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

[Brightchaser47]

Which one of the P.I.'s was it who claimed to have been following the girls' case as a "hobby", before they were hired?

 

[beubeubeu]

FW Cat was pretty adamant about TT being left a truck by his parents. VI insiders on his behalf say it wasn’t so.

Did anyone ever find any proof on either? The talk about a second vehicle kind of lost its steam after the first couple threads.

DA here also said that he inherited two cars after his father's passing but while it seems like some people are pretty confident about that, there is not as much confidence in claims that he still owned these cars in December.
At the time he would be still married to ST, new fiancees still also not in the picure yet - not really a good reason for him to keep more cars. He could just sell that car right away or give it to a family member.
Those who were looking for any "missing" cars haven't found any track of a car that would belong to him before December '74 and mysteriously "disappear" after. So they went into theoretical assumption that he inherited even more cars, and Olds wasn't any of those two, since he got it earlier...
As far as I remember it led them nowhere, and no one was able to say what car they're looking for. And pretty sure that FW Cat was the one expressing confidence that none of those cars lifted in 2018 could possibly have anything to do with the girls, cause there is no missing car.

Nobody's going to find a proof that some car that wasn't legally connected to TT disappeared in December if everyone who could remember that car lost track of it years earlier.
But I'd think that IF TT indeed owned another car and was using it on daily basis to get to and back from work... wouldn't his neighbours pointed it out sooner or later?

 

[beubeubeu]

In reading through old threads/posts, I keep seeing the phrase "LE knows exactly what happened, but they can't prove it" (and variations of that). How can they be that certain, if indeed, they have no bodies? I'm not criticizing LE-- just trying to figure out a few things.
Also, I'd like anyone's thoughts on that newspaper article (Marshall News Messenger, Wed July 2,1975) mentioning JS's phone conversations with unknown male, who claims to have knowledge of girls's. whereabouts. He does not indicate whether they are dead or alive. His "terms" were 1)reward money, 2) he'd  only turn himself in to/deal with the District Attorney, and 3) only that, on the understanding he'd get full immunity from prosecution of any involvement he may have had in the girls' disappearance. When the DA stated such immunity would  not extend to involvement in their deaths, "negotiations" were over, and the man refused to meet with anyone.

It was the same gooschase that lead family members to suspect that guy watched "Dirty Harry" too many times.

 

[beubeubeu]

Which one of the P.I.'s was it who claimed to have been following the girls' case as a "hobby", before they were hired?

Dan James.

 

[beubeubeu]

It's been said he died because he "was getting too close to the truth" of what happened to the girls. Also, he allegedly had "dirt" on several "important" people. Whether those claims are true or not, is it  possible that a "dirty cop" (or detective) was involved in either his death or the girls' disappearance?

It could mean something as well as nothing.
People dislike simple explanations, and those stories about people dying cause they "got too close to the truth" are always there, as long as there is 1. unsolved mystery 2. someone dying. Sometimes they're right, sometimes they're not. Less you know for sure, more possibilities you have to consider.

 

[Brightchaser47]

Dan James.

Thanks. When exactly was he hired, and by whom? I think I've read differing versions of this, and would like to nail it down.

 

[beubeubeu]

Thanks. When exactly was he hired, and by whom? I think I've read differing versions of this, and would like to nail it down.

What versions have you seen?
I got only the one that makes me roll my eyes cause allegedly RA picked his ad from newspaper at random, called him just to learn that guy is already following this case, that he was even discussing it with Swaim and that he's more than happy to work for free just to help RA solve it. Sometime around 2000.

 

[beubeubeu]

When JS was on the case, did he seem to draw attention to or away from anyone in particular?
Same goes for DJ. Did he seem to be  protecting or vilifying any particular person?

JS was going hard on some mysterious assassin-abductor with complicated scenarios to follow.

DJ went way beyong hard on DA and TT, but in a weird way. Like 100% of his focus was to prove that TT wrote the letter and DA helped him with it and knew something, has to know something, knows something for sure, not on the girls disappearance, not on the disappearance AND the letter, but like full speed on the letter + following some alleged tips just to come back straight to the letter and reminding everyone that DA surely knows something.

 

[Brightchaser47]

What versions have you seen?
I got only the one that makes me roll my eyes cause allegedly RA picked his ad from newspaper at random, called him just to learn that guy is already following this case, that he was even discussing it with Swaim and that he's more than happy to work for free just to help RA solve it.

