The Murder of Janet Abaroa #1

[texasgirl]

P.S. -- if you read my site, don't be paranoid. I don't pay such close attention to everyone's info as it shows up in my stats, just the ones that stick out, as these did for obvious reasons. I get over 1,000 hits a day at the moment, so I can't possibly check up on everyone even if I wanted.

I'm a little new here and thought I should get it out in the open that I'd been to your blog yesterday! I guess that's what it takes to get us "lurkers" to come out....

Also, thank you so much for bringing this case to my attention! I was so wrapped in the whole "Jennifer Wilbanks" case that I didn't even hear about it. I'm game to help with the speculation!

 

[OrdinaryLife]

Have we ruled out the specuation about him changing his name? I saw his parents and grandparents names somewhere in this and it clearly states that one of his grandfathers last names was Abaroa. Somone who lives in the city and state where he says he was born can go look this stuff up at city hall. I use to have to do it for a job I had in college. It's readily available. It would be registered with the clerk of courts, you just have to go to the office in his town of birth. You can look up, birth certificates, death certificates and marriage license there also. Mind you each of those events has to have taken place in the county you are looking in. Just a thought.

It seems that Abaroa was his mother's maiden name, not paternal. Hence, the confusion of what is his "true" possible birth name. Even if Raven was born in Utah (or CA??), it is most difficult to find his true name vs his "adopted" name after his birth. I stumbled across a man named Ramon Vida Abaroa who served in WWII and died in 1999. Is this Raven's grandfather? Perhaps, but that was all that was shared via websites of men who served in WWII. Many a difficult hole in this story concerning finding the whole truth of birth trail. Makes my hair hurt!!

I have Googled myself silly for "Abaroa" in both states of Utah and California...needle in a haystack with less than enough info to research by. Many a Abaroa, but perhaps because I am from the Northeast I am simply stuck in going any further due to distance.

I wish there was some sharing from LE with how this investigation is going. I do believe they have a clue, but are keeping much close to the vest, as it were. I cannot help but think the Laci Peterson drama has caused these investigatgors to keep quiet. Lessons of murderous crime and LE learned and not to be repeated?? I understand that...still frustrating not knowing what is going on...

I looked for Janet Abaroa murder forums today..not one out there. So sad that there is noone asking questions about Janet or this investigation.

So sad....

 

[Barbara2]

It seems that Abaroa was his mother's maiden name, not paternal. Hence, the confusion of what is his "true" possible birth name. Even if Raven was born in Utah (or CA??), it is most difficult to find his true name vs his "adopted" name after his birth. I stumbled across a man named Ramon Vida Abaroa who served in WWII and died in 1999. Is this Raven's grandfather? Perhaps, but that was all that was shared via websites of men who served in WWII. Many a difficult hole in this story concerning finding the whole truth of birth trail. Makes my hair hurt!!

I have Googled myself silly for "Abaroa" in both states of Utah and California...needle in a haystack with less than enough info to research by. Many a Abaroa, but perhaps because I am from the Northeast I am simply stuck in going any further due to distance.

I wish there was some sharing from LE with how this investigation is going. I do believe they have a clue, but are keeping much close to the vest, as it were. I cannot help but think the Laci Peterson drama has caused these investigatgors to keep quiet. Lessons of murderous crime and LE learned and not to be repeated?? I understand that...still frustrating not knowing what is going on...

I looked for Janet Abaroa murder forums today..not one out there. So sad that there is noone asking questions about Janet or this investigation.

So sad....

This is what happens when the police release NO!!! information in a case. They could at least release a blurb here or there. I'm frustrated at the total and complete lack of information in this case.

 

[golfmom]

It seems that Abaroa was his mother's maiden name, not paternal. Hence, the confusion of what is his "true" possible birth name. Even if Raven was born in Utah (or CA??), it is most difficult to find his true name vs his "adopted" name after his birth. I stumbled across a man named Ramon Vida Abaroa who served in WWII and died in 1999. Is this Raven's grandfather? Perhaps, but that was all that was shared via websites of men who served in WWII. Many a difficult hole in this story concerning finding the whole truth of birth trail. Makes my hair hurt!!

I have Googled myself silly for "Abaroa" in both states of Utah and California...needle in a haystack with less than enough info to research by. Many a Abaroa, but perhaps because I am from the Northeast I am simply stuck in going any further due to distance.

So sad....

Welcome to the Google Girls Club! One of our googlers was definitely able to confirm that Ramon Vida Abaroa was the grandfather. Also, someone was able to link a genealogy site of Janet's family.

I am so frustrated that there has been absolutely no news ... I want justice for Janet! :behindbar

 

[misterallgood]

Welcome to the Google Girls Club! One of our googlers was definitely able to confirm that Ramon Vida Abaroa was the grandfather. Also, someone was able to link a genealogy site of Janet's family.

