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

[philamena]

Thanks mmmbrownies.

 

[mmmbrownies]

Have you noticed that there is little about this case on local news stations?
I read today in one of the local papers that the cops know the COD but are not releasing it. I undersand that.
But why haven't we heard anything about the perp?

I've thought that they've known the cause of death for a long time. I'd guess they knew it shortly after they transported her out of the home, minimum a few hours, max the next day. There's a part of me that doesn't want to know the specifics of her death, having a daughter myself, it sickens me as it is that this happened, it's compounded by the fact that it's 2 blocks from me and worsened by the rumors. I can't help but sit here and think that logically, it's not random, but there's the lack of information that late at night when there's a loud noise make you think. I find myself checking on mine 6-7 times a night now.

[/quote] IF she was bound with duct tape, duct tape holds fingerprints...unless the perp wore gloves. Surely there was forensic evidence in the home.
What about the front porch, the steps, were there footprints on the outside of the house/ inside. [/quote]

Unless they "should have been there". Again with this the police are not saying. According to what police have been saying, there's a minimal amount of usable evidence.

[/quote]IMO the perp wasn't waiting in the house for Meghan...he came to the house after she borrowed mac and cheese from the neighor.

Wonder if anyone close by saw a strange car, or even a familiar car near her house. Did anyone see a man walking down the street or the sidewalk after the high school kids got home from school that day?[/quote]

There's been nothing said, not even in the most outlandish rumor. Knowing people are creatures of habit, knowing that we discount people that are familiar, it would seem that there was no cause for alarm, until of course it was too late.

 

[philamena]

mmmbrownies,
I didn't realize you are only 2 blocks away. I'm sure this has you worried. My children are either teens or grown but I still worry about them.
My gut is telling me this is no random crime.

Hopefully Meghan's killer will be arrested soon.
Then you won't have to worry so much.

 

[mmmbrownies]

Truely I don't think it's random either.

Given the inflamed emotional response to even the allegation of someone being molested can cause rationality to be put aside and cause people to overlook things.

I could be totally wrong thinking that:

No one heard anything unusual; thereby there was nothing loud going on, ie - no gunshots. Which will allow the cause of death to be something less obtrusive, stabbing, strangling.

No one saw anything out of the ordinary; this means everything that everyone saw through the day didn't strike them as strange. It would allow for one to think that something isn't adding up, because who would have had the time?

She acted worried, and out of the ordinary; which means she was under stress. Testifying in court would give someone this sense of angst, so would many other things. Threats (quiet or otherwise) from someone to do harm, rough time at home, something...

(I don't mean to sound callous about the rest of this)

Silent murders are brutal, and personal; they happen because of anger. Angry people generally know each other. When there's anger there's loss of rationality and anything can happen. They're normally overdone. Had it been a "hired" murder, it would have been quick since that person wouldn't have much emotionally invested in it.

In most murders committed, the murderer and the victim have intimate knowledge of each other; plain and simple, they knew each other, and probably well.

Adding this up -

At some point there was a confrontation between her and someone else. She had been acting abnormally, which could mean that there were more than one confrontation. She got home, talked to a neighbor and felt better about things. After that the person that she had the confrontations shows up (regardless of how, since nothing has been said about anything being out of the ordinary, I wouldn't think it was someone sneaking through a window - think more like a backdoor). There's words, an arguement, already angry person is now incensed, maybe a little scuffle ensues. The angry person is raging, not thinking straight, controls the situation and acts out the anger.

From here, they maybe leave.

4:00 PM Her body is discovered and police arrive.

It's not outside the realm of possiblity that it wasn't so much a premeditated homicide as it was a confrontation that went totally off the rails. I'm not making an excuse for it either, I full well feel that regardless of the situation, whomever should be spared no mercy, since by all accounts none was spared to her.

 

[philamena]

Excellent post mmmbrownies.
You made a valid point about the 'silent murder'. I wish we knew how she was killed. If Meghan was shot, a silencer was used or 'something' was used to hide the sound of the gun.
If she was stabbed or strangled, her mouth may have been taped or she could have been gagged.

So many unanswered questions.


