GUILTY TX - Alanna Gallagher, 6, Saginaw, 1 July 2013 - #3

[eileenhawkeye]

I been away all weekend so haven't read anything on this case until I caught up just now. I'm shocked that there's been no progress at all, at least publicly, with bringing whoever did this to justice.

It's quite clear from facebook posts and members of the Saginaw community on here that no one feels safe, especially those with children even if LE are claiming this is an "isolated incident"

Like others have said, why haven't LE asked the public for help more? What was Alanna last seen wearing? what is an exact timeframe from when she went missing? Why should the community feel "perfectly safe" if there's no suspects? This was a terrible terrible crime, her hands and feet were tied and a bag over head, that is no accident at all there is obviously a sick murderer out there that needs to be caught. LE need to make advances in this case publicly asap imo. If they haven't a clue, then they need to reach out to the public for help and give more information!

EDIT - For them to be so assured that the local community are perfectly safe, then surely they must have a suspect in mind and are keeping a close eye on him/her? But then again why say they have no suspects at this time?

They might not want their suspect to panic. They want him to think they are looking at the parents or have absolutely no idea who did this. For example, if their suspect is a neighbor, then LE can question him, and just act like it's a standard procedure because he lives nearby. But if LE were to announce that they know who did this, the suspect might get a lawyer, and not even allow LE to ask him basic questions at the door.

 

[CHERIE.T]

Why is it in every case, no matter how old the child is, no matter what the circumstances are, the parents are always blamed for the actions of some sick perp. Does it have something to do with human nature?

I have seen parents blamed for teens being abducted and parents blamed when the perp abducted the child out of the home.

Yet, the circumstances surrounding this case are still unknown. There are certain things that I am just not comfortable "assuming" or passing judgement on.

eta: I just want to add that I see this in comments all the time under MSM articles as well and it just makes me wonder about the human nature of wondering about the parents being neglectful.

Don't statistics say that children are primarily killed by someone they know?
moo

 

[carbuff]

Not meaning to cast aspersions on anyone, just the way it is in most of the departments I've had any contact with: the last thing most LE want is "help" from the public. They want people to go on their way, taking sensible precautions but not going overboard, and not forming lynch mobs to go after "suspects" who are usually only peripherally or coincidentally involved.

Just because we haven't heard about something (such as the clothing) doesn't mean LE doesn't know about it. Maybe they aren't asking because they already found it. Maybe they aren't asking the public to come forward about anything but the truck because they've already talked to everybody in the neighborhood.

 

[randomtexan]

To answer a few posts... At times during my childhood, I was extremely unhappy. If you had asked anyone about what type of child I was, you would have been told that I seemed joyous. It's a defense mechanism. I know about her behaviors from personal experience and from someone that saw her every day. Her reluctance to return home was well-known. But, it could simply have been that she loved being outside and with friends. I make absolutely no assumption whatsoever about her home life. Her parents are experiencing the unimaginable, and my heart breaks for them. I do, however, believe that the investigators know much more than they are sharing about the entire case. Her home life and the lifestyle in which her parents chose to live does not make them any more suspect, in my opinion.

Also, some people have stated that they saw the tarp in the road at noon; some have stated it was the evening. <modsnip> At least two hours passed before her body was found by neighborhood teenagers. Her ankles and wrists were taped with red tape. She was not tied.

The park that is literally two streets over has a gully running through it with very tall grass. It's landscaped that way. The circumference of the walking/running path is 2.2 miles. It is used heavily, and it would be difficult for someone to get away with dumping a large tarp anywhere, without being notice. I used it daily, during my runs. Eagle Mountain lake and Lake Worth are both less than 10 minutes away. The state park around Eagle Mountain Lake is full of bluffs, rugged terrain and abandoned structures. It was very hot, and some people have said low 90s. The previous weekend had reached 108, and by the end of the day, temperatures hover around 100, regardless of what the high recorded. It is very hot, and moderately humid.

 

[Elley Mae]

To answer a few posts... At times during my childhood, I was extremely unhappy. If you had asked anyone about what type of child I was, you would have been told that I seemed joyous. It's a defense mechanism. I know about her behaviors from personal experience and from someone that saw her every day. Her reluctance to return home was well-known. But, it could simply have been that she loved being outside and with friends. I make absolutely no assumption whatsoever about her home life. Her parents are experiencing the unimaginable, and my heart breaks for them. I do, however, believe that the investigators know much more than they are sharing about the entire case. Her home life and the lifestyle in which her parents chose to live does not make them any more suspect, in my opinion.

Also, some people have stated that they saw the tarp in the road at noon; some have stated it was the evening.<modsnip> At least two hours passed before her body was found by neighborhood teenagers. Her ankles and wrists were taped with red tape. She was not tied.

