GUILTY TX - Billy Joe Harris for rapes of elderly women in 6 counties, 2011

[Ruflossn]

Oct. 10th in Bell, Leon, and Falls county was cool--a high of 57 and a low of 51. Oct. 24th was warmer during the day at 73 but very cool at night at 44. I could certainly see an older woman running her heater at night for those evenings.

The summer dates in July, August and September are what you'd expect--high in the mid 90's and low's in the mid-high 70's. A/C weather.

Remember, we're mainly looking at what a woman would have running to mask sound in the night time hours.

No idea if this even is an issue. The hearing of the clock could be a really red herring.

Missizzy ~
Sorry to be so simple minded but, what did you mean by the red herring sentence?


:waitasec:

 

[Missizzy]

Did I scramble a metaphor again? I'm sorry as sometimes I do. What I meant is that the report of the ticking clock might not be of huge importance in cracking the case.

Through the descriptions given us by LE, it sounds as if a number of the victims are frail and have poor sight. They could also have poor hearing or memory. One was so shaken up, she had a stroke.

One woman reported hearing a clock ticking but it might not be of as major importance as we might think. We know that rape victims hyper-focus on sounds, smells, and sensations during an attack (like all trauma victims). We don't know with certainty (I don't think) that a woman heard the particular pendulum clock which we've been shown by LE while she was being raped. The ticking could have been a clock in her own home which she just focused on.

I don't know. Sometimes I feel as if we're grasping at straws.

 

[Texas Mist]

I have been reading and trying to catch up on the posts. I am confused by one thing. Is this perp cutting phone lines days/weeks b4 the break-ins and assaults or is he doing that the night of the crime?

Also, his removing windows, is a clue as to his past/present. He most likely has worked in construction or at a home improvement type store. This creep has left lots of info for LE. It won't be long b4 they catch him. Am I correct in that the last attack was in Nov.?

From what I can tell, he's cutting phone lines before the attacks & the night of attacks.

And Nov. is what's been reported (so far) as the most recent attack.

I sure hope there's not been more that haven't been reported so that valuable clues aren't lost.

 

[Ruflossn]

From what I can tell, he's cutting phone lines before the attacks & the night of attacks.

And Nov. is what's been reported (so far) as the most recent attack.

I sure hope there's not been more that haven't been reported so that valuable clues aren't lost.

Phone lines /electrical lines being cut - Why I think this is important is because of the thought that maybe this guy was cutting the power and got scared off. Therefore he moved on to another location. If he cut the power at a residence and then decided to leave, one has to ask, "why". There may have been a witness to seeing him, his car etc..........that has no idea they saw something that could help this case. Now if this creep is cutting the lines weeks or day b4 he actually breaks into a residence, he is toying w/ the victims b4 he actually assaults them. In profiling this would be another "clue" into this creeps psyche.

 

[Texas Mist]

Phone lines /electrical lines being cut - Why I think this is important is because of the thought that maybe this guy was cutting the power and got scared off. Therefore he moved on to another location. If he cut the power at a residence and then decided to leave, one has to ask, "why". There may have been a witness to seeing him, his car etc..........that has no idea they saw something that could help this case. Now if this creep is cutting the lines weeks or day b4 he actually breaks into a residence, he is toying w/ the victims b4 he actually assaults them. In profiling this would be another "clue" into this creeps psyche.

The only reference I've seen/heard to his cutting power said it occurred when there was a break-in....however, they didn't say if the break-in(s) were for a pre-attack burglary, or during a rape/burglary.

ITA he's a freak who's getting a thrill out of mental torture, too!!

No telling what he's done that LE hasn't told us about!!

 

[colette]

Maybe he cut the power because of some sort of alarm system was involved with it. I also thinks he picks the elderly victim because they are less likely to have a cell phone or fight back. I have heard of robberies in my area where the criminal takes over the home of the elderly person, searching for money while the victim has been compliant without being tied ect. I think this is very common, the uncommon part is the rape.

I also think the victim hearing the clock might have been awoken by the clock chimes and then heard the ticking. Many clocks chime on the half hour and hour. There was a serial rapist in my area who took a clock too. He gave it to a girlfriend, later it was used to convict him.

 

[jjenny]

Maybe he cut the power because of some sort of alarm system was involved with it. I also thinks he picks the elderly victim because they are less likely to have a cell phone or fight back. I have heard of robberies in my area where the criminal takes over the home of the elderly person, searching for money while the victim has been compliant without being tied ect. I think this is very common, the uncommon part is the rape.

