Omaha Double Murder #2

[YellowDog]

My guess is OPD is not making much progress. The older this case gets, the more apt it is to never be solved.

As for the organization you linked to, wouldn't they have to be privy to the evidence to be of any help? If that's the case, I doubt OPD would release anything to them.

It has been awhile since any updates on this case. I wonder if OPD is making any progress in solving this case. I know they don't owe us, the public, any information but geesh, they could throw us a crumb once in awhile.

Anyway, I was reading about this society on another thread and decided to link it. Perhaps OPD should consider asking them for help. It never hurts to have some new eyes looking at the evidence.

http://www.vidocq.org/index.html

Bumping up for Tom and Shirlee!

wm

 

[Snick1946]

I have spent the past two years focused on this case. This has involved a lot of on and off line research, personal meetings with others who have claimed to know something, you name it. I am not complaining- I am retired and have the time although I sometimes think that I could have put that time to better use working someplace part time. There is only one firm conclusion I have come to.
Someone doesn't want this thing solved.
Something is wrong with a picture in which those of us on this board seem to care more about justice in this case than LE does and even more than some of the victims' families. As I have said before, I have lived in this community for decades and have never felt so strongly that an ongoing coverup of some sort is involved in an unsolved crime.
I wonder if the solution to this thing lies in areas that no one wants to go to- involving scandal or illicit activities. Possibly there is a protected informant involved someplace, who knows? I think the immediate group of investigators are dedicated to finding the killer. I suspect someone upstairs at OPD has put limits on where they can go in their investigation.
No I am not throwing it in. But I just think sometimes it's futile.

 

[YellowDog]

Just a few of the things that strike me as strange in this case.

1. Supposedly several witnesses saw a male in a grey SUV go into the house and exit, in broad daylight, yet no one took down the license plate number or even the exact model of the vehicle.

2. Family members of both victims have said very little about the crimes.

3. An exact timeline has never been printed in the newspaper.

4. No photos of the crime scene, nor even a drawing of where the victims were found in side the house has ever been printed.

5. There has been very little coverage by the local newspaper and, literally, none in the past few months that I've read.

6. The University has not contributed to the reward fund.

7. AMW was not allowed to do a program about the case.

8. Burglaries were committed in this neighborhood prior to the murders.

I could go on, but you get the idea. It's as if these killings were just a blip on a March day.

 

[Snick1946]

Just a few of the things that strike me as strange in this case.

1. Supposedly several witnesses saw a male in a grey SUV go into the house and exit, in broad daylight, yet no one took down the license plate number or even the exact model of the vehicle.

2. Family members of both victims have said very little about the crimes.

3. An exact timeline has never been printed in the newspaper.

4. No photos of the crime scene, nor even a drawing of where the victims were found in side the house has ever been printed.

5. There has been very little coverage by the local newspaper and, literally, none in the past few months that I've read.

6. The University has not contributed to the reward fund.

7. AMW was not allowed to do a program about the case.

8. Burglaries were committed in this neighborhood prior to the murders.

I could go on, but you get the idea. It's as if these killings were just a blip on a March day.

Good Summary YD- it was as if local media couldn't wait to drop the story and change the subject. Also it is almost as if LE, the families and the media- when they do mention the case- are simply going through the motions and playing a game with all of us. As if they want it to look good but are not really doing anything.
This indifference extended into parts of the general public in Omaha. When I first became interested in this case I discussed it with some frieneds at work and elsewhere. I was taken back that many seemed afraid to talk about it. More than once I was asked why I didnt just forget it, it wasnt your kid, etc etc.
I believe the fact that Creighton University is involved in this story has a lot to do with how this case has been handled. CU is a sacred cow to a lot of Omaha community leaders, nothing scandalous is allowed to touch it's reputation.
A CU alumni contributed to the reward fund- they were unamed. However I think you are correct, CU never offered any money to the reward fund. They did however erect a statue in memory of Tom.
They didn't make one for Shirlee.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Snick, Glad you are back. You and YD bring up some valid points. Here is what I find 'hinky' about CU's 'involvement' in this crime.

1) CU allegedly told University employees NOT to speak with anyone about these murders.
WHY? The murders didn't occur on campus. Tragically, a knife weilding fiend entered the home of a Creighton employee and murdered the employee's son and housekeeper. Why go to such extremes if there was no University involvement?

2) The fact that a few months (sorry, I do not have the exact time frame) after the murders, Dr. Bill Hunter was no longer in the position of Dept. Head of CU's pathology program yet is still teaching there. I do not know the reason for this, however the move sure raised a red flag for me.

3) The bronze of Tom. While I find it a lovely gesture, is it customary for CU to erect a statue for all the children of CU employees who have died. Any child dying is tragic. Have there been other employees of CU who have lost children whether it be a car accident, asthma attack, etc? Creighton is a big place with lots of employees working in capacities too numerous to name. It just seems to me that the odds are probable that there are other employees of CU who have tragically lost a child besides the Drs. Hunter, but pure specualtion on my part. Are there any other bronzes of employees beloved family members who have passed or only Tom? Was the bronze commissioned by CU or the Hunter's?

