TX Suzanne Clark Simpson missing in San Antonio, last seen by friends at dinner - 6 October 2024 *Arrest*

[ImFine]

Yes, the messages between BS and Cotter are missing a lot of context which makes it confusing.

do we know the addresses of the HEB, what’s burger and Home Depot that he went to?

The Whataburger and Home Depot are at the intersection IH10 and HWY 46 on the west side. Kendall county. Coincidentally, he was arrested very near that Whataburger early AM hours of 10/9 on east bound frontage IH10 and 46 headed towards San Antonio coming from Bandera.
Their family Highland address property is only 3 acres (not big for TX rural properties) and neighbors close on both sides. Doubt that he would have chosen that location as the final spot.

 

[Bean&Cheese]

The Whataburger and Home Depot are at the intersection IH10 and HWY 46 on the west side. Kendall county. Coincidentally, he was arrested very near that Whataburger early AM hours of 10/9 on east bound frontage IH10 and 46 headed towards San Antonio coming from Bandera.
Their family Highland address property is only 3 acres (not big for TX rural properties) and neighbors close on both sides. Doubt that he would have chosen that location as the final spot.

Do you know if the HEB was in Olmos Park or Bandera?

 

[ImFine]

Do you know if the HEB was in Olmos Park or Bandera?

The HEB referred to in affidavit is Olmos Park, near his San Antonio residence. That’s about 1 hour drive to Bandera TX from Olmos Park which the Whataburger and Home Depot in Boerne are along the way.

 

[findlisa5]

The Whataburger and Home Depot are at the intersection IH10 and HWY 46 on the west side. Kendall county. Coincidentally, he was arrested very near that Whataburger early AM hours of 10/9 on east bound frontage IH10 and 46 headed towards San Antonio coming from Bandera.
Their family Highland address property is only 3 acres (not big for TX rural properties) and neighbors close on both sides. Doubt that he would have chosen that location as the final spot.

Regarding your last sentence, what you say does makes sense, but it is important not rule out the ranch property itself, just not to miss an easy option (which sometimes killers do, despite the obvious dangers in that choice).

BTW, I think the Simpson ranch might be the first area the LE searched for Suzanne in that county, since I'm certain they obtained a search warrant for it.

A second reason to search near this ranch is because BS is familiar with that area. So, not necessarily at the ranch, but near the ranch, say within a handful of miles of the ranch.

A third reason to search near this ranch is because BS was observed, in the affidavit, to have traveled in his black truck mostly along a path from Boerne, TX, then using TX-46 and TX-16 to Medina, TX. And that path takes him right past the ranch on Highland Dr, which is just north of TX-16. So, if he knows of hiding spots on/near the ranch, then it is very tempting for him to use one of those spots, since he is traveling right by there anyway.

A fourth reason to search near this ranch is that, according to the affidavit, the ranch is the near the point he stopped traveling mostly west, and he started traveling mostly east. (Specifically, that point was in Medina, TX, which is just 10-min drive from the ranch.) Again, by "near the ranch", I mean it could be within a handful of miles of the ranch.

A fifth reason to search near the ranch is because it gives BS a good excuse for why his truck was parked there for 1 to 2 hours, since otherwise his truck might be noticed as out of place. Here, please consider the idea that he may have dropped off all the supplies (large bulky item wrapped and secured in the blue tarp, 1 bag if Quikrete, 1 jug of water, orange HD bucket, and possibly other things) parked the truck somewhere that was better hidden (or at the ranch) and walked back to that drop-off location to do the disposal work. So, again, just because BS was somewhat near the ranch (or another stop near TX-16) does not mean he had to do the burial on the ranch or just off the road. Instead, in 3 trips (1 for blue tarp, 1 for a bag of concrete, and 1 for everything else), he could carry everything up to 0.25 miles or even more. That approach would be strategic, since police know from many cases that bodies are often are NOT moved more than 0.25 miles from a drop-off point, because of all the work and danger involved in that, and police searchers often don't look beyond that distance, unless they have a very good reason to do so.

 

[ImFine]

Regarding your last sentence, what you say does makes sense, but it is important not rule out the ranch property itself, just not to miss an easy option (which sometimes killers do, despite the obvious dangers in that choice).

BTW, I think the Simpson ranch might be the first area the LE searched for Suzanne in that county, since I'm certain they obtained a search warrant for it.

A second reason to search near this ranch is because BS is familiar with that area. So, not necessarily at the ranch, but near the ranch, say within a handful of miles of the ranch.