I also think the victim hearing the clock might have been awoken by the clock chimes and then heard the ticking. Many clocks chime on the half hour and hour. There was a serial rapist in my area who took a clock too. He gave it to a girlfriend, later it was used to convict him.

If the burglary was the primary motive, and he was picking elderly victims because they are not going to have a cell phone or fight back, why would he rape them?
Furthermore, it is said that he sometimes would break into the house or cut the phone lines, and then go back later and rape a victim. Why would he do that if burglary was his motive? So I certainly think the rape is the primary motivation.

 

[Missizzy]

Colette--The problem with the ticking clock is that pendulum clocks do not tick when they are off balance and the pendulum stops swinging. I posted an animated graphic on this a couple pages back. It could have been another battery clock, though, taken at the same time or the same night.

I don't know about you Texas Mist, but I have a really hard time buying that these ladies had alarm systems. It's possible but just not real typical in small Texas towns. Most people don't even lock their doors. The only connection I could see here is if these particular houses had recently had systems installed and the rapist could have been involved with that. That would be a common denominator quickly seen, though, IMO.

In that one video of the historical society where the ladies are going in to take holiday decorations down, much is made of the door being locked after them. That's how unusual it is in these towns.

ITA, jjenny, I don't think the rape is a secondary issue here. The man is a rapist, first and foremost. It sounds to me as if these ladies' homes could easily be robbed without any sort of assault at all. The fact that he's breaking in before the rapes, confirms that. I'm thinking that the stolen items are far more likely taken as trophies rather than for monetary value. I'd like to know what he did with the $12,000, though. I guess no one with a criminal mind could pass up something that tempting, however.

 

[txsvicki]

I don't think he cuts electrical lines, but gets into the breaker boxes outside. That's another thing that people probably should have a padlock on. I'm not sure the main motive of the attacker is just burglary, since he could wait until college students or younger families are not at home and get electronics and other type things to steal. Of course, he may also be doing that along with robbing and raping the elderly women. Maybe it's the sick thrill of trying to get into the homes and that elderly women might be more likely to have larger amounts of hidden cash or jewelry. The main motive must be control and rape though or he wouldn't be raping the women or might have spared at least one from the attack.

 

[Missizzy]

I don't think it should be forgotten that the slimeball in Lubbock did the same thing apparently. Elder rape is not rare nor is it reported as frequently as it should be. I wonder if this poor woman in Lubbock didn't report it due to the fact that she'd seen so much in the news about the Twilight Rapist. I wonder if she wouldn't have just told her kids that her purse was stolen, otherwise. That's so sad.

 

[Texas Mist]

I found a study of burglars several days ago (see attached .pdf), with some interesting info regarding sexual predator burglars....it makes me very concerned that this monster's violence could escalate:



sexual offenses including rape convictions and were labeled sexual preda-
tor burglars. Classes 3 and 4, the drug-oriented and sexual predator
burglars had significantly more burglar offenses (M= 8.7 and 8.5,
respectively) than subgroups 1 and 2. Given that the sample com-
prised of career offenders, all subgroups displayed offense versatil-
ity, yet as described above, there was also evidence of
specialization particularly with respect to drug crimes and sexual
offending

.....................

The final subgroup, sexual predator burglars, was clearly
involved in high levels of sexual deviant acts such as rape and
prostitution⁄ solicitation offenses. There is also evidence that sexual
predator burglars were the most violent. This subgroup possessed
numerous aggravated assault and robbery charges. They also had
the longest criminal careers—spanning over 30 years—and the ear-
liest age of offense onset. Perhaps, the burglaries committed by this
subgroup are at least partly motivated by sexual compulsions and
thrills associated with entering the dwelling of a victim. Many bur-
glaries may have been motivated by a strong desire for rape of a
target that they had been stalking. This final subgroup may be the
most dangerous of all with a high level of criminal persistence,
intensity, and interpersonal violence. Two additional points are
noteworthy about the sexual predator burglars. First, Class 4 com-
prised 6.1% of all offenders but was disproportionately involved in
the most serious forms and total incidence of crime. Empirically,
the 6.1% prevalence estimate is similar to the 5% threshold used to
define career criminality (18,29,30). Second, recent analyses of a
sample of 654 murderers found that offenders with prior arrests
and convictions for rape and current involvement in burglary were
significantly more likely to commit multiple homicides (31).

 

[txsvicki]

Very scary to think that he could escalate into a serial killer.


