TN - Gail Nowacki Palmgren, 44, Signal Mountain, 30 April 2011 - #1

[believe09]

I would like to know why Gail brought the kids back. There was no need. There was no custody issue at hand-they are her children as well. She was encouraged to find a safe place to stay. Why bring them back at all?

Which makes the claim in the separation agreement, as reported by the media, a little hard to swallow. The Parental Kidnapping claim. How do you kidnap you bio children might I ask? Custodial interference might apply to DH if Gail is in hiding I would think...he is actively trying to keep the mother of his children away from them, and for no well documented reason. Because we know that she was not unstable-at least that is what LE is firmly stating.

 

[jd3223]

The meeting at Wal-Mart today has turned in to more. Apparently, WRCB Channel 3 will be there. Also, a local car dealership is bringing a Jeep like Gail's so people will now exactly what they are looking for.

The heat is on and I hope it gets hotter!

 

[jrb0124]

I would like to know why Gail brought the kids back. There was no need. There was no custody issue at hand-they are her children as well. She was encouraged to find a safe place to stay. Why bring them back at all?

Which makes the claim in the separation agreement, as reported by the media, a little hard to swallow. The Parental Kidnapping claim. How do you kidnap you bio children might I ask? Custodial interference might apply to DH if Gail is in hiding I would think...he is actively trying to keep the mother of his children away from them, and for no well documented reason. Because we know that she was not unstable-at least that is what LE is firmly stating.

I'll try to give hypothetical answers to some of your points. For the record, these are not my convictions - just an attempt to make sense of the situation:

Assuming a Summons and Complaint kicks off the divorce proceedings, all kinds of questionable and unsupportable accusations can appear in those - especially if there is a hearing to establish a Temporary Order. The judge will wade through the assertions/claims and make a decision (normally without contradicting testimony from the parents aside from what's already in writing). Though a Temporary Order is only intended to govern the period during which a divorce is litigated or mediated, the fact is that is does have a strong effect on the ultimate decision and provides the advantaged parent with an opportunity to greatly enhance their position.

Without knowing the specific effect of issues such as adultery, abuse, mental issues in such hearings in TN, its possible those issues could weigh heavily in establishing a TO. Each parent's attorney will no doubt ensure their client's complaint (or answer) is worded in a way to make their client appear in the best possible light, and their spouse in the worst.

Did the husband initiate proceedings? Was Gail served with a S&C? was she shocked when she read it? Did it disuade her from considering leaving the home (for a long period) with the children? Maybe her access to funds was in fact cut and she planned to use proceeds from the sale of jewelry to hire an attorney?

Are the additional legal measures taken by the husband in furtherance to the S&C?

If there was a previous document (i.e. S&C) filed which made those claims about Gail, then the filer would have to stick to them or otherwise appear to be lying.

I can't shake the feeling that there was something legal already underway which is now guiding/informing the husband's behavior.

 

[stilettos]

The meeting at Wal-Mart today has turned in to more. Apparently, WRCB Channel 3 will be there. Also, a local car dealership is bringing a Jeep like Gail's so people will now exactly what they are looking for.

The heat is on and I hope it gets hotter!

I am so excited that people are getting behind the effort to find Gail...I just have a bad feeling about this one....praying for her family.

 

[jrb0124]

Well, I've read that the kids are gone but that's a rumor. But I've believe it was in print that the family (Gail's) are staying with neighbors of hers. So I'm thinking the husband most likely isn't talking to them either. Don't know for sure though.

We know the husband isn't talking to the press.

JMHO
fran

A poster in this thread close to the family also confirmed it I believe...

 

[sophieness]

I disagree...I don't see any mention of not passing it on, only stated they thought she probably just took off. This is how incorrect information gets going...

With them saying "it is embarrassing" though that is the implication. There are numerous reports of the "family" not wanting it to go national and it is pretty obvious this is not coming from Gail's siblings, but from MP's side. Why?? It makes it seem like he doesn't want to find her, that's how he comes off. That is why people are rubbed the wrong way. With the latest info of her nervous phone call to her sister, I almost think his theory has a good chance of being true (I'm 50/50 now...), but I still have a lot of trouble understanding the purely defensive posturing when someone has gone missing without any of the "let's find her" behavior. I think it's embarrassing that he refuses to speak about finding his wife. They are still married, separated or not. She's a human being.

