital/medical field.

I also recall that Hunter-Sherman witnesses said the suspect's SUV didn't have a front license plate. Flint serial killer witnesses also commented on how suspect's SUV lacked front plate --- Michigan doesn't require front plate. Does Nebraska?

This guy was very violent and clearly very mobile. Definitely worth OPD looking into...

I hope this works. This still shot of EA is creepy, IMO, because it is very similar to the composite. Notice the pure cunning irradiating from his eyes.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/08/serial_stabbing_suspect_elias.html

MOO

wm

 

[waltzingmatilda]

OK, I didn't do that correctly but the composite is shown on lady memac's post # 279 on page 12, if you would like to compare. My apologies....wm