Universities do go to great lengths to handle issues 'in house' in order to maintain their pristine reputations and keep enrollment high and justify their expensive tuitions. The word 'Scandal' is a no no in the University vocabulary, IMO.

Years ago, there was a mentally ill young man who's father worked in the University system in my state. He was transferred out of two schools due to behaviors resulting from his mental illness. At the third University he attended he murdered a young woman, with whom he was obsessed, in her dorm room. This resulted in an overhaul of the state University system and communication between schools regarding records of students who transfer. Unfortunately, the first two schools just wanted to get rid of the problem (the young man)to avoid 'scandal' so he received nice recommendations for transfer. (I feel sure that professional courtesy toward the young man's father also played a part.) There's alot more to the story but I'll leave it there because this is just an example of what I am getting at.

Something just doesn't add up regarding Creighton's involvement in this, IMO.

As time goes by, power changes hands so I haven't given up hope on this case being solved some day. The 'Grim Sleeper' being arrested after all those years gives me hope.

I do feel bad for Shirlee's family as it seems there has been an effort to cast a negative light on her character and she is no longer able to defend herself. JMO. Socioeconomic status maybe?

These are only my thoughts and opinions and some questions I have. All Moo.

wm

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I answered my own question regarding the sculpture of Tom.

~snipped~

Bill and Claire Hunter and others from Creighton donated money to commission the sculpture and establish scholarships in Thomas? name.

JEFF BEIERMANN/THE WORLD-HERALD

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100612/NEWS01/706129814

ETA I found this info while scrolling thru the 4 photos on the page at above link. My question was clarified in the text of the 4th photo.

 

[YellowDog]

Do you think the killer knew the mother was out of town and falsely assumed the father was, too?

 

[Snick1946]

Do you think the killer knew the mother was out of town and falsely assumed the father was, too?

Ever since this crime I have had the gut feeling that the mother's being out of town that week had some connection with the timing of the killings. Someone must have known she was out of town, possibly they may have made the assumption that the family was all gone, that could have been a motive for a break in. I still wonder if someone was prowling the house when Shirlee arrived and remained hidden while she was there and while Tom came home? He could have been trying to sneak out but was accosted by one of the victims.
The garage of the house in back of the Hunter home was broken into the night before according to one of the prior posters- I don't know if this has ever been confirmed.
It is interesting that so far as I know the break ins that were happening so frequently in the area stopped suddenly after the killings.

 

[skywalker]

I was sorry the newspaper article didn't go into greater detail about the scholarships - endowed scholarships, I believe, which means they are given annually - to students at Creighton as well as to students who attend King Science, where Thomas attended.

A retired law enforcement friend of mine told me that Omaha PD will not work with AMW because they don't want to be associated with any show that "profits" from crime.

I can agree with that sentiment.

On the other hand, if it were put to a vote, I would swallow my distaste for the vultures who profit in the hopes that national exposure might generate leads that could solve this case.

 

[Snick1946]

Just a few of the things that strike me as strange in this case.

1. Supposedly several witnesses saw a male in a grey SUV go into the house and exit, in broad daylight, yet no one took down the license plate number or even the exact model of the vehicle.

2. Family members of both victims have said very little about the crimes.

3. An exact timeline has never been printed in the newspaper.

4. No photos of the crime scene, nor even a drawing of where the victims were found in side the house has ever been printed.

5. There has been very little coverage by the local newspaper and, literally, none in the past few months that I've read.

6. The University has not contributed to the reward fund.

7. AMW was not allowed to do a program about the case.

8. Burglaries were committed in this neighborhood prior to the murders.

I could go on, but you get the idea. It's as if these killings were just a blip on a March day.

YD here's my comments on your observations:

1. I dont think it's strange nobody wrote down the license #, etc on this car. Neighbors couldn't possibly have anticipated what was going down. What I think is wierd is that no one so far as I know either saw this man actually enter the house or leave. Nor can anyone even say with certainity where he was parked.
2, The Hunters have both been interviewed on local media. Neither however have spoken out publicly outside that venue asking for the public's help. The Sherman family have posted reward money but since have not spoken out either. I question why? Have they been threatened or intimidated?
3, No it hasn't and I don't find that unusual.
4. Crime scene photos are not as a rule released by OPD as they may figure into evidence later on. I do find it odd that after two years we still have no idea of the floor plan of this house- that could have helped with research although OPD no doubt doesn't want amatuers researching.
5. Very little in the paper since early this year. I have yet to see anything at all from either print or broadcast media that features Shirlee's family. Are they delibertely keeping quiet or again, is there some reason for this?
6. I mentioned this in my last post- wouldnt you think CU would have made a public contribution to the reward fund. Why didn't they?
7. Re AMW- does anyone know if OPD ever has cooperated with AMW on any prior case- I do not recall such.
8. And, so far as I know they stopped IMMEDIATELY after these killings.

Here's my point: Taken individually, none of this stuff amounts to much. Add them all in at once and a picture starts to emerge. I am not sure what it is but it's something.