 

[believe09]

The meeting at Wal-Mart today has turned in to more. Apparently, WRCB Channel 3 will be there. Also, a local car dealership is bringing a Jeep like Gail's so people will now exactly what they are looking for.

The heat is on and I hope it gets hotter!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

Would someone verify with the dealer if her model had OnStar as well as GPS? I cant shake the feeling that there would be some good data available while the car was running, and if it still is.

 

[ThoughtFox]

As others have mentioned, you can do a change of address form at the post office or online. Husband says form he received was dated Saturday, April 30th. The Signal Mountain Post Office closes at Noon on Saturday. Husband said she arrived home from Alabama (~4 hour drive) about Noon. It’s not likely she stopped with the kids at the post office on her way home to change her address.

When you do the change of address online, it just asks for name, current and new address, and credit card or debit card information (charges $1). Anyone with access to Gail’s credit or debit card and a computer or mobile device with internet access could have entered the change.

Excellent post! I keep forgetting the detail that the Signal Post Office closed at noon that day. That is important if she went straight home! And it has seemed like an easy matter from the beginning for LE to check with the Post Office to see if she ever came in that day. In a small town like that, the workers would probably recognize her, especially if she had been in there before.

 

[believe09]

I will say that DH is in an awkward position now...I mean if he starts making some appeals this late in the game, or shows up at the event this morning at WalMart, people are going to question motivation for sure.

I would hope that some of DH's family will attend. I assume, at least at one point, they loved her too and would like her to come home.

 

[sophieness]

I'm not 100% sure because I can't find a good map, but I don't think that Suck Creek Road is within the Chattanooga City Limits. I believe it would be the Hamilton County Sherriff's jurisdiction.

Having said that, people live right around that place and while it's not impossible for a vehicle to go into the water there, I think someone would hear it or see it. Anything is possible I guess.

http://legacy.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/060909/diver.shtml

this is a different case in a different spot on the tennessee river where divers found two stolen cars and one car of a murder victim all around the same time! so, it does happen. not saying that is what happened here, but the suck creek boat launch doesn't have any houses right next to it, there are a few across the street though that I saw on google satellite. at night, pretty quiet most likely. but you might not have to go all the way down there. the banks off the baseball field are very low without trees, it is right next to the walmart there.

 

[believe09]

I like the thinking regarding waterways...are there other locals who can weigh in on rushing areas of the rivers, reservoirs and the like? Her vehicle could have gone off road.

 

[ThoughtFox]

Matt Palmgren said his wife returned with the children and the family’s dogs early April 30 from the family’s lake house.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/may/07/police-searching-missing-signal-woman/?print

Thank you! I completely missed the fact that dogs were in the car too.

Wow.

Two kids and some dogs on a four and a half hour drive one way there. They spent the night, then she drove four and half hours back with the kids and the dogs. And the husband wanted some type of confrontation just as she arrived home, but she allegedly left. Well, frankly, who could blame her?

He said he proposed to meet Mrs. Palmgren at the residence on April 30, but when he arrived she was gone, having left the two children "by themselves without any supervision."

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_200931.asp

This whole "without supervision" thing is bugging me, too.

I've always understand that under TN law, a ten or twelve year old child can stay alone in a house without an adult present. And in this case, Gail supposedly arrived around noon which was the time her husband was supposed to meet her there anyway, so she knew the kids weren't going to be alone for long. So her husband's accusation that she was somehow neglecting the children is absurd, in my opinion. She had been with the kids for 48 hours prior to that, and dropped them off at their own house - she didn't leave them by the side of the road. To me this is just a straw-man accusation and propaganda for a possible custody case.

Tennessee State Government: Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

What is the legal age for kids to stay home alone?
There is no legal age for children to stay at home alone. Parents are advised to use their best judgment, keeping the child's maturity level and safety issues in mind. Younger children have a greater need for supervision and care than older children. Obviously, young children under age 10 should not be left without supervision at any time. In most cases, older teenage children may be left alone for short periods of time.

 

[ThePhantom]

Something about this case just stinks to high heaven. Honestly, the car is very identifiable, she was in touch with a number of people, the police must have a ton of information on her -- what is up??

 

[ThoughtFox]

I like the thinking regarding waterways...are there other locals who can weigh in on rushing areas of the rivers, reservoirs and the like? Her vehicle could have gone off road.

