SC SC - Amber Berbiglia, 23, North Myrtle Beach, 3 May 2013

[rtjedarling]

doesn't seem likely it was someone she picked up or was riding with her because then where did the instrument used to kill her come from- her car? Then the person would be walking away, unless picked up by someone, with a murder weapon, if none was found at the scene, and those who knew her well may likely know if she had something in her car that may have been used by someone as a weapon on her- like I have a friend who carries a club in her car.

Interesting too about the bruises, how close to her death do they seemed to have formed?

Someone had a lot of rage to kill her there in broad daylight in 2 blows, maybe the person would have done more damage if it had been night, but realized he better high tail it out of there before seen.

This murder got little coverage. I live in another SC county and remember hearing about it only about twice on the news. If a little more coverage, info, such as pictures of her and what she was wearing, pics of the car and the area were shared it may have helped get some tips,

 

[rtjedarling]

Rich - Very good point about the bruising. Bruising on her arms must have happened prior to death.

Question - Was bruising on both arms like someone grabbed her and shook her or was the bruising on one arm like someone grabbed her to hold her?

To bring the weapon and leave with the weapon, all the while non-chalantly leaving Amber as is, beside the car, in broad daylight, murdered with no apparant motive, is conflicting.

That stretch of road cannot be random.

If Amber had an inkling she was about to be harmed, she would have dialed 911.

She met someone she knew on that stretch and something personal happened.

Of course, jealousy over an upcoming wedding is high in the list.

Broad daylight? Unplanned and personal.

just read your post and seems like we were thinking similarly.

 

[Wondergirl]

doesn't seem likely it was someone she picked up or was riding with her because then where did the instrument used to kill her come from- her car? Then the person would be walking away, unless picked up by someone, with a murder weapon, if none was found at the scene, and those who knew her well may likely know if she had something in her car that may have been used by someone as a weapon on her- like I have a friend who carries a club in her car.

Interesting too about the bruises, how close to her death do they seemed to have formed?

Someone had a lot of rage to kill her there in broad daylight in 2 blows, maybe the person would have done more damage if it had been night, but realized he better high tail it out of there before seen.

This murder got little coverage. I live in another SC county and remember hearing about it only about twice on the news. If a little more coverage, info, such as pictures of her and what she was wearing, pics of the car and the area were shared it may have helped get some tips,

The lack of media coverage is greatly perplexing.

This was a very horrific murder.

It was either a cop or someone known to her. These are the theories that I lean towards.

A police issued maglite as the murder weapon, and Amber being left in broad daylight by a very bold person.

I want to know if LE set up speed traps on that little side lane visible in google maps. It is right off the main highway, and also accesses the road on which Amber was found.

What time is shift change at the Station near Ambers recovery location?

 

[rtjedarling]

I was a bit perplexed when it happened, as I kept waiting to hear more and then- nothing more. It does seem like it was personal and there should be info out there to help put the pieces together. I really hope someone is putting the case together.

 

[Kell1]

Thanks Rich, that's an excellent assessment given the limited details we've been given, thanks for taking the time to look it over. I must say much of what you said had crossed my mind at one time or another, I just lack the articulation skills to lay it all out.


It would be good to know where she stayed the night before, they should know this.

If she stayed somewhere other than her place were they able to determine through witnesses video or cell pings whether she made it home after the TW sighting? I would like to believe they know this.

Was she wearing the same clothes when found that she had on in the video earlier in the day? I know they would know this.

The retracted argument detail and the strange "possible homicide" quote certainly doesn't help in our efforts to make sense of it all. Add to that their early speculation that it was a gunshot wound, I don't know whether to chalk that up as LE's lack of understanding or just bad reporting.

Theres potentially hundreds of possibilities, she could've been carjacked in the parking lot of TW for all we know .

When you look at this case, all you really know is 3 things....1) She sustained, a head wound, 2) it caused her death, 3) There's no explanation for where she was found .

Why was she out of her car ?.. was she forced out?, was she running from someone? was she running to someone or after someone ?

She recently had a life change in that she was engaged, was there a jealous lover in the wings?.. Eh maybe, but id expect some type of contact prior that would be investigated by LE, the crime scene I feel would include much more rage toward the victim, possibly something taken if it was ... that DOESNT mean its not its just some of the more common aspects of interpersonal homicide.

I didn't hear anything about the fiancée so I'm assuming he was cleared by LE, and could provide an alibi

Was she seeing someone on the side?... another possibility, but again this would involve contact with the victim, id expect LE to have gone through anyone in her phone etc...(don't quote me though)

Was it a thwarted attempt? ... another possibility, that her offender planned, doing more to her but something caused him to stop short of completion.

