Omaha Double Murder #2

[Snick1946]

Earlier I'd posted this link to the website apparently set up by the Hunters:

http://solvethomashuntermurder.tumblr.com/

If the people who maintain this site are reading, you need to fix your links- all stories linked to the World Hearld website are defaulting to today's page.

In going through some earlier posts I ran across a reference to an alleged incident that happened some time prior to the killings in which Shirlee had been attacked. Does anyone recall that post and if so has anyone been able to confirm and by whom?

 

[Snick1946]

Hi Ryuzaki- I left a personal message for you last week- did you get it? Can you let me or the contact I mentioned know?
Many thanks for your interest in this case!

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I was goggling various names in this case and ran across a YouTube Video taken at a memorial recital for Thomas Hunter here in Omaha recently.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CrisCrisler

Anyone on this thread know when this was held? Was it to raise funds for a scholarship I think is being planned in his name? Very nice.

Snick, What a beautiful and dramatic selection. thanks for the link. I have the same questions as you. I also wonder if young Thomas played piano?
Just more questions with no answers for us. However, it is a very nice memorial for Tom.

wm

 

[Snick1946]

The 'Law and Order' episode that was based on this crime is apparently availble online for download by someone who has a better system and knows more about such things than I do:

http://www.sidereel.com/Law_&_Order/season-19/episode-10

You have to sign up for Itunes and I assume pay a fee. I would love to be able to see this episode and if someone has any suggestions about obtaining it I'd be grateful.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Snick, Have you checked hulu.com? I watch alot of tv shows there and it is free! I've never looked for Law and Order there but they do have quite a selection. If your internet is slow, then 'pause' and allow it to buffer. Once it's fininshed buffering, you should be able to watch uninterrupted. This works for me anyway, LOL!

Hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day weekend. Bless our veterans and those in the armed services.

wm

 

[Snick1946]

With the long weekend coming up some of us are going to be taking a break from sleuthing and spend time with our families. Before all that I wanted to post a thought I have had about this case.
From what I have gathered, there are a great many people in the Omaha area follwing this thread- many of you are not WS members and some of you are and simply read the posts and contrubute from time to time- that's fine, all of you are welcome.
I have the strong feeling that I cannot exactly explain that at least a couple of you local people know something about this case. It may be a suspicion, some rumor you have heard, something. You may be afraid to post it and to 'become involved'. Well, that's what it is apparently going to take to solve this case. If you don't want to post your idea on the board for all to see, (and you shouldn't post anything about specific people) send myself or any of the regulars in this thread a PM, if you cannot do that feel free to leave any of us a message on our personal pages.
This crime was a brutal, vile and cowardly act. The person or persons who were behind it do not deserve to be still out there among us. Anyone sitting on information that could help solve it, no matter whom it involves, is almost as guilty.
Have a safe and happy weekend- God bless the families of these victims and grant them justice at last.

 

[Snick1946]

I have decided to post some information that I came across on another website about this case. That site is 'True Crime Diary' and I think I have alluded to them previously. Someone apparently in Omaha left the following post a few months ago:

"The sketch of the olive skin man looks like someone I know. I can't fathom this olive skinned dark haired man doing some crime as bad as this. But the sketch looks like someone I know. Did the housekeeper ever take ballroom dance lessons? Did the housekeeper owe money to a ballroom dance instruction business? Did the housekeeper have any dealings with Primerica Financial Services company? Did the housekeeper owe any money to Primerica Financial Services Company? I hope the police eventually solves this case, but I don't want someone accused unless they are really guilty. The person that looks like the drawing also had access to the ballroom's silver small suv"

Cases like this abound with false leads and frankly with nut jobs who get off on posting sensational stuff and bragging that they know something when in fact they don't. But, it is frustrating as hell for myself and others who care about this case to see something like this and then not have the poster respond to followups (which I left). I reported this to Crimestoppers about a month ago- nothing. Not even a 'thanks for your contact.'

The person posting this knows SOMETHING. Probably it will lead to nothing but apparently someone took the time and felt enough conflict to post on a website that they may know who the killer is- then they crept away out of fear of 'accusing someone', possibly satisfied that at least they put it out there. This case abounds with this stuff; meanwhile time goes by and the killer walks among us. Those of you in Omaha- if any of this means anything, contact Crimestoppers- maybe a second or third contact may prod someone into investigating.

 

[colette]

That is very interesting Snick, I hope LE looks into it.

On the gamer aspect, there has been an attempted murder by stabbing due to video games. It was a revenge act plotted for months after one gamer killed another killed by knife, which is considered an insult in a gun/bomb type game.

Julien Barreaux, 20, told police he wanted to see his rival player "wiped out" after his character in the game Counter-Strike died in a virtual knife fight.
A court in Cambrai, northern France, heard how Barreaux plotted revenge for seven months after the online "killing" last November report The Telegraph.

