VA - Meghan Landowski, 16, raped & murdered, Portsmouth, 10 April 2008 #1

[philamena]

Hard to believe that Meghan's murderer is still on the loose. I haven't heard much but I can tell you all this, the area residents, my friend included, are livid that there's been no arrest yet. Some feel that LE is not only dragging it's feet but that LE knows who killed Meghan.

Others are saying that LE has no clue who the murderer is. Although Meghan's neighborhood is safe, Portsmouth is one of the tidewater areas roughest city.

 

[lizzybeth]

There are areas of Portsmouth that I wouldn't go to but then there are those like where Meghan lived, very safe. I don't know the statistics but I think Portsmouth sometimes gets a bad rap. Newport News is worse or right up there with it.

I keep hoping that they are just getting things together before they arrest someone so there will be an airtight case but I don't know now...

 

[mmmbrownies]

There are areas of Portsmouth that I wouldn't go to but then there are those like where Meghan lived, very safe. I don't know the statistics but I think Portsmouth sometimes gets a bad rap. Newport News is worse or right up there with it.

I keep hoping that they are just getting things together before they arrest someone so there will be an airtight case but I don't know now...

I completely agree with you on this one.

Portsmouth is NOT what people think it is. Over the last 10 years while no one was looking or paying attention, Portsmouth has cleaned up. The housing areas that were the worst areas are gone, claimed, torn down and are being redeveloped. Portsmouth is an old historic city that was badly mismanaged for years and is trying very hard to reclaim what it once was and there's been more progress than people realize. Every city in the seven cities has it's own problems and advantages. I used to work with a person that lived in Newport News and was making fun of me because I moved to "P-town". He came over to our house one night and was here for about 4 hours or so, next day he told me that he was wrong, that I lived in a better neighborhood than he did.

There are areas of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake that are just as bad as the "rough" parts of Portsmouth. Part of the problem with this city is that the areas that surround it look down on it, criticize it and mock it, but most have never been here and spent more than a few moments in this town.

I can say that in this area I live in now, if I need help with something I know I can ask a neighbor to give me a hand and I'll get it.

 

[Blink34]

I completely agree with you on this one.

Portsmouth is NOT what people think it is. Over the last 10 years while no one was looking or paying attention, Portsmouth has cleaned up. The housing areas that were the worst areas are gone, claimed, torn down and are being redeveloped. Portsmouth is an old historic city that was badly mismanaged for years and is trying very hard to reclaim what it once was and there's been more progress than people realize. Every city in the seven cities has it's own problems and advantages. I used to work with a person that lived in Newport News and was making fun of me because I moved to "P-town". He came over to our house one night and was here for about 4 hours or so, next day he told me that he was wrong, that I lived in a better neighborhood than he did.

There are areas of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake that are just as bad as the "rough" parts of Portsmouth. Part of the problem with this city is that the areas that surround it look down on it, criticize it and mock it, but most have never been here and spent more than a few moments in this town.

I can say that in this area I live in now, if I need help with something I know I can ask a neighbor to give me a hand and I'll get it.

For what it is worth, I think unanimously we agree that this sweet girl, became victim to a known offender; via by a threat or the actual person-this was not random. Who knew the potential for it- who knew the upside- closer to the truth the answers to those will get us.. from where I sit..

 

[lizzybeth]

I rode through Meghan's neighborhood last night. It was dark and I didn't find the street she lived on. I wasn't trying to be a gawker (or at least I didn't think so). It just seemed really important to me to see where she lived, exactly what is close by, etc.

I was told by someone not to worry about being safe in the neighborhood because it wasn't a random act. It doesn't make me feel any better. If someone could kill an innocent little girl like that then they could kill anyone.

 

[lizzybeth]

For what it is worth, I think unanimously we agree that this sweet girl, became victim to a known offender; via by a threat or the actual person-this was not random. Who knew the potential for it- who knew the upside- closer to the truth the answers to those will get us.. from where I sit..