What needs to be answered is why she was where she was

-is the area a "lovers lane" , is there a chance she was meeting someone there. or going there with anyone?

-Was the traffic like on the major road that day, was it bad enough that she might've tried to re-route?

-Does she know anyone who resides in the area?

-Was there any damage, to her car?, the reason I ask because one of the sickest individuals Ive ever had to deal with had an MO of bumping his victims, car, then attacking them with a crowbar, when they got out to see tha damage, and knocking them unconscious, he'd then take them somewhere rape them , murder them by beating them to death, then dump their body somewhere (Now on death row BTW)

-Could it be a police impersonator?, ... Again it could be but the offender then takes a risk if he isn't sure his victim is dead she can identify them. So id expect to see more violence at the scene, and signs of sexual aspects to the crimes

Without knowing which way her car was faced, what her injuries were like, how her body was positioned, how far off the road she was , unfortunately I'm at a loss , there's just not enough evidence, to render a decision

 

[Kell1]

doesn't seem likely it was someone she picked up or was riding with her because then where did the instrument used to kill her come from- her car? Then the person would be walking away, unless picked up by someone, with a murder weapon, if none was found at the scene, and those who knew her well may likely know if she had something in her car that may have been used by someone as a weapon on her- like I have a friend who carries a club in her car.

Interesting too about the bruises, how close to her death do they seemed to have formed?

Someone had a lot of rage to kill her there in broad daylight in 2 blows, maybe the person would have done more damage if it had been night, but realized he better high tail it out of there before seen.

This murder got little coverage. I live in another SC county and remember hearing about it only about twice on the news. If a little more coverage, info, such as pictures of her and what she was wearing, pics of the car and the area were shared it may have helped get some tips,

You'd be surprised what people can carry on their person, hammers, wrenches, brass knuckles, I saw a biker once with a simple padlock on a bandanna tucked into his back pocket, I had a 17 you girl once in custody, that had a queue ball in her jacket pocket and a sock in the other, I thought she was just goofy, then she told me what they use it for.. put the ball in the sock and hit people with it

the offender doesn't need something obvious , for instance, on any given day you could pat me down and Id still have a weapon on me even if you took everything I had in my pockets ..... because I have steel toe boots. EASILY capable of shattering a skull if kicked hard enough. A kick or stomp to the head in normal footwear, can produce HORRIBLE injuries .

It could've also been something like a rock he picked up at the scene and left with in a panic, disposing of it (or keeping it) somewhere else away from the scene .

As well as environmental possibilities, like all the concrete around that bridge, bounce someone's head off one of those pillars, it should cause some damage

Again theres almost nothing to go on with this case.

 

[rtjedarling]

When the incident was first presented on the news it suggested a picture of her vehicle under an overpass, not pulled off a road, and that she had struggled with someone, was trying to get away, still holding her phone, and was killed, beaten badly. Thought possible car jack, someone hiding in her car, or meeting someone in out of way place. I would guess that LE has an idea from the scene and wounds if she was moving towards or away from the person. She may have pulled over and approached someone she knew or did not know for some reason, or she could have been running away from her car. I would think most women would not get out of the car and approach someone they did not know- I wouldn't, not even a women and a child, would I leave my car, if I did not know them.

 

[Kell1]

When the incident was first presented on the news it suggested a picture of her vehicle under an overpass, not pulled off a road, and that she had struggled with someone, was trying to get away, still holding her phone, and was killed, beaten badly. Thought possible car jack, someone hiding in her car, or meeting someone in out of way place. I would guess that LE has an idea from the scene and wounds if she was moving towards or away from the person. She may have pulled over and approached someone she knew or did not know for some reason, or she could have been running away from her car. I would think most women would not get out of the car and approach someone they did not know- I wouldn't, not even a women and a child, would I leave my car, if I did not know them.

But you cant speak for her, she may have, which is why we do a victimology analysis, to learn what type of person she was .

She may've gotten out of the car, to confront someone, the common assumption when women are murdered is that it was a male, it might've been a female , with a weapon maybe from another vehicle .

It could pretty much be anything we think it could be without crime scene photos, and reports.

