Sandra Cantu: Tracy, California 8 yrs old

[javahog]

Missing, but no amber alert since they don't have information on the abduction, car, etc.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12031742
(with photo) http://www.ktvu.com/news/19037015/detail.html

[One2Snoop]

http://i42.tinypic.com/i5rrye.jpg

[One2Snoop]

Award offered for clues to finding Tracy girl

Monday, March 30, 2009
(03-30) 13:33 PDT Tracy, Calif. (AP) --

A Modesto-based nonprofit is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who provides information that help police find a missing 8-year-old girl from Tracy.


Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman says he believes Sandra Cantu is alive and well, but her whereabouts are unknown. Some 450 agents, investigators and volunteers are searching. Sandra's been missing since about 8 p.m. Friday.

Police say Sandra was seen on surveillance video returning to the mobile home park where her family lives before 4 p.m. Friday, and then walking away a little later.

Authorities searched homes and cars at the mobile park Sunday. They say there is no evidence Sandra was abducted or the victim of foul play and are investigating the incident as a missing persons case.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/30/state/n133338D91.DTL

[old_soul]

Award offered for clues to finding Tracy girl

Monday, March 30, 2009
(03-30) 13:33 PDT Tracy, Calif. (AP) --

A Modesto-based nonprofit is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who provides information that help police find a missing 8-year-old girl from Tracy.


Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman says he believes Sandra Cantu is alive and well, but her whereabouts are unknown. Some 450 agents, investigators and volunteers are searching. Sandra's been missing since about 8 p.m. Friday.

Police say Sandra was seen on surveillance video returning to the mobile home park where her family lives before 4 p.m. Friday, and then walking away a little later.

Authorities searched homes and cars at the mobile park Sunday. They say there is no evidence Sandra was abducted or the victim of foul play and are investigating the incident as a missing persons case.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/30/state/n133338D91.DTL


Not to take away hope from the family, but........

Of course she's been abducted. From the sound of it, she's a normal 8 year old kid ~ and normal 8 year olds don't disappear (it's now been 3 days) out of nowhere. Especially with 78 SO's in the 5 mile radius surrounding their home.

I hope and pray that little Sandra is found happy and healthy ~ I just don't understand why LE would say something as ignorant as there is no evidence of abduction.....Sandra is 8 ~ not 18.

She went to the first friends house. She left there and went to a second friends house. From there no one knows what happened. It's been 72 hours.
Not Good.

Prayer for Sandra coming home................:rose:

[javahog]

Not to take away hope from the family, but........

Of course she's been abducted. From the sound of it, she's a normal 8 year old kid ~ and normal 8 year olds don't disappear (it's now been 3 days) out of nowhere. Especially with 78 SO's in the 5 mile radius surrounding their home.

I hope and pray that little Sandra is found happy and healthy ~ I just don't understand why LE would say something as ignorant as there is no evidence of abduction.....Sandra is 8 ~ not 18.

She went to the first friends house. She left there and went to a second friends house. From there no one knows what happened. It's been 72 hours.
Not Good.

Prayer for Sandra coming home................:rose:

Isn't it frustrating?! Tracy is kind of the boonies, but still! Look at that beautiful little girl. Obviously some creep played See, Want, Have. She didn't take off on her own. I so wish Amber alert could be enacted without an abductor or car description. If they could break in to broadcasts with just a picture of the child, maybe that would help! For all I know, she could have been in front of my house yesterday, but without an amber alert, how would I have noticed?!

Thank you Snoop for getting her picture and details posted. Poor baby. :rose:

[javahog]

I think Sheneman was trying to say, kind of inarticulately, that they have to assume she is alive unless they know otherwise...http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12031742

*snip*
"We have no evidence to indicate she's been harmed and is not alive,'' Sheneman said. "So it is our belief that she's alive and unharmed.''
Cadaver dogs picked up a scent Sunday morning along a river north of Tracy, Sheneman said. Divers searched the water while others searched along the water line. He said there was no sign anyone had been there and nothing was found.
*snip*

[One2Snoop]

From Java's link...

The Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation has joined the effort to locate a missing Tracy girl that Tracy Police believe is still alive.

The foundation is offering $5,000, bringing the total reward amount to $7,000, for information leading to the return of Sandra Cantu, 8, who has been missing from the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park since Friday night.

[old_soul]

I think Sheneman was trying to say, kind of inarticulately, that they have to assume she is alive unless they know otherwise...http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12031742

*snip*
"We have no evidence to indicate she's been harmed and is not alive,'' Sheneman said. "So it is our belief that she's alive and unharmed.''
Cadaver dogs picked up a scent Sunday morning along a river north of Tracy, Sheneman said. Divers searched the water while others searched along the water line. He said there was no sign anyone had been there and nothing was found.
*snip*

I know what you mean java.....It's just that my immediate thought was Jessica Lunsford...my God, with 78 Pig SO's in just a five mile span, let's not talk about her having problems without water for 3 days (NG tonight). Seems just the circumstances alone would warrant more distress than a comment like that... Of course he has no fricken evidence to indicate that she is not harmed or not alive... She is missing! They can't find her!

Geez, I think the media circus surrounding Caylee and then Haleigh is making LE be very noncommital when it comes to letting the public and media know what is really going on.

The mom and spokeswoman for the family couldn't even answer what they know of her last steps since she left her first friend house to go to the second....

Do you think maybe they (family) were told to not let out too much (ie a tip off to someone they (LE) might have in their sights?) IDK ~ You'd think they would all be shouting out everything they know, but I have a funny feeling they aren't............:shrug:

[javahog]

I know what you mean java.....It's just that my immediate thought was Jessica Lunsford...my God, with 78 Pig SO's in just a five mile span, let's not talk about her having problems without water for 3 days (NG tonight). Seems just the circumstances alone would warrant more distress than a comment like that... Of course he has no fricken evidence to indicate that she is not harmed or not alive... She is missing! They can't find her!

Geez, I think the media circus surrounding Caylee and then Haleigh is making LE be very noncommital when it comes to letting the public and media know what is really going on.

The mom and spokeswoman for the family couldn't even answer what they know of her last steps since she left her first friend house to go to the second....

Do you think maybe they (family) were told to not let out too much (ie a tip off to someone they (LE) might have in their sights?) IDK ~ You'd think they would all be shouting out everything they know, but I have a funny feeling they aren't............:shrug:

Yeah...water...I was like, :confused:

I noticed the oddness of the interview with the mom. I did consider that Mark Klaas had just been on saying, roughly, that children who were abducted and missing this long are dead. Then they cut right to the mother. I know she heard what he said, and I thought it might have thrown her. But it did seem odd that they were kind of "off" about where she was last seen, huh?

Maybe there's some hope of the father having snatched her? There might be some hope then...

[javahog]

Odder and odder...they are concentrating on the mobile home park. And get this: (http://www.ktvu.com/news/19051010/detail.html)

"Investigators have interviewed registered sex offenders in the area and plan to re-interview a man living in the park who kissed Sandra on the mouth at the community pool two years ago"

Ewwww! She was 6 then. And why is he still living there? Why are they? If this sob were living in the vicinity and I couldn't get rid of him, I would move asap!

[old_soul]

Thank you for the links!

They are on to something. Or shall I say Someone. I'm wondering why the survelance video? Not saying it's not a good idea..but is there a reason these folks have one? I'm also shaking my head here....

I live in a semi rural area, but I made it my business, when my children were younger and wanted to play with the kids next door, that I would stand right there till she was let into the house. My friend and (neighbor) also was expecting her.

Honestly, WTH is wrong with people nowdays? We know this is a crazy world, we know what is going on all over! Kids aren't safe anymore! Watch your children ~ just Bother to do those things that have to be done! Sandra just turned 8..she's a baby, really, and shouldn't have been walking around the trailer park by herself. Put on your damn slippers and walk your child over....if you can't, then she can't go. It's that simple. MHO.

It happens to much older and bigger kids too (Carlie Brucia), and the fact that she was so friendly with anyone and everyone :no:. I guess my going on about this is also due to the fact that I recently watched Mystic River again .....:o but this is just heartbreaking.

I also know whoever reads my rant knows just what I mean....

Sandra.....:rose: We're praying for you to come home.

[One2Snoop]

Two men questioned about missing Tracy girl

Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 31, 2009

(03-30) 23:03 PDT Tracy -- Police searched six locations in and around the mobile home park where an 8-year-old Tracy girl vanished, investigators revealed late Monday.

