TX TX - Julie Moseley, 9, Mary Trlica, 17, Lisa Wilson, 14, Fort Worth, 23 Dec 1974 #7

[Ozoner]

There are reasons the car was parked where it was, some innocent, some not. No idea which, if any, are true.
* some people park far away to reduce the chance of door dings

That is true now because they're making parking spaces narrower and narrower. Eventually you won't be able to open your door; you'll have to roll down the window and slither out. I don't know whether that would have been an issue back in 1974 with angled parking and wide spaces.

* someone not comfortable parking such a large car might park far away where there might be more maneuvering room

Again, virtually all parking lots had angled parking back in the 70s. This trend toward perpendicular parking that leads to door dings didn't start until the 80s (at least not where I live). With angled parking, maneuvering wasn't really an issue.

* young people would not be as bothered by the walking distance

Perhaps.

* it was the busiest time of the year and the only open spots might be there

No argument.

* it would be an easier spot to drop a car, unnoticed by the crowds

Considering that I believe that the car was staged at the mall, this reason gets my vote.

 

[Chypre]

There are reasons the car was parked where it was, some innocent, some not. No idea which, if any, are true.
* some people park far away to reduce the chance of door dings
* someone not comfortable parking such a large car might park far away where there might be more maneuvering room
* young people would not be as bothered by the walking distance
* it was the busiest time of the year and the only open spots might be there
* it would be an easier spot to drop a car, unnoticed by the crowds

And, if the girls made it there, a good place to pull over and change into new clothes.

 

[Brightchaser47]

So, we have the car parked at the mall, in an out of the way place, with no signs of foul play or that a struggle took place.
Assuming (for the moment) that it was staged, where are the girls?
1. Being held back at the house on Minot
(Who is present at that house, at that time?)
2. Dead (possibly buried) at the house on Minot. ( Again, who's there?)
3. Taken elsewhere in a different vehicle to be disposed of --this would involve placing bodies in a large trunk or a van (what would have been available?)Also, for now, let's assume they didn't go to the shop. What other options are there?

Was that a camping trailer that was parked in TT's backyard, and was it empty at this time?

 

[Brightchaser47]

And, if the girls made it there, a good place to pull over and change into new clothes.

Couldn't Renee have changed pants in the A/N Store (fitting room)?

 

[T rex]

There are reasons the car was parked where it was, some innocent, some not. No idea which, if any, are true.
* some people park far away to reduce the chance of door dings
* someone not comfortable parking such a large car might park far away where there might be more maneuvering room
* young people would not be as bothered by the walking distance
* it was the busiest time of the year and the only open spots might be there
* it would be an easier spot to drop a car, unnoticed by the crowds

Considering that I believe that the car was staged at the mall, this reason gets my vote.

And, if the girls made it there, a good place to pull over and change into new clothes.

I agree with all of this. There's a lot of reasons why the car could have been in the outer perimeter of the parking lot.
If it was staged then it's simply to get in, find a spot and get out as quickly as possible. If the car was where Rachel left it then she possibly could have met someone there.

 

[Chypre]

Couldn't Renee have changed pants in the A/N Store (fitting room)?

Yes

 

[FW_Froggy]

To my knowledge the Police haven't said anything since they commented in 2001 when they said they believe the girls left the Mall with someone they trusted and were harmed. They have narrowed the people of interest to under five. Police say they were seen at the Mall by numerous people. In DJ's notes he says he believes the disappearance to be between 3;15 and 4;30PM. My question is if the girls are buried somewhere where is your best guess as to where that would be?

 

[beubeubeu]

Was Rachel considered as an adult since marriage? Or was she in some sort of custody - and if so, who had that: TT or Arnold's?

 

[FW_Froggy]

Was Rachel considered as an adult since marriage? Or was she in some sort of custody - and if so, who had that: TT or Arnold's?

At 16 in 1974 in Texas you had to have parental consent to marry.