He then located the victim, named only as Mikhael, several miles from his home.
When the man answered the door, he plunged a kitchen knife into his chest, missing his heart by less than an inch, a police officer told the court.
He added: "Barreaux was arrested within the hour and told us he had wanted to see his rival wiped out for killing off his character."

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/292842



In Counter-Strike, it’s the ultimate diss to get knifed by your opponent in a game primarily dominated by shootouts and nades (that’s grenade spamming for all of you not in the know). When a knife fight occurs, the spectators will laugh at the losing side – and this led one man to want revenge for his loss. Unfortunately, his revenge took place in real life instead of de_dust2.

http://gamerant.com/counterstrike-rivalry-leads-real-stabbing-johnj-23584/

 

[waltzingmatilda]

That is very interesting Snick, I hope LE looks into it.

On the gamer aspect, there has been an attempted murder by stabbing due to video games. It was a revenge act plotted for months after one gamer killed another killed by knife, which is considered an insult in a gun/bomb type game.

Julien Barreaux, 20, told police he wanted to see his rival player "wiped out" after his character in the game Counter-Strike died in a virtual knife fight.
A court in Cambrai, northern France, heard how Barreaux plotted revenge for seven months after the online "killing" last November report The Telegraph.

He then located the victim, named only as Mikhael, several miles from his home.
When the man answered the door, he plunged a kitchen knife into his chest, missing his heart by less than an inch, a police officer told the court.
He added: "Barreaux was arrested within the hour and told us he had wanted to see his rival wiped out for killing off his character."

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/292842



In Counter-Strike, it’s the ultimate diss to get knifed by your opponent in a game primarily dominated by shootouts and nades (that’s grenade spamming for all of you not in the know). When a knife fight occurs, the spectators will laugh at the losing side – and this led one man to want revenge for his loss. Unfortunately, his revenge took place in real life instead of de_dust2.

http://gamerant.com/counterstrike-rivalry-leads-real-stabbing-johnj-23584/

Collette, Thanks for sharing this valuable info about the 'ultimate diss' in Counter Strike. This is the same game my SIL plays in which he shouts profanities while playing. (which shocked me as he doesn't 'cuss') I had posted a link on the previous thread about a stabbing which occured as a result of a video game but cannot remember if it is the same one (Counter Strike). I believe the stabbing I refer to occured in Japan or China. (will look for the link) I do think that there are certain games which invoke violence by those individuals who become disassociated from reality.

Thanks for hanging in there with the rest of us in sleuthing this case.

wm

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I have decided to post some information that I came across on another website about this case. That site is 'True Crime Diary' and I think I have alluded to them previously. Someone apparently in Omaha left the following post a few months ago:

"The sketch of the olive skin man looks like someone I know. I can't fathom this olive skinned dark haired man doing some crime as bad as this. But the sketch looks like someone I know. Did the housekeeper ever take ballroom dance lessons? Did the housekeeper owe money to a ballroom dance instruction business? Did the housekeeper have any dealings with Primerica Financial Services company? Did the housekeeper owe any money to Primerica Financial Services Company? I hope the police eventually solves this case, but I don't want someone accused unless they are really guilty. The person that looks like the drawing also had access to the ballroom's silver small suv"

Cases like this abound with false leads and frankly with nut jobs who get off on posting sensational stuff and bragging that they know something when in fact they don't. But, it is frustrating as hell for myself and others who care about this case to see something like this and then not have the poster respond to followups (which I left). I reported this to Crimestoppers about a month ago- nothing. Not even a 'thanks for your contact.'

The person posting this knows SOMETHING. Probably it will lead to nothing but apparently someone took the time and felt enough conflict to post on a website that they may know who the killer is- then they crept away out of fear of 'accusing someone', possibly satisfied that at least they put it out there. This case abounds with this stuff; meanwhile time goes by and the killer walks among us. Those of you in Omaha- if any of this means anything, contact Crimestoppers- maybe a second or third contact may prod someone into investigating.

Snick, Thank goodness you sent this in as a tip! I feel sure LE will check it out. (Trying to keep the faith here) I think they don't acknowledge tips because they are overworked and understaffed and just don't have the time to respond to each one. I can only imagine the number of tips OPD must deal with.

It is discouraging for people to post such information on public forums and then get all cowardly and don't respond when called out on it. Especially for those of us who follow this case and care that Tom and Shirlee were brutally stabbed and murdered. Sometimes it takes time for a person to come to terms with the fact that someone they know could have committed such a heinous crime. Or perhaps this poster has called the tip line already with the info. (we can only hope)

You did the right thing by calling it in and that's all you can do. It is in OPD's hands now.

