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

[Megnut]

Wow,
seems premediated , he was on the hunt that day to kill someone, Not sure why he did not place the clothes with where he placed her body but I am glad he is stupid, I bet the thought he was slick.

Looks like he saved her clothing items so he could revisit them. So very sick

My heart breaks for her final moments and her family's nightmare moments, living in the aftermath.

Such evil.

JMO

JMO

 

[coastal]

Wow,
seems premediated , he was on the hunt that day to kill someone, Not sure why he did not place the clothes with where he placed her body but I am glad he is stupid, I bet the thought he was slick.

Yes, he was also stalking other young women in the same area the day before he kidnapped Linda. They must have been terrified.

 

[Blueberry2720]

So, I would like to know from any of you all who work in LE in some capacity, how the brother fits into this legally. I assume he was at least interrogated. Polygraph? Absolutely no charges? Even if he didn't participate, he knows a lot more about what occurred, I'm sure. We haven't heard much about him. Could he be helping prosecutors? It seems odd to me that he appears to be out there living his life like nothing happened and he knows nothing, and it sounds to me like he's part of the puzzle.
JMO

 

[Niner]

The article is dated 12/18/20.


Smoker is expected to be arraigned today on the homicide charge. He is presumed innocent and has been at Lancaster County Prison since July 11, when he was charged with felony kidnapping.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: NEWS POST: Man Charged with Kidnapping Linda Stoltzfoos Now Charged with Her Murder

 

[Niner]

a few days late - but just wanted to keep things updated!

Friday, Dec. 18th:
*Arraignment Hearing (re murder) (@ 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.
*Charged (12/14/20) with criminal homicide.
Case & court info from 7/11/20 thru 9/24/20 reference post #939 here:
PA - PA - Linda Stoltzfoos, 18, Bird-in-Hand, Lancaster County, 21 June 2020 *kidnapping arrest* #3
11/5/20 Update: Hearing was rescheduled because the prosecution was still gathering materials that it's required to provide to Smoker’s attorneys. Next status hearing on 11/23/20. 11/25/20 Update: Granted motion for continuance.
12/14/20 Update: On Monday, East Lampeter Township police & Pennsylvania State Police, after consultation with the District Attorney’s Office, filed an additional charge – of criminal homicide – against Smoker, who was previously charged with kidnapping the 18-year-old Stoltzfoos on June 21, 2020. Arraignment on 12/18/20.

 

[Trackergd]

So, I would like to know from any of you all who work in LE in some capacity, how the brother fits into this legally. I assume he was at least interrogated. Polygraph? Absolutely no charges? Even if he didn't participate, he knows a lot more about what occurred, I'm sure. We haven't heard much about him. Could he be helping prosecutors? It seems odd to me that he appears to be out there living his life like nothing happened and he knows nothing, and it sounds to me like he's part of the puzzle.
JMO

We are not permitted to sleuth the brother until such time as he is listed as a POI. Right now we are not privy to the content of the text messages.

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

dbm, already posted.

 

[crhedBngr]

Smoker’s conduct on and around the time of Linda’s kidnapping, along with physical evidence, supports the allegations that he kidnapped and murdered her.

Within hours prior to those stalking incidents and Linda’s abduction, Smoker purchased alcohol and multiple pairs of disposable cleaning gloves. Additionally, Smoker bought shoe and boot laces on the morning of the kidnapping.
Regarding the kidnapping, evidence including witness statements, indicates Smoker placed Linda in his vehicle, then drove to the eastern side of Lancaster County, including remote areas within the Welsh Mountains, which spans more than 1,000 acres of dense woods.
Cellphone evidence shows Smoker then traveled to 3104 Harvest Drive, where Linda’s bra and stockings were later found buried. Smoker returned to the site several times in subsequent days, cellphone evidence shows. DNA attributable to Smoker was found on one of those buried stockings. Smoker then returned home and thoroughly washed and cleaned his red Kia sedan.
Evidence also demonstrates that Smoker discarded items, including: the recently purchased gloves and multiple shoe and boot laces, shoes he wore on June 21, and car floor mats, which commonly contain trace evidence; those items were never found in police searches.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: NEWS POST: Man Charged with Kidnapping Linda Stoltzfoos Now Charged with Her Murder

Justo Smoker now charged with homicide in connection with disappearance of Linda Stolzfoos | fox43.com

Just sickening.

Continued prayers she is found soon.

JMVHO.