The TN River Gorge is at the base of Signal Mountain. Several people have mentioned that Suck Creek Road has places to put in boats close to that Wal-Mart at the base of the mountain. If she drove a little further away from Signal, there is the Tennessee River Park on Amnicola Highway, Harrison Bay State Park, and Booker T. Washington State Park on Highway 58. Chickamauga Lake is a huge TVA lake with a lock and Dam. Then there is Nick-A-Jack Lake in Marion County. So there are multiple places where she could get close to the water. There are also large creeks such as Chickamauga Creek, Wolfteaver Creek, and Savannah Bay, but those are further away from Signal Mountain.

If she drove down the back of the mountain north towards Dunlap, there is the Sequachie River. Not sure about access to that.

Without knowing exactly where she was on any given day, it would be incredibly hard to search all the waterways around Chattanooga. These are big deep lakes and rivers with strong currents.

 

[believe09]

TY- How about Raccoon Reservoir?

 

[believe09]

Bumping, for those who feel helpless so far away from the area....

I gathered up some Chattanooga news contacts (WRCB, News Channel 9, Times Free Press, WDEF, Chattanoogan.com) and sent them an email requesting they cover this story and attached the flyer.

Here are the contacts and sample email (and flyer as attachment) if anyone would like to do the same.

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]


Subject: Gail Palmgren, Mother of Two, Missing from Signal Mountain, TN Since Sat, April 30, 2011

Hello,

Gail Palmgren, 44 years old, mother of two, went missing from Signal Mountain, TN on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Her 4-door Red Jeep Rubicon is also missing.

The picture of the Jeep needs to remain in the news as it looks like a vehicle that would be fairly easy to spot.

I am following this in the news and I'm writing to ask that you continue to or include the story of this missing mother with her picture and a picture of the red Jeep in the news.

Attached is the missing person flyer for her and her is a link to a Facebook page created by her friend.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Gail-Home-Now/210209109009469#!/pages/Bring-Gail-Home-Now/210209109009469?closeTheater=1

Thank you.

Regards,

 

[believe09]

Do locals have friends, family, acquaintances who can join Gail's family at the WalMart where the phone last pinged? They need help handing out flyers and showing Gail that it is safe to come home if she is able to.

 

[sophieness]

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2011/may/12/missing-womans-husband-seeks-custody-children/

Rumor: According to a comment on the article above, the children were left alone for only ten minutes before the father came home.

So if true, he had time to pass her, maybe even talk for a few minutes, but NOT commit foul play *at that time* and be home in time to be seen by the neighbor.

Corroborated: Gail thought someone was following her.

This leaves, IMO, two possibilities:

A) Gail had truly become paranoid, either through mental illness or circumstances in her life, ie abuse, that had her worried for her life.

or

B) Gail was really being followed. If Gail thinks she is being followed by her husband, she would have identified his vehicle or him. So, Gail believes she is being followed by someone who is not her husband. Hypothetically, if this is true, this leaves a few possibilities:

a) someone hired by a significant person in her life
b) someone else who has something against Gail. Who would have something against her? Someone who wants what she has in her life, perhaps, or wants to take her place?
c) Someone unconnected to her marriage, who has an obsession with her. I see this as the least likely of all scenarios simply because it would be a coincidence for it to come during the middle of a marital firestorm and is relatively rare in general.

As to safe houses: many of them advise that you contact NO ONE to tell them where you are, lest it be found out by the person you feel is a danger to you. They also might have places to store cars. However, I would think she would have taken her driver's license if she was of sound mind, and you generally do not forward your mail to a safe house I don't think. Could be wrong. Why change your pin numbers and leave your credit cards behind? The people who ran such a place would be aware of her family's search and media contacts and would likely find a discrete way to contact them or law enforcement. If such a place felt she was having additional mental issues, they would probably make contact with a mental health professional or social services to try to get her help for that. However, delusions of being followed and actual possible abuse or endangerment can be very similar and difficult to tell apart if you don't know all the facts.

 

[sophieness]

If they have not already done this, I would advise the family to contact ALL women's shelters in the chattanooga area asking if they see this woman, to please find a way to send a discrete message to them that she is alive and safe and that they will not inform her husband if they do so.

 

[Buzz Mills]

SNIP

Gail supposedly arrived around noon which was the time her husband was supposed to meet her there anyway

SNIP

TF: Matt was supposed to meet her there at noon? Is this a fact?