Questions for forensic investigator Paul Holes

[friendlysleuther]

What do you think of the Jack The Ripper findings?

 

[Insightful1]

I have come in contact with a few parents that can’t accept that their child committed suicide. Is there a way to help them accept it ?

 

[#ThanksItWasTheTrauma]

What is your theory on what happened to Jonbenet Ramsey? Was it really an intruder?

I would like to know his answer to this too. Paul, do you think the investigators have enough DNA to find the perpetrator(s)?

 

[whitelilac]

My question regards the disappearance of Amy Lyn Bradley from a cruise ship in the Caribbean in 1998.
Though there were some "sightings" in the years after, none were substantiated.

I am wondering if there is any present facial recognition technology that could determine whether the "Jas" photograph in a brothel, that surfaced some 5 or 6 years later, was in fact Amy.
The resemblance is uncanny, but as far as I know, it has never been proven to be her.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I'm so curious if there enough dna from Nancy Wilcox and Ted Bundy left to compare. I did quite a bit of work a couple of years ago trying to connect the two. I wish I still had my notes because I was so sure about my findings. Last I remember, Nancy's dna had been destroyed in a fire but still idk...

R

UT Post in thread 'UT - Nancy Wilcox, 16, Holliday, 2 Oct 1974'

Oct 15, 2024

Ted Bundy myths: folklore surrounds case of first Utah victim

Susie Nelson vividly remembers the night her big sister Nancy Wilcox vanished 50 years ago.

ksltv.com

from link:

MILLCREEK — Susie Nelson vividly remembers the night her big sister Nancy Wilcox vanished 50 years ago.

“We were in watching TV,” Nelson said. “She was waiting for her boyfriend.”

Nancy Wilcox, 16, lived near 2300 East and 3900 South, in what is today the city of Millcreek. She’d just started her junior year at Olympus High School and was dating a boy named John, who was a star athlete a grade above.

On this particular autumn evening, John arrived at the...

• Richard

• 

 

[Sweeper2000]

Hi paul, do you have any top tips for investigating cases? also to what degree do stats play in cases as well and how can these be used when trying to figure stuff out? example most people get hurt by someone known to them, most people who go missing are found etc thanks.

 

[friendlysleuther]

@Tricia --- After these are answered by paul, can we keep the forum up? I have a few q's (like sweeper's) i would like to respond to with my own opinions (-:

 

[Tricia]

@Tricia --- After these are answered by paul, can we keep the forum up? I have a few q's (like sweeper's) i would like to respond to with my own opinions (-:

Yes the forum will remain up. When we have another guest for Ask Me Anything it will go on top of the Paul Holes threads.

 

[Tricia]

By the way, we are giving away two autographed copies of Paul Holes' book Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases. All you have to do is post a question, and your name will go in the drawing.

​

 

[Lexiintoronto]

Hi Paul, this is an honour!

In 2017, two of the richest and most generous philanthropists were killed in their home in Canada. Barry Sherman and his wife Honey were found attached to a railing in their basement pool.

The belts were fastened to their necks, and prevented them from falling into the pool. The belts were not the murder weapons: they had been killed by a thinner ligature—possibly a zip-tie—however none were found at the scene. They had also had marks on their wrists which suggest they were bound at some point prior to being killed, but the wrist bindings were also not found.

Illustration of crime scene: (eta: in attachment).
Paywalled link to article with illustration: https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/ca...ry-shermans-wallets-ruled-out-a-break-in.html

Timeline and media links:

Thread 'Canada - Barry & Honey Sherman, Toronto, 15 Dec 2017 MEDIA, MAPS & TIMELINE *NO DISCUSSION*'

Feb 20, 2021

Small edits to timeline. Added dates and links.


Note: Toronto Star reporter and chief investigative journalist Kevin Donovan represented himself, and on behalf of the Toronto Star, in court for the last three years, in an ongoing effort to have police and court documents unsealed in this case.


2007, Barry Sherman cousins Tim Barkin, Kerry Winter, Jeffrey Barkin, and Julia Winter (widow of the late Dana Winter), file a lawsuit seeking 20% of the Apotex fortune. Background here: Barry Sherman's legal battle with his cousins goes on weeks after his murder - Macleans.ca...