I can understand why people would question James' role in all this. I wonder if/how he and Swaim actually knew each other.

 

[Brightchaser47]

JS was going hard on some mysterious assassin-abductor with complicated scenarios to follow.

DJ went way beyong hard on DA and TT, but in a weird way. Like 100% of his focus was to prove that TT wrote the letter and DA helped him with it and knew something, has to know something, knows something for sure, not on the girls disappearance, not on the disappearance AND the letter, but like full speed on the letter + following some alleged tips just to come back straight to the letter and reminding everyone that DA surely knows something.

Swaim had a flair for the dramatic (to say the least). Sounds to me like he was aiming to pit DA against TT (with that "anonymous caller" story mentioned a few posts back), and James took that idea and ran with it, pretty strongly.
FWIW, I don't believe DA helped write the letter. I can believe TT capable of "jealousy gotten out of hand", but I  cannot bring myself to believe DA capable of murdering children (or helping someone else to). Helping to dispose of bodies under duress, maybe (followed by blackmail, perhaps).

 

[Brightchaser47]

 TGwebs made some interesting points back on Thread 2 (pg 39, post 772), regarding LE's comments in 2001.
I would like to add:
* LE were  certain "they were seen at one point, with one individual" (photo booth, maybe?)
*yet at least one witness claimed "it appeared they were in the company of/or being followed by a particular guy"-- implying more than just a brief encounter, IMO
* "we believe there was more than one individual involved" (less certain wording-- why?)

 

[FW_Froggy]

Swaim had a flair for the dramatic (to say the least). Sounds to me like he was aiming to pit DA against TT (with that "anonymous caller" story mentioned a few posts back), and James took that idea and ran with it, pretty strongly.
FWIW, I don't believe DA helped write the letter. I can believe TT capable of "jealousy gotten out of hand", but I  cannot bring myself to believe DA capable of murdering children (or helping someone else to). Helping to dispose of bodies under duress, maybe (followed by blackmail, perhaps).

Have you ever met DA?

 

[Brightchaser47]

Have you ever met DA?

No, I haven't. Based on what I've read on this forum, I believe she has serious issues (if I may put it that way), but I'm not convinced she's a killer.

 

[Brightchaser47]

It's always possible, but what would have been the motive of a dirty cop in taking the girls?

I had a train of thought on this, but I've thrown it out.

 

[T rex]

I don't know if this has been discussed before or maybe I just overlooked it or forgot but there seems to have been two addresses in Arlington for Arnold's Transmission, 144 S Collins and 801 E abram. I took a look at the satellite images for both and 144 Collins does appear to be a garage but 801 abram is an office building. These places are not far apart but have train tracks between them that would cause a longer travel time between the two.There also appears to be only one phone number for both. I don't know if I could somehow be getting this wrong, maybe someone else could take a look at it. I have posted the ad with the addresses and a link with some info on 801 abram, which according to it was a brand new building at that time. IIRC, 801 Abram is also listed as the mailing address with the Texas SoS. I don't know what the exchange center is and I'm a little confused about it, maybe it's nothing but if it is it could be something to know. Can someone help me out on this?

801 E Abram St, Arlington, TX 76010 | LoopNet

801 E Abram St, Arlington, TX 76010. This Office property can be viewed on LoopNet.

www.loopnet.com

 

[Pricklykitty]

I don't know if this has been discussed before or maybe I just overlooked it or forgot but there seems to have been two addresses in Arlington for Arnold's Transmission, 144 S Collins and 801 E abram. I took a look at the satellite images for both and 144 Collins does appear to be a garage but 801 abram is an office building. These places are not far apart but have train tracks between them that would cause a longer travel time between the two.There also appears to be only one phone number for both. I don't know if I could somehow be getting this wrong, maybe someone else could take a look at it. I have posted the ad with the addresses and a link with some info on 801 abram, which according to it was a brand new building at that time. IIRC, 801 Abram is also listed as the mailing address with the Texas SoS. I don't know what the exchange center is and I'm a little confused about it, maybe it's nothing but if it is it could be something to know. Can someone help me out on this?

