The Springfield Three--missing since June 1992 - #1

[rccook555]

Do you think you might have seen them? What bothered you that you saw?

Phenolred, Hi i PM'ed you.

 

[Trino]

I presume this is your reference. Why not say so? Is there fear these guys will come after you or the police?

http://missing3.bravehost.com/

Aug. 26-27, 1994: A federal grand jury reviewed evidence in the missing women's case. Police sources said they had three suspects at the time.

One was a 36-year-old man from Springfield with a long criminal record dating to 1978. He's spent most of his adult life in jail or prison, including sentences for stealing, burglary, theft, robbery and harassment. He had escaped from prison and, most recently, was arrested for raping and sodomizing a woman in Springfield after breaking into her home. On this date, he was behind bars.

The second suspect was a 28-year-old man from Kansas. He, too, has a criminal record dating to 1984, including convictions for burglary, aggravated assault, escape and various parole violations. He also was behind bars at this time.

The third suspect was a 28-year-old man who was originally from Cedar County, Mo., near Stockton. He was first arrested in 1985 and has done time for burglary, stealing and parole violation. He escaped from prison with the first suspect in 1990 but was in custody as of this date.

These three men were moved around the Kansas prison system for years and often did time together in the same facility. When the three women disappeared, all three of the men were on the street.

The federal grand jury issued no indictments.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I presume this is your reference. Why not say so? Is there fear these guys will come after you or the police?

http://missing3.bravehost.com/

Aug. 26-27, 1994: A federal grand jury reviewed evidence in the missing women's case. Police sources said they had three suspects at the time.

One was a 36-year-old man from Springfield with a long criminal record dating to 1978. He's spent most of his adult life in jail or prison, including sentences for stealing, burglary, theft, robbery and harassment. He had escaped from prison and, most recently, was arrested for raping and sodomizing a woman in Springfield after breaking into her home. On this date, he was behind bars.

The second suspect was a 28-year-old man from Kansas. He, too, has a criminal record dating to 1984, including convictions for burglary, aggravated assault, escape and various parole violations. He also was behind bars at this time.

The third suspect was a 28-year-old man who was originally from Cedar County, Mo., near Stockton. He was first arrested in 1985 and has done time for burglary, stealing and parole violation. He escaped from prison with the first suspect in 1990 but was in custody as of this date.

These three men were moved around the Kansas prison system for years and often did time together in the same facility. When the three women disappeared, all three of the men were on the street.

The federal grand jury issued no indictments.

No, I'm not afraid these individuals will "come after me." Nor the police. They already have this information.

In any event, you can now pursue the matter and make your own conclusions since you have the information you sought. Good luck to you.

Caution: Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. That of course is Rumsfeld's oft stated caveat but it applies here as well.

 

[kylie]

So who are the suspects? Are they publicly known?

 

[kemo]

Missouri Mule; I have been following this case and I respect you for you work on the case. I have followed this case on the net and believe it should have been solved but now, it may never be.

I want to call you on your point, puntuated by the Rumsfeld "caveat" that LE probably knows who did it but can't make the case because of lack of evidence. You will recall that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Lack of evidence was quite significant. In this case, The "prime suspect" was a hard core perp named Gerald Carnahan. He and a couple of cronies were called before a federal grand jury. He's a great suspect but that "absence of evidence" bugaboo keeps stumping the FBI and the Springfield PD's best efforts. I wonder if "tunnel vision" interfered with the investigation.

I have no idea who did it but I have a few observations:
The fact that the bodies were "disappeared" suggest there is some conection between perp and victim. The lack of forced entry reinforces this.
The fact that the victims' vehicles were not used sugests only one perp. If there were more than one perp, this would indicate inexperience or carlessness.
The fact that the two younger victims were not supposed to be there that night creates a real wild cards. Was the perp surprised when the girls showed up or did he wait until after 2:30 AM to make his move? I find it hard to believe anyone would have knocked on the door that late on any pretense unless he were know and trusted by the family. On the other hand, targeting the mom seems improbable unless there was something going on that has not reached the press.
My only contribution is to suggest that whoever did this has some connection to the family. I am not aware that Gerald Carnahan or any of the named suspects did.