There was no sexual assault, but a planned rape cant be ruled, out because there may've been a further plan for the victim but it was interrupted

There was nothing taken from her person or the car, so robbery can be basically ruled out

There was also no attempt to hide her body, no attempt to stage anything , which again can either mean 1) they had to get out of there , or 2) it was never planned to begin with

The fact she was only struck twice , is interesting, id expect to se a lot more rage, if it was something personal , maybe something taken from the victim, but again we cant rule it out. If she was hit with something like a hammer, then its possible.

Someone in the car, carjacking, NONE of those can be ruled out either, but then you have a suspect fleeing possibly with blood on them on foot. And if it was what type of weapon are we talking about committing a kidnapping OR a carjacking with ?

If it was a carjacking or a kidnapping, was she pistol whipped?, that would have to be one strong, dude, or one HELL of a heavy weapon to cause facial fractures, that need reconstruction with only 2 strikes

UNLESS the Medical examiner is wrong , and she was struck more than twice.

IF you look at it from the offenders point of view, why would you hit someone only 2x?... Maybe the injury to her face, freaked him out .

There's NO description of her injuries, is it possible her head hit the concrete, causing 1 or BOTH of the fractures?

Was she knocked down then kicked ?,,possible.

The WHY she was where she was is the biggest question.

We can only speculate ...

 

[LR1]

I've got a few problems with the carjacking/abduction angle even though the location she was found would favor that possibility. especially if it happened at the parking lot that was said to be her last known location. The main problem as we all know is what seems to be a lack of motive. If sex was the motive I think it likely would have been carried out and that there would've been some indication even if it was attempted. Take the huge chance of abducting her at that location at that very busy time of day and not follow through? not only not follow through but to escalate the offense to murder?

Supposedly nothing was taken from her although she might not have had anything he/she wanted, but again, why escalate? possibly so she couldn't identify but if the offender was unknown to her there's more than a possibility that he could have got away clean without the murder.

Another problem I have with this scenario is, why didn't he take control of her phone? It seems like that would be the first thing that would be done if he had any sense, the second being tossing it.

I was looking at that large intersection of Main and HWY-17s I counted twenty something lanes, eighteen traffic lights but not the first damn traffic camera. There's one camera at the Kroger which is in the same parking lot as the time warner place and there's two across the street on the front of the Bi-Lo. I take it these led them nowhere

 

[Kell1]

I've got a few problems with the carjacking/abduction angle even though the location she was found would favor that possibility. especially if it happened at the parking lot that was said to be her last known location. The main problem as we all know is what seems to be a lack of motive. If sex was the motive I think it likely would have been carried out and that there would've been some indication even if it was attempted. Take the huge chance of abducting her at that location at that very busy time of day and not follow through? not only not follow through but to escalate the offense to murder?

Supposedly nothing was taken from her although she might not have had anything he/she wanted, but again, why escalate? possibly so she couldn't identify but if the offender was unknown to her there's more than a possibility that he could have got away clean without the murder.

Another problem I have with this scenario is, why didn't he take control of her phone? It seems like that would be the first thing that would be done if he had any sense, the second being tossing it.

I was looking at that large intersection of Main and HWY-17s I counted twenty something lanes, eighteen traffic lights but not the first damn traffic camera. There's one camera at the Kroger which is in the same parking lot as the time warner place and there's two across the street on the front of the Bi-Lo. I take it these led them nowhere

Unless she made a break for it when the car was stopped, which could explain the lack of sexual assault

 

[kemo]

I've just gotten up to speed on this case and two thing strike me and very critical to understanding the case.

1)Old Sanders Rd. doesn't go anywhere. It provides access for the semi-rural area west of the Little River and thats about it. It does look like there could be some isolated spots where couples make out or whatever. The spot where Amber was found would not be a likely spot for a couple to stop.

2)Amber was due at work at 4:00 and her body wasn't found until 4:30. There probably wasn't much traffic along Old Sanders but there would have been some. From what I can tell her body was pretty much out in the open and her car was not really parked off of the roadway. The murder must have happened close to when it was reported. The responsible Amber appears to be involved in something that was going to make her late for work.

All that I have read would suggest that there was no damage to the car and no blood in the interior. She was assaulted at that spot and was not the victim of a "bump and grab" car jacker.

My WAG (wild guess) is that she met someone after paying he TW bill she knew well and they went in her car to a spot where they could discuss a serious matter. So serious that Amber was willing to be late for work (or felt she couldn't safely leave).

After they finally did leave, things started to get out of hand and Amber stopped and got out of the car (out of fear for her life?) and the assailant hit her with a blunt object he had (probably a "he"). It sounds like there were defensive wounds to her arms so she may have been hit more than twice but there was not the pattern of many blows you usually see in anger driven assaults.