The park that is literally two streets over has a gully running through it with very tall grass. It's landscaped that way. The circumference of the walking/running path is 2.2 miles. It is used heavily, and it would be difficult for someone to get away with dumping a large tarp anywhere, without being notice. I used it daily, during my runs. Eagle Mountain lake and Lake Worth are both less than 10 minutes away. The state park around Eagle Mountain Lake is full of bluffs, rugged terrain and abandoned structures. It was very hot, and some people have said low 90s. The previous weekend had reached 108, and by the end of the day, temperatures hover around 100, regardless of what the high recorded. It is very hot, and moderately humid.

Thank You for the information. Welcome to Websleuths:seeya:

 

[ArianeEmory]

Thanks for the info on the possible timeline, randomtexan. Have you considered getting verified as a local insider? Even if not, knowing that there's a local witness to her being alive and well at 5pm will definitely help narrow things down.

Edit: would you be willing to tell us how you have personal knowledge of the crime scene/the state Alanna was found in? (Unfortunately I think you will need to get verified in order to do so, not sure.)

 

[eileenhawkeye]

To answer a few posts... At times during my childhood, I was extremely unhappy. If you had asked anyone about what type of child I was, you would have been told that I seemed joyous. It's a defense mechanism. I know about her behaviors from personal experience and from someone that saw her every day. Her reluctance to return home was well-known. But, it could simply have been that she loved being outside and with friends. I make absolutely no assumption whatsoever about her home life. Her parents are experiencing the unimaginable, and my heart breaks for them. I do, however, believe that the investigators know much more than they are sharing about the entire case. Her home life and the lifestyle in which her parents chose to live does not make them any more suspect, in my opinion.

Also, some people have stated that they saw the tarp in the road at noon; some have stated it was the evening.<modsnip> At least two hours passed before her body was found by neighborhood teenagers. Her ankles and wrists were taped with red tape. She was not tied.

The park that is literally two streets over has a gully running through it with very tall grass. It's landscaped that way. The circumference of the walking/running path is 2.2 miles. It is used heavily, and it would be difficult for someone to get away with dumping a large tarp anywhere, without being notice. I used it daily, during my runs. Eagle Mountain lake and Lake Worth are both less than 10 minutes away. The state park around Eagle Mountain Lake is full of bluffs, rugged terrain and abandoned structures. It was very hot, and some people have said low 90s. The previous weekend had reached 108, and by the end of the day, temperatures hover around 100, regardless of what the high recorded. It is very hot, and moderately humid.

It seems that Alanna was murdered sometime between 5-7 PM. That would be right around when a lot of people are coming home from work. IMO, the person who committed this crime had to get her body out of the house before whoever they live with came home. It seems that Alanna's body was found not very long after she was killed.

 

[randomtexan]

Thanks for the info on the possible timeline, randomtexan. Have you considered getting verified as a local insider? Even if not, knowing that there's a local witness to her being alive and well at 5pm will definitely help narrow things down.

No, but I can verify that I wouldn't post anything that I didn't know to be fact. How dare anyone do that, that is close to the situation. The timeline is very tight. Everyone knows everyone in some way in Saginaw. <modsnip>
I also know funeral information, but I do not believe it has been made public, yet. If/when it is, I will share, if anyone wants to send anything.

 

[gia2]

It seems that Alanna was murdered sometime between 5-7 PM. That would be right around when a lot of people are coming home from work. IMO, the person who committed this crime had to get her body out of the house before whoever they live with came home. It seems that Alanna's body was found not very long after she was killed.

Or knew that the longer the child was missing the more eyes would be on everyone in the community and possible house to house searches (if they live close by).

 

[eileenhawkeye]

Or knew that the longer the child was missing the more eyes would be on everyone in the community and possible house to house searches (if they live close by).

So do you think Alanna's body was left in the street on purpose? Because if the killer had dumped her body somewhere else, and it hadn't been found, they would still have to worry about house-to-house searches.

ETA: Wait. Nevermind. If the killer had dumped Alanna's body, LE obviously wouldn't have found her in his house. But of course he would still have to worry about them searching his house anyway, and possibly finding something, since she would still be missing.

 

[CluelessWonder]

No, but I can verify that I wouldn't post anything that I didn't know to be fact. How dare anyone do that, that is close to the situation. The timeline is very tight. Everyone knows everyone in some way in Saginaw. <modsnip>

It is my opinion that she was abducted by a person in that neighborhood. There was a similar case in Missouri involving a little girl named BreAnne Rodriguez. She was killed by a neighbor, who said she was on his property by the swimming pool. He dragged her into the garage and strangled her. He was a family guy with two kids of his own. Nobody suspected him at all.

 

[epiphany]

MOO: No need to bind (for physical control or cooperation) the feet and hands of a child this age and this size other than, unfortunately, to act out a sick twisted sexual fantasy of the murderer.