The basic scientific method is to let the evidence lead to the solution/conclusion. "Guessing" at the solution/conclusion and looking for the evidence to back it up is a short cut that sometimes works but often leads to a dead end.

By he way, The prime Zodiac suspect, (Allen) as identified by a major crime writer, has gereraly been dismissed as a suspect; again that "absence of evidence" issue.

 

[Missouri Mule]

So who are the suspects? Are they publicly known?

The original suspects were shown in the "48 hour" piece but were subsequently cleared. The GJ suspects are different individuals. They would not be generally known by the public. In fact, I would doubt that their names are known much beyond the police officers involved and the prosecutor's office. How many people outside this small group know the names I would have no idea. Probably very few. However, the police had very good reason to place these individuals high on the suspect list. The physical evidence was evidently not there to bring indictments, however but I personally believe the investigation essentially ended with these individuals.

This is not unusual for the police to know who did these crimes but until they can get the physical evidence to prompt the prosecuting attorney to bring an indictment it doesn't matter. The prosecutors of today are so overwhelmed with cases that unless the case is a "slam-dunk" they are unlikely to bring the case. They are elected officials and it doesn't look good for them to go before the voters and have to acknowledge they didn't get convictions of individuals who are out walking the streets free to prey on other innocents. I believe this is where the case stalled out. My own personal opinion is that convictions could not be obtained although I am fairly certain in my own mind who was involved and the circumstances that occurred that night. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Missouri Mule; I have been following this case and I respect you for you work on the case. I have followed this case on the net and believe it should have been solved but now, it may never be.

I want to call you on your point, puntuated by the Rumsfeld "caveat" that LE probably knows who did it but can't make the case because of lack of evidence. You will recall that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Lack of evidence was quite significant. In this case, The "prime suspect" was a hard core perp named Gerald Carnahan. He and a couple of cronies were called before a federal grand jury. He's a great suspect but that "absence of evidence" bugaboo keeps stumping the FBI and the Springfield PD's best efforts. I wonder if "tunnel vision" interfered with the investigation.

I have no idea who did it but I have a few observations:
The fact that the bodies were "disappeared" suggest there is some conection between perp and victim. The lack of forced entry reinforces this.
The fact that the victims' vehicles were not used sugests only one perp. If there were more than one perp, this would indicate inexperience or carlessness.
The fact that the two younger victims were not supposed to be there that night creates a real wild cards. Was the perp surprised when the girls showed up or did he wait until after 2:30 AM to make his move? I find it hard to believe anyone would have knocked on the door that late on any pretense unless he were know and trusted by the family. On the other hand, targeting the mom seems improbable unless there was something going on that has not reached the press.
My only contribution is to suggest that whoever did this has some connection to the family. I am not aware that Gerald Carnahan or any of the named suspects did.

The basic scientific method is to let the evidence lead to the solution/conclusion. "Guessing" at the solution/conclusion and looking for the evidence to back it up is a short cut that sometimes works but often leads to a dead end.

By he way, The prime Zodiac suspect, (Allen) as identified by a major crime writer, has gereraly been dismissed as a suspect; again that "absence of evidence" issue.

Well, I disagree on Allen. In my view that case has been solved. For all the notoriety of that case, only three certain people were ever murdered by him. Two others were critically injured but survived. Other murders were attributed to him but not provable. This is not unusual in these type cases. The police like to see a case closed out if they possibly can.

As to this case, I do not believe that Carnahan was the perpetrator. He was not one of the GJ individuals in question; not the three mentioned in any event. Whether or not he was investigated for this crime is probably true but it would not be correct to include him within this other group. I do not believe that there was a connection between the perpetrators and the women prior to that night. I can understand the reason why others would believe that but I do not believe that to be the case. And I also understand that there are at least three police officers who worked this case who take a contrary view. And they could be right. And I could be wrong. But ultimately one has to go where the facts lead them. The facts point in a certain direction, which is where these individuals came into the picture.

BTW, I do not believe you should assume there was no forced entry. It just wasn't where it was thought to have occurred, in my view. In my opinion certain quite relevant information was held back from the general public that could only be known by the perpetrators. This is standard procedure and I would doubt it will ever be released. This is avoid false confessors coming out of woodwork as happened, for example in the Zodiac case.

