PA PA - Kortne Ciera Stouffer, 21, Palmyra, 29 July 2012 - #5

[eagle5516]

I have just read the abc news story and others' reports about it. I have not seen the actual video yet. However, I am getting the sense that LE may be focusing on the drug angle at the present time. This suggests that some of the anonymous comments we read early on may be partly based on fact. As far as we know, only one burglary was reported to the police. The other may have been the "floorboard" incident posted as a comment on another site. In addition, there's a mysterious trip to Sacramento, CA, which the parents don't seem to know much about. While there's no way of knowing for sure, it seems possible that this was drug-related since Northern Calif. is a well-known source of certain illegal drugs.

As far as SS's indignation at being looked at as a suspect, I think it's natural for a father to be offended be this. I certainly would be. At the same time, police have to rule out the boyfriend and other male relatives (boyfriend has an airtight alibi). Despite any outlandish rumors out there, I doubt that the police consider the father a potential suspect. If they did, he wouldn't be participating in searches.

It is interesting that ppl mentioned in news articles related to this case keep getting arrested. In addition to CP, at least two others have had multiple arrests since KS went missing. However, it's not at all clear that any of these subsequent arrests are directly connected to KS's disappearance. So far, I only see one arrest that might directly tied.

 

[ktgirl]

So glad to see something about Kortne's case in the media and some (even if just a tiny bit of) new info.

 

[cluciano63]

It is probably true that LE kind of blew off that second 911 call to some extent due to the history of the address and occupant; but why didn't the landlord or whatever he is respond? Surely he would hear if police were pounding on doors so soon after the other misadventurea?

 

[scorekeeper]

Finally, an investigative reporter? Or is LE now releasing information?

 

[sadnpod]

So good to see some movement in her case. Anything is better than nothing!

 

[cutter99]

I don't think the landlord is on sight, so unless another tenant or the police actually notified him, he may not of been aware what was going on.

The second part of the series had nothing new to offer- just a recap of early information and more talk about the trip to Sacramento.

Being somewhat local, I can't help but ask why we have been hearing nothing about this case on a regular basis. Is it lack of caring on the part of LE, are they just totally stumped??? What is truly happening here???

 

[alliemay]

I think the only new information is the fact that she went to California, everything else I have pretty much heard or read. Is that info trying to get us to think she went off on her own? I admit for the first two weeks into this I had considered the thought that she left on her own. But after that I changed my view, and started thinking this was some sort of a set up, don't know. I am glad they put something out there one her, its the only way to try and get answer's.

 

[SurfieTX]

Is the crime scene tape still up at her duplex/apartment?

 

[alliemay]

I had wondered about that awhile ago, and no one knew. Later I will try to google the address to see if there were any adds for an apartment for rent.

 

[fallingdown]

Crime scene tape is still up

 

[eagle5516]

I think the only new information is the fact that she went to California, everything else I have pretty much heard or read. Is that info trying to get us to think she went off on her own? I admit for the first two weeks into this I had considered the thought that she left on her own. But after that I changed my view, and started thinking this was some sort of a set up, don't know. I am glad they put something out there one her, its the only way to try and get answer's.

I agree that for those of us who have been following this story for some time, the California trip was the only piece of info that was completely new.

But, having just watched the two segments, LE has confirmed two very important pieces of info which were previously just mentioned in internet posts:

1. There was an additional burglary at KS's apartment which was not reported to the police (in addition to the "cash counter" burglary). One can speculate about why KS didn't report this to the police.

2. The argument between KS and the man (and/or) his girlfriend at the Hardware Bar was related to money that KS owed. This is interesting because it confirms that KS did owe money (previously this is something that SS had said, but it wasn't clear whether this was confirmed or just a rumor that he heard). It ties the debt to conflicts she had the night she disappeared, most likely this is not a coincidence. Also, remember how MR stated that he wasn't sure if KS knew that girl she was arguing with in the bar. In my opinion, this statement is sketchy because since it seems like KS's friends and acquaintances traveled in the same circles. In other words, it's likely that MR knew more about the argument in the Bar than he let on. Doesn't mean that he's necessarily is involved her disappearance though, if it's a drug debt maybe MR just didn't want to put that info out there publicly during the news interview.