The search warrants were served on property and vehicles associated with two men, who were interviewed by police in connection with the disappearance of Sandra Cantu, who failed to return to her home at the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park on West Clover Road on Friday, said Tracy police Sgt. Tony Sheneman.

"They are persons of interest," Sheneman said. "Information was gathered from leads generated from the community and information gathered in interviews with the two people. We were searching for information that would lead to the whereabouts of Sandra."

Four of the search warrants were served inside the mobile home park, and the others were served in Tracy and Oakdale (Stanislaus County), Sheneman said. All items collected during the searches were taken to an FBI laboratory in Sacramento for analysis, he said.

Sheneman did not disclose what relationship, if any, the two men had with the Cantu family or why they attracted attention, but he said investigators also were focusing on associated vehicles.

"The two men are not related to each other, and they do not live together," he said.

The men were not arrested and were not named as suspects.

Sandra apparently left home Friday to color and play at a friend's house, according to the family. She came home briefly Friday afternoon before leaving to see another friend. The second friend apparently was not home, but investigators said it is not clear if Sandra ever made it there.

The family summoned Tracy police, and by Sunday it was joined by law enforcement from surrounding communities and the FBI. Hundreds of search-and-rescue personnel combed the rural area, along with crowds of volunteers over the weekend.

The reward for information grew to $7,000 Monday, and more than 150 tips streamed in to police from the public, authorities said. Meanwhile, police attempted to allay fears.

"We have no evidence to indicate that she's been harmed, that she's not alive," Sheneman said.

Sandra is Latina, 4 feet tall and weighs 45 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink Hello Kitty T-shirt and black leggings.

Anybody with information should call the Tracy Police Department at (209) 831-6847 or for urgent tips at (209) 831-4550. Tips can also be phoned in to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/31/BA7K16PM1Q.DTL

[One2Snoop]

Thank you for the links!

They are on to something. Or shall I say Someone. I'm wondering why the survelance video? Not saying it's not a good idea..but is there a reason these folks have one? I'm also shaking my head here....

I live in a semi rural area, but I made it my business, when my children were younger and wanted to play with the kids next door, that I would stand right there till she was let into the house. My friend and (neighbor) also was expecting her.

Honestly, WTH is wrong with people nowdays? We know this is a crazy world, we know what is going on all over! Kids aren't safe anymore! Watch your children ~ just Bother to do those things that have to be done! Sandra just turned 8..she's a baby, really, and shouldn't have been walking around the trailer park by herself. Put on your damn slippers and walk your child over....if you can't, then she can't go. It's that simple. MHO.

It happens to much older and bigger kids too (Carlie Brucia), and the fact that she was so friendly with anyone and everyone :no:. I guess my going on about this is also due to the fact that I recently watched Mystic River again .....:o but this is just heartbreaking.

I also know whoever reads my rant knows just what I mean....

Sandra.....:rose: We're praying for you to come home.

Exactly OS! I know just what you mean. Remember the little girl, LeAnna "Beaner" Warner who disappeared walking alone to her friends house that lived just around the corner? She was 5 years old for gawd sakes.
BTW, She's never been found. :mad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XumwXOpA-1Q&feature=related

[One2Snoop]

TRACY: Search For Missing Girl Growing More Desperate By The Hour [Christien Kafton]

http://www.ktvu.com/video_legacy/19056621/index.html

[One2Snoop]

East Bay Newsrss
Evidence seized in case of missing girl
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 | 12:31 PM

By Terry McSweeney

TRACY, CA (KGO) -- Tracy police are investigating two persons of interest in the case of a missing 8-year-old girl. It has been almost four days since Sandra Cantu was last seen at the mobile home park where she lives.

One of the two people of interest is a man named Chris Sinclair. FBI agents arrested him at his house Monday night on an unrelated matter. He says when it comes to the disappearance of Sandra Cantu, he is an innocent man.

Sinclair sat on his steps Tuesday, still dazed from his ordeal when FBI agents showed up at his house armed with search warrants and arrested him. He says he does not understand why.

"I actually had a couple of drinks. I was upset about all this stuff going on. I really don't know," he said.

"This person was interfering with the execution of the search warrant and was arrested for interfering and obstructing justice," explained Sgt. Tony Sheneman.

Sinclair told ABC7 he was held for a couple of hours.

"I got back here, noticed that both my cars were gone... I don't know. We're normally quiet people," he said.

Neighbors say just a half block away from Sinclair's house there was a lot of activity at a different house, when FBI agents swooped in.

"I didn't see anything they were taking out of the house. It was all covered in boxes and stuff. They towed the cars and everything," said witness Brandon Baughman.

Wayne Wallace has lived in the mobile home park for 25 years and says the disappearance of Sandra Cantu is taking a toll on residents. He told ABC 7 everyone seems to be scared.

"We had a vigil here last night with everybody trying to calm everybody down, but yeah they're nervous," he said.

With all the drama unfolding at the mobile home park, Sandra Cantu's family continues living in shock. Sandra's mother, grandmother and siblings can only wait and plead for her return.

"Whoever has her, just let her go. She needs to come home to her mom who loves her very much, misses her," said her mother Maria Chavez.

Tracy police say the investigation will go wherever the evidence seized Monday night takes it. The FBI was busy analyzing that evidence Tuesday morning.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=6738066

[One2Snoop]

Police Search Homes of Two Men in Case of Missing 8-Year-Old California Girl

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Police are investigating two men they say are "persons of interest" in the disappearance of an 8-year-old California girl.

Sandra Cantu was last seen 4 p.m. on March 27, when a surveillance video camera recorded her walking away from her family's mobile home in Tracy, Calif. Her mother reported her missing at about 8 p.m.

A Tracy police spokesman said officers searched the homes and towed the vehicles of the two men Monday.

Items collected in the searches were turned over to the FBI crime lab for analysis.

Police are not saying why the two men attracted the attention of investigators. Their names have not been released.

Sgt. Tony Sheneman told the San Francisco Chronicle the men are not related to each other and do not live together.

He wouldn't say how, if at all, the persons of interest are connected to the girl. Shenemen said the men were not named as suspects and were not arrested.

Meanwhile, the reward for information grew to $7,000. Investigators are tracking down the more than 150 tips that have poured in.

Police say there is no evidence that Sandra was abducted or the victim of foul play.

The missing girl is Hispanic, 4 feet tall, and weighs 45 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a pink Hello Kitty T-shirt and black leggings when she was last seen.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511831,00.html

[javahog]

http://www.kron.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/898/reftab/36/t/Police-and-FBI-Continue-Search-for-Missing-Tracy-Girl/Default.aspx

TRACY (KRON) – Police and the FBI are working around the clock in the hopes of finding 8-year-old Sandra Cantu who was last seen at a Tracy mobile home park Friday afternoon.

Around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, KRON 4’s Terisa Estacio says four plainclothes officers showed up at the mobile park and started fanning out in the area. As another six officers drove up, three investigators were spotted exiting the Cantu house.

Investigators are currently taking pictures of cars in the area and hovering around the Cantu residence.

At a press conference, Lieutenant Jeremy Watney said they’ve received 360 tips regarding the little girl’s disappearance. He notes that the FBI is currently processing evidence and examining three vehicles that were taken after search warrants were served in Tracy and Oakdale.

On Tuesday crews set out into the city’s wildlife area, scouring a nearby river. Watney says they searched a total of six areas but found nothing. He says they are not searching outside Tracy unless there is a credible lead.

While polygraph tests have been administered, officials are not saying who was tested.

The family of a missing eight-year old is convinced someone abducted Sandra Cantu. The remarks came just hours after police searched the trailers of two men named "persons of interest" in the case.

"From the family's point of view, they are saying she would not leave on her own accord and she did not deserve for someone to prey upon her innocence," Cantu family spokeswoman Lisa Encarnacion told reporters Tuesday morning. "She would not go outside of her comfort zone of her home environment and talk to a stranger."

Police say the two persons of interest and all residents of the mobile home park were re-interviewed Tuesday.

The names of the two men whose homes were searched have not been released. Witnesses say officers carried evidence away from the two trailers for more analysis. They also towed away the men's vehicles.

While authorities say there's no evidence of an abduction, the family insists Sandra did not run away from home.

