TN - Gail Nowacki Palmgren, 44, Signal Mountain, 30 April 2011 - #5

[JBean]

You can't help but wonder if the jeep was the pick up vehicle for who ever may have been with Gail...if it was Gail of course.

Just a question being new here, but do we consider this sighting to be an offical sighting or is it just hear say? I do get confused regarding what is rumour and what is fact.

The gut has not been having a good feeling all the way through this case :-(

Hi Annie
It is a fact that someone reported to the police that they saw a woman matching Gail's description with a red jeep at this location. LE has investigated the lead. (As reported in MSM.) So this would fall under the heading of fact.

 

[JBean]

If true, who was lady with Gail in Marion County, Tennessee?

http://chattanoogan.com/articles/article_203258.asp

IMO, if true, it was someone up to no good.

 

[glorias]

Since they went to the bluff (if it really was GP) and the jeep and/or GP was not found at the base, could they have gone to throw something off? If so, what? Evidence? Wedding ring? Seems like there would have been a purpose to have gone to that spot.

Maybe there was a purpose but there were too many other people hanging around, so they ended up looking for another area that would work better than the bluff. However, they were there for quite a while, from afternoon until dusk when Carol Coppinger last saw them, and obviously knew there were people watching them drive around. You have to wonder why they stayed driving around the same area for hours if they didn't want witnesses. Either they DID want witnesses, or they were waiting to meet someone there and couldn't leave.

 

[hollyblue]

Maybe there was a purpose but there were too many other people hanging around, so they ended up looking for another area that would work better than the bluff. However, they were there for quite a while, from afternoon until dusk when Carol Coppinger last saw them, and obviously knew there were people watching them drive around. You have to wonder why they stayed driving around the same area for hours if they didn't want witnesses. Either they DID want witnesses, or they were waiting to meet someone there and couldn't leave.

Guess they aren't releasing the description of the pick-up.

 

[Emeralgem]

Anyone know IF there is a time zone change for Prentice Cooper State Park? Is one part of the park in EST and another part in CST or is the entire park on CST or EST?

 

[Ozarka]

Does anyone other than me think it strange that someone would buy a home in another state while employed in another state many miles away? Of course, there may have been an upcoming transfer but I don't remember hearing about it. That might be where part of the $40,000 went and would also be a really good place to hide something.

 

[ThoughtFox]

Anyone know IF there is a time zone change for Prentice Cooper State Park? Is one part of the park in EST and another part in CST or is the entire park on CST or EST?

That's an interesting question because Marion and Sequatchie Counties are both on the Central Time Zone, while Signal Mountain of course is on EST.

http://www.timetemperature.com/tzus/current_time_in_tennessee.shtml

Hmm, so if they were meeting someone there from another county, there might have been a mix-up on the times.

 

[Pollywog]

I just wish we knew who the dark haired lady was. Hasn't that been mentioned a couple of times of her being seen with a dark haired lady? I assumed the first time I heard it that it may be the PI GP hired, but if that were the case I think the PI would clear up the confusion about the dark haired female. The whole thing sounds off the wall and the fact that her husband is not the least bit concerned bugs me, even if he did think she had mental problems, she is still the mother of his children and he should be concerned about her where abouts. IMO, the whole thing is just wrong and I think folks know something but will not come forward for whatever the reason. This is of course IMO only.

 

[Columbo]

Does anyone other than me think it strange that someone would buy a home in another state while employed in another state many miles away? Of course, there may have been an upcoming transfer but I don't remember hearing about it. That might be where part of the $40,000 went and would also be a really good place to hide something.

I agree, it's strange.
Of course, in California, for example, people work in Silicon Valley (the San Jose area) but if they can't afford to live there, they buy homes in outlying areas, huge distances away. Maybe a 4 hour round trip commute every day--and that's if traffic is good! I'm not familiar with TN --maybe long commutes are a common thing, there, too.

 

[Ozarka]

I agree, it's strange.
Of course, in California, for example, people work in Silicon Valley (the San Jose area) but if they can't afford to live there, they buy homes in outlying areas, huge distances away. Maybe a 4 hour round trip commute every day--and that's if traffic is good! I'm not familiar with TN --maybe long commutes are a common thing, there, too.