The reports also confirmed that the police are looking at kidnapping as the most likely theory of what happened. Previously, we knew that this was on the search warrants early on, now we know this is still LE's main theory.

Think about the motives behind kidnapping. We rule out custody-family kidnapping because KS's is an adult and we're looking the possibility of kidnapping related to:

1. Drug related debt / robbery;
2. Stranger kidnapping;
3. Some sort of human-trafficking scenario.

Given what we already knew, and adding in the California trip, #1 stands out. 2 & 3 are statistically not very common and we have many pieces of info to support #1.

IMO only, here's my thinking:

1. Someone local loaned KS $ to go on a run to California, things go badly in California and deal falls through and local person's very angry;

2. KS goes on run to Cali and gets large amount fronted to her, she can't pay up on time and Cali people aren't happy (there's a B.I.G. song about this rule);

3. KS goes on run to Cali, and gets robbed/apt. is burglarized after she gets back - word had spread about the trip and someone got greedy and broke in. Someone paid in advance or loaned the goods and isn't happy - could be combined with # 1 or # 2.

4. A related scenario where there's an already established pipeline from N. Cali to central Pa. KS is already in that scene and sees an opportunity to transport a shipment into Pa. in exchange for payment in kind - something goes wrong along with way (could involve 1, 2, or 3).

Just my opinion of course.

In any case, I think the neighbors are out as suspects and this is one of the possibilities that LE has eliminated (along with eliminating SS as suspect). Any red flags in either case were just coincidence.

 

[JoCoKSEyes]

eagle5516,

I think that is a superb analysis. Based upon what we know, that basic set of theories seems to fit.

 

[JoCoKSEyes]

According to the ABC 27 article, Kortne was burglarized twice at her apartment, with her reporting one burglary to Palmyra PD. I think we can assume this is the one reported:

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/06/police_investigate_burglary_in.html

The ABC 27 story states that her mysterious California trip was early in the summer of 2012. One of the items reported stolen on June 20, 2012 was a sophisticated currency counting machine. I'm thinking this was after she got back and was moving whatever she brought back from Cali.

These dots are not hard to connect. It appears that she was a middleman, mule, and dealer for someone. It is logical to assume that this business relationship is the source of the debt she owed. Find the person she owed money to, and there's your prime suspect. AB?

 

[SnoopJohnB]

There seems to be something (or someone) missing in all of this.
Kortne had a live-in boyfriend. If they owed money to someone, he would know who it was.
If someone threatened Kortne, he would know who it was.
If Kortne went to Sacramento, he would know why she went there.

If I had been interviewing SS, I would have said, why don't you just ask K's boyfriend why she went to CA or who they owed money to?

Speaking of which, the two had a room mate early in the year that moved to, you guess it, Sacramento.

I don't suppose LE spoke to this person to see if they knew anything about the trip.

 

[Meems]

Bingo Snoop and this "former roommate" was just in town (PA) a week before CP got busted for drugs ... hhhuummmm coinky dink?

 

[eagle5516]

According to the ABC 27 article, Kortne was burglarized twice at her apartment, with her reporting one burglary to Palmyra PD. I think we can assume this is the one reported:

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/06/police_investigate_burglary_in.html

The ABC 27 story states that her mysterious California trip was early in the summer of 2012. One of the items reported stolen on June 20, 2012 was a sophisticated currency counting machine. I'm thinking this was after she got back and was moving whatever she brought back from Cali.

These dots are not hard to connect. It appears that she was a middleman, mule, and dealer for someone. It is logical to assume that this business relationship is the source of the debt she owed. Find the person she owed money to, and there's your prime suspect. AB?

The ABC 27 story states that her mysterious California trip was early in the summer of 2012. One of the items reported stolen on June 20, 2012 was a sophisticated currency counting machine. I'm thinking this was after she got back and was moving whatever she brought back from Cali.