 

[Snick1946]

I was sorry the newspaper article didn't go into greater detail about the scholarships - endowed scholarships, I believe, which means they are given annually - to students at Creighton as well as to students who attend King Science, where Thomas attended.

A retired law enforcement friend of mine told me that Omaha PD will not work with AMW because they don't want to be associated with any show that "profits" from crime.

I can agree with that sentiment.

On the other hand, if it were put to a vote, I would swallow my distaste for the vultures who profit in the hopes that national exposure might generate leads that could solve this case.

AMW does not profit from crime; they profit from solving crime. Maybe making money on solving crime seems ignoble to OPD but if that is indeed why they turned them down then I think this is tragic.
I think the scholarships are wonderful and a fine way to honor Tom's memory. I worry though that, having put up a statue and setting up scholarships people are just moving on.
I also feel deeply for Shirlee's family; the Hunters get all the sympathy and attention; it just sometimes seems to feel like class prejudice. JMO.

 

[skywalker]

I have a belief that the perpetrator is from outside of the metro area, probably from out of state. AMW coverage could generate leads from people who know this murderer!

 

[skywalker]

I also feel deeply for Shirlee's family; the Hunters get all the sympathy and attention; it just sometimes seems to feel like class prejudice. JMO.

If there is disparity, I'd attribute it to the fact that Thomas was a child. But you are right to point out that two innocents were equally viciously murdered.

I agree that the Hunters may be more in the public eye, but I'm guessing that
they are struggling with their grief - I know I would be - and, rather than moving on, they're trying to channel their grief in positive ways?

I can't imagine the pain these families are feeling when it appears to those of us on the outside of this investigation that nothing is being done.

 

[YellowDog]

The families of the victims may feel the same way we feel about this case but could have been instructed by LE not to discuss it with anyone.

 

[Ryuzaki]

Snick, YD and WM I am glad you have continued posting throughout the past few months, I have been desperately trying to find something during this time, my research has gotten me near to nowhere, I too share the same sentiment as Snick, something is terribly wrong here, this is where the prying will have to begin, if there is a cover up something will have to come undone, something will have to be exposed and we have to be ready for it.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I was looking through my media links because I am sure that one of the more recent reports which I recall members of the Sherman Family declined comment per instructions from OPD. I still haven't found it but I did find this one that I found interesting because I have not seen any 'videotaped' interviews of either family up til now. This interview was posted 3/14/08 and includes comments from Shirlee's son and daughter. Be sure to watch the video. It broke my heart.

http://www.ketv.com/family/15598028/detail.html

Ryuzaki, I'm glad you are back and applaud you for your time spent on research. There are so few facts to sleuth that it becomes difficult to glean any new info. I agree with you that something will be exposed and help solve this sooner or later. Note my siggy line! Keep the faith!

skywalker, I am so glad that you joined the discussion here and I really enjoy your posts and thought provoking input. I agree that whoever did this is from out of state because one of the few facts that we do have is the license plate on the silver SUV being peach in color with no front plate.

I actually became 'skittish' on another case here that I follow when I inadvertantly learned right on the thread that one of the posters drove a vehicle matching the description of the SUV in this case......right down to the peach license plate. (SC)
I didn't post for awhile after on that thread because around the same time the interview with Sgt. (now Lieutenant, he received a promotion) Kangar stated that OPD is focusing on computer forensics and Tom may have interacted with the killer online. The poster seems like a nice person but it kinda creeped me out. (OT my children nicknamed me Safety Suzie while growing up so I guess it is in my nature to be cautious.)

Hope you all have a nice weekend.

wm

 

[Skully]

Thank you for posting the link WM. Wow, that is so sad to see those kids and know what happened in that house. I am beginning to think that LE will never find them.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Thank you for posting the link WM. Wow, that is so sad to see those kids and know what happened in that house. I am beginning to think that LE will never find them.

Bern, I agree. I do think 'they' will be found eventually, by a fluke or DNA evidence, but not through any efforts from OPD. MOO

BTW, Good reading you my friend!

wm

 

[waltzingmatilda]

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/07/armchair_detectives_true-crime.html

Wanted to share this with you all. Kudos to WS owner Tricia Griffith and our Super Mod 'Kimster' (and her ray gun) for their participation in this article. Way to go!

wm

 

[Snick1946]

WM, thanks for the link to the KETV story with Shirlee's children. I had missed that and thought I had seen everything that had been on local media at that time.
Once again we are hit with the disparity of how long she'd worked for the Hunters. In the story her neighbor said 10-15 years. Reference was made to her being 'part of the family' etc. Yet someone whom some of us think had ties to the Hunter family posted on the first thread that she had only been with them a couple of years and was not close to Tom.
I can't say why this continues to bother me- but something is just hinky here. If she had not been there more than two years why would her neighbor say this? If she had been there all this time why would someone come on this board and say otherwise? Either the neighbor was misinformed or the poster who claimed to know was being less than truthful and had an agenda. If so, why go to the trouble?
I happen to believe that at least one of Shirlee's family is reading this thread from time to time. If possible can you send me a private message to clarify this? Thanks and God Bless.