"She's eight years old. We're not talking about a teenager here getting ticked off at Mom and Dad and going AWOL," Encarnacion said. "We're talking about a little girl that just turned eight years old. Please continue to get her name and her picture out there."

The next press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday.

If you've seen Sandra Cantu, contact Tracy police or your local authorities.
KRON

So far, none of the news pieces I've looked at tonight had Sandra's picture on it except one close-up of t-shirts. SHE should be plastered all over, not neighbors at a vigil or what have you...

[TruLover]

This bothers me. The mother heard the child come in the home, but didn't see her, didn't talk to her, and then heard her leave again. This was not reported until around 7:30 p.m. An 8-yr old girl not seen for 3-1/2 hours?
What was the mother doing that she could not greet her daughter when she returned from the friend's house? And why was she allowed to roam around all over the trailer park by herself?
I listened to the short segment on Greta last night... very strange. There was a blurb at the bottom about a 49 y.o. karate instructor who had kissed the girl 2 years ago... WTH!!!! Why is he not in jail, and why is he still working with kids? 78 SO's in that area... and they say she was not abducted. I have a bad feeling about this.
Oh, and Mark Klaas really needs to be careful what he says when the parents of these kids are on at the same time. They don't need to hear the statistics. JMO.

[javahog]

This bothers me. The mother heard the child come in the home, but didn't see her, didn't talk to her, and then heard her leave again. This was not reported until around 7:30 p.m. An 8-yr old girl not seen for 3-1/2 hours?
What was the mother doing that she could not greet her daughter when she returned from the friend's house? And why was she allowed to roam around all over the trailer park by herself?
I listened to the short segment on Greta last night... very strange. There was a blurb at the bottom about a 49 y.o. karate instructor who had kissed the girl 2 years ago... WTH!!!! Why is he not in jail, and why is he still working with kids? 78 SO's in that area... and they say she was not abducted. I have a bad feeling about this.
Oh, and Mark Klaas really needs to be careful what he says when the parents of these kids are on at the same time. They don't need to hear the statistics. JMO.

Here's the Tracy paper's story on the Kissy Karate Instructor. http://tracypress.com/content/view/17670/2268/

Excerpt:

"Frank Wohler, 60, who runs the Delta Kajukenbo School of Self-Defense, had his office at 4220 Commercial Drive searched by at least four people at about 7:30 p.m. Monday night.

Tracy police and FBI agents were at Wohler’s home in the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park when he arrived home Monday evening, staying until about midnight, he said.

Wohler said they took CDs containing pictures and his cell phone from his office and several items from his home that he declined to identify.

“The FBI can do what they want, when they want, because they’ve got all the means,” Wohler said.

He said he knew Sandra and that the girl would come over to his yard occasionally, asking if he needed help with small jobs around the garden.

When asked after Wohler finished teaching a martial arts class today about a report that he kissed Sandra at the mobile swimming pool two years ago, he said, “Yeah, it was me. We were in the pool, and I was just trying to be nice.”

Then he added, “I don’t think I should talk to you anymore.” "

How creeped out is that?!

And then there's this story with some selected quotes: http://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=7210841&page=2

" "My mother-in-law saw him march over, sweep her hair off her face and give her a kiss on the lips," Chavez said, adding that the man was an Orchard Estates resident who still lives in the park.

Sheneman said he found out about the neighbor's kiss on Saturday. The neighbor is a man in his 60s who is still a resident of the park. "

Yet:

" "Chavez said she has always known Orchard Estates to be a family-friendly place that is safe for children." "

I'm glad they're taking a close look at this guy. And, knowing he was around, should she have been wandering around alone? The family took it seriously enough they called the police at the time. Uggh.

[javahog]

Word is that LE is searching a local dump, but that its routine, not based on a lead.

And she can't be with the father since he's come up from Mexicali to help try and find her.

[One2Snoop]

Police to Release New Video of Sondra Cantu
Created by Brian Shields on 4/2/2009 12:05:33 PM

TRACY (KRON) -- We will soon see new video that shows Sandra Cantu. Police now say the video is not surveillance footage taken from a camera near the home where the ight year old girl disappeared last Friday. This apparently is not footage from a surveillance camera installed on the family home which shows the little girl, wearing a "Hi Kitty" t-shirt and black leggings leaving the home on her way to a friend's residence. The search for Sondra is now in its sixth day.

The new images come as police and volunteers continue to sift through a garbage dump in hopes of finding something that will lead them to Sondra. Investigators continue to try to run down hundreds of tips called in but say so far nothing solid has developed.

A special MySpace page now includes the last still photos taken of Sondra at her eighth birthday party last month.

The FBI continues to focus on the family of a man who allegedly interfered with the search of a mobile home park near Sandra's home earlier in the week. That man's relatives were the subject of the search of an Oakdale home as investigators look for more evidence about what happened to the eight year old girl. Authorities have also talked with Sandra's father who is now back in the area after a short visit to Mexico. He insists he did not take the child out of the country.

Stay tuned to KRON 4 and KRON4.com for continuing coverage of the search for Sandra Cantu.

http://www.kron.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/924/reftab/36/t/Police-to-Release-New-Video-of-Sondra-Cantu/Default.aspx

[One2Snoop]

Sandra Cantu Myspace....

http://www.myspace.com/findmissingsandra

[One2Snoop]

http://i44.tinypic.com/i5vtoi.jpg

[One2Snoop]

Crews search trash as search for girl continues

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Volunteers and police are going through the trash at a waste facility as the search for eight-year-old Sandra Cantu continues.

A Tracy police spokesman says the search at the facility about seven miles from the mobile home park where Sandra lives with her family is routine.

Crews using bulldozers and other equipment are expected to be sifting through trash at the site all week.

Investigators say they have received about 500 tips so far, but none of the tips indicate the girl may not be alive.

Police have identified two men they consider "persons of interest," though no arrests have been made.

Sandra was last seen Friday afternoon at the mobile home park where her family lives.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/30/state/n133338D91.DTL

[One2Snoop]

UPDATE: FBI, Police Raid Trailer at Mobile Home Park Where Sandra Cantu Disappeared
Created by Brian Shields on 4/3/2009 4:02:23 PM


TRACY (KRON) -- The FBI and Tracy Police are raiding a mobile home at the park where eight-year old Sandra Cantu disappeared a week ago. KRON 4's Dan Kerman saw ten law enforcement cars pull up to the trailer. One person was led away in handcuffs. An FBI evidence team is also on the scene along with a tow truck.

The raid comes hours after police said Sandra Cantu has a mole on her face. Investigators hope that added detail along with video released Thursday showing the missing child at a Christmas party will help someone provide the clue that leads to her safe return.

Hundreds of volunteers are expected to join the search for Sandra who disappeared nearly a week ago from her home at a Tracy mobile home park. Authorities are asking people who want to help in the search to gather at a fire station at 7700 Linne Road on Saturday. That's where organizers will assign them to specific tasks in the search for the missing girl.

Investigators say they continue to talk with Sandra's father who reportedly passed a lie detector test. He insists he did not take the child from his estranged wife.

A CHP helicopter is up combing through some of the open spaces near Interstate 205, just about a mile from where the girl was last seen. Investigators confirm they served another search warrant Thursday in the case but won't say who it targets or where.

The total number of tips from the public is now more than 700. Investigators say they are tracking every report of a possible sighting of the little girl. Detectives are also going back through their notes and the evidence gathered during the search to see if they missed anything.

Stay tuned to KRON 4 and KRON4.com for continuing coverage all weekend of the search for Sandra Cantu.

http://www.kron4.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/923/reftab/36/Default.aspx?t=UPDATE:-FBI-Police-Raid-Trailer-at-Mobile-Home-Park-Where-Sandra-Cantu-Disappeared

[One2Snoop]

FBI Re-Questions Man They Say Admits to Kissing Missing California Girl

Friday, April 03, 2009

Authorities spoke for a second time to a man they say admitted kissing missing 8-year-old California girl Sandra Cantu on the mouth two years ago, when she was 6.

Frank Wohler's station wagon was returned Thursday after authorities confiscated the vehicle Monday night when they searched his home.

Click here for a video report on KTVU.com about the kissing incident.

The FBI also searched the Oakdale, Calif., home of a man related to the neighbor of the girl.

The relative, Chris Sinclair, has been a focus of the investigation into Sandra's disappearance a week ago. Three vehicles connected to him have already been seized.