I am so frustrated that there has been absolutely no news ... I want justice for Janet! :behindbar

*sniff* What about us google boys?

 

[TisHerself]

I don't understand why there is no news on this, there is nothing on TV. If it were not for WS I would not even know about it that is so sad.

 

[golfmom]

*sniff* What about us google boys?

Mr.AG ... now you know perfectly well that you are the founder and president. :blowkiss:

 

[texasgirl]

It's possible that his mother changed all their names to totally erase the father from their lives.. If so, she may have also changed hers to Abaroa, in which case it's a non-issue. If he has used the name from early childhood, it doesn't matter at all.
If he changed it in the 1990's though, it could be for a reason other than to have a " cool new name".

I also keep going back to his comments about HIS soccer accomplishments, and the total lack of any documentation of such.
Unless he used another name, which is very possible, I think he out and out lied.

The only thing that keeps coming to mind about his name is that maybe he is now using his MIDDLE name. Maybe that would explain why there is nothing before the 1990's. I think in the 90's I went by my middle name for a while just because it was "cooler" than my first...maybe he decided to do the same and it stuck.....

Just a thought!

 

[misterallgood]

The only thing that keeps coming to mind about his name is that maybe he is now using his MIDDLE name. Maybe that would explain why there is nothing before the 1990's. I think in the 90's I went by my middle name for a while just because it was "cooler" than my first...maybe he decided to do the same and it stuck.....

Just a thought!

Don't forget -- he's only 25. He didn't even graduate high school until at least '98. I think internet records on most of us are pretty sparse before about '98/99. Every time I research anyone on the internet, the best I can do is usually going back to '96. I once found a Usenet post made in the late 80's by someone with the same name as a killer I was curious about -- no one famous -- but it turned out it couldn't have been the guy anyway. If Raven had little or no computer access prior to 1997/8, it makes sense that it will be hard to find much on him, and his youth makes not finding public records that have been uploaded from old files make sense as well.

 

[texasgirl]

Have you guys discussed motive yet? If you have, please forgive me for coming into the discussion late but 12 pages is a lot to read! Are you thinking that it was for insurance money because of his "issues?" Has there been anything about an insurance policy? I know that LE has been very tight lipped about it so I might be answering my own question...

My fiance' is in LE and he always says that when there is no news or it frustrates those of us following the case for lack of info, that LE usually has something up their sleeves that they're working on!

Hope he's right!!!!

 

[texasgirl]

Don't forget -- he's only 25. He didn't even graduate high school until at least '98. I think internet records on most of us are pretty sparse before about '98/99. Every time I research anyone on the internet, the best I can do is usually going back to '96. I once found a Usenet post made in the late 80's by someone with the same name as a killer I was curious about -- no one famous -- but it turned out it couldn't have been the guy anyway. If Raven had little or no computer access prior to 1997/8, it makes sense that it will be hard to find much on him, and his youth makes not finding public records that have been uploaded from old files make sense as well.

No wonder!!! I keep forgetting he's so young!

 

[golfmom]

Have you guys discussed motive yet? If you have, please forgive me for coming into the discussion late but 12 pages is a lot to read! Are you thinking that it was for insurance money because of his "issues?" Has there been anything about an insurance policy? I know that LE has been very tight lipped about it so I might be answering my own question...

My fiance' is in LE and he always says that when there is no news or it frustrates those of us following the case for lack of info, that LE usually has something up their sleeves that they're working on!

Hope he's right!!!!

I think it's a combination of the charges he's facing for embezzlement and his relationship with Janet. Just look at the entry below ... shopping for your first home should be a lot of fun.

http://web.archive.org/web/20010810...RavensPerch.htm

Tuesday, June 26, 2001 :

Shopping for our first home is no fun... Janet and I clash in our opinions and ideas... What to do. Anyway, work is going well and I am having lots of fun!

 

[misterallgood]

....LE usually has something up their sleeves that they're working on!

Hope he's right!!!!

I believe this is exactly what is going on. I have no idea why, for instance, someone with a City of Durham IP was surfing my blog yesterday, but I'm fairly certain it was probably a cop, and that they weren't just bored at work -- hopefully my picking apart Raven's sites, at least giving an idea of what is on a given page, is helpful somehow. It's probably a good thing on the whole that the Durham PD knows how to keep mum in this kind of situation, but it does tend to leave all of us amateur cybersleuthing google jockies hanging!

 

[texasgirl]

I think it's a combination of the charges he's facing for embezzlement and his relationship with Janet. Just look at the entry below ... shopping for your first home should be a lot of fun.

http://web.archive.org/web/20010810...RavensPerch.htm

Tuesday, June 26, 2001 :

Shopping for our first home is no fun... Janet and I clash in our opinions and ideas... What to do. Anyway, work is going well and I am having lots of fun!