More random questions.
Wonder if the perp was hiding at her house when she got there....could the perp have been waiting for her to get home from school?


Earlier yesterday someone said the computers were removed from Meghan's home.
Could this have been an Internet stalking murder?
What about school bullies? She was well liked but was someone jealous?

Her step father found her....does he usually get home at 4pm ish?
What time does the mom usually get home?
How long has the mom and the step dad been married?

Where is Meghan's cell phone?
When was the last time she talked on the phone?
How many calls did she receive between school letting out and her step dad finding her?
WHO made the calls?

 

[mmmbrownies]

Well -

The practicality and actual availability of a silencer isn't likely. They're incredibly expensive (the ones that work), highly illegal and really hard to get. Homemade ones don't really work all that well.

The notion that he was hiding in her house for an extended period of time doesn't seem likely given that she wasn't murdered immediately on her return home. It would have been more likely that whomever showed up afterwards. Every minute he was in the house with her in it he risked discovery. Remember, it was something in the neighborhood of an hour or more before she was murdered upon her getting home, in that time everyone will make a noticeable sound (cough, sneeze, it's allergy season too). Besides, the liklihood of someone being in your house without you knowing it is pretty low. It's possible, not really probable though.

I'd discount the internet stalking murder, while it does happen I tend to think it's sensationalized to a degree, besides that I don't know that it would have the emotional investment required for a brutal killing unless it was someone that she already knew... which takes me back to it was someone that she was intimately acquainted with.

I would imagine that the cel phone is at the Portsmouth Police department along with the computer and everything is being transcribed to paper.

The phone records aren't being spoken of, in fact not much is. Which could be working to the police's advantage, because if they say they're asking for the help of the public, they could just be lulling someone into a false sense of confidence. The dumber they look to whomever did it, the more comfortable that person becomes, the lazier they'll get about keeping their mouth shut. Eventually guilt will set in.

 

[noZme]

see post #15 on the 1st page:

"in the comments after an article on wavy tv 10 in norfork , there are several references to this being a revenge killing by a guy who had recently been released from jail for molesting this same girl last year. that must be who the cops were questioning immediately after the murder was discovered."

seems i am responsible for the molester theory. i clearly stated that was from the comments rather than the wavy report. because it was mentioned so early before the rumormill had time to take off, i thought it may have credence.

does anyone know the origin of her being due to testify the next day?

i check here and the news sources every day. facts are few and speculation is rampant. i hope investigators will make an arrest soon.

 

[Chicogirl36]

No one has confirmed she was bound, sexually assaulted, or even molested last year. Being possibly bound was a tip sent to Steve Huff:

Tips sent to The True Crime Weblog indicate that there is local talk about how Meghan died, and the possible killer. She may have been bound and cut with a sharp instrument. It has also been suggested that Meghan was assaulted in the past, but no further details are available at this time.

http://www.truecrimeweblog.com/2008/04/all-american-girl-murder-of-meghan.html

I started reading this trajedy over at Steve's site, but got wrapped up here- Thanks for the clarification SS- I need to do better homework (and work on my spelling-ughhh) :chicken:
OT- I have always wanted to use that chicken, so why not now on myself...lol

 

[Chicogirl36]

Who is the suspect?? Has he been named?

Not that I know of Indi, but Steve Huff's site has some great reporting along with completely different types of comments IMO.
I used to theorize that people were too intimidated by larger boards like WS (no offense, just speaking from experience. You feel like an outsider at first until you throw your hat in the ring, and then most EVERYONE is so nice ). AT Steves's, there is a diffferent format with just comments, and it seems people speak more openly when in those cases, but I am by far NO EXPERT, just speaking from my own experience and observations. :crazy:

I hope I havent offended any of the boards, Just trying to state an opinion-I hope you understand my intentons.

 

[Chicogirl36]

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.

I agree lizzy and have been saying this all along. From the sounds of things, YES, it seems like she was targeted.
Until LE or NCIS come out and let the public know that they have a POI or at least not to think that there is a murderer on the loose, PLEASE keep your doors and windows locked, as well as ALL your babies close to you.
This has made me worry since day 1 that they havent addressed it. It seems odd since usually they try and put the public either at ease or make them more aware.