Authorities widened their hunt for the child as the investigation heated up. They continued sifting through garbage at the Tracy landfill and another dump site Friday, an effort that began a day earlier.

Click here for photos.

Also Friday, the California Highway Patrol conducted a helicopter search of the vicinity to cover a large area in a short time period, Watney told reporters.

Volunteers are also being urged to participate in an expanded search of the town over the weekend.

"Any and all help is welcome," Watney said at a morning press conference Friday.

Sandra was last seen about 4 p.m. March 27 walking away from the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park in Tracy, Calif., where she lives with her family. Her mother reported her missing about 8 p.m. that night.

Investigators said they have been poring over about 720 leads in their search for the child, but none of the tips indicate Sandra is dead.

"We’ve had sightings from people all over California saying they’ve seen her ... which would definitely suggest that she is still alive,” say Watney. "Statistics show that she’s probably still in Tracy, but if we get a tip in Nevada or in Southern California ... wherever we get a tip, we are going to go."

Investigators combed the Old River, about three miles from the girl's home, on Thursday. They also spent the day going through residents' trash.

"Everything that comes through they're searching, garbage trucks and everything," Laurence Campiott, who works at the landfill, told FOX San Francisco affiliate KTVU.

The search of the garbage is routine, according to police.

"We are going through absolutely everybody’s trash in this city of Tracy this week," Tracy Police Lieutenant Jeremy Watney told reporters Thursday. "It’s just covering a base. If we don’t do it now, we won’t be able to do it later."

Police said another search of the trailer park where Sandra lives yielded a Hello Kitty T-shirt like the one the child was last seen wearing.

They showed the top to her mother, Maria Chavez.

"It looked very similar [to the one she wore], which is why we brought it back to the mother. But mother said it wasn't. That's not to say we're not going further," KTVU quoted Watney as saying. "We still have it. It's still going to be examined. It's still going to be tested."

The reward for information leading to the child's whereabouts has risen to about $22,000, according to police.

On Thursday, Sandra's father pleaded with her to "scream, kick, do what you need to do" to escape her captors.

Daniel Cantu said he has been questioned extensively by detectives.

"I've just gotten through a couple hours of being interrogated," he told KTVU.

Sandra's parents are divorced; her father lives along the California border with Mexico. He hasn't seen his daughter in a year, he told KTVU, but he wanted to get a message to her.

"Honey, if you can get to a phone, dial 911, babe," the station quoted him as saying. "Scream. Kick. Do what you need to do."

The child is described as Hispanic, 4 feet tall and weighing 45 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes and a small birthmark on her right cheek. She was wearing a pink Hello Kitty T-shirt and black leggings when she disappeared.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,512411,00.html

[javahog]

FBI Re-Questions Man They Say Admits to Kissing Missing California Girl

Friday, April 03, 2009

Authorities spoke for a second time to a man they say admitted kissing missing 8-year-old California girl Sandra Cantu on the mouth two years ago, when she was 6.

Frank Wohler's station wagon was returned Thursday after authorities confiscated the vehicle Monday night when they searched his home.

Click here for a video report on KTVU.com about the kissing incident.

The FBI also searched the Oakdale, Calif., home of a man related to the neighbor of the girl.

The relative, Chris Sinclair, has been a focus of the investigation into Sandra's disappearance a week ago. Three vehicles connected to him have already been seized.

Authorities widened their hunt for the child as the investigation heated up. They continued sifting through garbage at the Tracy landfill and another dump site Friday, an effort that began a day earlier.

Click here for photos.

Also Friday, the California Highway Patrol conducted a helicopter search of the vicinity to cover a large area in a short time period, Watney told reporters.

Volunteers are also being urged to participate in an expanded search of the town over the weekend.

"Any and all help is welcome," Watney said at a morning press conference Friday.

Sandra was last seen about 4 p.m. March 27 walking away from the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park in Tracy, Calif., where she lives with her family. Her mother reported her missing about 8 p.m. that night.

Investigators said they have been poring over about 720 leads in their search for the child, but none of the tips indicate Sandra is dead.

"We’ve had sightings from people all over California saying they’ve seen her ... which would definitely suggest that she is still alive,” say Watney. "Statistics show that she’s probably still in Tracy, but if we get a tip in Nevada or in Southern California ... wherever we get a tip, we are going to go."

Investigators combed the Old River, about three miles from the girl's home, on Thursday. They also spent the day going through residents' trash.

"Everything that comes through they're searching, garbage trucks and everything," Laurence Campiott, who works at the landfill, told FOX San Francisco affiliate KTVU.

The search of the garbage is routine, according to police.

"We are going through absolutely everybody’s trash in this city of Tracy this week," Tracy Police Lieutenant Jeremy Watney told reporters Thursday. "It’s just covering a base. If we don’t do it now, we won’t be able to do it later."

Police said another search of the trailer park where Sandra lives yielded a Hello Kitty T-shirt like the one the child was last seen wearing.

They showed the top to her mother, Maria Chavez.

"It looked very similar [to the one she wore], which is why we brought it back to the mother. But mother said it wasn't. That's not to say we're not going further," KTVU quoted Watney as saying. "We still have it. It's still going to be examined. It's still going to be tested."

The reward for information leading to the child's whereabouts has risen to about $22,000, according to police.

On Thursday, Sandra's father pleaded with her to "scream, kick, do what you need to do" to escape her captors.

Daniel Cantu said he has been questioned extensively by detectives.

"I've just gotten through a couple hours of being interrogated," he told KTVU.

Sandra's parents are divorced; her father lives along the California border with Mexico. He hasn't seen his daughter in a year, he told KTVU, but he wanted to get a message to her.

"Honey, if you can get to a phone, dial 911, babe," the station quoted him as saying. "Scream. Kick. Do what you need to do."

The child is described as Hispanic, 4 feet tall and weighing 45 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes and a small birthmark on her right cheek. She was wearing a pink Hello Kitty T-shirt and black leggings when she disappeared.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,512411,00.html

Uh-oh. The pattern of the searches sound like they might be following cell tower pings...

[wind149]

Jesus God! How many live in the park I wonder?? Trailer parks are full of kids, that is a common thing in this country, lots of children lived in the park I lived in, they were always playing at the little playground, and believe you me, many a night I would sit outside on my picnic table and watch them, just my way of keeping my hood safe, they would ride their bikes, swim in the pool and it was nice in the summer to watch those little innocents having fun like all kids should and like I enjoyed. And what is up with that creep who ADMITS kissing this child when she was SIX on the LIPS??? He would be on my radar screen big time!! But sadly, as we all know, it only can be a matter of minutes and a kid can be snapped and I pray that she is alive, but we all know that often, that is not the case these days, I am positive that Haleigh is dead, and it all comes back to her own scum family, maybe a SO is not responsible, maybe it is some trash this family is kin to or knows. And once again, this crime is committed in a trailer park, I really am glad I do not live in one right about now!!

[One2Snoop]

Volunteers don't let up on Day 8
Written by Justin Lafferty
Saturday, 04 April 2009

Hundreds show up this morning to search for Sandra in Tracy.

Sandra Cantu is everywhere you look, but nowhere to be found.

The 8-year-old girl has been missing from her Tracy home at Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park for eight days now, but the community response has not slowed down.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life showed up to volunteer starting at 8 a.m. today at the old Linne Road Fire Station. Concerned individuals, families with small children and even a local biker gang entered the firehouse ready to post more fliers.

“I’m touched that they would care so much about Sandra,” Tracy police spokesman Lt. Jeremy Watney said. “It’s very heartwarming to see them all out there.”

People were divided into teams of two or three and sent out to different areas to distribute fliers after a short safety briefing from volunteer Tim Heinrich of Tracy’s Community Emergency Response Team. The group is coordinating all volunteer efforts in the search.

Heinrich, a pastor at Crossroads Baptist Church, said people from as far away as Lodi and Alameda have come to Tracy today to raise awareness of Sandra’s disappearance.

“It’s been fantastic,” Heinrich said. “People seem to be upbeat and in good spirits.”
At around 10 a.m., about 20 members of the San Joaquin chapter of the motorcycle group Knuckleheads MC roared into the rural fire station. After they removed their helmets, their intent was clear — they just wanted to help.

They walked up to the entrance and told a team member that they’d go wherever they’re needed.

