Victim: Alexis Murphy, 17, missing from Shipman, VA, 03 August 2013 - #4

[SilkySifaka]

Would it be wrong if I said I don't believe any of it? How can this guy have so many coincidences? I hate to say it, but that bumpkin might be a little smarter than we think. It turns my stomach. I mean even the story and items involved, the hair, the beer bottle, which could have been placed there at a later date, everything has a reason. How could one guy be around when 2 girls are abducted but still he's innocent. I ain't buying it!

Problem is coincidence happens as do weird situations. Which makes it plausible, not probable but plausible.

there was a really weird situation a while ago where they arrested a guy for murder based on his DNA match. luckily for him, he had an iron clad alibi. His defense dug around and made noise and police investigated further..turned out that the ambulance attendants had not cleaned up properly after another call and the dna got transferred to the body. Just an example of a huge coincidence that no one would normally believe

eta, the other call was for the guy they arrested. then they went to the dead body

 

[Dénouement]

http://www.nbc29.com/story/23140117/through-attorney-randy-taylor-tells-his-story

M has commented again :waitasec:

 

[21merc7]

It just occurred to me that RAT would have told his attorney he was simply at the gas station if he had nothing to do with this. Because, if he was simply at the gas station at the same time, he didn't speak to Alexis or do anything, then that is what the story would be. He was just there. Nothing more.

The more elaborate story tells me that he knows that they have stuff on him, he will make more "stories" to go along with any other evidence revealed, additions to the story, until Alexis is found.

 

[popsicle]

I never, ever had to buy pot. Always had friends who had it and wanted me to come with.

 

[21merc7]

With RAT's story, I also realize that he thinks they will find her. That is why the 3rd guy, SODDI bit. That gives me hope that at least she will be found.

 

[SilkySifaka]

http://www.nbc29.com/story/23140117/through-attorney-randy-taylor-tells-his-story

Mary has commented again :waitasec:

Well I am glad it seems he is identified, maybe that will smoke his story out (or not)

 

[popsicle]

Strange to me that she called the defense lawyer and not the police. jmo

 

[SilkySifaka]

I don't like the 5 months til his next court date. That smells of having almost nothing and begging the judge for extra time to make a case. If that is true and his story can't be blown apart then he may well walk. If I was on a jury and the big piece of evidence was a hair in his camper and he had an affirmative defense I would see reasonable doubt. It all depends on what this second guy tells LE and the defense attorney

 

[SilkySifaka]

Strange to me that she called the defense lawyer and not the police. jmo

LE didn't seem to be looking for him, the defense is the one who put the description out.

Which begs another question, why wasn't LE looking for him and asking public for help in finding him? Are they so invested in their theory that they ignored it?

 

[21merc7]

I don't like the 5 months til his next court date. That smells of having almost nothing and begging the judge for extra time to make a case. If that is true and his story can't be blown apart then he may well walk. If I was on a jury and the big piece of evidence was a hair in his camper and he had an affirmative defense I would see reasonable doubt. It all depends on what this second guy tells LE and the defense attorney

The 5 months is ridiculous. I'm not even sure it is legal.

I'll bet the defense attorney has already filed a Motion for Bond Hearing. And, I agree, it is buying time and would look bad if a single hair is all they have. I think they are buying time to find a body, however, you just can't go about it that way.

 

[21merc7]

Strange to me that she called the defense lawyer and not the police. jmo

Getting both sides of the story out?

 

[popsicle]

I don't like the 5 months til his next court date. That smells of having almost nothing and begging the judge for extra time to make a case. If that is true and his story can't be blown apart then he may well walk. If I was on a jury and the big piece of evidence was a hair in his camper and he had an affirmative defense I would see reasonable doubt. It all depends on what this second guy tells LE and the defense attorney

You have to realize... the defense has no idea what they have on rat.

 

[popsicle]

Getting both sides of the story out?

How long before there is a website rat is innocent dot com?