I'm assuming that the police have checked out her computer. Originally (after they released the Navy guy) I thought maybe it was someone she had met on the computer. Maybe this person had threatened through an email or myspace msg. That being why she was nervous that day. If it was someone that talked to her regularly or talked with some of the other kids (some of these kids do not have private pages) then they may have found out that way that it was an early release day.

mmmbrownies, I grew up in Portsmouth. Lived here till I was 21. Then I moved to VA Beach. After divorcing I came back here. I know what neighborhoods to stay out of and feel just as safe here as I did in VA Beach. Unfortunately crime happens everywhere.

 

[MeoW333]

If Meghan's dad's friend molested her a year ago; and they didn't mention her dad's side at all in the obituary, then she would have had to have seen her dad a year ago, right? Does that sound feasible? I'm just trying to figure out the dynamics of her bio dad and that side of the family and why they weren't named in the obituary. I still can't figure out if the man who molested her was her step dad's friend or her bio dad's.
Was Meghan's boyfriend aware of what was going on? At that age, young men are protective of their girlfriends. So it's a wonder she didn't ask him to walk her home..

 

[mmmbrownies]

Her computer was seized early on.

 

[Blink34]

If Meghan's dad's friend molested her a year ago; and they didn't mention her dad's side at all in the obituary, then she would have had to have seen her dad a year ago, right? Does that sound feasible? I'm just trying to figure out the dynamics of her bio dad and that side of the family and why they weren't named in the obituary. I still can't figure out if the man who molested her was her step dad's friend or her bio dad's.
Was Meghan's boyfriend aware of what was going on? At that age, young men are protective of their girlfriends. So it's a wonder she didn't ask him to walk her home..

Does anyone know the name of the bio-dad, when the Shortt's came to this neighborhood, where they moved from, etc. As Elizabeth has neither last name- is their another bio dad? Any background could help- We are all focused on the immediate information, but it could be related to someone else in the family. This is not my personal opinion, I just think it wise to expand our thinking. If your local see if you can ask these and any other questions that might create a sanpshot to start looking at other scenarios.

 

[DeltaDawn]

Just to throw a monkey wrench into the works here..do we know if the person she was testifying against the next day had a S/O? I ask this because many times the woman of the abuser will take up for the abuser against the abused. Meaning the S/O sometimes will try to place the blame on the abused person as to say they lured him in..even when that is not the case. Some women believe that their man can do no wrong..so therefore it is the vic's fault they were abused..not the abusers fault.

Could it be that this man's significant other took matters into their own hands? Could the S/O or someone hired by theS/O be the perp here?

 

[Blink34]

Just to throw a monkey wrench into the works here..do we know if the person she was testifying against the next day had a S/O? I ask this because many times the woman of the abuser will take up for the abuser against the abused. Meaning the S/O sometimes will try to place the blame on the abused person as to say they lured him in..even when that is not the case. Some women believe that their man can do no wrong..so therefore it is the vic's fault they were abused..not the abusers fault.

Could it be that this man's significant other took matters into their own hands? Could the S/O or someone hired by theS/O be the perp here?

I think the "hire" scenario your referencing is a possibility, but by most accounts, some unconfirmed, the perp is a man, and probably of over medium build and strength

 

[mmmbrownies]

I rode through Meghan's neighborhood last night. It was dark and I didn't find the street she lived on. I wasn't trying to be a gawker (or at least I didn't think so). It just seemed really important to me to see where she lived, exactly what is close by, etc.

Roberts W is the street right before the Food Lion/East Side Pizza shopping center traveling on Portsmouth Blvd toward Chesapeake. Easy way to do it is head toward City Park Ave, hook a left on Jewell, go to the end of that street there at Vick make a left and then at the wierd intersection make a left and go into the far left side, storm drain in question is at the corner of the second house's yard and her house was on up the street a little. It took me over a week after I moved here to be able to find my house - it's a confusing little neighborhood

 

[lizzybeth]

If Meghan's dad's friend molested her a year ago; and they didn't mention her dad's side at all in the obituary, then she would have had to have seen her dad a year ago, right? Does that sound feasible? I'm just trying to figure out the dynamics of her bio dad and that side of the family and why they weren't named in the obituary. I still can't figure out if the man who molested her was her step dad's friend or her bio dad's.
Was Meghan's boyfriend aware of what was going on? At that age, young men are protective of their girlfriends. So it's a wonder she didn't ask him to walk her home..

From what I understand they went to different high schools.

