Omaha Double Murder #2

[Snick1946]

I can't recall just where I ran across this idea, but will throw it out for what it is worth. Is it possible that the POI was driving a car that day that he got from a dealership for a purported 'test drive'? That would explain the odd license plate allegedly sighted- it was not a plate, but a dealer tag or card in the holder.
That would be a good cover for someone. I would wonder if OPD checked dealerships for this car in the area, there could be video of him if so.
I was told also by someone who should know that OPD did not check out auto rental agencies etc across the river in Council Bluffs.
This case is so strange on so many levels- at times it seems like a small scale version of the JFK murder. We may never know what happened.

 

[Snick1946]

You may recall I'd mentioned the Law and Order episode that aired recently and based on this case. I watched and also taped it, here is my take on it:

If you are a fan of this series, as I am, this will not be one of your favorites. It just seemed lacking. It was evident after ten minutes who the cops were after and most of the time was spend closing the deal. The housekeeper in the story was there on a different day than usual as in real life. The boy however had brought a friend home from school but the friend left early. The boy was killed upstairs while doing homework. The perp turned up at the funeral and created a scene which put LE onto him.
Some of the similarities were evident- the boy had an X-box, etc. His parents were younger in the story.
I would be interested if anyone else has seen this episode and what your take on it was?

 

[YellowDog]

Sorry, but I wasn't able to see it.

 

[omaha]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20101111/NEWS97/311119925#crime-lab-s-outlook-threatened

Article about the Crime Lab. Doesn't inspire confidence.

 

[Snick1946]

A 13 year old boy was murdered Friday night near here while alone at home:

Police say several people who witnessed Friday's shooting death of a 13-year-old boy in his Papillion home have given conflicting accounts of what happened.

Investigators are still trying to determine if the shooting was intentional or accidental. The gun used to kill Larenzo Hawkins has not been recovered. He was found dead around 5:45 p.m. from a single gunshot wound to the head inside his home near 84th and Matthies Drive.

The neighborhood is in shock. Residents can't believe this happened and remember the Papillion Junior High School seventh-grader as a "happy kid" who had a positive outlook who would play with his sisters outside the house.

“I'm totally shocked because this is such a quiet, peaceful neighborhood,” said Sharon Smith. “I'm just devastated, absolutely devastated that a young life is just snuffed out like this and for what? Why? What happened?"

Those who live nearby say they're uneasy. “Threatened, intimidated, I don't know that it will happen again, but there's just no way of knowing,” said Dennis Schumacher.

“I can't imagine a reason, there could be no reason for this, absolutely no reason for this because he was a good kid and that's what I want people to know, he was really, truly a good kid,” said Smith.

Police tell Channel 6 News a 17-year-old boy was detained for possible probation violations associated with the incident. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Papillion Police Department at 339-3196.

This is a farily quiet suburb in the Omaha area. I do not suspect any connection with our case but there are a few similarities. My first thought was to wonder.. was this kid a victim of someone he ticked off online? Sounds that he was shot, you gotta wonder..

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Hi everybody!

Snick, How far away is this neighborhood in Papillion from Dundee? I guess I am really asking if Tom and this recent victim were in the same school disctrict.

The 17 year old is being detained for probabion violations. Could he have been found with a gun maybe? He has apparently been in trouble but the info probably wouldn't be public record since he is a minor? (Is age 17 considered a minor in NE?)

The reason I wonder this is because of possible DNA being collected. If he has a juvi record, would DNA be taken?

I have thought for some time that our perp is either a minor or someone who's never been convicted and sentenced to prison. My feeling is the perp HAD TO HAVE left some type of DNA behind in the Hunter home considering the brutal nature of the crimes. I wish NE would swab everyone arrested for major crimes for DNA. The state of NC recently began allowing for DNA to be collected from perps when they are arrested and charged for serious crimes. (before conviction) It doesn't sound hopeful though after reading the link Omaha posted about the NE crime lab. (thanks Omaha)

I wonder who is this 17 year old? Is he from an affluent family?

geojeffrey's post # 459 has started my wheels turning regarding the socioeconomic status of our perp and his money and resources.