According to mapquest the driving distance between the two places is 5 hrs. 46 min.-that's a looooonnnnggg commute.

 

[Columbo]

According to mapquest the driving distance between the two places is 5 hrs. 46 min.-that's a looooonnnnggg commute.

That's too long a commute in any part of the country!

 

[Emeralgem]

That's an interesting question because Marion and Sequatchie Counties are both on the Central Time Zone, while Signal Mountain of course is on EST. http://www.timetemperature.com/tzus/current_time_in_tennessee.shtml

Hmm, so if they were meeting someone there from another county, there might have been a mix-up on the times.

BBM.. Whats even more confusing to me is Prentice Cooper is listed as being a state park in Marion County but the site posted below claims Prentice Cooper is in Hamilton County...
http://www.pickatrail.com/sun/p/ame...oper_state_forest_hamilton_tennessee/map.html

 

[brittbritt40]

BBM.. Whats even more confusing to me is Prentice Cooper is listed as being a state park in Marion County but the site posted below claims Prentice Cooper is in Hamilton County...
http://www.pickatrail.com/sun/p/ame...oper_state_forest_hamilton_tennessee/map.html

I think that may be because part of Prentice Cooper is in Hamilton and part is in Marion.

 

[KathyJ]

Woah, I Just got done saying yesterday it was quiet and no new information and come back to all of this. This is huge that there is a confirmed sighting.
I need something cleared up, when Did Gail give all that paperwork to Arlene. I am just curious as to what would prompt her to give the paperwork to Arlene...did she know something might happen to her and with that at least Arlene had all that paperwork to prove things that were going on if something happened to Gail. I am starting to think Gail knew she was in danger.

Now, the sighting on the trail could also point me into the direction of a freak accident and they can't find the jeep---BUT if there was another person in that car, they would be listed as missing as well don't you think?

 

[KathyJ]

I have to check something out when I get home tonight, I can't access certain sites at work, but when I looked I am still seeing so much of tempers flaring and honestly that is starting to bother me. I am starting to feel that with tempers flaring with certain people they are doing absolutely no good in helping find Gail. Tempers are still not in check on certain sites and they are losing resources.

Kudos to this site, thru the whole discussion I have not seen anyone losing their temper on this site or causing infighting amongst us.....there is no place for that I am glad for the moderators that keep up in check if that does happen.

I just feel that if you can't keep your emotions in check and I know it's hard to, but you need to step back and gather yourself.

Sorry I just had to say that. I am just so mind boggled at things that are going on. People will lose sight of what is important here and that is finding Gail and clues and evidence.

Glad all of us here are on the same page!

 

[ThoughtFox]

I would encourage any new readers here to check out the [ame=http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135941]Media Links Thread[/ame] for this case which gives a good overview of the entire case from start to finish. That way you can see how it unfolded over time and led up to some of the revelations we are getting now. It's only two pages and most of the posts have quotes with the main kernal of the stories. Several folks have the link in their signatures so you can click and catch up if you get behind for any reason.

...I need something cleared up, when Did Gail give all that paperwork to Arlene. I am just curious as to what would prompt her to give the paperwork to Arlene...did she know something might happen to her and with that at least Arlene had all that paperwork to prove things that were going on if something happened to Gail. I am starting to think Gail knew she was in danger.

From what Arlene has said to the media, I believe Gail didn't trust her husband anymore and didn't feel safe leaving her own divorce papers around where he might find them, which is just common sense. (And from what we know now, she had good reasons not to trust him and not to feel safe.)

However, while Arlene knew that Gail didn't feel safe and that things were bad at home, she had no reason to believe she wouldn't see Gail again. So the "danger" part, I'm not sure about.

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6536882&postcount=26"]Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - TN TN - Gail Nowacki Palmgren, 44, Signal Mountain, 30 April 2011 *Media Links*[/ame]
(My transcript from video on WRCB)

Starnes: Durham says she was helping Gail begin the divorce process and each week Gail would send her documents to hold on to. (Showing Arlene Durham holding documents).