“I have daughters, and a majority of our riders have kids,” the group’s sergeant, David Barnes, said. “It’s right here in Tracy, so it hits home for us. Until she’s found, we’re going to ride.”

Some people have used their creative talents to help the search. Corena Sanchez-San Nicolas came to the fire station this morning from San Jose to hand out custom-made buttons to volunteers with a picture of Sandra’s flier on them. She and her friend, Connie Dumas, who grew up in Tracy but now lives in Livermore, said they were emotionally struck by the situation and wanted to help.

Both women wore T-shirts showing the most recent pictures of Sandra.
“When you think about it, it hurts; it’s sad,” Sanchez-San Nicolas said. “We hope that it helps, but she hasn’t been found yet. I guess all we can do is spread the word out as much (as we can).”

Sandra’s disappearance spoke to the maternal instincts of Denice Wheat and Dana Erickson, who formed a mother-daughter team. They posted fliers in the neighborhood around Clyde Bland Park.

“If it were my daughter,” Erickson said, “I’d hope there would be the same kind of response. This is what makes Tracy Tracy. That’s why people like to live here.”

The search hits close to home for Wheat, whose 81-year-old mother, Wallacea Lois, lives in the mobile home park that has been repeatedly searched. Wheat and her daughter volunteered for the first time today, just wanting to do their part.

“Maybe someone will see it and recognize her,” Wheat said. “She’s a little girl that’s lost. I have five grandchildren, and it’s very sad. I just wanted to help.”

Even those who couldn’t come to Tracy have made their presence felt. Watney said the reward for information leading to Sandra’s whereabouts is now at $26,000, with donations coming in as far away as New Jersey.

The volunteers will operate out of the old fire station at 7700 W. Linne Road, until 6 p.m. today.

If you want to print and distribute fliers in your town and cannot come to Tracy, visit http://www.ci.tracy.ca.us/departments/police/.

For information: Community Emergency Response Team, 832-1028.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/17729/2265/

[One2Snoop]

Day 9: Search Continues
Written by TP staff
Sunday, 05 April 2009

Search-and-rescue crews are not taking a day of rest today in the search for 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, who disappeared March 27.

Photo's at the link....
http://tracypress.com/content/view/17731/2328/

[One2Snoop]

Thanks java-i just listened to the press conference and it was stated that they have declared it a no fly zone as well. Must be a crime scene. I shudder to think. MOO

That's what I'm thinking too. :( :eek:

[One2Snoop]

Investigators Handling Black Container Found Near Tracy Mobile Home Park "With Utmost Care"
Created by Brian Shields on 4/6/2009 6:16:24 PM


TRACY (KRON) – Tracy police and the FBI are investigating a black container found just two miles from the mobile home park where missing eight-year-old Sandra Cantu was last seen.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, Sergeant Tony Sheneman said around 10 a.m. farm workers were preparing an irrigation pond on North Tracy Boulevard when they found a black container that floated to the surface. Workers knew of the search for Sandra and immediately called San Joaquin County sheriffs. Police and the FBI arrived around 10:30 a.m.

While Sheneman says there is no indication that anyone, anything is in the container, they are not taking any chances and are processing the scene “with utmost care.”

Police say the container will be opened at an undisclosed location sometime Monday evening.

The road has been shut down and the CHP has cleared air space over the area.

Earlier Monday, police had called an end to the large-scale ground operations.

About 300 volunteers and law enforcement officers fanned out across an area of open fields on Saturday. Investigators are now focusing on leads that have been coming in since Sandra disappeared.

Police say they have received more than 1,000 tips since the eight-year-old disappeared the afternoon of March 27th.

Over the weekend, police released video surveillance footage that showed Sandra skipping across a road inside the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park, where she lived with her parents and grandparents.

Reward money for information leading to the girl’s whereabouts is now close to $30,000.

http://www.kron.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/947/reftab/36/t/Black-Container-Found-in-Irrigation-Pool-Near-Tracy-Mobile-Home-Park/Default.aspx

[tandarat]

If the suitcase turns out to be nothing, they'll probably just release a statement. If it contains something, chances are they'll announce a press conference. Let's hope for a statement.

I've been following this story from the beginning. We live in the east bay, and have relatives in Tracy, including a 4-year-old nephew. I have a 5-year-old daughter, and this one hits close. It makes you realize that anything can happen. I've been watching her even a little more closely than I normally do lately. I've been called the over-protective mom before, but she's my only child, and I can't even imagine what I'd do if something like this ever happened...

Keeping her family in my thoughts, and hoping against hope that she is still alive and at least relatively safe. It HAS happened before.

[tandarat]

Press conference expected at 8 pm pacific time.
http://tracypress.com/content/view/17735/2268/

I don't think I'm allowed to say what my first thought was reading this. Do you know any local (bay area, not central valley) stations that will be covering this?

Now I can only truly hope that they found clothes and personal items, and not really a body. It is understandable that they would take this to the coroner's office to open it if there is any chance it contains remains.

There is also the chance that it contains animal remains. This type of thing was common in southern California around the dairies. You'd have a horrible smell coming from some kind of a container (oil drum, suitcase, whatever) on the side of the road, and it usually was an animal that someone had disposed of.

Grasping, I know, but I really don't want to admit that most likely she is dead, and chances are they have found her.

Still hoping.

[old_soul]

oh Jeez.....we know this doesn't look good.

Waiting for this press conference, or something............sigh.

Her parents must have been beside themselves, but if it is bad news, I'm sure they have been told already....

Prayers for Sandra and her family :rose:

I just don't know what to say anymore...one after another, after another...

[old_soul]

I hate pedophiles. Especially murderous ones. But then, I'm sure I'm not alone here, OS.

Yes jav, we ladies here are not the ones a pedophile would be safe around..kind of like bait for a school of piranas..that would be us! First order of the day is Castration! Yep, stand still Mr Piggly Wiggly, and say goodbye to your little friend. LOLOLOL http://i41.tinypic.com/2ip0n9.jpg

I'm crazy tonight. Here I was looking for this press conference, forgetting the West Coast is a few hours behind. I'm losing it for sure!

Thanks for your updates here and on the Caylee thread ~ Methinks you're taking Nyquil or something ( with that stuff it can either go one way or another....hyper, or drop where you stand LOL) HAHa you know I'm making a funny, keep it up though, you're doing a great job! LOLOLOL

How DO you feel? How is everyone at home? :rose:

[One2Snoop]

I noticed this early in the coverage, but the sun moved and you couldn't see it real clearly: it looked like the bag was dragged to the edge of the pond and turned over. (logically, then it was opened)

http://i39.tinypic.com/qrhgkl.png

See. the bag was at the 3 o'clock point and you can barely see the drag marks behind Bald Cop. The look at the mud mark on the bag-it was turned over I think. Sorry this is the best photo I could find-the drag mark was real clear early on. I'm more sure somethings in there-I think the farmhands saw something that made them say Santa Maria and call 911.

This report says it was dragged by the workers....

From this article - http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_12083966


The area had been searched two times previously, Sheneman said. It's believed that the container was not in the pond when it was last drained, about two weeks ago. When workers noticed it, they thought it was suspicious and called police after pulling it over to the side of an embankment.

[tandarat]

I'm keeping an eye on KRON, CBS5, abc7, and ktvu, and NOTHING. I'm surprised, since it has been all over the news for the past week and a half. You would think that a news conference like this would at least be mentioned.

I know that I'll get the news tonight, but I'd like to hear the entire press conference, not sound bites that have been edited. I also want to know if they found her or not (hoping for not in this case).

[old_soul]

thanks snoop!

Either I'm having trouble having the video play, or there's no presser...

Are you able to get it?

The Coroners van being there ...for only one reason......If they didn't call the coroner until it was opened, the van wouldn't be there....:(

[One2Snoop]

I'm keeping an eye on KRON, CBS5, abc7, and ktvu, and NOTHING. I'm surprised, since it has been all over the news for the past week and a half. You would think that a news conference like this would at least be mentioned.

I know that I'll get the news tonight, but I'd like to hear the entire press conference, not sound bites that have been edited. I also want to know if they found her or not (hoping for not in this case).

I've also been looking.... :shrug:

[One2Snoop]

thanks snoop!

Either I'm having trouble having the video play, or there's no presser...

Are you able to get it?

