December, when you joined WS a few months ago, I encountered you on several threads and thought, wow, here's a new poster who is really jumping right in with some very insightful posts. But I did not realize, then, that you had joined largely for Kathy's case -- I had read in her thread before a little, but before you came along. You are really delving into her case for her, and you have some great help joining in, too. I wish you well -- would love to see this one solved!
I am so glad to see her case featured and hope it will help somehow to bring some things to light/needed action. It is just horrendous, what happened to Kathy. I see how it would haunt a family and community for many years, especially unsolved.
It is tragic, to me, too, that there was no autopsy. As you say -- if only there had been, so many questions might have answers.
So -- bessie, you stated no rape kit -- you think nothing of that sort, not even some rudimentary version? No fingernail clippings, etc.? The coroner did say she was raped, but I guess that was from the obvious physical damage, then?
December, I was kind of thinking, like you mentioned, that there may have been semen on some of her clothing or other possessions, possibly from the perp "cleaning up", as you said -- or maybe even something really bizarre like excrement at the scene (it seems some really out-of-control violent perps do that).
I haven't finished reading all the newer posts (since December came along and since being featured), but I will try to get up to speed. Not sure how I feel about whether the bulk of the attack occurred right where she was found -- December and bessie have both made good points, IMO, toward the two different possibilities.
One thing that crossed my mind -- if it turns out to be true that the grass wasn't crushed, Kathy's body wasn't dirty from the ground, etc. -- what about the idea that she may have been attacked inside a vehicle? You know, especially something like a van or delivery truck -- OR that bus. It could have been parked very close by -- maybe even IN the vacant lot -- and Kathy and her belongings just dropped out on the ground afterwards.
I wonder -- the part of her sock used as a gag, was it torn or cut? Seems it would be hard to tear a sock, but I don't know. Attacker must have had something sharp to inflict the wounds, guess he could have used that. But I wonder WHY he would have taken the time/trouble to cut/tear the sock, anyhow -- it doesn't seem like it would make that much difference in size, it was just a sock. Maybe just one more opportunity to use his big bad knife or whatever he had -- ugghh. Just one little curious thing, to me.