 

[randomtexan]

Thanks for the info on the possible timeline, randomtexan. Have you considered getting verified as a local insider? Even if not, knowing that there's a local witness to her being alive and well at 5pm will definitely help narrow things down.

Edit: would you be willing to tell us how you have personal knowledge of the crime scene/the state Alanna was found in? (Unfortunately I think you will need to get verified in order to do so, not sure.)

Someone stated that she was tied. The reason that the tape that was confiscated was concerning, is because she was reportedly taped. That has been reported multiple times, as has the color of what she was wearing. Thus, the purple ribbons that are on all of our trees and that we are all wearing.

I am protective of the community and speculation. I think forums like this are fantastic, but I very cautious. Because we live in this town, we will more quickly know what is fact and what has yet to be determined. I have read all three of the threads, and I will not speak to the truck, because I haven't heard anyone discuss this as a real lead. I can speak to what has been confirmed multiple times to me and what has been reported. I can also personally speak to her demeanor during the few times that I personally interacted with her. I can relay multiple stories that many of my friends have told in the days since about things she would say and do, and all of the stories describe an absolutely amazing little girl.

I am glad to be here, and I hope that I can answer questions that are truly helpful. I will not pass along gossip, and I have no idea what a verified insider is, and I'm not sure that concerns me. The entire town probably knows more information than has been made public, so I will also be very careful with what I post in that regard..

 

[ahintexas]

Found this.
"Her body was found at about 7:30 p.m. Her parents reported her missing at about 9 p.m., and neighbors say her father told them she was last seen at about 5 p.m. "
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/52388347/...-k-reward-alanna-gallagher-case/#.Udoy16zYGXc

4hrs? Wow. :-/

 

[fhc]

MOO: No need to bind (for physical control or cooperation) the feet and hands of a child this age and this size other than, unfortunately, to act out a sick twisted sexual fantasy of the child murderer.

or to make it look like a twisted act.

 

[manzana]

 Originally Posted by epiphany View Post
MOO: No need to bind (for physical control or cooperation) the feet and hands of a child this age and this size other than, unfortunately, to act out a sick twisted sexual fantasy of the child murderer.

I disagree, I know my four year old can run fast.

 

[epiphany]

or to make it look like a twisted act.

Adding the bag over her head, the probable COD (MOO), is part of the same: sadistic elements of this particular murder.

 

[SapphireSteel]

This murder is the worst of the worst.

I am anti DP but at times like this I totally understand the instinct to watch him swing.

Whoever took Alanna, knew her - at least by sight. :cow:

Why wrap her? If he wanted to shock, just leave her there unwrapped, or just wrap her once. She was double wrapped, in a garbage bag then a tarp - why?

Maybe he was watching her all along...maybe part of the crime was the fun of watching the other kids find her?

:twocents:

 

[human]

I do not believe it was some random drive by. How could the person do this act if there was not a place to do it? No seeing, no hearing by anyone else.

Unless LE truly knows who did this, it is totally irresponsible to not put info out there.

Somer Thompson in Florida had tons of FBI, ICE, LE, dogs working the case.

What solved it? The former roommates parents driving past the site and saying, " Hey wait a minute. What about the puke that lives right there?"

I do not know if LE would have ever found the puke without the public.

 

[gia2]

So do you think Alanna's body was left in the street on purpose? Because if the killer had dumped her body somewhere else, and it hadn't been found, they would still have to worry about house-to-house searches.

ETA: Wait. Nevermind. If the killer had dumped Alanna's body, LE obviously wouldn't have found her in his house. But of course he would still have to worry about them searching his house anyway, and possibly finding something, since she would still be missing.

I'm not sure what I think about it yet, any opinion about why she was left where she was is just speculation with so little evidence to suggest strongly one way or another. I like to consider as many perspectives as possible.

One possible reasoning to leave a body where it will be discovered quickly would be if I lived close by or if people knew the child popped in to my home now and again.
If I was sure no one had seen her enter my home I would need to make sure there was no physical link to me on the body or through the body diposal method. I would also need to make sure no obvious signs of the child was visable in my home, that would mean I could be confident having the police in my house when they did routine questioning.

As soon as a child is reported missing the choice of disposal method becomes much more difficult and every action I do needs to be explained. But if I make sure the body is found quickly and nothing directly points to me I have the best chance of going undetected. If nothing directly inplicate me then presumably there would be no reason to geta warrent to go through my home with intensity and find the clues that I have hidden to the human eye.

That is of course just a thought and a reasoning that could explain why such an obvious spot was chosen. I understand it might well have been disposed of there by accident (fallen off the truck etc).

I just find it strange that if the body didn't fall off the truck why the perp would not want to hide the body for as long as possible and hope as much evidence is lost as possible before discovery.

MOO, JMO. Well it's not really an opinion just a suggested thought process I guess. Sorry for the long post!