From all of the odd things that have /havent happened yet, I hope thay have a darn good explanation for all of this. I too, would be nervous of all of this if I was a Portsmouth resident. My red flags would go up even higher since I have a daughter her same age.

I feel like a broken record, but I continue to pray for this family and hope y'all who are religeous to do the same. They need as much comfort they can get right now, and IMHO, God is the best comforter. I have been accused of being a "crazy church lady" on this board by someone who I DID respect, and that person knows who they are. I dont need to defend my faith, as this is not a religeous forum, but I am asking this person as nice as I possibly can to not bash me again. I am simply stating some of the positive I can do from so far away, by praying for this families needs.

I brought this up and before and cant seem to find my post. It pretty much boils down to two scenariosand Im sure there are more)

Where is the public out cry for the capture of this creep? I know that I for one would be pounding on LE's doors waiting for a legit answer.

Forgive me for letting your name slip (so many have been so kind and helpful) , but someone brought up the fact that they are waiting for him to slip up and at the same time, gather evidence to put him away for good. While I agree that we must be patient (and cases arent solved in 45 mins like on CSI), at least give the public sometime of re-assurance that they have a suspect or at least someone in mind.

I come from from a family of LE. I have spoken to them in detail about this case (and believe it or not, more than half do not like forums like this because it spreads too much rumor and innuendos). The ones against it were old-school detectives and the younger cops LOVE forums becasue a lot of times, the real perps often sign in to see where LE is heading. I guess it could be a catch 22 both ways.

Please forgive me if I sound loopy- Im on pain meds, cant sleep, and its 4:54 am- UGHHH!!

Maybe with this mext week coming up, LE will release at least the COD and some more details that may make locals feel more

 

[lizzybeth]

I was told by someone in LE not to worry too much that there isn't any "Mike Myers" in the neighborhood. This wasn't random. It doesn't make me feel any better for Meghan's family or mine.

From everything I've heard and read Meghan was well liked at school, at dance class and Tiger Martial Arts. No one had/has anything bad to say about this girl.

In my opinion it was someone that knew exactly what they were doing. Possibly even having some special training in something like this. Who would have that? Someone in the military. I'm not saying it was the POI that was questioned but it could be someone he paid to do it. Living in this area, I've met Marines, Sailors, Seals, etc. They're not all, I'm not sure how to say this because I respect all military and appreciate what they stand for and what they do, but there are some "cold", not quite so sane ones in there.

I don't think it was another teenager that did it out of rage because she turned them down. If some other kid was after her (whether romantically or otherwise) all the other girls at school would know that. She would have talked with some of them. I haven't even heard a rumor of that.

Another question, has it been confirmed that there was only one person?

I wonder if she was killed the way that we've heard how that person left the house without having blood all over them. Was he parked nearby and able to get out of the house without anyone knowing? I find that hard to believe unless his car/truck was one seen in that neighborhood often. If he cleaned up there I would think there would be evidence of that.

So many questions and hardly any answers. Chicogirl, I believe in prayer too. God doesn't always answer them the way that you want them to but sometimes He does. I will definitely keep Meghan, her family and her friends in my prayers, and pray for LE who definitely needs some help in this.

 

[mmmbrownies]

see post #15 on the 1st page:

"in the comments after an article on wavy tv 10 in norfork , there are several references to this being a revenge killing by a guy who had recently been released from jail for molesting this same girl last year. that must be who the cops were questioning immediately after the murder was discovered."

seems i am responsible for the molester theory. i clearly stated that was from the comments rather than the wavy report. because it was mentioned so early before the rumormill had time to take off, i thought it may have credence.

does anyone know the origin of her being due to testify the next day?

i check here and the news sources every day. facts are few and speculation is rampant. i hope investigators will make an arrest soon.

