PA PA - Richard Petrone, 35, & Danielle Imbo, 34, Philadelphia, 19 Feb 2005 - #3

[rob525]

I was just thinking about how many times I have thought that Law Enforcement "must have evidence that they are not sharing" because they seem singularly focused upon one and only one possible outcome. Only to find out many years later that they were completely wrong and could have solved he case had they conducted a real and openminded investigation. Not saying it happened here, but, it does happen.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I was just thinking about how many times I have thought that Law Enforcement "must have evidence that they are not sharing" because they seem singularly focused upon one and only one possible outcome. Only to find out many years later that they were completely wrong and could have solved he case had they conducted a real and openminded investigation. Not saying it happened here, but, it does happen.

According to the ex-husband, the FBI told him that they knew he was involved.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

If your are in Philadelphia: https://libwww.freelibrary.org/calendar/event/165846

It was interesting, but basically it was a repeat of the press.

 

[RedHaus]

It was interesting, but basically it was a repeat of the press.

Thanks for reporting back... I thought about going... but then didn't. Interesting what the FBI agent said to the ex.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Thanks for reporting back... I thought about going... but then didn't. Interesting what the FBI agent said to the ex.

Bennett, the librarian is suppose to send out links.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I did get the links and will be willing to share them via PM. I will be busy today, so there will be a delay. I will also contact Mr. Bennett and see if he would object to sharing it publicly, but again, not today.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

This is from John Bennett of the Free Library of Philadelphia,

Some of the screens have a circle on the right; these will take you to the full article.

 

[rob525]

"According to the ex-husband, the FBI told him that they knew he was involved."

The FBI often knows things while knowing not much of anything, I believe anyway.

Why would they tell him that? Have they ever named him an official person of interest or a suspect? Perhaps, that was a ploy to try and see what shakes out if they rattle the cage? Which seems to be nothing at this point?

 

[Valiant]

This is from John Bennett of the Free Library of Philadelphia,

Some of the screens have a circle on the right; these will take you to the full article.

Skimming those links did make me think of one situation I'd never thought of before. If the stories of Danielle wanting space from both Richard and her ex are true, that could have been a major point of contention that night making murder/suicide (probably by intentionally driving the truck into water, possibly in impulse decision) an outcome I'd never considered before. I think it's unlikely, but still a possibility that must be considered.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Skimming those links did make me think of one situation I'd never thought of before. If the stories of Danielle wanting space from both Richard and her ex are true, that could have been a major point of contention that night making murder/suicide (probably by intentionally driving the truck into water, possibly in impulse decision) an outcome I'd never considered before. I think it's unlikely, but still a possibility that must be considered.

The problem is that there are not too many places in Phila where someone could drive a truck into water without being noticed or without it leaving evidence.

Of course, if he could have killed her and then driven to a body of water out of the city.

 

[kemo]

The problem is that there are not too many places in Phila where someone could drive a truck into water without being noticed or without it leaving evidence.

Of course, if he could have killed her and then driven to a body of water out of the city.

That night the people Richard and Danielle were with were “under the impression” they would be going directly to Danielle’s home over in New Jersey. There is only one reasonable route they would have taken and that was through downtown Philly then across the Ben Franklin Bridge. CCTV on the bridge did not record Richard’s Truck crossing the bridge. It would seem highly improbable that two people could be abducted from a downtown street shortly before midnight without someone noticing something. Not impossible but highly unlikely. The Occam’s Razor explanation is that they decided to go somewhere else instead.

If that is what happened, they couldn’t have been victims of a planned abduction because no one would have known where they were. By a process of elimination, it would seem they experienced a driving mishap and probably ended up in a body of water. Driving after drinking on ice slick roads is an accident waiting to happen. The real problem now is to determine where they might have gone and what bodies of water to search. Was there a Club they liked or an entertainment district young people might go to at the time. An out of town Casino or a favorite diner for a late snack? Maybe just a long drive to have some time to talk alone? Locals would have a better idea where they might have gone; what bodies of water to check. Could Richard have deliberately driven into water as a murder-suicide? Possible but not a conclusion I would jump to.

 

[Valiant]

Yes, every possible situation seems to have at least one big flaw making it unlikely. But yet something happened.

 

[Incomprehensible]

That night the people Richard and Danielle were with were “under the impression” they would be going directly to Danielle’s home over in New Jersey. There is only one reasonable route they would have taken and that was through downtown Philly then across the Ben Franklin Bridge. CCTV on the bridge did not record Richard’s Truck crossing the bridge. It would seem highly improbable that two people could be abducted from a downtown street shortly before midnight without someone noticing something. Not impossible but highly unlikely. The Occam’s Razor explanation is that they decided to go somewhere else instead.

If that is what happened, they couldn’t have been victims of a planned abduction because no one would have known where they were. By a process of elimination, it would seem they experienced a driving mishap and probably ended up in a body of water. Driving after drinking on ice slick roads is an accident waiting to happen. The real problem now is to determine where they might have gone and what bodies of water to search. Was there a Club they liked or an entertainment district young people might go to at the time. An out of town Casino or a favorite diner for a late snack? Maybe just a long drive to have some time to talk alone? Locals would have a better idea where they might have gone; what bodies of water to check. Could Richard have deliberately driven into water as a murder-suicide? Possible but not a conclusion I would jump to.

