WA WA - Shantina Smiley, 29, & Azriel Carver, 8 (fnd deceased), Olympia, Mar 2010 - #4

[floridaheather]

Yes, I am puzzled by "but they've called off an active search for Shantina Smiley".

Maybe they figure that following up on tips/leads is searching...

 

[floridaheather]

In the first video, as she's leaving the store, is she talking on a phone? Would someone mind looking near the end of the video and sanity checking me?

yeah, i watched it. that's not what it is. she's got her keys in her hand and it does go up by her head for a second but then she stetches her right arm out in front of her and crosses over her chest so that you can't see it, but if you look again you can see her right hand over by her left shoulder. like she was doing a right shoulder stretch

 

[SMK]

In the first video, as she's leaving the store, is she talking on a phone? Would someone mind looking near the end of the video and sanity checking me?

It does look a bit that way, but it is hard to make it out. Seeing little Az clowning like that makes you wish you could rewind time itself.

 

[justme96]

My fist instinct when this first broke was a publicity stunt. SS was listed as a Photographer and RS directed everyone to his photoraphy web site. It was also said orginally that they were a scouting family. When I read the timeline that RS put out it seemed strange. Could this have been planned and SS and Az were supposed to come out of the woods safe?

 

[justme96]

In the first video, as she's leaving the store, is she talking on a phone? Would someone mind looking near the end of the video and sanity checking me?

I thought the 6:45 phone call to RS was strange as well. He states that SS said she was tired of sitting in traffic and was going to pull off to get Az something to eat. If she was at a payphone wouldn't she have already pulled off the highway? Could she have had a disposible phone to cover her tracks?

 

[tlcya]

I thought the 6:45 phone call to RS was strange as well. He states that SS said she was tired of sitting in traffic and was going to pull off to get Az something to eat. If she was at a payphone wouldn't she have already pulled off the highway? Could she have had a disposible phone to cover her tracks?

Could be that RS meant to convey: He got a call from SS in which she complained of heavy traffic and stated that she was going to avoid getting back on the highway and grab Azriel a bite to eat, in hopes that traffic would have calmed down after that (two birds one stone kindof thing).

 

[SMK]

My fist instinct when this first broke was a publicity stunt. SS was listed as a Photographer and RS directed everyone to his photoraphy web site. It was also said orginally that they were a scouting family. When I read the timeline that RS put out it seemed strange. Could this have been planned and SS and Az were supposed to come out of the woods safe?

I recall reading someone who said, "This whole thing has a 'Balloon Boy' feeling to it" - of course, when the poor Az was found, that seemed no longer possible, unless as you say......highly improbable, but not impossible.....

 

[RubyRed]

My theory is someone joined up with SS and son. This is not seen in the videos, because he either got in the van at an unknown stop, or a known stop where no video is available. This includes the beach area.

SS may be kidnapped, or she could have made the choice to leave/disappear. I don't think she meant harm to her son. Whatever happened was an accident.

He says the theory is she somehow drove down onto a private desolate beach and her van got stuck in the sand. Carver says authorities think she and the boy fell asleep and then the quickly rising tidal waters surged around the van with Smiley and her child trapped inside. Carver says they apparently tried to get out of the van but were swept away by the strong currents.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=75383&catid=37

 

[billyjoesgirl]

Im really beginning to wonder about this now, it will be 2 weeks in Saturday since they disappeared. Now I know with Lacy Perterson it took a long time for her to finally wash ashore because she was weighted down, but if this was all a horrible accident, how long does it take for an adult body to surface?

Poor little Azriel, my heart aches for him. I hope he is resting peacefully.

 

[tlcya]

Im really beginning to wonder about this now, it will be 2 weeks in Saturday since they disappeared. Now I know with Lacy Perterson it took a long time for her to finally wash ashore because she was weighted down, but if this was all a horrible accident, how long does it take for an adult body to surface?

Poor little Azriel, my heart aches for him. I hope he is resting peacefully.