The Coroners van being there ...for only one reason......If they didn't call the coroner until it was opened, the van wouldn't be there....:(

It's not you - There's no presser that I can see.... :shrug:

[lighthousedazy]

I'm keeping an eye on KRON, CBS5, abc7, and ktvu, and NOTHING. I'm surprised, since it has been all over the news for the past week and a half. You would think that a news conference like this would at least be mentioned.

I know that I'll get the news tonight, but I'd like to hear the entire press conference, not sound bites that have been edited. I also want to know if they found her or not (hoping for not in this case).I don't know, it just doesn't look good. I keep checking for the feed also and it looks like they are waiting for the pc. There is a lot of noise in the background with the reporters sounding jovial and upbeat. I guess that is normal though. Little Sandra looks exactly like a friend of mine's daughter did at that age.
:rose:

[lighthousedazy]

Press conference expected at 8 pm pacific time.
http://tracypress.com/content/view/17735/2268/
Now I get an error message that says this site is off line. :confused:

[One2Snoop]

I don't know, it just doesn't look good. I keep checking for the feed also and it looks like they are waiting for the pc. There is a lot of noise in the background with the reporters sounding jovial and upbeat. I guess that is normal though. Little Sandra looks exactly like a friend of mine's daughter did at that age.
:rose:

What link are you watching? I don't hear anything at the Kron link.

[One2Snoop]

PC delayed until 8:40 PM PST

[Mommyto2]

I believe I heard one of the reporters stating that it was postponed until 8:40. HTH

[lighthousedazy]

What link are you watching? I don't hear anything at the Kron link.This link that Suzdujour posted on the Haleigh Cummings thread. http://www.kcra.com/video/9292412/index.html

[One2Snoop]

http://www.fox40.com/pages/main

[One2Snoop]

They are showing the mom at the presser- looks like she's really upset.

[Amy]

:rose::rose::rose:

Prayers for her family, may she rest in peace.






And the less than human monster who put her there burn in hell...slowly.:flamemad:

[One2Snoop]

DAMN! http://i40.tinypic.com/wl4xs9.gif

RIP Little angel. :rose:

[lighthousedazy]

RIP beautiful little angel. :rose:

I agree Java. These dregs of the earth should serve at least a life sentence, (sex offenders). Castrate them with a dull axe. :flamemad:

[One2Snoop]

Which of them did this??? No arrest is being announced right now. Which of them did this??? I want them to pay hard!!!!!

Has to be one of those pervs who lives in the mobile home park because when watching that video of her walking back to her house it sure looks like it was someone she knew that signaled to her.

[tandarat]

RIP.

While watching this, my daughter asked why everyone stole little girls. I told her not everyone does, some some really bad people. Thank god she's too young to really understand what was being said.

Hopefully they get the guy soon, and hopefully its the right guy. The only good thing right now is that whoever did this is probably peeing his pants right now knowing that the body was found this soon. He probably had no idea that these ponds were drained every couple of weeks or so. Hopefully that mistake will end up costing him.

[lighthousedazy]

Whichever one it is, I have to think they have a real good idea. Maybe they are just giving him a little more room to incriminate himself. And now the parents in the park know about the child-interested weirdos there. Come on, no more tolerance of that carp. They are not just quirky. They can be dangerous!

This is literally too close to home for me, in addition to simply being too horrid for words. I'm just so mad right now.:flamemad:I know exactly how you feel. These rso's serve a couple of years and are back out on the streets. This has got to change. I'm originally from central GA and 2 little girls have disappeared in that area in the last 10 yrs. and have never been found. I live in SC now and in my zip code which is a 17 square mile area, there are 89 rso's, probably more that are not registered. Build more jails if we need to. Enforce the death penalty for the murderers. jmo :flamemad:

[old_soul]

Has to be one of those pervs who lives in the mobile home park because when watching that video of her walking back to her house it sure looks like it was someone she knew that signaled to her.

Yeah, when she glances off to the side? I saw that too. There are three really suspicious guys there, its got to be one of them. Take them all and torture them all for all I care. I should probably get off line before I get in trouble. I just want to drive over there right now and make some justice happen. But its not my right to do that.

My heart hurts over the loss of this beautiful childs life. Never to be able to grow up. SOB! :flamemad: So sad. Then to throw her in that suitcase and the water....

I believe you are both right about it being someone in that mobile home park..LE probably knows who, or has it narrowed down. They would have been watching those MF pigs earlier, but too much time was lost initially...,first day, those 4 hours from 4 to 8 before cops were called, and then no media involvement by LE, for how many hours after that ....(was it 72 or am I going crazy like I think I am?). Too much wasted time.

I'm sorry Sandra. :rose:
Little Angelhttp://i41.tinypic.com/2628heq.jpg

[old_soul]

I bet she was dead before she was even reported missing. At least I hope so, that it wasn't like Jessica Lunsford. And these "ponds" aren't just water. They are full of fertilizer and stuff, they are soupy muck. They stink. Laci and Connor had it better than Sandra.

I hope people in Tracy take care of business.

:(:(:(:rose:

Awwwwwwwwwww java....yes, those first 4 hours, would have been enough time to....

Thankfully, there's a body, unlike Caylee's bones, or no Haleigh at all... and a timeline can be established from stomach contents, and from that maybe how and when also. Molestation would be a given, wouldn't it?

One day everyone will wise up..our children are in danger. People in Tracy are changed forever also. I understand the area kids are very disturbed and having trouble sleeping, and always afraid. This was Before they found her.

I didn't get to see the presser. Oh god, how was her mom?

[tandarat]

Woke up and couldn't go back to sleep just now. We lived in southern CA before we moved back to the bay area, and our neighborhood was pretty much a dumping ground for released child molesters. We had some of the run-of-the-mill sex offenders, too, but for some reason the inland empire was where they sent most of the ones who liked kids. I remember I was looking for daycare for my daughter, and found a promising one less than a half mile away from our house. Lo and behold, some guy with MULTIPLE convictions of lewd acts with a child under 10 lived NEXT DOOR. Needless to say, we didn't even go interview that one. I also caught a guy who matched the description of a guy in violation (no photo of him, but the tatoos matched exactly) peering through my daughter's preschool window as I went to drop her off one day. Cops got a call right after I told the preschool staff. I'm so glad we are out of there.

What gets me is that they KNOW that these guys are almost impossible to rehabilitate, yet they let them go, and they let them live near children. That, and they tend to send them into what are now bedroom communities. Tracy is a lot like the IE - it may have been very rural once, but not so much anymore. People from the bay area proper moved out there because it was affordable and for a "safe" place to raise a family. Scary, and I'm glad we don't live out in one of those areas anymore. I still need to check the Megan's law site for our neighborhood. It is decent, but it still is a condo. Not that I let my daughter out alone, but still....

Sorry, I ramble, but I'm tired.

[old_soul]

:rose: Did not sleep well either.

Had a thought and it is not budging from my head. After reading java's last post about how caustic the pond is, I remembered....

Why did they say she was identified by her clothing ?!

First thought was 'did he dismember her?', because I didn't know about the pond being caustic.. I believe we're right, she's been there all week.... So, not only did he kill her, he made it impossible for an open casket so her family can 'say goodbye' to her sweet little face. :( Purposely done I'm sure ~ he was counting on her being practically nothing by the time they found her, not knowing about the 2 week draining timeline. (?)

:rose:

[old_soul]

I'm actually getting mad at the sight of these candlelight memorials. People, we, need to stop "comforting" each other and start lighting torches instead of candles. Some things we SHOULD be angry about and uncomfortable with and feel the pain! When did we get so soft we aren't willing to confront evil, to drive it away from us? There were adults milling around this baby like horny teenagers. Someone killed her. Be angry! Do something! Don't just drop off a teddy bear and a few tears and call it a day. They are everywhere!

And yeah, he wanted to ruin her after killing her. Every minute was in his favor. But I bet the Tracy police are going to get him. They are real mad.

Jav, apparently they (family and others) did not take the kissing incident seriously..Time for more surveilance and diligence in keeping kids safe! The community has a predator amongst them, and I'm sure they know who the 'hinky' ones are there ~ LE will get him, but when will people learn?!! A lesson must be learned from her death, but all over, it happens again and again.