I sure wish we would hear an update on this case. It's too quiet.

wm

 

[Snick1946]

WM, you may want to recheck that link- I tried it and got a story on the Van der Sloot case.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

WM, you may want to recheck that link- I tried it and got a story on the Van der Sloot case.

Maybe I am losing it, LOL! I deleted the post and will look for the correct link. Thanks Snick.

wm

Ok, I found the link of interest regarding some of the processes of computer forensics. The case in the link has nothing to do with Shirlee and Tom's case. However, since Sgt. Kangar stated OPD is investigating computer forensics in the last news story, I found the way they are tracking the subject interesting. Here's the link......

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/02/john-mark-karr-jonbenet-ramsey-search-warrants/

(Hope this worked. I need to review the handbook on copy and paste)

wm

 

[YellowDog]

This puts a whole different light on who the targeted victim may have been.
Thanks for this info, Snick.

I have decided to post some information that I came across on another website about this case. That site is 'True Crime Diary' and I think I have alluded to them previously. Someone apparently in Omaha left the following post a few months ago:

"The sketch of the olive skin man looks like someone I know. I can't fathom this olive skinned dark haired man doing some crime as bad as this. But the sketch looks like someone I know. Did the housekeeper ever take ballroom dance lessons? Did the housekeeper owe money to a ballroom dance instruction business? Did the housekeeper have any dealings with Primerica Financial Services company? Did the housekeeper owe any money to Primerica Financial Services Company? I hope the police eventually solves this case, but I don't want someone accused unless they are really guilty. The person that looks like the drawing also had access to the ballroom's silver small suv"

Cases like this abound with false leads and frankly with nut jobs who get off on posting sensational stuff and bragging that they know something when in fact they don't. But, it is frustrating as hell for myself and others who care about this case to see something like this and then not have the poster respond to followups (which I left). I reported this to Crimestoppers about a month ago- nothing. Not even a 'thanks for your contact.'

The person posting this knows SOMETHING. Probably it will lead to nothing but apparently someone took the time and felt enough conflict to post on a website that they may know who the killer is- then they crept away out of fear of 'accusing someone', possibly satisfied that at least they put it out there. This case abounds with this stuff; meanwhile time goes by and the killer walks among us. Those of you in Omaha- if any of this means anything, contact Crimestoppers- maybe a second or third contact may prod someone into investigating.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Yellowdog, You have maintained your feelings all along that whoever committed these murders lived nearby. It sounds like whoever the poster was on the site Snick linked was from Omaha. Did you infer this also?

wm

 

[YellowDog]

Yellowdog, You have maintained your feelings all along that whoever committed these murders lived nearby. It sounds like whoever the poster was on the site Snick linked was from Omaha. Did you infer this also?

wm

Hi WM:
No, I wasn't inferring anything like that. I was just thinking that perhaps Ms. Sherman was the intended victim instead of Thomas. All along, I have felt they were after the boy for some reason.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Thanks YD. JMO, but the poster sounds like someone from Omaha who knows a person fitting the description of the composite sketch. I wonder if this person that the poster refers to maybe plays video games in his spare time? I also wonder what video games Tom played, and did he attend cotillion class or ballroom dancing class. I sent both my son and daughter to cotillion class when they were in middle school. They learned social skills and such, also a local ballroom dance instructor came and gave lessons to the kids. just another of my many thoughts regarding this case.

wm

 

[shan32]

I am in Omaha and have followed this case and thread for a long time. I posted a couple times in the past but never felt I had too much else to add. I have heard rumors - just as about everyone in Omaha has - but nothing concrete or substantial. I wish I had more to contribute.

 

[Snick1946]

I am in Omaha and have followed this case and thread for a long time. I posted a couple times in the past but never felt I had too much else to add. I have heard rumors - just as about everyone in Omaha has - but nothing concrete or substantial. I wish I had more to contribute.

Thanks for letting us know you are out there and welcome to the discussion. I am sure some of what you have heard is the same as I and others have heard and for obvious reasons we won't comment on what we think that may be. If you read back through the thread you can sort of get a feel for what people here and elsewhere are theorizing.
My real thrust in making my recent posts was to try to encourage the poster on the other site if they are following this one- that they have a duty to report to someone what they suspect. Crimestoppers is available and while I have sometimes been critical of OPD they have responded in some cases to stuff I have sent. They do a good job of protecting informants. Someone else was in contact with me who claimed to have knowledge of the case; that person suddenly stopped contact and has not been responsive, apparently another lost lead. It seems sometimes as if people are scared of something. Maybe they have good reason- I don't know.
As time goes by it gets discouraging. Knowing that people still care and are following this discussion no matter how long it has been going, is what keeps us going.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Giving the thread a bump in memory of Tom and Shirlee.

 

[omaha]

I don't have any context on this, but for the lack of news, I found this via a Google Search:

Thomas Hunter Memorial Sculpture Unveiling