I know it seems fishy, but some of the locals have said that the currents in the area can be extremely strong. That said, I don't think it is a matter of weight, but perhaps distance? If they were swept away by currents, two bodies from the same entrypoint can end up miles apart from one another. It is sort of like trying to find a needle ina very wet haystack.

What puzzles me is that LE doesn't seem too interested in further searchs and I wonder if that includes coast guard (or whatever the approriate agency) as well?

 

[Lipin One]

I think there's only a very slight chance that Shantina may have met with foul play. The chances of Azriel having accidentally drowned but Shantina having met with foul play seem extremely low to me. Had there been any question regarding Az's cause or manner of death, I might have thought somewhat differently. MOO

Shantina was young, pretty, and looked "lost" and scared. She was going into unknown places in the middle of the night, just her and her son, asking for directions or shopping for snacks.

Robbery or sexual assault by some weirdo should not be ruled out, until we know better.

My opinion only.

 

[BeanE]

He says the theory is she somehow drove down onto a private desolate beach and her van got stuck in the sand. Carver says authorities think she and the boy fell asleep and then the quickly rising tidal waters surged around the van with Smiley and her child trapped inside. Carver says they apparently tried to get out of the van but were swept away by the strong currents.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=75383&catid=37

Thank you, Ruby! I was looking for that this morning.

 

[BeanE]

Shantina was young, pretty, and looked "lost" and scared. She was going into unknown places in the middle of the night, just her and her son, asking for directions or shopping for snacks.

Robbery or sexual assault by some weirdo should not be ruled out, until we know better.

My opinion only.

I think LE is smarter than I am. At least I hope so

 

[Lipin One]

I think LE is smarter than I am. At least I hope so

It wouldn't be the first time that LE has botched a case by making assumptions of what happened in a case, or by taking the "easiest" way to complete their paperwork.

It's as if once the word "alcoholic" came in they got it all "figured out."

IMO

 

[SMK]

It wouldn't be the first time that LE has botched a case by making assumptions of what happened in a case, or by taking the "easiest" way to complete their paperwork.

It's as if once the word "alcoholic" came in they got it all "figured out."

IMO

Yes, that is the worry. They may have jumped to a conclusion because Shantina had been put in a very bad light, with alcoholism, prior DUI, and CPS reports. I sometimes think her NOT being found is like a big arrow saying "Look in another direction". Maybe just me.......

 

[ajfa]

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=75383&catid=37

Thanks for the link.

Snipped from the article; BBM:
"Authorities in Olympia, Washington called off the ground search, saying they've reached the end of any credible information. They discovered Shantina's wallet and credit cards near her car, but that's about it."

IIRC, wasn't it stated in other reports that the wallet was found in the car? Is this an example of reporters not getting the facts straight, or if the wallet was near the car as opposed to in it, how does that change any theories about what happened?

Just curious . . .

 

[BeanE]

It wouldn't be the first time that LE has botched a case by making assumptions of what happened in a case, or by taking the "easiest" way to complete their paperwork.

It's as if once the word "alcoholic" came in they got it all "figured out."

IMO

True, but most of the time, they do a good job. Have you come across something that says any of the investigating agencies have a reputation of being sub-par?

After the word alcoholic came out, I saw them continuing to work the case very adequately.

 

[BeanE]

"It definitely doesn't look like foul play is involved, just a lot of questions and it's become more and more of a riddle," said Carver.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=75383&catid=37

 

[Lipin One]

The first reports were that it was found on the back seat.

Maybe the way it's worded out, makes it sound as the wallet was found outside.

As to which one is correct, who knows?

Now, one good question is why would her wallet be on the back seat and not in the front?

:waitasec:

 

[SMK]

True, but most of the time, they do a good job. Have you come across something that says any of the investigating agencies have a reputation of being sub-par?

After the word alcoholic came out, I saw them continuing to work the case very adequately.

Maybe it was the media actually, and not so much LE, which seemed to taper off or stop seeming to care.....