• Lexiintoronto
• Replies: 53
• Forum: Crimes In The News- Time Line - Media-Reference Fo

• 
• 

My question is about the crime scene which is believed to have been staged, possibly to look like a murder-suicide with Barry being the murderer.

It’s believed Honey was accosted and possibly killed on the main floor and moved to the pool area. Her iPhone was found on the floor by a main floor powder room. Barry was likely confronted down the hall from the pool area as he entered the home from the underground garage. The items he is believed to have been carrying—a phone, documents and his gloves— were also found on the floor by that basement entryway.

Does the staging mean anything to you? Why risk the extra time in the home in order to pose them and stage the scene? Honey had a facial injury, possibly from a blow to the face. Her ‘house shoes’ (slip-on, backless shoes) were on her feet, despite her being attacked and possibly dragged as there were drag marks that were close to her feet. (They likely came off at some point, why place them back on her feet?) Barry seemed ‘in repose’: his glasses were undisturbed on his face and his legs were crossed.

Thank you.

 

[whitelilac]

Couple more questions:
Do you have any opinions on the disappearances of
Summer Utah Wells (2021,Tennessee)
Haleigh Cummins (2009, Florida)
both at 5 years old.
Do you lean to family/known persons close to family being involved and if so, why?
Thank you Paul.

 

[friendlysleuther]

Hi Paul, last Q-- When will you get your own Websleuths acct? Ha! Hope to see you back here again.

 

[Tricia]

Hi Paul, last Q-- When will you get your own Websleuths acct? Ha! Hope to see you back here again.

LOL He has his own Websleuths account and he will be using it to post the answers to questions on this thread tomorrow night (Thursday) at 8:00 PM Eastern.

 

[Ruminations]

Hi, Paul,

Thank you for being here!

Two part question:

1) What are some behaviors by internet detectives or commenters you find helpful to your work?

2) What are some behaviors that your find unhelpful or counterproductive?


-Ruminations

 

[somequestions]

I had a few questions about Molly Bish case from June 27, 2000. Molly Bish goes to her job as a lifeguard on a public beach at 10am at a secluded pond and is abducted within minutes of her arrival. In June 2003 they found her remains on Whiskey Hill in Palmer, MA.

1. What else do you think police could have done initially to try to solve Molly's case?

2. Investigators say they did recover DNA in this case. Does this mean that anyone close to the crime scene who police know by name would have been eliminated as a possible suspect by now?

3. Do you notice anything unique about the crime scene picture of her belongings at the beach?
(picture at 5:39 in video below)

I did not notice anything about the crime scene picture other than her sandals were off. I thought that was odd because the 2-way radio was still in the bookbag on bench behind lawn chair and she had not made the radio call-in to police. This means she would have to still walk over sticks in the sand to retrieve items from bookbag. Right sandal was next to lawn chair, had a water bottle in it, and was facing the hill. The left sandal was in front of lawn chair facing the opposite direction towards the water. This seemed strange too as most people when they take off sandals tend to take them off next to each other at the same time facing the same direction.

Thank you.

 

[Turpin.Wilt]

I’m recently retired and have some time on my hands…I’d love to find a hobby that might make a difference in the world such as helping to investigate missing persons cases, cold cases, etc., but I’ve never done any real investigating of this sort.

Do you have any recommendations as to how to get started (classes, resources, general advice, etc.)?

 

[#ThanksItWasTheTrauma]

Hi Paul,

I was wondering what you think about the new developments in the Asha Degree case?

Do you believe somebody will get arrested soon?

Was also curious about your thoughts on the Jennifer Kesse case?

Do you think it’s solvable?

There hasn’t been any new developments and I believe the parents could use a pair of fresh eyes on the case.

 

[Molly's Mom]

Hi Paul,

First, I love Buried Bones! Absolutely my favorite podcast!

Second, my question for you is regarding The Springfield Three. The case has obviously been botched from the beginning with crime scene contamination. Who do you think was the target in the disappearance? Sherrill, Suzi, or Stacy?

 

[chi-mama]

Paul, what are you doing now that you are retired?
Also how did you connect up with Michelle McNamara?
Thanks for being here and answering our questions. Hope to see you again soon.

 

[Tricia]

We will be starting shortly with Paul Holes. I'm closing this thread and asking you all to join us on THIS THREAD and keep refreshing to get the latest questions and answers