I'd look for a ex-boyfriend/rejected suitor type guy she might be willing to go off alone with.

For what it is worth: early reports of this case suggest the police believed the assailant left on foot and it was initial reported, later rescinded, that an argument preceded the attack.

 

[Wondergirl]

We need more info.

This case is so very frustrating.

1. Did Amber work with or know anyone who lived near her location last known to be or the location she was recovered?

2. How long does it take to get from her recovery location to her job?

3. Were the clothing that Amber was shown wearing in the video from the gas station, her work clothes?

4. If those clothes were NOT her work clothes, did she have her work clothes in her car? Did she ever get changed at work? Would she have to go home to change first before going to work that night? That has a huge impact on the timeframe in this case.

 

[Wondergirl]

Amber lived in the Bay Tree Condos. I need to map this out to get a better grip on the geography of the case

 

[Wondergirl]

3 possible trigger points for someone obsessed with Amber.

1. She was done school

2. She was moving

3. She was getting married

Anyone who has followed the case of Lauren Giddings, will know that she was heinously dismembered by a fellow law school graduate right at the end of exams. She was preparing to move out of her apartment, she was done law school and moving on. Her neighbour, Stephen McDaniel, heinously murdered her so nobody else could have her.

I have heard it said that people either loved Amber or were jealous of Amber, for her vibrant personality.

Was there anyone in her condo, school or place of work that was obsessed with Amber?

 

[Wondergirl]

Thanks for the video link again, Spammy, I watched this heart-wrenching video right after I found out about Amber, which was when Heather went missing.

Here are some still shots from the video

Amber at Murphy's Gas Station a few hours before her murder. Newly released footage in November 2013

From same video, here are the crime scene pictures of her car.

okay. finally. I finally feel like I made a bit of progress.

Anyone who can take a google walk-about, I implore you to drop the orange man somewhere close to the Old Sanders RD turn-off from the parkway, and follow along.

I want to know what Firetower RD. is used for. It looks like a police/tow/emergency service access road. It also looks like it could be used for atving/biking etc.

It cuts perpendicular to both the parkway and Old Sanders Rd. almost at the location of Amber's recovery.

Also, stand on the bridge, and swing around 360 degrees and look in all directions and tell me what you see.

Important to NOTE - The directions from Time Warner to the recover location are for the purposes of analyzing one potential route that Amber took. It's somewhere to start.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...E30AiTEhuCQxPyjQzA&oq=time+wa&mra=ls&t=m&z=15

bumping my posts with my screeners and map

 

[rtjedarling]

3 possible trigger points for someone obsessed with Amber.

1. She was done school

2. She was moving

3. She was getting married

Anyone who has followed the case of Lauren Giddings, will know that she was heinously dismembered by a fellow law school graduate right at the end of exams. She was preparing to move out of her apartment, she was done law school and moving on. Her neighbour, Stephen McDaniel, heinously murdered her so nobody else could have her.

I have heard it said that people either loved Amber or were jealous of Amber, for her vibrant personality.

Was there anyone in her condo, school or place of work that was obsessed with Amber?

You make a very good point. Though there is so little info released to clearly point to someone who knew her at this point, it is true that if ahusband, boyfriend, ex, or even obsessed acquaintance, is going to act out against someone, it's when he sees her making changes and moving on.

 

[LR1]

I just noticed that there's cameras at the intersection of RE pkwy and Old Sanders Dr. One of only two ways to access the place she was found. I wonder if they we're recording.

on top of both traffic light poles.

http://goo.gl/maps/Fhi3O

 

[KayBeDeBe]

The lack of media coverage is greatly perplexing.

This was a very horrific murder.

It was either a cop or someone known to her. These are the theories that I lean towards.

A police issued maglite as the murder weapon, and Amber being left in broad daylight by a very bold person.

I want to know if LE set up speed traps on that little side lane visible in google maps. It is right off the main highway, and also accesses the road on which Amber was found.

What time is shift change at the Station near Ambers recovery location?

I was about to throw out the cop theory. I really feel like someone got her to pull over and who would someone most likely pull over for anytime of day. May not have been an actual police officer, but someone posing as one, perhaps?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[all4justice]

If a cop is responsible for killing Amber, that is truly terrifying. Whoever is responsible is very bold. They're probably feeling even more confident and godlike now since they haven't been caught after all this time.

I hope LE catches the culprit soon though; Amber's family deserves justice.

JMO, IMO

 

[Just K]

Bumping for Amber.