TX - Jonathan Foster, 12, Houston, 24 Dec 2010 - #10

[gypsyblue]

if there were "threats" made to the mother, why would the family think sex pred and not scramble to think who they pizzed off, and possible revenge, or retaliation or a hit... non of which only happen with a ransom note attached...moo

 

[lynnb]

IMO Johnathan knew very quickly when IMN was inside that apartment that he was in serious trouble, and more than likely had his stuffed animal close by and grabbed it as some sort of comfort, I cannot even imagine a sweet innocent 12 year old hearing what was surly coming out of the evil person's mouth, and then on top of it there were apparently threats made to the Mother by phone, so I can only imagine that Johnathan was wanting to escape to another place, any place..and since he had been so close to his grandmother and having his stuffed animal that was made by her he grabbed it and held on for dear life, that very well may be one of the things that LE found in her trash can..So I certainly don't think it was something that IMN took as a souvenir as much as Johnathan took it for comfort.

Thank you. That made sense to me.

 

[lynnb]

I don't think it's even possible to rule in or rule out a specific torch considering the torch is not like a knife or a bullet.

I know nothing about welding. but I wonder if testing can show if a torch/welder has not been used or has been used within a specific period of time?

 

[peeples]

I know nothing about welding. but I wonder if testing can show if a torch/welder has not been used or has been used within a specific period of time?

I'm wondering if they are looking for DNA on it that is the only testing i can think of.....

 

[Dear Prudence]

if there were "threats" made to the mother, why would the family think sex pred and not scramble to think who they pizzed off, and possible revenge, or retaliation or a hit... non of which only happen with a ransom note attached...moo

Threatening remarks were made toward Jonathan, not the mother.

Listen 0:30 Probable cause hearing video here:
http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/...robableCauseHearing001.mp4&mediafilter=videos

 

[Kimmer]

I know nothing about welding. but I wonder if testing can show if a torch/welder has not been used or has been used within a specific period of time?

I am sure they have prints from that equipment and now they are testing it for Johnathan's DNA, LE knows who used that equipment and exactly where she used it and on who, She deserves the express line to the needle.

 

[jjenny]

I'm wondering if they are looking for DNA on it that is the only testing i can think of.....

DNA probably would not survive on a torch itself because of high temperature.
They are probably looking for DNA on other items such as that trash can they described.

 

[gitana1]

Okay. I just finally got to see the video from Click2Houston.com that started the whole thing about Jonathan being actually killed by the welding torch, and about him being sexually abused.

I thought from what people were saying that there were LEOs on the video saying this stuff. But there's not a single LEO in the video. It's all the reporter saying this stuff.

So... I'm going back to what I found and posted from the LEO's press conference, that LE reviewed the ME's report, and it is not a possibility that Jonathan was burned to death.

The reporter was also going back and forth and back and forth with a speculation about the sexual abuse. I'm tossing that too, until something comes out from LE.

I'm just not into what a sole reporter speculates in a manner that seems to me to sensationalize for the sake of ratings.

I want to know the truth about what happened to this child.

Here's the video:
http://www.click2houston.com/video/26335560/index.html

BUMP!

I agree with you 100% that MN is guilty of disposing the body. No arguing with video. But I think what they are saying is that until the other evidence is analyzed, we can't be 100% sure that MN is the one who burned the body. Yes, she was a welder and she had welding equipment in her apartment. But what happens if testing shows that wasn't the welding equipment used?

Reports from LE said there was tons of evidence linking MN to the murder of little Jonathan - like burn marks on the carpet in MN's apartment, twine found there, matching twine used to bind the child, welding equipment in the apartment coupled with a burned body yet no traces of accelerant on the body (which would indicate another method used other than a torch, to burn the body), witnesses placing MN and her truck at the child's house around the time the calls were made to mom's work, the video showing her dumping his body, her admission that she saw Jonathan the day he went missing, zero evidence of any other kind to indicate another person was involved and solid alibis for the family, IIRC. Taken together, I think it's likely that a jury would find that this woman DID murder Jonathan and burn his body. Unless other evidence surfaces to suggest otherwise, I think their case is very good.

 

[peeples]

I'm of the camp she did it, and i'd sentence her to death right now!

I think it's a slam dunk she burned him and disposed of his body. But if law enforcement cannot prove he died from being burned, how do they prove she murdered him?? I wonder if all they will have is circumstantial or if they can come up with cold hard evidence she killed him, i'm scared she'll get off easy for abuse of a corpse or something. I don't watch too many court cases, so maybe i'm worried for nothing.

 

[Blue Ridge]

I know nothing about welding. but I wonder if testing can show if a torch/welder has not been used or has been used within a specific period of time?

Jonathan was burned w/ welding eqpt. MN's home had welding burns on the carpet with the scent of human flesh around them and MN was living in that home when LE came for her. The same twine was found on poor Jonathan's body as was found in her home. Other evidence (evidently lots of it) was found in her home. She was witnessed at his home and she was videod dumping him.

I am sorry, I just don't get why you question it was HER welding eqpt that was used. I just can't see any scenario where it was some other welder's eqpt.

 

[Bedelia]

Jonathan was burned w/ welding eqpt. MN's home had welding burns on the carpet with the scent of human flesh around them and MN was living in that home when LE came for her. The same twine was found on poor Jonathan's body as was found in her home. Other evidence (evidently lots of it) was found in her home. She was witnessed at his home and she was videod dumping him.