'Resources' is an interesting word to me. The word doesn't necessarily indicate money or wealth, but instead an association with someone who is able to provide these resources to the perp. Who could this person be who uses others resources?........Someone with access to a company car that isn't registered to the perp......a young person from an affluent family who provides the minor perp with a vehicle.....someone who is perhaps involved with afterschool activities for (let's say) the Y and picks up kids from school? Thanks geojeffrey for prodding me to think outside the box!

OT My apologies to you all for my absence. My 'busy season' is here and I have been distracted from WS. However, I have been reading and keeping up and would like to thank you all for the thought provoking discussion.

wm

 

[YellowDog]

It is strange that both boys were close in age and both bodies were discovered around the same time of day in there own home.

Please keep us posted, Snick, on the details of this case.

 

[omaha]

Looks like they found the gun.

http://omaha.com/article/20101115/NEWS97/711159939#brother-arrested-in-teen-s-death

And it looks like it may have been an "accident".

 

[YellowDog]

What a tragic accident but why did a teenager have access to a gun?

 

[waltzingmatilda]

You may recall I'd mentioned the Law and Order episode that aired recently and based on this case. I watched and also taped it, here is my take on it:

If you are a fan of this series, as I am, this will not be one of your favorites. It just seemed lacking. It was evident after ten minutes who the cops were after and most of the time was spend closing the deal. The housekeeper in the story was there on a different day than usual as in real life. The boy however had brought a friend home from school but the friend left early. The boy was killed upstairs while doing homework. The perp turned up at the funeral and created a scene which put LE onto him.
Some of the similarities were evident- the boy had an X-box, etc. His parents were younger in the story.
I would be interested if anyone else has seen this episode and what your take on it was?

Snick, I am not really a law and order fan. Not that I don't like it, I just don't watch alot of tv. Television is more of background noise to keep me company, unless it is pro baseball or college basketball, haha!

I did watch the episode (I tivo'd it) and here is my take on it. Law and order is a show for entertainment purposes. I think the writers take initial facts from cases here in the US and expound on the premise to create a fictional episode. It is all about ratings! And although the Omaha Double Murders haven't really captured a national audience, the astounding facts of the case being presented in a fictional drama is inticing for viewers. I didn't give it alot of credit in regards to revealing anything new in this case, nor do I feel OPD shared any facts of this case with the writers or directors of the show.

I would rather view a true crime show in which the LEA is cooperative and willing to share facts which could shed light in solving a cold case, like AMW. What could be the harm in it? NE is apparently 'sucking hind teat' in solving cases these days. Somebody, somewhere knows something, IMO, so let's put the info out there and see what sticks, I say. (thinking about the poster on the True Crime Diaries site who stated the composite sketch looks like someone they know.)

Tom and Shirlee deserve to rest in peace and their familes deserve to move on, without the living he!! of wondering 'why' every day of their lives.

This is all JMO!

wm

 

[YellowDog]

Here is a clip from an article on RateMDs.com

Claire Hunter is a cardiologist and an assistant professor of medicine and the director of the fellowship training program at Creighton. She graduated from the Creighton University School of Medicine and completed cardiovascular fellowship training at Creighton. She has been at Creighton for nearly 19 years.

The Director of the fellowship training program at Creighton University sounds like a pretty influential job.

http://medschool.creighton.edu/medi...ips/interventionalfellowshipprogram/index.php

I noticed when reading the information on the above referenced website that only 1 is awarded each year. To me, that would mean that this was a highly coveted position.
Was someone enraged because they were overlooked for this fellowship?

Any opinions?

 

[omaha]

Here is a clip from an article on RateMDs.com

Claire Hunter is a cardiologist and an assistant professor of medicine and the director of the fellowship training program at Creighton. She graduated from the Creighton University School of Medicine and completed cardiovascular fellowship training at Creighton. She has been at Creighton for nearly 19 years.

The Director of the fellowship training program at Creighton University sounds like a pretty influential job.

http://medschool.creighton.edu/medi...ips/interventionalfellowshipprogram/index.php

I noticed when reading the information on the above referenced website that only 1 is awarded each year. To me, that would mean that this was a highly coveted position.
Was someone enraged because they were overlooked for this fellowship?