I don't think that you're responsible per se for the rumor, I first heard it before I even got to these boards. The first time I saw it on here was as a post to an article response to something on Wavys' website. The rumormill was up and running long before you posted anything about it. The thing I see being problematic about it is that any type of sex crime we all find abhorrent, so even the hint of it throws people into a frenzy. Even people in prison do, that's why sex offenders are routinely beaten and worse - when they do get caught (somewhat poeticly if you ask me). Right off, the rumor hit and everyone said "THAT'S THE GUY!" when it might not have been. For all we know it could have been the kid that asked her to the prom and she said "no" to. The Portsmouth Police are no doubt dealing with the same thing as well, probably not from their point of view but when questioning people. That alone will slow things down. :banghead:

 

[Blink34]

Hmmmm...yes it would be for torture. Everything does keep pointing back to the one person if he exists and the rumor is true. It would just fit, wouldn't it?

It is hard to believe no one except LE and possibly NCIS knows who this guy is yet. I would like to see his photo leaked to the media to see if anyone can jog their memory to maybe place him in the neighborhood. What kind of vehicle does he drive? All these things should be out there, imo.

If he was a civilian we would know everything including his last haircut-
If it turns out he has no involvement I will apologize, but I am pretty much over this shroud of secrecy if there is a military element in a case. The people in this neighborhood are justifiably scared and deserve some peace of mind.

 

[Blink34]

I don't think that you're responsible per se for the rumor, I first heard it before I even got to these boards. The first time I saw it on here was as a post to an article response to something on Wavys' website. The rumormill was up and running long before you posted anything about it. The thing I see being problematic about it is that any type of sex crime we all find abhorrent, so even the hint of it throws people into a frenzy. Even people in prison do, that's why sex offenders are routinely beaten and worse - when they do get caught (somewhat poeticly if you ask me). Right off, the rumor hit and everyone said "THAT'S THE GUY!" when it might not have been. For all we know it could have been the kid that asked her to the prom and she said "no" to. The Portsmouth Police are no doubt dealing with the same thing as well, probably not from their point of view but when questioning people. That alone will slow things down. :banghead:

MM- as I believe you are the closest, can you describe how in that house a person might get in or out of it undetected?

 

[mmmbrownies]

MM- as I believe you are the closest, can you describe how in that house a person might get in or out of it undetected?

This, and the part about how he/she got out and got away bothers me. It was a nice day after a non typical winter. Doors and windows were open, myself I cut my grass for the first time this year that evening when I got home from work. Nice day, people were opening up houses to air them out, windows were open, door were open.

I don't remember everyone I see on my street everyday, I do take note of people I've never seen before and they kinda stick. Personally, I think whomever was someone that people are used to seeing there and didn't think twice about since they didn't stick out. I'm constantly surprised at how much of my environment I see, and know it's there but discount because it's always there - or is supposed to be there.

As far as a clandestine in/out a back door would have probably worked. The gas meters were also being read about that time too so someone walking up to the house, walking to the back and through a gate or just into a backyard would have been nothing that stuck out so much either.

 

[Blink34]

That's great info, thanks MM. However at her actual house, what is behind it? Tree-line? alley? If you can give us a picture of that possible access it would help.

 

[mmmbrownies]

That's great info, thanks MM. However at her actual house, what is behind it? Tree-line? alley? If you can give us a picture of that possible access it would help.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/%5B1-36%5D+Roberts+Ct+W+Portsmouth+VA+23701/
Zoom in to the 3rd to closest. There's a Grocery store and further south at Elmhurst Ct are some townhouses.

 

[Blink34]

Does the Shortt house "back up" to the treeline/and then the parking lot? Or is it across on the side of the street?

 

[mmmbrownies]

Does the Shortt house "back up" to the treeline/and then the parking lot? Or is it across on the side of the street?

I'm going to say it backs up to the back side of the Grocery store, there's no alley there or anything like that, pretty sure it's a fenced off area with some trees (to seperate the business from backyard). I can't be real specific I've only ever been in that shopping center and not in any of the backyards there.

I know what you're thinking too, could have parked there, hopped the fence and... which would make sense, but then how did whatever get in that stormdrain further down the street? I don't know for sure, but the accumulated rain in the days following would most likely not produce sufficient current to wash something of some wieght down that far.

 

[Blink34]

Absolutely- I would seek to find out if the parking lot has security cams.
Since we don't know the relevance of the find in the storm drain, we can't assume it is related to Meghan's case, although it could be likely.

Do you know if they searched that area?