 

[Trino]

If I get this correctly, there are two scenarios: the trio or someone who knew the women/woman.

What do the infamous trio have to lose? Are all of them jailed or now walking the streets? Could a deal be cut in exchange for a confession? What motive would they have, since the women's purses were still there? Rape?

If the perp was someone the women knew, this probably translates to local, especially a burial of three women. How could anyone get away with hiding bodies of three individuals? Weren't their purses still there? Would someone raping three women keep them for several days? Very strange.

 

[Missouri Mule]

If I get this correctly, there are two scenarios: the trio or someone who knew the women/woman.

What do the infamous trio have to lose? Are all of them jailed or now walking the streets? Could a deal could be cut in exchange for a confession?

If the perp was someone the women knew, this probably translates to local, especially a burial of three women. How could anyone get away with hiding bodies of three individuals? Weren't their purses still there? Would someone raping three women keep them for several days? Very strange.

That is correct. I can categorically state that at least one of the trio's whereabouts is known to the police. I cannot, however, confirm the whereabouts of the the two remaining individuals. Your question about cutting a deal is one I have posed several times myself. There is some reason to believe such a deal was in the making until one individual backed out of an agreement, possibly on advice of his attorney.

I do not believe any remains of the women will be found having been destroyed long ago.

It does sound strange until one knows the pertinent facts then it becomes not so strange after all. That is why it is important to look to the facts. The difficulty is knowing what the facts are and which is why I referred others to pursue available information in the written reports at the time. Interested people should get their own information devoid of my personal opinions and views. As I have said the police and prosecutor refuse to discuss the case. Anything going to them is a version of the "black hole." Nothing ever comes back out.

 

[Trino]

So, if cutting a deal was in the works, there is an assumption of guilt. Do you have any info as to ages of these men, i.e. would one of them have a conscience to unload? Usually, as people age, they no longer "hang together." Maybe one of them would be willing to deal, especially the jailbird.

 

[Missouri Mule]

So, if cutting a deal was in the works, there is an assumption of guilt. Do you have any info as to ages of these men, i.e. would one of them have a conscience to unload? Usually, as people age, they no longer "hang together." Maybe one of them would be willing to deal, especially the jailbird.

Yes to the first question, if such a deal was in the works, which I cannot positively and absolutely confirm. As to a "conscience", I doubt it. I think any deal would rest with the prosecutor. He would have to be willing to do it and from what I gather is unwilling to do so. Offhand, I don't know what deal he would offer that would be acceptable to either party. It would be a "lose-lose" situation regardless. I want to be perfectly clear that to my knowledge no public pronouncements have ever been made that any deal was ever in the works. And I have no first hand knowledge nor sources that can confirm it. I believe it to be true but I would not bet the farm.

I want to reiterate, however, that not all police investigators reportedly agree with this finding. The answers would have to be found with the lead detective who would have this information but he is not talking. I believe I have been reliably informed that would be Sgt. Mike Owen. He is also the one who provided the interview to KY-3 about a year ago. Essentially he said nothing new or revealing.

As an aside, one of these former investigators is reportedly running for sheriff in the next election for that office. Perhaps he will speak out on the subject. And I have heard the prosecutor may not run again but I cannot confirm that.

 

[Trino]

As an aside, one of these former investigators is reportedly running for sheriff in the next election for that office. Perhaps he will speak out on the subject. And I have heard the prosecutor may not run again but I cannot confirm that.

Are these two things positive?

 

[Missouri Mule]

Are these two things positive?

Hard to say. I would say that a new prosecutor would be the better of the two options. The new sheriff, if he is elected, (I don't know if the current one is running for reelection) would be in a position to influence the investigation since he was very much involved in the investigation at the time it was happening. I have heard he was very critical of the leadership of the department but can't confirm it as a fact. I have a high level of confidence in him but have no particular animus toward the current sheriff. I've never been a big fan of the current prosecutor, however.

I would add this caveat. I am a long way from Springfield and can only go on what is passed along to me by acquaintances who still live there. I no longer have access to the local telecasts and newspaper accounts. Perhaps someone who currently lives there can bring us up to speed. I'm not the best source for this information.

 

[Hurricane]

Missouri Mule; I have been following this case and I respect you for you work on the case. I have followed this case on the net and believe it should have been solved but now, it may never be.