These dots are not hard to connect. It appears that she was a middleman, mule, and dealer for someone. It is logical to assume that this business relationship is the source of the debt she owed. Find the person she owed money to, and there's your prime suspect. AB?[/QUOTE]

Thanks Jo, I agree with your thoughts here. I think it is likely that KS played one of these roles. I also recall that a relative mentioned in news articles that she and her bf were saving to buy a house. It almost sounds like the old "one last deal and we're out" scenario. KS was already working legal jobs, if she was involved in this way, it's unlikely she planned to stay involved long term.

At the risk of getting in trouble with WS, I've never been sure what to think about the AB character. Not sure how much we can discuss, but as far as I know, this character just surfaced in some anonymous posts. I've yet to find anything that confirms this is even a real person. Dangerous or high-level ppl usually have a history in the criminal justice system. Interested if anyone can shed light on this issue, if they can do so without getting into trouble.

However, it seems that several of the other rumors have been confirmed in the recent news stories. There's certainly key details that LE is intentionally not disclosing, and I'll bet that one of them is the identity of the person she owed money to, whatever this person's name happens to be. I've mentioned in other posts that it almost seems like CP, MR, SS, and LE are intentionally not mentioning this persons name - although they may each have different reasons for not disclosing it.

 

[eagle5516]

Bingo Snoop and this "former roommate" was just in town (PA) a week before CP got busted for drugs ... hhhuummmm coinky dink?

Very very interesting Meems and Snoop. If you haven't done so already, consider sharing this with LE. The coincidences are starting to pile up here. Roommate angle could be the key. I was thinking that CP's possession w/ intent could be directly related to the disappearance.

As far as the bf, I'm assuming that LE has interviewed him more than once. When all the facts come out I wouldn't be surprised if there are good reasons for his public silence and absence from the vigils, interviews, etc.

My gut tells me LE makes an arrest within a month. Just a shot in the dark here. The ABC news story may motivate people to come forward. Wouldn't be surprised if it was a tactical decision made with LE to do the story and leak new details.

If I were one of the people with personal info about what happened, I would come forward now - especially if I had an active case. We could see what they call "the race to the courthouse" to cut a deal. First one to break ranks gets a deal, last one could get the death penalty.

 

[SnoopJohnB]

Very very interesting Meems and Snoop. If you haven't done so already, consider sharing this with LE.

Well, first of all, just me, I feel certain that the former room mate had nothing to do with KS's disappearance. Although, after I check into a couple of other things, I may just send them a clue.
I can't for the life me understand why LE and SS are so in the dark on everything.
It seems obvious to me that if Kort went to CA and they wanted to know more about it and the BF isn't talking, ask the friend who moved there.
It seems likely that KS would inform her friend that she would be in the area, or, maybe she even went to visit her friend.
If LE hasn't even gone down that path, there is no hope for this investigation. It doesn't seem possible that they wouldn't know this.

Addressing another post, there are some people here, myself included, that have concluded that the whole AB thing were the ravings of a lunatic and not credible.
And I believe LE has determined that as well.

 

[Meems]

Well, first of all, just me, I feel certain that the former room mate had nothing to do with KS's disappearance. Although, after I check into a couple of other things, I may just send them a clue.
I can't for the life me understand why LE and SS are so in the dark on everything.
It seems obvious to me that if Kort went to CA and they wanted to know more about it and the BF isn't talking, ask the friend who moved there.
It seems likely that KS would inform her friend that she would be in the area, or, maybe she even went to visit her friend.
If LE hasn't even gone down that path, there is no hope for this investigation. It doesn't seem possible that they wouldn't know this.

Addressing another post, there are some people here, myself included, that have concluded that the whole AB thing were the ravings of a lunatic and not credible.
And I believe LE has determined that as well.

I do find it interesting though .. that the "summer of 12" (and in no particular order) .. Kortne and BH's "roommate" moves out .. moves to Calif .. 2 break ins occur in the apt and only 1 reported to LE .. Kortne takes a trip to Calif .. Kortne goes missing .. all of this within 3 months time??? Don't know if its enought to tie together .. but I know it's too much to ignore

 

[Meems]

I guess I wonder IF Kortnes visit to Calif was a "friendly" visit ... the two are not Facebook friends .. if that means anything .. (which it may or may not)