Arlene Durham: "She knew if I had it, it was safe."

Chattanoogan: Signal Mt. Woman's Marriage Was Crumbling Before She Vanished

...after the St. Martin trip, one night when Matt let his guard down that Gail spotted the password for his cellphone. She was able to get into his phone and check the text messages. Arlene said Gail told her there were numerous "sexting" entries between Matt and another high-ranking BlueCross employee, Tammy Helton, who had recently gotten a divorce.

Arlene said from that point "Gail was very smart. She did not confront Matt, but she began to think ahead and prepare for a divorce."

. . . Gail Palmgren saved all the records she found about her husband's activities, and she sent them all to Arlene Durham - for safe-keeping in far-away Alabama.

Arlene said, "When you have two kids, you want to make sure all your ducks are in a row."

 

[ThoughtFox]

I have to check something out when I get home tonight, I can't access certain sites at work, but when I looked I am still seeing so much of tempers flaring and honestly that is starting to bother me. I am starting to feel that with tempers flaring with certain people they are doing absolutely no good in helping find Gail. Tempers are still not in check on certain sites and they are losing resources.

Kudos to this site, thru the whole discussion I have not seen anyone losing their temper on this site or causing infighting amongst us.....there is no place for that I am glad for the moderators that keep up in check if that does happen.

I just feel that if you can't keep your emotions in check and I know it's hard to, but you need to step back and gather yourself.

Sorry I just had to say that. I am just so mind boggled at things that are going on. People will lose sight of what is important here and that is finding Gail and clues and evidence.

Glad all of us here are on the same page!

It's happened in other cases that we cover here - in the Hailey Dunn case in Texas there are feuding FBs and personalities that have taken the focus off finding the missing girl. People forget they are writing in public for some reason, and that it isn't just a place to vent. Believe me, I don't get it either.

 

[KathyJ]

It's happened in other cases that we cover here - in the Hailey Dunn case in Texas there are feuding FBs and personalities that have taken the focus off finding the missing girl. People forget they are writing in public for some reason, and that it isn't just a place to vent. Believe me, I don't get it either.

It's just ridiculous. It's really taking away from what is important and I am not understanding how people are letting it get that far.

Also, thanks for the answer to my question. I was thinking about it last night and I understand keeping the records with someone else for safe keeping, but yet again my mind goes a 100 different ways I also kind of question if there was more motive behind giving Arlene the papers just for safe keeping--just wondering if there is more to Gail's thought process than getting ducks in a row

 

[Columbo]

It's just ridiculous. It's really taking away from what is important and I am not understanding how people are letting it get that far.

Also, thanks for the answer to my question. I was thinking about it last night and I understand keeping the records with someone else for safe keeping, but yet again my mind goes a 100 different ways I also kind of question if there was more motive behind giving Arlene the papers just for safe keeping--just wondering if there is more to Gail's thought process than getting ducks in a row

bolded by me.

Would you feel comfortable elaborating on this a little, if your thoughts on it have jelled? Thanks.

 

[KathyJ]

[/B]

bolded by me.

Would you feel comfortable elaborating on this a little, if your thoughts on it have jelled? Thanks.

I am trying to put myself in her shoes with the information that we have. First thought is, yes give the paperwork to someone so you know it will be safe and not found, and that could be the only reason she did it. I can't help but wonder if she knew something was up or possibly something was going to happen to her. A gut feeling anything like that so she MADE SURE those papers were safe and at someone else's house.

Now no two people are alike, I would have kept copies with me and with someone else. I don't know if she did that or not. I just have this gut feeling she feared for something and I don't know what that fear was and that is why she gave the paperwork to someone to hold. I thought I also read awhile back that she had given other items or paperwork to other friends as well. Why? Why not just keep all the items and paperwork with that one person you trust.

If your holding onto the paperwork yourself, yes you run the risk of being called out. If someone else holds the paperwork for you, it can't be destroyed upon your disappearance by someone--therefore no one would ever know the secrets that you kept..........