I want to call you on your point, puntuated by the Rumsfeld "caveat" that LE probably knows who did it but can't make the case because of lack of evidence. You will recall that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Lack of evidence was quite significant. In this case, The "prime suspect" was a hard core perp named Gerald Carnahan. He and a couple of cronies were called before a federal grand jury. He's a great suspect but that "absence of evidence" bugaboo keeps stumping the FBI and the Springfield PD's best efforts. I wonder if "tunnel vision" interfered with the investigation.

I have no idea who did it but I have a few observations:
The fact that the bodies were "disappeared" suggest there is some conection between perp and victim. The lack of forced entry reinforces this.
The fact that the victims' vehicles were not used sugests only one perp. If there were more than one perp, this would indicate inexperience or carlessness.
The fact that the two younger victims were not supposed to be there that night creates a real wild cards. Was the perp surprised when the girls showed up or did he wait until after 2:30 AM to make his move? I find it hard to believe anyone would have knocked on the door that late on any pretense unless he were know and trusted by the family. On the other hand, targeting the mom seems improbable unless there was something going on that has not reached the press.
My only contribution is to suggest that whoever did this has some connection to the family. I am not aware that Gerald Carnahan or any of the named suspects did.

The basic scientific method is to let the evidence lead to the solution/conclusion. "Guessing" at the solution/conclusion and looking for the evidence to back it up is a short cut that sometimes works but often leads to a dead end.

By he way, The prime Zodiac suspect, (Allen) as identified by a major crime writer, has gereraly been dismissed as a suspect; again that "absence of evidence" issue.

Kemo,
Could you extropilate on a couple of your comments. I’m interested in your line of thought here:
The fact that the bodies were "disappeared" suggest there is some conection between perp and victim. The lack of forced entry reinforces this.

The fact that the victims' vehicles were not used sugests only one perp. If there were more than one perp, this would indicate inexperience or carlessness.

And I agree with your opinion on ALA not being the Zodiac. As ALA said himself in his most creepy way, “I am most certainly…..not the Zodiac.” No evidence has ever stood the test of time.

 

[kemo]

Hurricane,
Going to a great deal of effort to conceal a body is a tip off that there is a conection betwqeen perp and victim. The many cases I've read about seem to support this. Particularly if the perp is male and the victim female. I believe I read this in one of the "profiler books"; perhaps John Douglas. This makes sense since anyone who knows they will be an obvious suspect will take measures avoid leaving evidence. Strangers want to avoid becoming suspects so they tend to get away from the crime scene and body ASAP. There may also be a "Psycological" explaination. Known-to-the -victim perps also tend to cover bodies or arrange them in "comfortable" positions.

Using the victim's vehicle to dispose of the body is a frequently used ploy to concele exactly where the crime occured and delay the recognition that a crime has occured at all. It also avoids contaminating the perp's car with foresic evidence. This case seemed particularly suited to this ploy. The only reasons I can see that the perp didn't use it is: 1) he just didn't think of it or 2) only one driver (and the perp didn't want to leave his car at the scene).

This is just my spin on the situation based on the facts I have.

ALSO: The house was apparently found in good order with no usable foresic evidence. Does anyone know to what extent the house was cleaned up after the "crime"? I'm wondering if the crime scene suggests that no violence and no rape occured in the house.

 

[Hurricane]

Hurricane,
Going to a great deal of effort to conceal a body is a tip off that there is a conection betwqeen perp and victim. The many cases I've read about seem to support this. Particularly if the perp is male and the victim female. I believe I read this in one of the "profiler books"; perhaps John Douglas. This makes sense since anyone who knows they will be an obvious suspect will take measures avoid leaving evidence. Strangers want to avoid becoming suspects so they tend to get away from the crime scene and body ASAP. There may also be a "Psycological" explaination. Known-to-the -victim perps also tend to cover bodies or arrange them in "comfortable" positions.

Using the victim's vehicle to dispose of the body is a frequently used ploy to concele exactly where the crime occured and delay the recognition that a crime has occured at all. It also avoids contaminating the perp's car with foresic evidence. This case seemed particularly suited to this ploy. The only reasons I can see that the perp didn't use it is: 1) he just didn't think of it or 2) only one driver (and the perp didn't want to leave his car at the scene).