A third reason to search near this ranch is because BS was observed, in the affidavit, to have traveled in his black truck mostly along a path from Boerne, TX, then using TX-46 and TX-16 to Medina, TX. And that path takes him right past the ranch on Highland Dr, which is just north of TX-16. So, if he knows of hiding spots on/near the ranch, then it is very tempting for him to use one of those spots, since he is traveling right by there anyway.

A fourth reason to search near this ranch is that, according to the affidavit, the ranch is the near the point he stopped traveling mostly west, and he started traveling mostly east. (Specifically, that point was in Medina, TX, which is just 10-min drive from the ranch.) Again, by "near the ranch", I mean it could be within a handful of miles of the ranch.

A fifth reason to search near the ranch is because it gives BS a good excuse for why his truck was parked there for 1 to 2 hours, since otherwise his truck might be noticed as out of place. Here, please consider the idea that he may have dropped off all the supplies (large bulky item wrapped and secured in the blue tarp, 1 bag if Quikrete, 1 jug of water, orange HD bucket, and possibly other things) parked the truck somewhere that was better hidden (or at the ranch) and walked back to that drop-off location to do the disposal work. So, again, just because BS was somewhat near the ranch (or another stop near TX-16) does not mean he had to do the burial on the ranch or just off the road. Instead, in 3 trips (1 for blue tarp, 1 for a bag of concrete, and 1 for everything else), he could carry everything up to 0.25 miles or even more. That approach would be strategic, since police know from many cases that bodies are often are NOT moved more than 0.25 miles from a drop-off point, because of all the work and danger involved in that, and police searchers often don't look beyond that distance, unless they have a very good reason to do so.

I agree 100%. I believe Susan is in Bandera County but just not at the Highland address. It’s really not a ranch (3 ac) as the news keeps referring to it as. It’s basically a very small neighborhood with houses in close proximity. You could see his entire property with a 5 minute walk and LE did search the property. His partner who hid BS’s AK-47 also has a place in Bandera but I’m not sure where and how big.

 

[mrjitty]

Body Disposal in Homicide

Body disposal sites are the most objective crime scene locations available because they represent the last known whereabouts of the victim.

www.crime-scene-investigator.net

Please note that there are studies discussed in this article that are not based in the United States to which caution is needed in making generalizations… but, I will attempt to summarize.

1. Current studies show that offenders transport and dispose of bodies away from the crime scene (consistent with this case).

2. Offenders will, in order to mitigate risks of being identified, dispose of the body in places in which they are familiar (locations surrounding primary residence, neighborhood, or workplace). (I would actually tie in the Bandera property as a “second primary property” which is contradictory, but y’all know what I mean). An additional point is made in the study to include areas along the routes to the locations stated above.

My take away, and in my humble opinion based on what we know publicly so far, is that her body is in Bandera either on his property or within the neighborhood of 359 Highland drive. According to previous research on body disposal in rural homicides, 27% are disposed of in waterways, 36% concealed bodies on land, and the rest unconcealed on land (but, these are from offenders that are strangers to the victim). Only 7% of victims were dismembered.

With the involvement of the 5 gal bucket and 1 bag of cement WITH a lid that has not been found (like the large trash can, box of trash bags, firewood rack), I believe it to be with the body. I believe the tarp is with her body as it also has not been found. This leads me to believe that the bucket and cement were used as a weight- I know I keep repeating myself, but it is what makes the most sense to me. In medicine, we are taught to gather the data that we have and to hold more weight into the simplest unifying explanation instead of looking for zebras. Therefore, that is why I stand strong behind this belief.

I do agree with all this, and of course this is how LE focus their investigative theories, to narrow down the number of haystacks they need to look under.

All I'd note, having followed a couple of no body cases where it took 3-4 years to find the bodies, is there can be missing information which invalidates these assumptions. For example, a body concealed in a poorly dug shallow grave 45 mins away. That journey was unknown, and it's not clear why such a poor strategy was adopted, but it could be that the primary staging went wrong.

So I was speculating here that the water strategy could have been the plan, but something went wrong with it, or he thought of something better. After all this guy seems to have staged the body at least twice that we know of, improving the first hasty one. He might have had a water plan in mind, but discovered the water level was too low. Or he just went further afield than the obvious places close at hand. The outdoors is unfortunately big, and disposing at a random location between points A and B can be an effective strategy, at least for a year or 2 ...

MOO

 

[Bean&Cheese]

I do agree with all this, and of course this is how LE focus their investigative theories, to narrow down the number of haystacks they need to look under.

All I'd note, having followed a couple of no body cases where it took 3-4 years to find the bodies, is there can be missing information which invalidates these assumptions. For example, a body concealed in a poorly dug shallow grave 45 mins away. That journey was unknown, and it's not clear why such a poor strategy was adopted, but it could be that the primary staging went wrong.

