The Ring/Jewelry

[Boo Scout]

Why would Tempe PD give away evidence of an underground adoption, unless they 1) screwed up, or 2) determined it's not evidence.

Something's not adding up here, one way or another.

It really doesn't add up here.

At some point the ring was assigned a value of $20,000, b/c I do not think LM would quote a value out of thin air. If the ring had been in LE's possession since EJ entered jail, then it stands to reason that LE had someone assign it a value.

If LE knew of its value, then it doesn't make sense they would give it to EJ's GF.

Unless as someone suggested they did give him the ring, and then got it back at some point and that's why EJ's GF does not know where it is.

Could it be that LE has the ring but does not want it publicly known at this time that it is in their possession?

 

[not_my_kids]

Why would Tempe PD give away evidence of an underground adoption, unless they 1) screwed up, or 2) determined it's not evidence.

Something's not adding up here, one way or another.

Remember, this may not be LE's fault. Wouldn't a judge have to sign a seizure warrant for them to retain the ring? Meaning that the determination of whether or not it was evidence would have fallen to the judge. I think.
They can't keep your property without probable cause if you sign the release slip, unless it is determined to be evidence, and I'm not sure that the police themselves make that call.

 

[TXHOPE]

Remember, this may not be LE's fault. Wouldn't a judge have to sign a seizure warrant for them to retain the ring? Meaning that the determination of whether or not it was evidence would have fallen to the judge. I think.
They can't keep your property without probable cause if you sign the release slip, unless it is determined to be evidence, and I'm not sure that the police themselves make that call.

You would think it would be considered evidence right away, after the arrest, the grandfather visited weeks later. I think LE has it in their possession if a value was given to Logan. Maybe the GF is saying he doesn't know where it is because he simply never was able to pick it up. I hope....geez.

 

[not_my_kids]

At any point, did Logan say verbatim that the ring was worth $20,000 or are we working on only paraphrase? I have only seen the reporters say that it was worth that much.

 

[kwatmac]

if she had her grandmother's ring before the trip, and she was selling jewelry and other belongings to finance the trip - wouldn't she have pawned a ring of that value??

that makes me think it was something that was acquired during the trip....

 

[TXHOPE]

if she had her grandmother's ring before the trip, and she was selling jewelry and other belongings to finance the trip - wouldn't she have pawned a ring of that value??

that makes me think it was something that was acquired during the trip....

That and the fact that Logan during their long relationship has never seen it before.

 

[Boo Scout]

At any point, did Logan say verbatim that the ring was worth $20,000 or are we working on only paraphrase? I have only seen the reporters say that it was worth that much.

That is a good point. I posted this in the questions for the family thread this morning:

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4825098&postcount=107"]Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - Questions for the Family **No Discussion**[/ame]

It would give us more insight into the ring.

 

[BeanE]

That and the fact that Logan during their long relationship has never seen it before.

He had never seen the 3 cell phones in the trailer either, but again, that's a bit different. Logan's family has known Eliz since junior high school. I know if I had a $20k ruby/diamond ring, I'd show it to *everybody*.

 

[not_my_kids]

He had never seen the 3 cell phones in the trailer either, but again, that's a bit different. Logan's family has known Eliz since junior high school. I know if I had a $20k ruby/diamond ring, I'd show it to *everybody*.

And if I owned it and received it legitimately, it would be on my finger, not in my pocket.

 

[kwatmac]

And if I owned it and received it legitimately, it would be on my finger, not in my pocket.

precisely...

 

[BeanE]

At any point, did Logan say verbatim that the ring was worth $20,000 or are we working on only paraphrase? I have only seen the reporters say that it was worth that much.

You're such a good sleuth

I just went back through the articles and videos. Nothing directly from Logan on the ring's value. From reporters only, and no direct quotes.