Yesterday, I brought my 2 girls to the Sprint store ~ my oldest had to get her phone fixed. A girl day, we decided to get KFC, which we never do, because I'm not into 'junk' food..thought it would be fun, they were so happy (yea, junk food!)! As they're sitting at the table waiting, and I'm ready to order at the counter, the slime next to me in a gray raincoat (though it WAS raining :rolleyes:) says " You're 2 daughters are beautiful..." WTF?! I looked at this creepy SOB, as my stomach turned, and just knew this pig was probably a SO and not just a normal someone being polite. You could see him practically salivating, it was in his eyes. He took his food, I moved over and ignored him, 2 seconds later, looking around ~ he was gone. Then we finished 10 min later, left, and as we got into the car, he walked out of KFC! Where was he hiding?
I checked more than once for him, if he was still there, I would have left!


These kids are no match for a sneaky SOB like that ~ laying in wait for an unsuspecting kid probably is what they do many times!:mad::cuss::flamemad:

[old_soul]

I was so saddened to hear :rose: That poor child and her family. Yes the laws do need to change. In my mind at this moment-I am all for nailing the waste of skin's balls to a stump,then lighting the stump on fire. :flamemad:

:beer: Here, Here! Castration first, Beem! Less to burn, but oh, so painful with an open wound!

Alcohol anyone?



Sandra's Autopsy is this AM.......sigh.

[One2Snoop]

Tracy church a crime scene in girl’s slaying (9:57 a.m.)

By The Record
April 07, 2009 12:58 PM

TRACY -- The Police Department, shifting gears from trying to find Sandra Cantu to trying to find her killer, has roped off Clover Road Baptist Church with yellow crime-scene tape.

The church is less than 100 yards west of Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park, where Cantu lived. The 8-year-old girl’s body was discovered Monday inside a suitcase floating in an irrigation pond two miles north of her home.

A residence inside the mobile-home park also has been roped off as a crime scene.

Tracy police Sgt. Tony Sheneman was holding a 10 a.m. news conference today.

A tree in front of the Orchard Estates park has become an unofficial memorial to Cantu. Passersby, some of them softly weeping with heads bowed, continue to drop off balloons, stuffed animals, notes and candles.

Tracy Unified has several counselors meeting with students this morning at Melville S. Jacobson Elementary where Cantu had been a student.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090407/A_NEWS/90407004

[Its just me]

Just taking time to post that I appreciate all of you. I'm a daily reader on the missing/murdered children boards. This is a great place to get the latest updates, great opinions along with some enjoyed humor. Your a wonderful group of caring people. :rose:

IMHOO there should be a law that anyone who kills an innocent child should be put to death. My preference would be to kill them the same way they killed the innocent child but I know that is not going to happen so I'm trusting God for true justice for all the murdered children.

:rose: Sandra's loved ones are in my prayers. I have an 11 year old granddaughter and I can't imagine how horrible it would be if this was our family. fep

[mandi3020]

I started to type out what I think the punishment for the killer should be, but didn't post it because I would get banned.

God bless this little girl and her family.:rose:

I'm just heartbroken.

[SuzDuJour]

I think it speaks volumes that LE immediately went to the church and the pastor's mobile home after finding the bag and body. And that they are calling the shed at the church an 'active' crime scene. According to the church's website, the pastor would be in his 70s, I would think? He admits to being considered a person of interest and says his granddaughter played with Sandra often.

From local news)
Lawless’ name is the fourth to have come up in the missing person-turned murder investigation. Police served search warrants on 60-year old martial arts teacher Frank Wohler, who lived behind Sandra’s home and said he kissed her on the lips two years ago just to be nice.

Christian Sinclair, 49 — who’s depicted in court records as abusive and alcoholic — was arrested last week for obstructing the investigation. Police searched his home, too.

Sinclair’s friend, David Slayter, 44, was then taken to the police station for questioning last week as the FBI and Stockton and Tracy police searched his home and took out several items.

It looks like LE is on top of this, I wouldn't be surprised at an arrest soon.

[wind149]

I am just sick over this, that poor innocent little angel, but she has her wings now and I just heard Jane describe her clothing and even her Hannah Montana flip flops were found with her body and I think of my friend who has a daughter the same age and she too, has HM flip flops and is quite proud of them, had to show me them the minute I walked through the door couple weeks back and she idolizes HM, Sandra probably did too, and HM is such a good show for little girls, wholesome show, Miley is such a beautiful child and she represents all little girls. Now which one of the f*ucking 78 Sex offenders did this???? You know this poor child was raped and I am wondering how long the pig kept her alive, in a way she reminds me of Jessie, and all I can think is some POS just like Couey did this, you know he will be a repeat offender, some lame judge has probably given him probation every time he molested a child and CA the wheels of justice grind slowly, in my lifetime, whoever did this and gets the DP, I won't be alive when they execute him!!

Look how long Richard Allen Davis has been on DR!! I will also be dead when they execute Scott Peterson! If all the SO's had been wearing ankle monitors with GPS, then maybe this child would be alive. From all appearances, this trailer park looks like a good family park, similar to the one I lived in, it does not look run down or trashy like the park where Haleigh lived, and I can't help but wonder maybe somebody there has done the deed too, maybe somebody she trusted, somebody she would go with, so many questions unanswered already. It breaks my heart to see her on that tape, skipping along, happy, going to play with a friend, her innocence shining through and then you think some POS has raped and murdered this sweet child and the rage that went through me can't be healthy.

I felt this same rage when Jessie was found and they arrested Couey, I hurled things across the room and when Carlie was found brutally raped and murdered, I saw Smith and wanted to castrate him with a dull kitchen knife and then strangle him to death, when Christopher Barrios was found sodomized and choked to death and disposed in a trash bag, the rage that I feel for those POS's white trash MF's, I puked when I heard what this poor angel went through at the hands of those white trash scumbags. I keep their pictures on my board above my desk and they will not come off until the scumbags that murdered them are sent to hell, my little tribute to these sweet innocent children that tonight should be home with their families and because these scuzzbags used them like sex toys they lie in a cold grave and their families will never be the same. Now tonight, another family is going through the hell no one should have to and she is now on the board too.

My heart goes out to her family, my tears are falling as I write this and my rage is boiling!! A man called in on PN and said that we should execute all SO's and who is going to argue there? You watch, this scumbag will have a lengthy record of molestation and given little or no time, or he could be one that has maxed out, these are the ones that should never get out, they refuse that so called treatment because they think there is nothing wrong with harming a child, I told you about that POS in VT that was out for 11 FREAKING DAYS and molested another child?? And he was labled a Level III??? In other words, Couey and Duncan level and he maxed out and did it again and is now in prison probably for life, but why let him out in the first place? Civil commitment should have been enacted but don't ya know some of the bleeders feel that he did his time and it is against HIS RIGHTS to be held involuntarily???? I hate bleeding hearts and God Bless we don't have any here!! But harm one of their kids and they want to flip the switch!!!

VT is starting to smarten up, This POS who has priors going back to the 70's was finally jailed for life, he got 40-life and he is 60 so I am really glad he can never hurt anyone again, but he had molested boys for 30 plus years and just got a slap or probation, he always whines to the judge that he is so sorry and won't do it again and VT has had a history of judges with their good old boy mentality and set him free time and time again. His latest charges were raping a 13 year old boy and molesting an 11 year old.The 13 year old came forward and advised that Charles Mould had raped him two years ago when he went to his house to do odd jobs and then when the 11 year old saw his picture in the paper he told his mom that he had touched him and fondled his genitals when he went to the man's house to ask if he wanted his lawn mowed and not one soul in that hood knew that this scumbag is a CSO!! He mowed the lawn and the man asked him if he wanted a drink and he did the deed right there in the kitchen!!! All toll? 15 freaking victims!!!

And he had the balls to ask the judge at his sentencing to consider his age, once again trying to minimize his actions and trying to manipulate the system, he whined that he was afraid to go to prison because he knows what happens to SO's and the female judge, bless Judge Harris, after calling him the worst piece of scum that ever graced her courtroom, she gave him two consecutive sentences of 20-life!!! The victims got justice and I hope to God the CO's look the other way and let some inmate justice prevail!! He was crying when they led him away and I was smiling!! He made some lame apology in front of the media, whining that they were sentencing an old man to death, whined that he needs help not prison!! I laughed my ass off on that one!! Needs help? He needs to be raped and beaten by every inmate in the prison!! I have a feeling that Tracy police will find this scumbag, and what is up with the preacher? They searched his home and the parish?? They says he is not a suspect, but you never know, preachers could turn bad too.