I agree with this MOO.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

That night the people Richard and Danielle were with were “under the impression” they would be going directly to Danielle’s home over in New Jersey. There is only one reasonable route they would have taken and that was through downtown Philly then across the Ben Franklin Bridge. CCTV on the bridge did not record Richard’s Truck crossing the bridge. It would seem highly improbable that two people could be abducted from a downtown street shortly before midnight without someone noticing something. Not impossible but highly unlikely. The Occam’s Razor explanation is that they decided to go somewhere else instead.

If that is what happened, they couldn’t have been victims of a planned abduction because no one would have known where they were. By a process of elimination, it would seem they experienced a driving mishap and probably ended up in a body of water. Driving after drinking on ice slick roads is an accident waiting to happen. The real problem now is to determine where they might have gone and what bodies of water to search. Was there a Club they liked or an entertainment district young people might go to at the time. An out of town Casino or a favorite diner for a late snack? Maybe just a long drive to have some time to talk alone? Locals would have a better idea where they might have gone; what bodies of water to check. Could Richard have deliberately driven into water as a murder-suicide? Possible but not a conclusion I would jump to.

Two problems.

1. In 2005, the cameras only pointed to lanes coming into PA. A vehicle entering NJ would be captured.

2. They could have been followed. Someone could have been waiting for them someplace, e.g. near her home.

 

[rob525]

That night the people Richard and Danielle were with were “under the impression” they would be going directly to Danielle’s home over in New Jersey. There is only one reasonable route they would have taken and that was through downtown Philly then across the Ben Franklin Bridge. CCTV on the bridge did not record Richard’s Truck crossing the bridge. It would seem highly improbable that two people could be abducted from a downtown street shortly before midnight without someone noticing something. Not impossible but highly unlikely. The Occam’s Razor explanation is that they decided to go somewhere else instead.

If that is what happened, they couldn’t have been victims of a planned abduction because no one would have known where they were. By a process of elimination, it would seem they experienced a driving mishap and probably ended up in a body of water. Driving after drinking on ice slick roads is an accident waiting to happen. The real problem now is to determine where they might have gone and what bodies of water to search. Was there a Club they liked or an entertainment district young people might go to at the time. An out of town Casino or a favorite diner for a late snack? Maybe just a long drive to have some time to talk alone? Locals would have a better idea where they might have gone; what bodies of water to check. Could Richard have deliberately driven into water as a murder-suicide? Possible but not a conclusion I would jump to.

The meet up in Philly was in and of itself a spur of the moment thing from what I have read. It was a chance phone call earlier in the afternoon that led to a met up later. Danielles husband would have likely not known that they were together ( and who else would have motive to harm both of them). So, either one of them was being followed at all times or this was a chance encounter and abduction ( to me that is very unlikely).

I also disagree about there being few place to go into the water. There are plenty of places between the bar they were at and either Danielles house or Richards house. We have seen cars recovered decades later from ponds next to shopping malls in water just deep enough to cover the top of the car. It only takes a second and unless one is looking for signs immediately afterward, aigns can be missed and soon gone.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

The meet up in Philly was in and of itself a spur of the moment thing from what I have read. It was a chance phone call earlier in the afternoon that led to a met up later. Danielles husband would have likely not known that they were together ( and who else would have motive to harm both of them). So, either one of them was being followed at all times or this was a chance encounter and abduction ( to me that is very unlikely).

I also disagree about there being few place to go into the water. There are plenty of places between the bar they were at and either Danielles house or Richards house. We have seen cars recovered decades later from ponds next to shopping malls in water just deep enough to cover the top of the car. It only takes a second and unless one is looking for signs immediately afterward, aigns can be missed and soon gone.

One of them could have been harmed as a witness.

Most, if not all, of the ponds have been checked. It is likely that there would be some physical evidence.

 

[rob525]

One of them could have been harmed as a witness.

Most, if not all, of the ponds have been checked. It is likely that there would be some physical evidence.

If it was a random crime then the witness idea makes some sense.

 

[PiggyHoneycutt]

people on Reddit always say that they drove into a river, and I don’t know whether to believe that. People think it’s murder?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

people on Reddit always say that they drove into a river, and I don’t know whether to believe that. People think it’s murder?

people on Reddit always say that they drove into a river, and I don’t know whether to believe that. People think it’s murder?

It is difficult to accidentally drive into a river, in Philadelphia, and not leave a trace on the bank, e.g. broken guardrails or fences, tire tracks.

Outside of the city, it would be possible.

 

[Jmoose]

I was just thinking about how many times I have thought that Law Enforcement "must have evidence that they are not sharing" because they seem singularly focused upon one and only one possible outcome. Only to find out many years later that they were completely wrong and could have solved he case had they conducted a real and openminded investigation. Not saying it happened here, but, it does happen.

Tunnelvision is a real thing…but I do think they really believe that someone killed the two and that the truck was chopped. I’m not sure why they believe it’s so, but maybe they got the info from a source they trust. I still tend to believe that there is a possibility that the truck ended up in the water somewhere with the couple in it.