This is just my spin on the situation based on the facts I have.

ALSO: The house was apparently found in good order with no usable foresic evidence. Does anyone know to what extent the house was cleaned up after the "crime"? I'm wondering if the crime scene suggests that no violence and no rape occured in the house.

Kemo,

Thanks for your reply. I’m familiar with the books of John Douglas although it has been some time since I read them. I thought you might see some evidence in this case to support your comments, which I want to address. But first I want to give my answer to your question concerning the condition of the house as a crime scene.

The idea that the house was cleaned or scrubbed of prints and other forensic evidence is based from rumors and is false. Eighteen individuals, friends and family, entered the house at various times during the day on Sunday. The idea that the house had been cleaned probably originated from news accounts such as this:

“They (friends & family) went into Levitt’s home Sunday and may have inadvertently cleaned up potential evidence.” News-Leader, June 10, 1992.

SPD Glenn later tried to correct the impression that the above quote gave when he said the following, during a press conference:

“The part in here about ‘cleaned up everything’ is actually an inaccurate statement. We never intended for the public to think that these individuals went into the home and physically cleaned up the home. Now there was obviously a large number of objects moved around inside the home, displaced from the original positions that they were left in, but in no manner did they clean, as is commonly associated with cleaning up a home.” News-Leader, July 12, 1992.

There were sixty individual prints found in the house. As far as I know, it is not publicly known how many individuals these sixty prints would represent. But regardless, I believe that the forensics investigation was botched. Finger print samples to be used for comparison against the sixty individual prints found in the house were only taken from some of the eighteen people who were in the house that Sunday, not all. (source: News-Leader, June 10, 1992). Nothing was apparently done to eliminate the prints of those who may have been in the house previously. I have spoken to more than one person who was in the house many times and whose prints would rightfully be in the house, but they were never asked by SPD for their prints for comparison and elimination. Or hair, either.

But in defense of SPD, maybe their forensics investigation was better than what is publicly known:

“Laboratory evidence has not provided any leads that police are sharing with the media. Much evidence remains to be tested, Glenn said. It may be some time before technicians from the police department, the Missouri State Highway patrol and the FBI are finished with tests.” News-Leader, June 17, 1992.

That’s a lot of testing!

As far as the abductors cleaning up, why bother when you can wear gloves?

 

[Hurricane]

Hurricane,
Going to a great deal of effort to conceal a body is a tip off that there is a conection betwqeen perp and victim. The many cases I've read about seem to support this. Particularly if the perp is male and the victim female. I believe I read this in one of the "profiler books"; perhaps John Douglas. This makes sense since anyone who knows they will be an obvious suspect will take measures avoid leaving evidence. Strangers want to avoid becoming suspects so they tend to get away from the crime scene and body ASAP. There may also be a "Psycological" explaination. Known-to-the -victim perps also tend to cover bodies or arrange them in "comfortable" positions.

Using the victim's vehicle to dispose of the body is a frequently used ploy to concele exactly where the crime occured and delay the recognition that a crime has occured at all. It also avoids contaminating the perp's car with foresic evidence. This case seemed particularly suited to this ploy. The only reasons I can see that the perp didn't use it is: 1) he just didn't think of it or 2) only one driver (and the perp didn't want to leave his car at the scene).

Kemo,

I believe that all three women were alive when they were taken from the house:

“Police have found thumb prints and concluded the three women left through the front door rather than through the carport door of Levitt’s home. They also have concluded McCall left barefooted. Police believe more than one person participated in the alleged abduction.” News-Leader, July 8, 1992.

I think this is also supported by the condition of the house as a crime scene. I believe that the abductors were already inside the house when the two girls came home unexpectedly. If the girls had not showed up Sherrill might have been raped (if that was not part of the plan originally), probably severely beaten and threatened not to talk, but left alive. When the situation suddenly changed and the abductors found themselves with three females they needed to get them under control quickly. And the easiest way to do that was to get them into the van and out of the area before daylight. And if rape was a part of their plan, now they would need time and a different location to carry that out, times three.