I thought maybe they didn't mention the dad because there may have been a break up when she told that his friend had molested her. Maybe bio-dad didn't believe her; maybe he told her just not to say anything; maybe the family holds him responsible since it was his friend.

 

[lizzybeth]

Roberts W is the street right before the Food Lion/East Side Pizza shopping center traveling on Portsmouth Blvd toward Chesapeake. Easy way to do it is head toward City Park Ave, hook a left on Jewell, go to the end of that street there at Vick make a left and then at the wierd intersection make a left and go into the far left side, storm drain in question is at the corner of the second house's yard and her house was on up the street a little. It took me over a week after I moved here to be able to find my house - it's a confusing little neighborhood

I was all around there mmmbrownies and didn't see Roberts Court. It was dark so that's probably why. So she lives closer to me than I realized.

As far as someone hiring another to do this? Well, if the person that molested her has an airtight alibi that doesn't mean he didn't have someone else do it. It just seems too coincidental that she would be killed right before she were to testify if that part of the rumor is true. I don' t think a whole neighborhood would let that be said if it were a rumor. No one has discounted it.

On my way home today I passed Pinecrest Church and Pinecrest has a huge parking lot and there were cars parked all along the street. I'm sure people that didn't even know her are there to pay their respects.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Could this have been a robbery gone wrong? I know LE seems to think it wasn't random, but I keep thinking about her being "bound". I could be off track, but would a perp set on killing her due to preventing her testimony take the time to do this? Her being bound before she was murdered means he needed to subue her for a time. Why?

 

[Chicogirl36]

http://www.legacy.com/pilotonline/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=107712288

Her obituary doesn't mention her biological father.

Sorry for just jumping in lizzy, as this may have already been discussed, but do you think that the father listed in the obit IS real dad? If that was the case, I would find it odd they didnt mention the step dad. I read stepdads name in a topix forum and will see if I can find it again.
It bothers me cuz even if they left bio dad out of the obit, why list step-dad's parents as "paternal grandparents"? That may be how they do it (thankfully I am not an expert on obits).

This may tie into the fact that the POI is supposed to be biodad's friend. It also fits that step dad is a VERY nice man. Not sure how long they were divorced, but both scenarios are plausible IMO.

Again, sorry to jump in here like this, as I am just reading from Friday, and didnt want to forget that scenario.- You guys/gals are great- thanks for the patience

 

[philamena]

Robbery is as good a guess as any. I'm finding the timing of her murder the day before the trial bothersome....I mean what are the chances that was coincidental?

 

[SeriouslySearching]

We have no real confirmation that there was a molestation or she was due to testify the next day. If that were true, I would have expected her parents to have offered her better protection as they seem loving and concerned parents from everything we have heard so far.

I guess I missed it somewhere, but how old is her brother and where was he when this happened? Also, since she was found by her Stepfather at 4:00pm...where did the siblings go after school that day? Did they always go stay somewhere else?

 

[Chicogirl36]

I cant buy the robbery one- It seems too focused on Meghan. I havent heard anything about anything being stolen out of their house, and WHO is going to rob a 16 yr old girl? From crime stats that I have read, most burglars/robbers arent violent and are there for the "high" they get by getting away from stealing. Most run or hide when they see someone come home. He could have took off when she went next door. Im not saying all robbers are like this, cuz there are exceptions to EVERY rule. - unfortunately.

I apologize for my earlier ? about the obit- That speaks volumes. It fits together with the 2 main theories/rumors that people are coming up with.

-Either dad was involved (HE could even be the molester for all we know-has anyone heard otherwise?)
-His friend is the molester and dad was somehow involved/blamed for the incident.

Why else would you leave bio dad out of his daughter's obit? There had to be a damn good reason!!!

-Is the Navy or Marine? In the beginning I only heard Marine, and now we are talink about Navy?

Again, Thanks to all the locals who contribute (and the ones who arent local). I work FULL time PLUS, so its nice to come by, get links and recaps, and accurate news-

Kudos to all :clap: :clap: Keep up the good work!!

 

[Chicogirl36]

SS- I havent heard anything about the siblings activity. In fact, just learned she had a brother- Any idea how old he was/is? Maybe we can do a search on him- I shall be back....lol