Found Deceased PA - Linda Stoltzfoos, 18, Bird-in-Hand, Lancaster County, 21 June 2020 *kidnapping arrest* #3

[Kajun14]

Nauseating.

In a search warrant application to examine Justo Smoker's LG smartphone, East Lampeter Township police Detective Chris Jones said records he obtained showed that Smoker texted and sent multimedia messages to his brother, Victor Smoker, 15 times between about 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on June 21.

Reminder:
Victor Smoker has not been charged. On Thursday, a woman who answered the phone number listed as his in the search warrant application said a word or two in Spanish and hung up.

Man charged with Linda Stoltzfoos' kidnapping repeatedly texted brother after her disappearance: search warrant

Apparently both he and his brother had a criminal history of drug dealing. If I remember correctly his brother served 10 years and Justo served 12.

 

[Kajun14]

Nauseating.

In a search warrant application to examine Justo Smoker's LG smartphone, East Lampeter Township police Detective Chris Jones said records he obtained showed that Smoker texted and sent multimedia messages to his brother, Victor Smoker, 15 times between about 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on June 21.

Reminder:
Victor Smoker has not been charged. On Thursday, a woman who answered the phone number listed as his in the search warrant application said a word or two in Spanish and hung up.

Man charged with Linda Stoltzfoos' kidnapping repeatedly texted brother after her disappearance: search warrant

Apparently both he and his brother had a criminal history of drug dealing. If I remember correctly his brother served 10 years and Justo served 12.

My mind boggles at what emojis he would have thought appropriate during that time. Ugh. The thought of pics and video being taken, being sent, turns my stomach. I doubt it was the 'what do I now' variety. More like bragging.

I would assume if he had sent actual video footage or pictures of LS to his brother, his brother would have been held as an accessory. He hasn't been charged in this case despite a prior criminal history so it's unlikely they found anything directly related to her. However pedophiles have been known to use words such as pizza or hotdogs to describe the types of children they prey on from what I have heard. She was no child but still fairly young at 18. Is it possible he used emojis etc as code for his brother to decipher?

 

[Lyanna]

She was no child but still fairly young at 18.

To me, she looks younger than 18 yrs , jmo

 

[Kajun14]

Something is confusing me, the witnesses that waved to the young lady in the car in the Gap area, stated that she was wearing a black cap, is that correct? I thought LS was wearing a white cap? If this was LS in the car, and she was indeed wearing a black cap - where did she get it from?

Yes that stumped us too. I viewed the original police report on Justo and it was stated by witnesses that she was wearing a black cap when seen in the red vehicle with the man believed to be Justo. I believe she was wearing a white cap when at her church if I remember correctly. They said that the Amish in that area do not wear black caps customarily. That makes me suspicious that Justo had it and asked her to put it on. In some Amish communities they wear black silken head scarves on their wedding day. Was this some symbol of marriage in his mind? Did he purchase the cap perhaps in another amish community as some ordnungs do wear them? Or could it have been some kind of ritualistic symbol of destruction of innocence forced upon the victim? It was said he drove back and forth along this road twice around the time of her abduction. It sounds as though Justo was aware that she would be on the road at that time and was waiting for her. They are apparently related, distant cousins if I remember correctly. Could this be an abduction to "rescue" her? Could she still be alive and hidden? Did she go with him willingly? Could the cap have been to disguise her? What I find interesting is that witnesses stated that she and the man walked to the car together. She was in the front seat when seen driving together. This would be considered extremely inappropriate in their culture I believe. Why would he risk others seeing an Amish woman in the front seat of his vehicle instead of putting her in the back or locking her in the trunk? Except that she entered the vehicle on her own. Perhaps he threatened her so she simply got in so he could avoid making a scene. It was also stated on the police report that she was walking home barefoot. She was carrying her shoes and likely her stockings to avoid ruining them? Were her feet hurting her? Did he offer her a ride that she wouldn't have otherwise accepted? Did he claim they were related to goad her into the vehicle? I think that last idea is unlikely since it would be deeply inappropriate and likely stain her good name. There are so many questions.

 

[Kajun14]

Finally remembered where that abandoned campground is. Hill road off of Rt 10, right where "all seasons drives" branches off. Near Honeybrook.

Wonder if his cell phone pinged in that area? 340 takes you right from Bird in Hand to 10. It's not very far.

Also my husband mentioned that in that campground there appears to be a large covered pool on the property. It's shape and dimensions as well as a google earth view seems to indicate that. Her body may be under the cover. This would be a very easy, convenient place to hide a body and save a tremendous amount of time not digging a hole. It would also not require transferring or hiding a shovel to or from the location thereby leaving evidence traces in his vehicle or home. Does anyone know if Justo Smoker has any kind of history with the campground? Maintenance worker? Camp councelor? Troubled youth? We are having alot of trouble finding any info on the campground itself.