Any opinions?

I would think it would be. Love to know more. Though, my guess is that if the submission deadline is February 1, that it wouldn't have played a role here. Considering it likely takes much longer than a month to evaluate submissions and accept someone. Timing doesn't seem to fit. Maybe, someone was sending a message "pick me", or was attempting to "send a message" and it went wrong. That might explain why she wouldn't immediately know who was sending the message…

 

[YellowDog]

Well, I don't know. To me, February 1 to March 13 would be ample time to decide who was getting the fellowship. That's almost 6 weeks.

It could be a motive for an unstable person.

 

[omaha]

Well, I don't know. To me, February 1 to March 13 would be ample time to decide who was getting the fellowship. That's almost 6 weeks.

It could be a motive for an unstable person.

I'd love to know the acceptance date. But my guess is that, like any academic deadline, it takes a lot longer. Lots of committees, and such. I could be completely wrong. I have no idea.

 

[omaha]

I'd love to know the acceptance date. But my guess is that, like any academic deadline, it takes a lot longer. Lots of committees, and such. I could be completely wrong. I have no idea.

Yeah, no way. Read the info on the link.

"Step 2: If you are considered for an appointment, you will be asked to interview at Creighton University with the program director and selected faculty. Interviews are conducted between March and April of each year prior to the selection date."

They don't even INTERVIEW for the position until March or April.

 

[YellowDog]

Well, that shoots that theory down unless someone had an inside track.

 

[YellowDog]

"Step 2: If you are considered for an appointment, you will be asked to interview at Creighton University with the program director and selected faculty. Interviews are conducted between March and April of each year prior to the selection date."

But wouldn't this be in March and April the year BEFORE they are selected? That's the way I would take that statement. Am I reading it wrong?

 

[waltzingmatilda]

"Step 2: If you are considered for an appointment, you will be asked to interview at Creighton University with the program director and selected faculty. Interviews are conducted between March and April of each year prior to the selection date."

But wouldn't this be in March and April the year BEFORE they are selected? That's the way I would take that statement. Am I reading it wrong?

Hi YD and everyone!

That's how I interpret the info, YD. I don't feel that a year long process would be uncommon, JMO.

I worked in education in a primary K-5 school and have a little knowledge of achieving National Teacher Certification. It is a year long process requiring much work in order to meet certain requirements and achieve the coveted title. Not to mention the pay increase/bonuses. It is very cutthroat and difficult to acheive. I caught one teacher photographing my bulletin boards on the sly to include in her application packet! (LOL, not being boastful but it is a fact that my bulletin boards were always the best!)

This is for a coveted title on the elementary school level so I would imagine appointments/awards/titles are just as cutthroat (probably more so, MOO) on the university level.

Just wanted to throw in my :twocents: and say hello and happy Thanksgiving to you all.

MOO

 

[omaha]

"Step 2: If you are considered for an appointment, you will be asked to interview at Creighton University with the program director and selected faculty. Interviews are conducted between March and April of each year prior to the selection date."

But wouldn't this be in March and April the year BEFORE they are selected? That's the way I would take that statement. Am I reading it wrong?

Interesting. Definitely would like to know the dates. But I agree. I think it's a year-long process.

Wonder when the selection process is. If the deadline for submitting is Feb 1, and the interviews are a year prior in March or April, I would imagine that the selection happens around the same time as the interviews, perhaps just after or just before (my guess is after, but perhaps I'm completely wrong). It's in the range.

I've always assumed that the students / fellows / residents were the first people checked. I remember the rumor mill in the months after being very focused on the medical students of the Hunters (both of them). Briefly came up again after the first year anniversary, but nothing since. You'd think that if it had to do with residents or fellow (singular) that it would be very easy to track down, as opposed to 19 years of students.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I am constantly researching knife killings due to trying to understand this case. One thing that I have learned is that knife killings don't exclude any classes. Savage killers walk among us and come from all walks of life, there are no boundaries. Here is a link from today. ***warning*** graphic details!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40334933/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/