Whether it was by their design or by happenstance, the fact that all three of the women’s cars were there, the house was unlocked, purses and cigarettes were there, TV left on, and the dog in the house gave the impression that the women were somewhere nearby and postponed establishing the house as a crime scene for about 24 hours.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I concur completely with Hurricane's conclusions.

 

[kemo]

The more I learn about this case the stranger it gets. I have always assumed it was a lust/rape type caper with some very unusual elements.

I agree that the perp(s) was in the house when the girls arrived but the girls cleaned up and got ready for bed before anything happened. I find it hard to believe that multiple perps would keep Sherril quiet in her bedroom that long. Perhaps she was already dead? I agree the girls left the house alive. An abduction rape, particulaly from a safe place such as the victim's home is rare since it is pretty high risk. A lot can go wrong. This crime required planning, a cool hand and a lot of luck.

I stand by my belief that it was only one perp. If only two women were expected and they could be delt with one at a time, one man should be enough. If it was only one perp, he was pretty competent and probably well armed. He didn't loss his head when two girls showed up.

The most common means of abducting a woman for rape would be when they were getting in or out of a car alone at a place and time when no one else would be around. I wonder why the perp)s didn't go that route? Possibly Suzie was a very specific victim the perp wanted. Perhaps both women were targeted? This suggests the perp(s) knew them.

The above is based on the the assumption that this was a lust/rape crime. Its hard to imagine any other motive for such a low risk trio. If there was some drug connection or witness/informant issues, this would raise a whole new avenue to pursue. I read that Sherril's ex was cleared but how solid was it? An ex musts always be looked at carefully; particually if he didn't get along with the daughter. Susie was involved as a witness in some rinky-dink "grave robbery" This angle was dismissed as hardly worthy of a triple murder. People have killed for less; it's just that those who do aren't usually capable of pulling this sort of thing off.

Mule, you hinted at one time that there was some sort of possible "witness" exposure but you seemed to drop it. Is there anything to it?

 

[Missouri Mule]

The more I learn about this case the stranger it gets. I have always assumed it was a lust/rape type caper with some very unusual elements.

I agree that the perp(s) was in the house when the girls arrived but the girls cleaned up and got ready for bed before anything happened. I find it hard to believe that multiple perps would keep Sherril quiet in her bedroom that long. Perhaps she was already dead? I agree the girls left the house alive. An abduction rape, particulaly from a safe place such as the victim's home is rare since it is pretty high risk. A lot can go wrong. This crime required planning, a cool hand and a lot of luck.

I stand by my belief that it was only one perp. If only two women were expected and they could be delt with one at a time, one man should be enough. If it was only one perp, he was pretty competent and probably well armed. He didn't loss his head when two girls showed up.

The most common means of abducting a woman for rape would be when they were getting in or out of a car alone at a place and time when no one else would be around. I wonder why the perp)s didn't go that route? Possibly Suzie was a very specific victim the perp wanted. Perhaps both women were targeted? This suggests the perp(s) knew them.

The above is based on the the assumption that this was a lust/rape crime. Its hard to imagine any other motive for such a low risk trio. If there was some drug connection or witness/informant issues, this would raise a whole new avenue to pursue. I read that Sherril's ex was cleared but how solid was it? An ex musts always be looked at carefully; particually if he didn't get along with the daughter. Susie was involved as a witness in some rinky-dink "grave robbery" This angle was dismissed as hardly worthy of a triple murder. People have killed for less; it's just that those who do aren't usually capable of pulling this sort of thing off.

Mule, you hinted at one time that there was some sort of possible "witness" exposure but you seemed to drop it. Is there anything to it?

The only credible witness I know of is the lady who saw the van turn around (most likely on Grand Street.) Refresh my memory. What exactly did I say?

Sherrill's ex-husbands had nothing to do with this crime. Instead look to the facts.

I would be extremely surprised if a single perp carried out this crime. I would also be very surprised if any of the girls were the targets although I would not rule out the mother if in fact this was a planned crime. I would not jump to that conclusion. And I would not assume that the home was in particularly neat and organized as is commonly believed. Again look to the facts. That is why it will be necessary for anyone attempting to understand this case will need to review the entire written record of public knowledge. There was some specific and categorical information that was conveyed to the public, but obviously not all the information that was held back as is common in all such cases.