So I was speculating here that the water strategy could have been the plan, but something went wrong with it, or he thought of something better. After all this guy seems to have staged the body at least twice that we know of, improving the first hasty one. He might have had a water plan in mind, but discovered the water level was too low. Or he just went further afield than the obvious places close at hand. The outdoors is unfortunately big, and disposing at a random location between points A and B can be an effective strategy, at least for a year or 2 ...

MOO

Yes! The article also discussed how the majority of bodies are discovered by chance by bystanders (I forgot the actual word that was used, but you catch my drift)

 

[Bean&Cheese]

I agree 100%. I believe Susan is in Bandera County but just not at the Highland address. It’s really not a ranch (3 ac) as the news keeps referring to it as. It’s basically a very small neighborhood with houses in close proximity. You could see his entire property with a 5 minute walk and LE did search the property. His partner who hid BS’s AK-47 also has a place in Bandera but I’m not sure where and how big.

And BS did text, “if you’re still in Bandera… “

 

[Bean&Cheese]

Regarding your last sentence, what you say does makes sense, but it is important not rule out the ranch property itself, just not to miss an easy option (which sometimes killers do, despite the obvious dangers in that choice).

BTW, I think the Simpson ranch might be the first area the LE searched for Suzanne in that county, since I'm certain they obtained a search warrant for it.

A second reason to search near this ranch is because BS is familiar with that area. So, not necessarily at the ranch, but near the ranch, say within a handful of miles of the ranch.

A third reason to search near this ranch is because BS was observed, in the affidavit, to have traveled in his black truck mostly along a path from Boerne, TX, then using TX-46 and TX-16 to Medina, TX. And that path takes him right past the ranch on Highland Dr, which is just north of TX-16. So, if he knows of hiding spots on/near the ranch, then it is very tempting for him to use one of those spots, since he is traveling right by there anyway.

A fourth reason to search near this ranch is that, according to the affidavit, the ranch is the near the point he stopped traveling mostly west, and he started traveling mostly east. (Specifically, that point was in Medina, TX, which is just 10-min drive from the ranch.) Again, by "near the ranch", I mean it could be within a handful of miles of the ranch.

A fifth reason to search near the ranch is because it gives BS a good excuse for why his truck was parked there for 1 to 2 hours, since otherwise his truck might be noticed as out of place. Here, please consider the idea that he may have dropped off all the supplies (large bulky item wrapped and secured in the blue tarp, 1 bag if Quikrete, 1 jug of water, orange HD bucket, and possibly other things) parked the truck somewhere that was better hidden (or at the ranch) and walked back to that drop-off location to do the disposal work. So, again, just because BS was somewhat near the ranch (or another stop near TX-16) does not mean he had to do the burial on the ranch or just off the road. Instead, in 3 trips (1 for blue tarp, 1 for a bag of concrete, and 1 for everything else), he could carry everything up to 0.25 miles or even more. That approach would be strategic, since police know from many cases that bodies are often are NOT moved more than 0.25 miles from a drop-off point, because of all the work and danger involved in that, and police searchers often don't look beyond that distance, unless they have a very good reason to do so.

And he put on cowboy boots (instead of sandals) like he knew that he would be walking through rough or slippery terrain.

Edited due to grammar haha

 

[Bean&Cheese]

The HEB referred to in affidavit is Olmos Park, near his San Antonio residence. That’s about 1 hour drive to Bandera TX from Olmos Park which the Whataburger and Home Depot in Boerne are along the way.

Ok, I see… the whataburger and Home Depot are 33 mins from their Olmos Park house. I wonder if there is any footage or license plate reader on the way there (that wasn’t stated in affidavit).

I think he dropped off daughter at Kinder, then went back home to grab body, and another trash bag and out them in the truck and then drove to whataburger and Home Depot.

 

[BrookebbSATX]

Regarding your last sentence, what you say does makes sense, but it is important not rule out the ranch property itself, just not to miss an easy option (which sometimes killers do, despite the obvious dangers in that choice).

BTW, I think the Simpson ranch might be the first area the LE searched for Suzanne in that county, since I'm certain they obtained a search warrant for it.

A second reason to search near this ranch is because BS is familiar with that area. So, not necessarily at the ranch, but near the ranch, say within a handful of miles of the ranch.

A third reason to search near this ranch is because BS was observed, in the affidavit, to have traveled in his black truck mostly along a path from Boerne, TX, then using TX-46 and TX-16 to Medina, TX. And that path takes him right past the ranch on Highland Dr, which is just north of TX-16. So, if he knows of hiding spots on/near the ranch, then it is very tempting for him to use one of those spots, since he is traveling right by there anyway.