801 E Abram St, Arlington, TX 76010 | LoopNet

801 E Abram St, Arlington, TX 76010. This Office property can be viewed on LoopNet.

www.loopnet.com

View attachment 410812

I have gone round in circles trying to figure the locations of the shops out as there is also another Arlington address on the ad posted below. RA gives the west division address when asked where the shop was, but I've been unable to figure out when and why the shop moved, or why there are two addresses given in the ad you posted. Same telephone number though. To be honest I have trouble finding out very much about the shop/business

Edit to add that the 406 Taylor street address is still a transmission shop

 

[jetsfanjohn]

 TGwebs made some interesting points back on Thread 2 (pg 39, post 772), regarding LE's comments in 2001.
I would like to add:
* LE were  certain "they were seen at one point, with one individual" (photo booth, maybe?)
*yet at least one witness claimed "it appeared they were in the company of/or being followed by a particular guy"-- implying more than just a brief encounter, IMO
* "we believe there was more than one individual involved" (less certain wording-- why?)

I would guess the person that they were seen with was 'CJG'.

 

[Valiant]

DA here also said that he inherited two cars after his father's passing but while it seems like some people are pretty confident about that, there is not as much confidence in claims that he still owned these cars in December.
At the time he would be still married to ST, new fiancees still also not in the picure yet - not really a good reason for him to keep more cars. He could just sell that car right away or give it to a family member.
Those who were looking for any "missing" cars haven't found any track of a car that would belong to him before December '74 and mysteriously "disappear" after. So they went into theoretical assumption that he inherited even more cars, and Olds wasn't any of those two, since he got it earlier...
As far as I remember it led them nowhere, and no one was able to say what car they're looking for. And pretty sure that FW Cat was the one expressing confidence that none of those cars lifted in 2018 could possibly have anything to do with the girls, cause there is no missing car.

Nobody's going to find a proof that some car that wasn't legally connected to TT disappeared in December if everyone who could remember that car lost track of it years earlier.
But I'd think that IF TT indeed owned another car and was using it on daily basis to get to and back from work... wouldn't his neighbours pointed it out sooner or later?

Every mechanic shop that’s been in business for a decent amount of time eventually has unclaimed cars sitting around. Example: a customer takes advantage of the free towing offer to get his car towed in. The estimate for the repairs are more than the customer wants or can pay. The customer would then have to pay the tow bill to get their car back and go to another shop. So they either abandon the car or sign the car over to the shop for forgiveness of towing and diagnostic charges. The shop now owns the car, or eventually will through a mechanic lien, which could be repaired and driven (or even possibly be driven as is until a complete failure occurs). The customer would no longer know anything about their abandoned car, likely figuring it is scrapped like most abandoned cars are. Reputable shops would not operate a car like this until they have full title in their name, but someone looking for a disposable car might.
Or someone uses a customer car in a “test drive” and removes the girls, either alive or dead. If dead, the act probably happened outside the vehicle and there was no blood loss from the bodies.

 

[Brightchaser47]

JS was going hard on some mysterious assassin-abductor with complicated scenarios to follow.

DJ went way beyong hard on DA and TT, but in a weird way. Like 100% of his focus was to prove that TT wrote the letter and DA helped him with it and knew something, has to know something, knows something for sure, not on the girls disappearance, not on the disappearance AND the letter, but like full speed on the letter + following some alleged tips just to come back straight to the letter and reminding everyone that DA surely knows something.

I think some have seen DA as the "weak link" in this case. It seems the thinking for years has been along the lines of "break down DA, and you'll catch a killer, and the case will be solved". The problem is, in 48 long years, DA hasn't broken. Counseling/therapy, yes. Suicide attempt, yes. Psychological distress, yes. But no confessions. Why is that?

 

[Brightchaser47]

I have gone round in circles trying to figure the locations of the shops out as there is also another Arlington address on the ad posted below. RA gives the west division address when asked where the shop was, but I've been unable to figure out when and why the shop moved, or why there are two addresses given in the ad you posted. Same telephone number though. To be honest I have trouble finding out very much about the shop/business

Edit to add that the 406 Taylor street address is still a transmission shop
View attachment 410855

How long was CA in business? It's been suggested the shops/buildings may have been leased (rather than owned), by CA. Maybe there were problems with leases, that prompted a move, and paperwork didn't keep up. Also, did he start the business, or buy an existing business (and rename it)? That might be a factor.