 

[Brightchaser47]

To my knowledge the Police haven't said anything since they commented in 2001 when they said they believe the girls left the Mall with someone they trusted and were harmed. They have narrowed the people of interest to under five. Police say they were seen at the Mall by numerous people. In DJ's notes he says he believes the disappearance to be between 3;15 and 4;30PM. My question is if the girls are buried somewhere where is your best guess as to where that would be?

I have a problem with DJ's timeline, since the girls never made their noon lunch date...

 

[beubeubeu]

At 16 in 1974 in Texas you had to have parental consent to marry.

But past that point - was Rachel legally considered an adult, could vote, drink, sign all sorts of legal documents, or did she still had some sort of guardian?

 

[Brightchaser47]

To my knowledge the Police haven't said anything since they commented in 2001 when they said they believe the girls left the Mall with someone they trusted and were harmed. They have narrowed the people of interest to under five. Police say they were seen at the Mall by numerous people. In DJ's notes he says he believes the disappearance to be between 3;15 and 4;30PM. My question is if the girls are buried somewhere where is your best guess as to where that would be?

I have a problem with DJ's timeline, since the girls never made their noon lunch date...

 

[FW_Froggy]

I have a problem with DJ's timeline, since the girls never made their noon lunch date...

I think they barely left Gordon by noon. The police report says they were last seen at Gordon at noon.

 

[Brightchaser47]

I think they barely left Gordon by noon. The police report says they were last seen at Gordon at noon.

So is the "noon lunch" misinformation, or my misunderstanding?

 

[FW_Froggy]

So is the "noon lunch" misinformation, or my misunderstanding?

That's what was said But I don't think anybody was at Seminary South at Noon. Two police reports say last seen at noon and DA's police report says last seen at 12;30PM.

 

[Brightchaser47]

That's what was said But I don't think anybody was at Seminary South at Noon. Two police reports say last seen at noon and DA's police report says last seen at 12;30PM.

Does DA's report apply only to Rachel, or to all three girls?

 

[FW_Froggy]

Does DA's report apply only to Rachel, or to all three girls?

All three have a last seen report. So this would be Rachel's last seen report from DA to police.

 

[Brightchaser47]

That's what was said But I don't think anybody was at Seminary South at Noon. Two police reports say last seen at noon and DA's police report says last seen at 12;30PM.

If that's accurate, it would imply the girls did stop at the house on Minot, right after the A/N Store.
What I don't understand is how the girls were seen at the mall, but missed their lunch date-- no matter when it was. I don't believe they would've  willingly skipped out on that, just to go off with someone else.

 

[FW_Froggy]

If that's accurate, it would imply the girls did stop at the house on Minot, right after the A/N Store.
What I don't understand is how the girls were seen at the mall, but missed their lunch date-- no matter when it was. I don't believe they would've  willingly skipped out on that, just to go off with someone else.

I guess the reason that doesn't bother me is I've been to that Mall hundreds of times with my family back then and we'd always agree to meet at the Big Fountain at a certain time and never did we ALL ever make it at the time designated.

 

[Pricklykitty]

If that's accurate, it would imply the girls did stop at the house on Minot, right after the A/N Store.
What I don't understand is how the girls were seen at the mall, but missed their lunch date-- no matter when it was. I don't believe they would've  willingly skipped out on that, just to go off with someone else.

I get the feeling the timing of the meeting wasn't a set in stone thing. Reading accounts of the time my impression was the friends were following along pretty soon and were anticipating getting to the mall around the same time that the trio would get there after their visit to army & navy. So if either party was held up a little then they could easily miss each other. I could be wrong, but it seemed like a real casual arrangement.
That said I find it hard to believe they didn't bump into anyone they knew at the mall ( apart from the account of a suspish 1am call to the A's)

I also wondered if the 12.30 last seen meant that DA had seen RT after she collected RW and JM