About the ladies having alarm systems/electric:
Turning off the electricity would disable cordless phones. I wonder if Lifeline with the necklace push button thing worn around the neck works on electricity. My late neighbor had one and I was one of her contacts that the office would call to check on her, but I can't remember how the set up worked.

 

[DeepThinker]

I know it's been mentioned before, but I'm just wondering if this perv cuts the phone/electrical lines because he works for a repair co/phone co/electric co...does it on purpose, then he's the one that gets the service call? Then, he takes things to make it look like burglary/robbery but the main motive is the rape...which was mentioned previously. With them being elderly, maybe it's not because they're weaker and less likely to put up a fight. Maybe instead it's something to do with his mother/grandmother type deal.

IDK, just tossing ideas into the ring....

 

[jjenny]

I know it's been mentioned before, but I'm just wondering if this perv cuts the phone/electrical lines because he works for a repair co/phone co/electric co...does it on purpose, then he's the one that gets the service call? Then, he takes things to make it look like burglary/robbery but the main motive is the rape...which was mentioned previously. With them being elderly, maybe it's not because they're weaker and less likely to put up a fight. Maybe instead it's something to do with his mother/grandmother type deal.

IDK, just tossing ideas into the ring....

One would think if that were the case, police would have figured it out already. Also, the rapes are not all in the same city, so the same person would not be getting the service call for all of them.

 

[DeepThinker]

One would think if that were the case, police would have figured it out already. Also, the rapes are not all in the same city, so the same person would not be getting the service call for all of them.

ITA, one would think that. However, if it were a service company that serviced several small towns.... I live in a town that it's not at all uncommon for service companies to work the entire northern 1/3 of our state, even into another state that borders us. That's the only reason I was suggesting it. And, sometimes, LE can (not always) overlook something. They are human, after all. Not trying to be argumentative or anything, just saying why it occurred to me.

 

[Missizzy]

Deep Thinker--It's a possibility but these towns are quite a ways apart. IIRC, there's about a 150-200 mile radius. As to the Alert necklaces, it looks like those are connected in with the phone lines or electricity so wouldn't work.

Cell phones would still work and I've been surprised by the number of my Mom's church friends who have them and use them all the time--well into their 80s.

It's been a while since an attack. It's gonna happen. That makes me sick.

 

[DeepThinker]

I just hope they catch the guy and soon. How scary for the women living in those areas.

 

[colette]

If the burglary was the primary motive, and he was picking elderly victims because they are not going to have a cell phone or fight back, why would he rape them?
Furthermore, it is said that he sometimes would break into the house or cut the phone lines, and then go back later and rape a victim. Why would he do that if burglary was his motive? So I certainly think the rape is the primary motivation.

I never said anything about his motive. I just said robbery of the elderly is common and rape of the elderly is less common.

I too believe his motive is the rape.

 

[jjenny]

I never said anything about his motive. I just said robbery of the elderly is common and rape of the elderly is less common.

I too believe his motive is the rape.

Rape of elderly is very uncommon. Most women who are raped are under 30, I believe.

 

[Starry Night]

This guy totally freaks me out! My MAIN question is HOW does he find them?? Where does he hang out to know they are elderly, live alone and where they live. This is the scariest part to me especially because it involves different counties and such distance.
Ladies-keep going with this...you are all so amazing to me. Knowledge is power! Someone mentioned maybe he is a construction worker.....that struck a chord with me because the smaller construction crews sometimes move from town to town etc. Or even some sort of independent guy. Is he following them home from those big box building supply stores? Or is he just driving around all the time? They caught Son of Sam through a traffic ticket....
I also feel he is foremost a rapist. He is one terrible criminal. And I also feel that he will escalate. I wonder if he is a drifter sort....moves frequently and does odd jobs or temp construction work-maybe he is signed up with one of those temp construction companies.....my head is spinning. Deer heads...a clock...and God knows what else he stole. If he got the 10,000 from the one poor victim that could have afforded him a few months stay at long-term motels or whatever. So he has a home base for a while and spends the days prowling the grocery stores or neighborhoods etc. Could he be a truck driver that has layovers.......He is so damned mobile. But they make good money...so he is a rapist first.
And he associates older white women living in brick houses as the best pickings. I bet they all drive nice big Buicks or Caddys. Miss-remember Luby's?? Check out any Luby's parking lot esp on a Sunday after church and u will see all kinds of nice big old-school brand new cars. Yeah-he can sit in that Luby's type restuarant for a couple of hours and watch and then follow. Just takes one lady sitting alone and he has his target.
I am trying to get into his head. I don't know-maybe he sits in crowded parking lots at stores and watches...and follows...and stalks.