I couldn't get that link to come up....it said that the page was not in the archive! I see what you mean about what he wrote though. And in reading his blog (which is weird in itself that it was updated right before she was killed) I noticed too that he didn't really talk about her....it was more of a shrine to Kaiden IMO.

The thing that makes me wonder is this: Janet obviously did go to soccer games with Raven even when she had Kaiden. The picture of Kaiden (from the website) in his new little outfit was taken right before they were going to a game (as it said in the caption.)

So, the person that killed her would have had to know that she wouldn't be going to the game that night. The first suspect is of course, Raven. But without insurance money---that motive just doesn't seem right if he was so infatuated with money. With just one income now, being a single parent, that just doesn't seem like something that anyone "infatuated" with money would want as a life. And, if Janet had just started her job, it's possible that she wasn't eligible for benefits just yet...I think that's what bothers me about the whole scenario about it being about money.

What if it was one of the guys that Raven knew from the soccer game? Maybe he was jealous...which one of them wouldn't want to date a soccer All-American? And if Raven had shown up for the soccer game without her, anyone that knew them would know that she was at home alone?!

I am just trying to figure out other suspects because I hate to jump to the conclusion that Raven did it. I was so wrong about John Mason and I really felt stupid so I'm trying to keep my hinky meter down on this one!!!:bang:

 

[golfmom]

:waitasec: I can't get that link to work either now. I'm glad I copied it when I did!

I don't think that this case is going to be ultimately about money. Raven was obsessed with being successful and in his mind money = success. But I just do see where he would make the jump to murdering his wife ... leap ... money ... leap ... success.

I think the household was a hot-bed of disagreements due to Raven's *poor* choices. Education, employment, criminal charges, motorcycle, cars, homes and a new baby into the mix ... one after one Janet suffered through and at what point did she herself just snap. The stress level must have been way up there. I wondered at one point if Janet was gone he could blame her for the embezzlement.

My hinky meter never went off with John, but I have an alarm clocking ringing loudly over this case.

The last real statement from LE was that this was not a random killing. I think we're not hearing anything now because friends, family, neighbors and LE know perfectly well who did this and are just awaiting the results of the physical evidence.

 

[kato]

This is what happens when the police release NO!!! information in a case. They could at least release a blurb here or there. I'm frustrated at the total and complete lack of information in this case.

I 2nd that. Totally frustrating.

 

[misterallgood]

Based on friendly advice from a blogging buddy (an attorney) I've temporarily taken two of my entries about Abaroa offline. No alterations will be made, and if any arrest of anyone is made, they'll go back up -- they'll also go back up if my friend is more specific with her advice and I get less paranoid.

I don't think I've written anything actionable, but lord knows I wouldn't want a certain weaselly husband we all are viewing with a hairy eyeball to have call to give me legal grief.

 

[Thinkoflaura]

The one word sums up how I am feeling. Janet's been dead for 16 days now.
HOW LONG does it take to get evidence tested, a POI interviewed, and at least release some statement about what is progressing?

The reason they aren't releasing ANY info is because they don't have to. No one is publicly asking for it. There is no pressure on them in the public spotlight to do a thing.

I am getting very disillusioned and believe this case will be a cold case, unsolved and forgotten- except by her family and those of us who found out about it thanks to MrAllGood.

BTW, MrAG, I think it's great that your attorney friend is protective of your legal liabilities. However, does he know that the husband is already facing multiple felony charges of embezzlement?
I really doubt that he will have the money or the inclination to sue a blogger when the embezzlement trial is all over... even if that's all he is ever charged with.

 

[lauriej]

Based on friendly advice from a blogging buddy (an attorney) I've temporarily taken two of my entries about Abaroa offline. No alterations will be made, and if any arrest of anyone is made, they'll go back up -- they'll also go back up if my friend is more specific with her advice and I get less paranoid.

I don't think I've written anything actionable, but lord knows I wouldn't want a certain weaselly husband we all are viewing with a hairy eyeball to have call to give me legal grief.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...now that's interesting...

i love it that the city police, ( perhaps, quite likely! ) were viewing your blog.......

hopefully the police are keeping all thier info 'close to the vest', and we'll hear news soon...........

did my part...emailed greta ...................why aren't the networks pickng up on this story ?

 

[misterallgood]

I really doubt that he will have the money or the inclination to sue a blogger when the embezzlement trial is all over... even if that's all he is ever charged with.

I agree.

She even admitted it was an excess of caution that led her to bring up the subject, but since such questions often occur to me all by themselves, I figured it was best to listen to the lawyer and be a little cautious. However, caution is all it is -- the entries will go back up intact as soon as something new breaks in the case, which I am expecting will happen soon. Hoping.

I'm getting a lot of search engine traffic for this one -- surely it's not all you guys, either, there's too much. So that makes me realize we aren't the only ones who perceive this crime as bizarrely neglected coverage-wise. Especially now that it's been 2 weeks.