A fourth reason to search near this ranch is that, according to the affidavit, the ranch is the near the point he stopped traveling mostly west, and he started traveling mostly east. (Specifically, that point was in Medina, TX, which is just 10-min drive from the ranch.) Again, by "near the ranch", I mean it could be within a handful of miles of the ranch.

A fifth reason to search near the ranch is because it gives BS a good excuse for why his truck was parked there for 1 to 2 hours, since otherwise his truck might be noticed as out of place. Here, please consider the idea that he may have dropped off all the supplies (large bulky item wrapped and secured in the blue tarp, 1 bag if Quikrete, 1 jug of water, orange HD bucket, and possibly other things) parked the truck somewhere that was better hidden (or at the ranch) and walked back to that drop-off location to do the disposal work. So, again, just because BS was somewhat near the ranch (or another stop near TX-16) does not mean he had to do the burial on the ranch or just off the road. Instead, in 3 trips (1 for blue tarp, 1 for a bag of concrete, and 1 for everything else), he could carry everything up to 0.25 miles or even more. That approach would be strategic, since police know from many cases that bodies are often are NOT moved more than 0.25 miles from a drop-off point, because of all the work and danger involved in that, and police searchers often don't look beyond that distance, unless they have a very good reason to do so.

The "ranch" everyone keeps referring to is not a large "ranch" at all. It's just a house on 3 acres with homes nearby is what she was explaining if I read her right.

 

[BrookebbSATX]

Ok, a total wrench I'd like to throw in here...after doing digging on DBA's and assumed names, business associates, etc of both BS and Cotter, I came across one of Cotter's family's business partners that has close to 150 acres in Bandera county off Hwy 173 just outside Bandera...wouldn't be out of the way at all for BS.

 

[JDeWalt]

The "ranch" everyone keeps referring to is not a large "ranch" at all. It's just a house on 3 acres with homes nearby is what she was explaining if I read her right.

Correct, it's certainly not a "ranch". The only thing it does have is a "pump house". I'm certain the Olmos Park house is on city water, so no pump house there. I've done my best to try to find a Cotter Bandera Ranch, but can't for the life of me find anything.

 

[ImFine]

Ok, a total wrench I'd like to throw in here...after doing digging on DBA's and assumed names, business associates, etc of both BS and Cotter, I came across one of Cotter's family's business partners that has close to 150 acres in Bandera county off Hwy 173 just outside Bandera...wouldn't be out of the way at all for BS.

Great job! .Do you have an address or general idea of east or west out of Bandera? Terrain and access to water are different on that highway leaving Bandera.

 

[BrookebbSATX]

Correct, it's certainly not a "ranch". The only thing it does have is a "pump house". I'm certain the Olmos Park house is on city water, so no pump house there. I've done my best to try to find a Cotter Bandera Ranch, but can't for the life of me find anything.

Yah same, but I did find an associate of Cotter's he may be closely linked with still.

 

[BrookebbSATX]

Great job! .Do you have an address or general idea of east or west out of Bandera? Terrain and access to water are different on that highway leaving Bandera.

I wasn't sure if it was ok to post on here because I don't want to out anyone who hasn't already been spoken of publicly, but everything I've found has been on public access sites...if y'all think it's appropriate I totally will. Bandera CAD does list it as pastureland.

 

[ImFine]

Ok, a total wrench I'd like to throw in here...after doing digging on DBA's and assumed names, business associates, etc of both BS and Cotter, I came across one of Cotter's family's business partners that has close to 150 acres in Bandera county off Hwy 173 just outside Bandera...wouldn't be out of the way at all for BS.

I drive 173 in both directions frequently out of Bandera either towards Kerrville or the other direction towards Hondo. Ranches of size either direction. We know at one point on 10/8 BS was at the Cotter Ranch as referenced by text saying.

 

[BrookebbSATX]

Great job! .Do you have an address or general idea of east or west out of Bandera? Terrain and access to water are different on that highway leaving Bandera.

And it does have a septic and water well listed on the CAD as well.

 

[ImFine]

I drive 173 in both directions frequently out of Bandera either towards Kerrville or the other direction towards Hondo. Ranches of size either direction. We know at one point on 10/8 BS was at the Cotter Ranch as referenced by text saying.

Based on pastureland land I would guess the 173 headed towards Kerrville. More flat that direction leaving Bandera. I don’t need exact address just which side of Bandera on 173.

 

[BrookebbSATX]

I drive 173 in both directions frequently out of Bandera either towards Kerrville or the other direction towards Hondo. Ranches of size either direction. We know at one point on 10/8 BS was at the Cotter Ranch as referenced by text saying.

So its off Stevens Ranch Rd on the left heading to Kerrville.