GUILTY PA - Linda Stoltzfoos, 18, murdered, Bird-in-Hand, Lancaster County, 21 June 2020 *arrest* #4

[MontereyMama]

@MontereyMama, If I knew where JS went in that short period of time, I might be able to find her. It's just to vast an area to be guessing. I'm still interested in the Snake Rd area, but I can't ignore private property rights to go poking around.

I agree! Bless you for what you have done!! And I did NOT mean to imply that it should be simple for you (or anyone) to find her.
Just this: it's eminently more frustrating that's she's still missing, when he was so careless!
JMO

 

[Trackergd]

@MontereyMama, I understood your intent. Not to worry. Given the limited amount of time, it should be simple. Drainage culvert, small copse of trees and brush, etc. The unknown factor is if someone else was involved and moved the remains later.

 

[Maplesyrup]

Actually there may be quite a bit of recoverable evidence. I just don't know where to look. Clothing, bones to name two. The Amish use pins and hooks, not buttons, so they would show up with a metal detector.

Just thinking, wouldn't removing, and taking, all her clothing with him make the most sense? If she is lying on the ground, not buried, falling leaf matter, weeds, etc. will cover bone on the forest floor. Clothing is more likely to catch the eye, and if, say, a hunter notices scattered bone [obviously not a human skull] they may be more likely to overlook it than if clothing is lying on or around those bones. Plus, removal of clothing takes associated evidence with it. You likely know more than me about this subject given your experience. What are your thoughts?

 

[OldCop]

Okay, I have tightened up the maps a bit based on the criminal complaint.
I am attaching 2 copies. The first is the one based on eyewitness accounts. The second shows the likely routes. both coming and going to Welsh Mountain also based on the witness accounts and cell phone data.
The following legend indicates routes taken pinpointed by paragraph #’s in the Criminal Complaint starting with the observation of the red car by Witness Esh and the church site where LS left on foot to walk home:

Start- Witness Esh #9 observes red car between 12:30 and 12:45

A - Church #3 (LS left around 12:30]

B- Abduction #10, #16 around 12:42

C- Weaverton School #17 pull behind school for 5 minutes

D - Witness King #19 - red car NB on Amish Rd north of SR 897, LS in vehicle sometime between 12:15-13:30.

E - Witnesses Stolzfus #18 on Amish Rd NB near Buena Vista, LS in vehicle, approx 13:30

Note: If both King and the Stoltzfus’ saw the vehicle headed NB on Amish Rd, it stands to reason that King saw him first by virtue of where on Amish Rd it was seen.

F, G, - Witness Fisher #20 red car NB on Red Well turns right on Peters LS in vehicle, shortly before 13:30.

H- Welsh Mountain #41

J - 3104 Harvest Rd #24 1 hour stop from 14:32 to 15:35. Bra & stockings found later found here (#23). Smoker was also at this location on 6/22, 6/23, 6/24, 6/25, and 6/27 (#26)

End - Witness observes Smoker washing vehicle at his home #38

 

[Maplesyrup]

Just thinking, wouldn't removing, and taking, all her clothing with him make the most sense? If she is lying on the ground, not buried, falling leaf matter, weeds, etc. will cover bone on the forest floor. Clothing is more likely to catch the eye, and if, say, a hunter notices scattered bone [obviously not a human skull] they may be more likely to overlook it than if clothing is lying on or around those bones. Plus, removal of clothing takes associated evidence with it. You likely know more than me about this subject given your experience. What are your thoughts?

Also, I forgot to add, this is making the assumption she is outside the search area, maybe even in another county.

 

[janewall]

Welsh Mountain sticks out like a sore thumb to me, because it seems such an unnecessary meandering around/waste of time when otherwise the timeline is so tight. Either JS was completely unglued and driving at random, maybe simply trying to calm down and think, or there was a more organized purpose to his going there.

This question leads me to the thought that JS met someone there, perhaps someone who knew how to disappear LS or her remains, and after a quick transfer JS drove away, then discovered the evidence left behind in the car and disposed of it at the Harvest Road location. Maybe he has no idea where LS' remains are.

Occam's Razor goes against the above conjecture, but we do know there was regular contact between JS and his brother in the days before and after the kidnapping. Are there any cameras on the road across Welsh Mountain that might have caught video of another car on a route that would have intersected/coincided with JS' at the same time? (Or, are there so many cars out in the preserve on a blazing summer family holiday that tracking an unknown vehicle would be akin to searching down a needle in a haystack?)

Have LE put out any information regarding the brother's vehicle, if he even has one?

 

[Maryland Oracle]

Welsh Mountain sticks out like a sore thumb to me, because it seems such an unnecessary meandering around/waste of time when otherwise the timeline is so tight. Either JS was completely unglued and driving at random, maybe simply trying to calm down and think, or there was a more organized purpose to his going there.

This question leads me to the thought that JS met someone there, perhaps someone who knew how to disappear LS or her remains, and after a quick transfer JS drove away, then discovered the evidence left behind in the car and disposed of it at the Harvest Road location. Maybe he has no idea where LS' remains are.

Occam's Razor goes against the above conjecture, but we do know there was regular contact between JS and his brother in the days before and after the kidnapping. Are there any cameras on the road across Welsh Mountain that might have caught video of another car on a route that would have intersected/coincided with JS' at the same time? (Or, are there so many cars out in the preserve on a blazing summer family holiday that tracking an unknown vehicle would be akin to searching down a needle in a haystack?)

Have LE put out any information regarding the brother's vehicle, if he even has one?