I am sorry, I just don't get why you question it was HER welding eqpt that was used. I just can't see any scenario where it was some other welder's eqpt.

OK, try to look at it this way: If someone else participated in JF's murder and they're not brought to justice, isn't that horrible, horrifying and hideous? So what's the harm in asking questions about evidence? This is how cases are made or dismissed, it's what sleuths do. If people can't ask questions like this, what are we doing here?

We know so little at this point.

 

[sreshowtime]

I keep seeing these 'threats' being mentioned. That is why I was wondering when LE was called. As best I can piece together trying to go back and read, LE was not called until the parent ascertained that JF was not in the house. And after JF had been looked for in the immediate area.... and the accused was in the vicinity! Has it been said WHAT exactly the nature of these threats were? Had there been any before?
IMHO I can't envision going into my home alone after hearing threats being made! What if the parent had run into the accused still in the home?! Egads. Oh my, I wish she had called LE asap after the threats.
So sad. Dear little guy...at least he did have some normalcy in his life thanks to some caring family...bless them.

 

[lynnb]

Jonathan was burned w/ welding eqpt. MN's home had welding burns on the carpet with the scent of human flesh around them and MN was living in that home when LE came for her. The same twine was found on poor Jonathan's body as was found in her home. Other evidence (evidently lots of it) was found in her home. She was witnessed at his home and she was videod dumping him.

I am sorry, I just don't get why you question it was HER welding eqpt that was used. I just can't see any scenario where it was some other welder's eqpt.

I was just using the welding equipment as an example of evidence needing to be analyzed, that's all.

 

[jjenny]

I'm of the camp she did it, and i'd sentence her to death right now!

I think it's a slam dunk she burned him and disposed of his body. But if law enforcement cannot prove he died from being burned, how do they prove she murdered him?? I wonder if all they will have is circumstantial or if they can come up with cold hard evidence she killed him, i'm scared she'll get off easy for abuse of a corpse or something. I don't watch too many court cases, so maybe i'm worried for nothing.

Some times there is not even a body, and still successful prosecution for first degree murder is possible.

 

[rotterdam]

I know nothing about welding. but I wonder if testing can show if a torch/welder has not been used or has been used within a specific period of time?

I would think that because of the type of burns, it could be determined at what kind of approx. temperature they occurred.

 

[rotterdam]

Well as I recall, Elizabeth Smart's parents were hiring some "less fortunate" people to do handy work around their home. Which is how Mitchell saw Elizabeth, he was hired to do handy work around the home. Not a good idea to do at all, IMO, and I have no doubt many would agree.

I would think that "Mona" type of people, can be encountered in any socioeconomic group of people. There are no specific boundaries.

 

[lynnb]

OK, try to look at it this way: If someone else participated in JF's murder and they're not brought to justice, isn't that horrible, horrifying and hideous? So what's the harm in asking questions about evidence? This is how cases are made or dismissed, it's what sleuths do. If people can't ask questions like this, what are we doing here?

We know so little at this point.

Thank you. That's the point I'm trying to make, even tho I'm doing a terrible job at it. I know there is a wealth of evidence against MN. I get that. But LE has seemed to have wrapped up this investigation so quickly that something just doesn't feel right to me. I want every option explored. I want this case to go to trial with 100% certainty that whoever did this gets convicted and gets what he/she deserves. All I keep thinking is that if I'm having these questions, what happens if a juror has the same questions?

 

[tehcloser]

What motive would the family have?
I see no point in discussing this further. Police ruled the family out and they have alibis. What basis is there for suspecting the family?

Since my post started this, let me weigh in here. To start with, I simply responded that there were 2 statements that I thought were odd. The one Mona made about him having no shirt on and the one the SD made about a pedophile snatching him. Now JMO, but I can't think of any other case where a family was so quick to say that, sure it would be in their mind, but to voice it would tear them apart. Now having said that......that does not mean at all that I am accusing anyone, only that I thought it odd. Maybe everyone needs to stop and realize that a comment can be made about something without it being an attack on the family and chill out. And if there are posts that peeps don't want to discuss, they can skip over them.

ETA: Actually my original thought was I wondered if SD had picked up on something from (vibe) from Mona and was already suspecting her when he said that.

 

[jjenny]

Thank you. That's the point I'm trying to make, even tho I'm doing a terrible job at it. I know there is a wealth of evidence against MN. I get that. But LE has seemed to have wrapped up this investigation so quickly that something just doesn't feel right to me. I want every option explored. I want this case to go to trial with 100% certainty that whoever did this gets convicted and gets what he/she deserves. All I keep thinking is that if I'm having these questions, what happens if a juror has the same questions?

There is never a 100 % certainly of anything when it comes to jury trials. But the investigation isn't wrapped up, I am sure all the forensic tests are being done. No doubt they will test her apartment, her car, etc.

 

[peeples]

I would think that "Mona" type of people, can be encountered in any socioeconomic group of people. There are no specific boundaries.

While i agree with that to a degree. I think a lot of "psychos" also have a lot of mental illness (not necessarily court certified), mentally ill people are not as likely to have higher education, keep employment, and are MORE likely to abuse legal and illegal substances the above things will put them in a lower socioeconomic status. Obviously i'm sure you could google and come up with things to dispute this there is exceptions to everything.

P.S. not saying mona is mentally ill. i think she's a flat out sadist.