 

[SilkySifaka]

The 5 months is ridiculous. I'm not even sure it is legal.

I'll bet the defense attorney has already filed a Motion for Bond Hearing. And, I agree, it is buying time and would look bad if a single hair is all they have. I think they are buying time to find a body, however, you just can't go about it that way.

Which is why I am not believing LE has anything. Apparently it is legal under some clause that was posted upthread but i suspect that it could be appealed and won if the bond hearing doesn't go the way the defense wants. 5 months??? with no evidence shown?

I wouldn't be nearly as willing to listen to RAT's story if this was being handled normally but this guy has been a thorn in the side of LE ever since he fought their handling of the SC case. Sometimes blinders occur then. Ego's get involved and things are done that wouldn't be done in any other case. I know there are some who say if they weren't sure and had concrete proof then they wouldn't have arrested him bc of the past but I see it as the opposite, they look at whatever they have as concrete proof because their belief in his guilt is so strong.

Purely as a matter of civil rights for everyone, i think the 5 months needs to be jettisoned fast cause it means they can lock anyone up for that length of time with nothing and show nothing to the defense if they choose. That is enough for an innocent person to lose everything he has. You or me or any other innocent person wrongly arrested.

 

[popsicle]

I don't think the FBI would have sought national coverage if they didn't have good evidence against rat. imo

 

[SilkySifaka]

How long before there is a website rat is innocent dot com?

I don't think he is innocent I juxst have seen nothing that shows he is guilty and enough that makes me think they may be jumping the gun. That 5 months is problematic. Very.

I would love it if he was the I29 killer and he may be. But show me some evidence and handle the case normally not as if you need to buy time. It is simple abduction here, if they don't have enough to be ready to go in 30 days then they don't have enough to convict imo.

With the finding of one girl alive, one girl apparently ruled out and another with a different DNA match I see things unraveling a bit.

That said, it looks like he is the one but he doesn't have a violent history, he has a losers history so I am unsure.

Put it another way, i think he is guilty but his story raises doubt and is specific enough that I believe LE has its work cut out for them. It is too specific, the description is one that would lead to the 2nd guy pretty quickly and he knows it.

 

[SilkySifaka]

I don't think the FBI would have sought national coverage if they didn't have good evidence against rat. imo

They believe they have the right guy. It doesn't sound like there is strong evidence or why would they need 5 months

 

[popsicle]

I don't think he is innocent I juxst have seen nothing that shows he is guilty and enough that makes me think they may be jumping the gun. That 5 months is problematic. Very.

I would love it if he was the I29 killer and he may be. But show me some evidence and handle the case normally not as if you need to buy time. It is simple abduction here, if they don't have enough to be ready to go in 30 days then they don't have enough to convict imo.

With the finding of one girl alive, one girl apparently ruled out and another with a different DNA match I see things unraveling a bit.

That said, it looks like he is the one but he doesn't have a violent history, he has a losers history so I am unsure.

Put it another way, i think he is guilty but his story raises doubt and is specific enough that I believe LE has its work cut out for them. It is too specific, the description is one that would lead to the 2nd guy pretty quickly and he knows it.

I don't think he is innocent either however it seems many commenting on the articles do.

He does have a violent hx, just look on his thread. http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219213&page=3

 

[katinva]

lol at pot parade. Isnt there another house on that road before his house? Maybe they saw something.

I never heard anything about her meeting 2 guys and I feel like Ive read every article out there. I actually need to start working and being productive.....this case has consumed my week.

 

[popsicle]

They believe they have the right guy. It doesn't sound like there is strong evidence or why would they need 5 months

Perhaps they hope to bring all the charges against him and not just prove he disappeared Alexis. Finding Alexis' body and gathering the evidence there, makes the case stronger. When the defense files for a bond hearing, which they will do, more evidence will come out. It doesn't matter that the date was set for January because everyone knows they will file for a bond hearing imo.