 

[UnapologeticallyAspie]

I personally think that the texts/MMS will and/or have been recovered. I also think that they haven’t arrested the brother because LE believes that the brother knows where JS his Linda/her remains, and they are giving him just enough rope to hang himself (e.g. he will lead them to her body because he is being tailed).
All MOO, of course.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

Yes that stumped us too. I viewed the original police report on Justo and it was stated by witnesses that she was wearing a black cap when seen in the red vehicle with the man believed to be Justo. I believe she was wearing a white cap when at her church if I remember correctly. They said that the Amish in that area do not wear black caps customarily. That makes me suspicious that Justo had it and asked her to put it on. In some Amish communities they wear black silken head scarves on their wedding day. Was this some symbol of marriage in his mind? Did he purchase the cap perhaps in another amish community as some ordnungs do wear them?

<snip for focus>

It was also stated on the police report that she was walking home barefoot. She was carrying her shoes and likely her stockings to avoid ruining them? Were her feet hurting her?

BBM#1 -- IIRC initial reports said LS was wearing a white cap but then later reports clarified it was a black cap. Her group wears white caps for church but black caps at other times, including the event she had just left. IMO

BBM#2 -- IIRC, in LS's neighborhood, black caps are worn. In the neighborhood where she was seen in the car, black caps are not worn, and thus the black cap she was wearing caught the eye of some observers. IMO

and

I also believe it was reported earlier in the threads that it was very common for her to remove her shoes and walk home barefoot. IMO

These points were discussed in detail and IMO clarified in the earlier threads.

 

[Kajun14]

BBM#1 -- IIRC initial reports said LS was wearing a white cap but then later reports clarified it was a black cap. Her group wears white caps for church but black caps at other times, including the event she had just left. IMO

BBM#2 -- IIRC, in LS's neighborhood, black caps are worn. In the neighborhood where she was seen in the car, black caps are not worn, and thus the black cap she was wearing caught the eye of some observers. IMO

and

I also believe it was reported earlier in the threads that it was very common for her to remove her shoes and walk home barefoot. IMO

These points were discussed in detail and IMO clarified in the earlier threads.

Ok thanks for the clarification. We just started researching this case today so we haven't gotten through all the info yet.

 

[Trackergd]

There has already been illegal activity in the abandoned campground. Residents of one of the nearby houses was stealing railroad communications cable, taking it in to the campground and burning off the insulation to get the copper for scrap value. Just don't know if JS's cell phone or that of any associate pinged in that area. The campgrounds remote location and lack of activity, other than locals, lends itself to a number of criminal scenarios.

 

[Niner]

Thursday, Sept. 24th:
*Status Conference Hearing (@ 9am ET) - PA – Linda Stoltzfoos (18) (last seen June 21, 2020, Bird-In-Hand, Lancaster County) – *Justo Roberto Smoker (34) arrested (7/10/20 at work at Dutchland, Inc.), charged (7/11/20) & arraigned (8/24/20) with felony 1st degree kidnapping to inflict injury/terror & misdemeanor false imprisonment. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Case & court info from 7/11/20 thru 8/5/20 reference post #815 here:
PA - PA - Linda Stoltzfoos, 18, Bird-in-Hand, Lancaster County, 21 June 2020 *kidnapping arrest* #3
8/24/20 Update: Smoker will waive his arraignment Friday 8/28/20 & has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping & false imprisonment. Denied bond. Next status conference hearing on 9/24/20.

 

[Niner]

Court appearance postponed for man charged with Linda Stoltzfoos' kidnapping

Sept. 25, 2020

A hearing scheduled for Thursday in the case of Justo Smoker, the man accused of kidnapping missing Amish woman Linda Stoltzfoos, was postponed.

The hearing was a status conference, an opportunity for the defense and prosecution to update a judge on where the case stands and get an outline of the schedule going forward.

In Smoker’s case, the conference was postponed because the prosecution is still gathering evidence that it is required to provide to Smoker’s attorneys.

Such continuances are not uncommon. A new date has not been set.

 

[Trackergd]

Continuances are maddening when you are waiting for scraps of information regarding a case.

 

[Jillian2020]

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Prayers for Linda and her family
​

 

[Trackergd]

Not hearing anything new. Curious to see if JS tries to make a plea deal.

 

[Niner]

I just searched the court site thru 10/9 and nothing on him - yet...

 

[crhedBngr]

Bumping for LS.

May she soon be found.

 

[Trackergd]

I am hoping we get a hard frost after the end of October to kill off all the green vegetation. I want to go take a look around Welsh Mountain myself. LE is fixated on that area.

 

[Niner]

Searched thru court site thru 10/23 and nothing...

 

[crhedBngr]

Bumping for LS.

Sending Love, Light and Hope to LS' Family and Friends.

 

[Hatfield]

Bumping for LS.

Sending Love, Light and Hope to LS' Family and Friends.

View attachment 268333

Double Bump.
Continued prayers for Linda, her friends here and elsewhere, and her family.