 

[danisisa]

EJ may have asked him to get the ring, but that does not necessarily mean he got it...Now, if people are asking him about a ring, of course he is going to say I don't know about the ring or it was just bad reporting.

 

[Schatzi]

You would think it would be considered evidence right away, after the arrest, the grandfather visited weeks later. I think LE has it in their possession if a value was given to Logan. Maybe the GF is saying he doesn't know where it is because he simply never was able to pick it up. I hope....geez.

The news isn't reporting when the ring was appraised or valued, but it would be interesting to know the date that it was done ( & compare that to the supposed pick up date by GF), and if they have a requisition/approval process for that and the timeline of that itself.

Based on the GF's previous willingness to cooperate, it would seem more likely of him to say that he didn't pick up/recieve the ring, instead of saying he doesn't know where it is. It's that gray area of telling the truth without fully revealing himself - which is a bit suspect. At the same time, I don't blame the man for wanting to be vague if this is new information to him as well, or if it isn't - having to wrap his mind around the idea of that ring sitting in the sock drawer = Gabe.

Also, not all jewelry is etched, appraised, or insured or bought at mainstream stores. The amount of data out there (Insurance claims, stores, pawn shops) in TX alone would be massive and getting 100% co-op- uff) Besides, if it was passed within the family, tracking that would be difficult.

 

[kissdegirl]

Also, until we get clarification from the family/LE on that ring, we can't even know who asked the GF where the ring was. JJ, LE, LM, or media? I don't know how well LM may have got along with the GF, and if the GF would refuse to give LM any information. I don't want to assume the GF is being hinky, when, in fact he may be willing to do all he can to get Gabe back too.
It seems the only info we've obtained since Tempe handed over the investigation to SAPD has come from the family and JJ...just thinking aloud.

 

[vjlaw]

FWIW, the ruby is EJ's birthstone. How big would a ruby and diamond have to be to be worth $20,000? Maybe that is what someone told EJ it was worth.

 

[NewMommy09]

Just a random thought here. If Gabriel was sold away, one way or another we are dealing with criminal minded people here. Assuming this ring was not EJ's GM's, is there a possiblity it was stolen before it was passed to EJ?
My thought process here is that IF this ring was payment to EJ for Gabriel, it would be more likely to have been either purchased or stolen. I just can't see someone giving away a family heirloom. But then, you know what they say about assuming....

 

[not_my_kids]

Just a random thought here. If Gabriel was sold away, one way or another we are dealing with criminal minded people here. Assuming this ring was not EJ's GM's, is there a possiblity it was stolen before it was passed to EJ?
My thought process here is that IF this ring was payment to EJ for Gabriel, it would be more likely to have been either purchased or stolen. I just can't see someone giving away a family heirloom. But then, you know what they say about assuming....

I considered the stolen angle, but the Google results for "stolen diamond ruby ring" nearly caused my head to explode and I don't know where else to go on that angle.

 

[NewMommy09]

I considered the stolen angle, but the Google results for "stolen diamond ruby ring" nearly caused my head to explode and I don't know where else to go on that angle.

Wow, that bad?
UGH!!! Not sure that angle would break this case anyway, but I'm trying to throw my every thought out there in the hopes it helps in some way.

 

[BeanE]

I had no idea it was so hard to find a $20k ruby and diamond ring. It is fun shopping though.

:dance:

 

[kissdegirl]

Just a random thought here. If Gabriel was sold away, one way or another we are dealing with criminal minded people here. Assuming this ring was not EJ's GM's, is there a possiblity it was stolen before it was passed to EJ?
My thought process here is that IF this ring was payment to EJ for Gabriel, it would be more likely to have been either purchased or stolen. I just can't see someone giving away a family heirloom. But then, you know what they say about assuming....

I too thought about that. I could see the people who want to adopt paying the broker, and the broker getting the jewelry to the mother. Being shady, as these brokers seem, it seems likely that the jewelry pieces or either stolen or maybe bought at pawn shops.