I've had similar thoughts and it seems that the brothers lived together in the same apartment at the time. LE have reported the 15 texts/multimedia messages sent by JS to his brother between 1pm-3pm on the day of the abduction but have not shared the content.

 

[Trackergd]

Just a reminder, according to TOS, we cannot sleuth the brother as he is not named as a POI.

 

[OldCop]

Welsh Mountain sticks out like a sore thumb to me, because it seems such an unnecessary meandering around/waste of time when otherwise the timeline is so tight. Either JS was completely unglued and driving at random, maybe simply trying to calm down and think, or there was a more organized purpose to his going there.

This question leads me to the thought that JS met someone there, perhaps someone who knew how to disappear LS or her remains, and after a quick transfer JS drove away, then discovered the evidence left behind in the car and disposed of it at the Harvest Road location. Maybe he has no idea where LS' remains are.

Occam's Razor goes against the above conjecture, but we do know there was regular contact between JS and his brother in the days before and after the kidnapping. Are there any cameras on the road across Welsh Mountain that might have caught video of another car on a route that would have intersected/coincided with JS' at the same time? (Or, are there so many cars out in the preserve on a blazing summer family holiday that tracking an unknown vehicle would be akin to searching down a needle in a haystack?)

Have LE put out any information regarding the brother's vehicle, if he even has one?

The other thing about Welsh MTN that bothers me is that it was a Sunday afternoon in June, about 83 degrees. I would think it’s likely that the trails around the Nature Preserve and the roads in that area would have some activity. People were anxious to get out of the house and into the outdoors to areas like this because of Covid. You are taking a big chance of being seen dragging an Amish girl out of your car and into the woods.

 

[Megnut]

I wonder how he spent his time on a regular day.

How atypical was that mileage? How much time had he previously spent in and around Welsh Mtn. His actions that day, he's the worst of the worst.

What a sorry human being.

JMO

 

[Trackergd]

The other thing about Welsh MTN that bothers me is that it was a Sunday afternoon in June, about 83 degrees. I would think it’s likely that the trails around the Nature Preserve and the roads in that area would have some activity. People were anxious to get out of the house and into the outdoors to areas like this because of Covid. You are taking a big chance of being seen dragging an Amish girl out of your car and into the woods.

And at 83 degrees, decomp accelerates and the scent of decomp gasses carries quite a distance and would noted by hikers.

 

[Trackergd]

I drove a road last week that I had to check on the map today. Diem Road ties into Peters, Snake and 897. It also passes through a wooded area with a small pond between Hammond Road and 897. Might be worth me checking it out.

 

[Maryland Oracle]

I drove a road last week that I had to check on the map today. Diem Road ties into Peters, Snake and 897. It also passes through a wooded area with a small pond between Hammond Road and 897. Might be worth me checking it out.

The reservoir is near there, is it not?

 

[lex8396]

The other thing about Welsh MTN that bothers me is that it was a Sunday afternoon in June, about 83 degrees. I would think it’s likely that the trails around the Nature Preserve and the roads in that area would have some activity. People were anxious to get out of the house and into the outdoors to areas like this because of Covid. You are taking a big chance of being seen dragging an Amish girl out of your car and into the woods.

Any chance JS went to Welsh mountain initially but couldn't find isolated spot since it may have been busy? Then left to find an alternative spot instead?

 

[Maryland Oracle]

Any chance JS went to Welsh mountain initially but couldn't find isolated spot since it may have been busy? Then left to find an alternative spot instead?

The Complaint states JS transported LS to the Welsh Mountain area but only mentions Smoker heading to the Harvest Road address after leaving there.

 

[UnapologeticallyAspie]

Dearest Linda, I am thinking of you tonight. Praying for peace, comfort & healing for your family. And that God will bring you home this year! <3

 

[UnapologeticallyAspie]

Any chance JS went to Welsh mountain initially but couldn't find isolated spot since it may have been busy? Then left to find an alternative spot instead?

All things are possible. M00.

 

[TwoBlueJays]

MOO - Five minutes behind a church, small car, tall victim. I can't see how he could have assaulted her in the car. Yes, she was likely terrified and passive, and he is a former wrestler who visited the gym, so stronger, but still. The logistics are problematic. Very visible if in the front seat, also small space, back seat required getting out of the car and into the back. Also a small space.
If it wasn't for the complaint saying he came back from Welsh Mtn alone - and what is that based on? - I'd say he assaulted her at Harvest Road. Familiar place, and as Lex8396 mentioned, Welsh Mtn may have been too busy.

 

[OldCop]

I drove a road last week that I had to check on the map today. Diem Road ties into Peters, Snake and 897. It also passes through a wooded area with a small pond between Hammond Road and 897. Might be worth me checking it out.

I was actually looking at that area on the maps today, @Trackergd. If he hadn’t taken the right on Peters as he came up Red Well and instead went straight across, Diem would have been his next right. Or, he would have come across Diem on his right on the way back from Welsh Mtn. on 897. Maybe there were too many people around Welsh Mtn so he cut down Diem on his way back looking for a disposal site.
Google drew the route on the map I posted based on the locations I put in from the CC showing the most direct route. JS could easily have taken some different routes between points.

 

[OldCop]

The Complaint states JS transported LS to the Welsh Mountain area but only mentions Smoker heading to the Harvest Road address after leaving there.

I’m reading it a little differently @Maryland Oracle.
#41 in the complaint talks about JS abducting her, driving her around, but only mentions that he is alone when he is home washing his car. LE have released no witness statements after the 13:30 sightings so they may not have any, but are relying on cell data as to where he went.