 

[Trackergd]

Carefully reading the criminal complaint, I would initially concentrate search efforts for discarded evidence or remains along the wooded section of Ranck Road, between Sheep Hill Road and 897 (to include Reservoir Road and Sunrise Drive) as JS went directly from this area to 3104 Harvest Drive to dispose of the bra and stockings. I find it odd that JS traveled to 3104 Harvest Drive to dispose of the items as there were much better places to do so, and to park on private property with the risk of observation (which occurred) makes me wonder what the draw to that spot was. I wish I had the phone location data that LE does.

 

[mtowntra1]

I wonder if he will tell where she is in exchange for a sentence reduction for example, from life without parole to parole after 75 years. Does Pennsylvania have the death penalty?

PA does have the death penalty. Unfortunately, governor Wolf has a moratorium on it.

 

[Stopthehate]

I am so heartbroken to think Linda's last moments were so terrifying. I wish peace for her family and friends. So horrible I hope this monster rots in jail.

 

[Trackergd]

From paragraph 41 of the criminal complaint:

Evidence to include witness statements, video surveillance and cell phone records show that Justo Smoker placed Stoltzfoos in his car and proceeded to transport her to the Eastern side of Lancaster County, to include some remote areas within the Welsh Mountains, which spans in excess of 1000 acres of dense wooded area

Locations noted in paragraphs 19 and 20 give us a good search area that significantly reduces the 1000 acres based on topography and access roads. Amish Road, Peters Road and Redwell Road

Hopefully I will be able to figure out JS's most probable travel route based on the information in the criminal complaint, since we don't have the cell phone data. I get the impression he was disposing of evidence piecemeal. Shoes, floor mats, gloves, etc. The shoe and boot laces I feel were restraints and possibly a ligature.

 

[Trackergd]

PA does have the death penalty. Unfortunately, governor Wolf has a moratorium on it.

True, but they may be able to incarcerate him in a prison facility like New Fayette with a population demographic where he would be targeted prey rather than a predator. Life under those circumstances could be worse than the death penalty.

 

[crhedBngr]

True, but they may be able to incarcerate him in a prison facility like New Fayette with a population demographic where he would be targeted prey rather than a predator. Life under those circumstances could be worse than the death penalty.

I'm wondering if the Amish are against the death penalty, anyway. They may just wish to see due process take place.

JMVHO.

 

[Ginger21]

I'm wondering if the Amish are against the death penalty, anyway. They may just wish to see due process take place.

JMVHO.

From a quick google search, it appears that in general the Amish do not believe in the death penalty.

 

[spiritseeker31]

Yes, he was also stalking other young women in the same area the day before he kidnapped Linda. They must have been terrified.

The creeping he did sickens me as much as the act. He came so close to being caught following these intelligent young women. It's horrifying that he still managed to follow thru with his planned crime even tho these neighborhood residents were at the top of the game by noticing him/her/car and one calling police AND taking photos because of a suspicious car.

I agree with another poster - those other girls could have been in Linda's place. I'm sure they feel relieved, yet feel badly for feeling that way.

I hate when nice, calm beautiful communities are torn apart by a vicious crime.

And by the by...I can think of many ways to make this (alleged) sicko talk!

 

[crhedBngr]

The creeping he did sickens me as much as the act. He came so close to being caught following these intelligent young women. It's horrifying that he still managed to follow thru with his planned crime even tho these neighborhood residents were at the top of the game by noticing him/her/car and one calling police AND taking photos because of a suspicious car.

I agree with another poster - those other girls could have been in Linda's place. I'm sure they feel relieved, yet feel badly for feeling that way.

I hate when nice, calm beautiful communities are torn apart by a vicious crime.

And by the by...I can think of many ways to make this (alleged) sicko talk!

RBBM

Unbelievably stupid.

Well, I believe he'll pay the price.

Let him sit there for the rest of his life and rot.

JMVHO.

 

[sallye818]

While I'm extremely glad to see this case moving forward, and Smoker charged with homicide, my heart breaks for Linda and her family left behind.

 

[Daisy1980]

Though Amish teen’s body is still missing, investigators find enough to pursue homicide charges

6-8 feet for a few pieces of clothing? Is this correct or inaccurate and or was there other evidence he dug back up?

and I am heartbroken for her family

 

[LincolnCentMe]

Though Amish teen’s body is still missing, investigators find enough to pursue homicide charges

6-8 feet for a few pieces of clothing? Is this correct or inaccurate and or was there other evidence he dug back up?

and I am heartbroken for her family

Inches

ETA: “= inches, ‘ = feet