[Amy]

Great. Pre Sheneman on NG tonight, it is a collection pond, not an irrigation pond. That means it is full of cattle manure and other "run-off". No wonder no one smelled anything. And that will preclude a lot of good lab work, I'll bet.

That is what I tho't @ the first--a collection pond. When on another message board I mentioned chemicals and "stuff" that might over power the smell of decomp, and chemicals that could ruin evidence, someone took me to task on that, saying it was just an irrigation pond. Now, I know irrigation ponds--and they aren't murky so as to not being able to see objects in the water. This had been described as murky. Thanks for the info.

[One2Snoop]

Coroner: Autopsy for Murdered Tracy Girl Will Not Be Ready for Four to Six Weeks
Created by Brian Shields on 4/7/2009 7:34:25 PM

TRACY (KRON) – Officials in Tracy are confirming to KRON 4’s Dan Kerman that the autopsy for murdered Tracy girl, Sandra Cantu, will not be completed for four to six weeks.

The body of Sandra, missing since March 27th, was found Monday in a large black piece of rolling luggage that floated to the top of an irrigation pond just two miles from the mobile home park where she was last seen.

KRON 4’s Terisa Estacio says the FBI is conducting a search and handling the forensic evidence at the Clover Road Baptist Church in Tracy. The church is located near the mobile home park where the eight-year-old lived with her mother and grandparents.

At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Sergeant Tony Sheneman said a search would be served at the church and stressed that Pastor Lane Lawless has not been arrested and is not the prime suspect in the murder of eight-year-old Sandra Cantu.

Sheneman notes that every person they speak to is a person of interest and also says no suitcase was reported missing and the pastor is not linked to the luggage.

KRON 4's Kate Thompson spoke with Pastor Lawless and his wife, Connie, as they drove by the church Tuesday afternoon, “No, no, we’ve been in the park for 13 years and we’ve known her and her sister since before they were born. So they’re like children to us, they’re like our children,” said Connie.

Pastor Lawless says he's cooperating with the investigation. He told Kate police seized computers, phones, and other items from the family's trailer located in the same mobile home park where the Cantu family lives. The pastor says his great-granddaughter played with Sandra on a regular basis. Police cordoned off the church for a more thorough search of the premises Tuesday morning.

An autopsy on the eight-year old girl's remains was underway late Tuesday morning. Detectives are awaiting the results to find out exactly how the child died. Her remains were found inside a suitcase in an irrigation pond about two miles from the mobile home park where she lived. Officials insist no suspects have been ruled in or out and no one is in custody in connection with the child's murder.

"We've been receiving a lot of calls and messages from the public wanting to send cash donations as well as cards of condolence and flowers," said Sergeant Sheneman during a Tuesday morning news conference. We're asking that all mail be sent to the Tracy Police department. We have a liaison working with the family. As far as cash donations, if anyone is still interested in doing that, if they would please contact the Sund-Carrington Foundation in Modesto. They will be coordinating that portion of the outpouring of support for the family."

KRON 4 will have a one-hour special celebrating the life of Sandra Cantu and focused on the investigation into her killing tonight at 9:00 p.m.

http://www.kron.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/961/reftab/36/Default.aspx?t=Coroner:-Autopsy-for-Murdered-Tracy-Girl-Will-Not-Be-Ready-for-Four-to-Six-Weeks

[old_soul]

Yes. She was found in a far nastier place than an irrigation pond. It is an effluent collection pond. It is like a giant septic tank. It keeps the effluent from running into the water, the Old River-if you go back earlier on the thread, one of the early stories, I think posted by One2Snoop, mentioned that cadaver dogs picked up scent on the Old River.

Sandra was found in the reddish one to the right. Its probably reddish from either chemicals or bacteria added to digest the effluent, I'm guessing. The Old River is just above the ponds.

http://i41.tinypic.com/2cf633q.png

I was wondering why it looked so darn disgusting but they were still using it to flood and water the fields... They weren't.

So, the SOB knew that by putting Sandra in there, it would do damage to the evidence. I think he may have foiled himself though, because there was protection for her, being she was in the closed suitcase. Did I hear someone mention something about a bag ? Does anyone know if she was put in a bag first? Very sad to hear she still had her cute flip flops on, for some reason that really bother me, with the thoughts I have about how she was murdered.

we have to wait how long to hear ?

Sandra :rose:

[dan_uk]

use google street view and you can see the areas

[One2Snoop]

A suitcase like the one Sandra was found in was reported stolen. It was for the church rummage sale. The Clover Road Baptist Church.

http://www.kcra.com/news/19121818/detail.html


Wow, :eek: have they checked out the church maintenance guy? This definitely has to be someone who has a car, access to the church, and someone that Sandra was somewhat familiar with.

[One2Snoop]

I'm a little confused by the following - does this mean the suitcase was never at the church but put in the trunk of this person's car to be taken to the church and it disappeared or was it stolen from the church? :confused:

Williams said that the mysterious black suitcase Cantu was found in was reported stolen by another congregation member the same day Cantu disappeared.

"That suitcase was to go to the church for a rummage sale with some stuff in it and the person put it somewhere, either in the back of a car somewhere. But anyway, when she came back out the suitcase was gone," Williams said.

[One2Snoop]

Police Still "Focusing on No Specific Person" in Search for Sandra Cantu's Killer
Created by Brian Shields on 4/8/2009 1:07:20 PM

TRACY (KRON) -- Tracy police say they are keeping an open mind in their search for eight-year old Sandra Cantu's killer.

"We are focusing on no specific person at this time," Sgt. Tony Sheneman told a Wednesday morning news conference. "We're looking at a lot of people. Everyone that we're talking to has been cooperative. We are working very diligently to identify the killer or killers of Sandra Cantu."

The remarks come after police and the FBI searched the Clover Lane Baptist Church and questioned the pastor about Sandra's murder. He says all warrants in the case remain under court seal so he can't talk about the basis for them.

Investigators are still waiting to hear from the Coroner's office with preliminary results of an autopsy conducted on Tuesday.

"We feel a great deal of pressure," Sgt. Sheneman added. "We want to find who is responsible for this but we don't want to rush to judgment. We don't want anyone tried in the press. We want to identify the people or person who is responsible for this and develop a strong enough case that they will be brought to justice."

The sergeant says the growing size of the memorial outside the mobile home park where the Cantus live is a testament to how the Tracy community feels about this crime.

"I would advise every parent, not just here in Tracy but everywhere but specifically in Tracy to keep close watch on your children," Sheneman said. "Know where they are. Be involved in their lives. Know who their friends are. Know where they're going. I had that conversation this morning with my children as they went off to school. Make sure they know who's around them and be in a group."

Stay tuned to KRON 4 and KRON4.com for continuing coverage of the search for Sandra Cantu's killer.

http://www.kron.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/972/reftab/36/t/Police-Still-Focusing-on-No-Specific-Person-in-Search-for-Sandra-Cantu-s-Killer/Default.aspx

[Nawny]

I agree with those who say she was dead before she was reported missing. I know there are sex offenders all around us, no matter where we live but, I don't just look at dirty Skeevy types. Some of them are wearing Armani suits and carrying brief cases filled with PhD type CEO materials. Some are NOT your old man next door types and some ARE the men and women who work for the church. And lastly, some children who are molested are never killed, but rather infused with fear for the rest of their lives. It's is easy to notice that molesters are killing their prey lately because the children of today are starting to squeal on them, as opposed to the past when they kept the perps secrets and just lived in mental and emotional depressions for the rest of their lives.

I hope they change the laws too, yes. Hang the bastids!

[tandarat]

I am sure the police are keeping a close hand in this case, which is probably good, even if it is frustrating for the rest of us. I would not be surprised if they are giving out some intentionally inaccurate information so they can continue their investigation with little chance of the progress getting to the press.

It is pretty apparent that they have SOME idea of what may have happened. I'm not sure what the multiple search warrants mean, however. One mentioned some kind of a ring...this would be very frightening, especially if three or four members at least were living in that one "family oriented" neighborhood. It could also be that they have these guys each as the most likely suspects, but have no real links to any of them that would definitively point to him, i.e. just gut feeling and perhaps some (weak) circumstantial evidence. They may also have one or two in their sites as prime suspects, but don't want to have tunnel vision, and are investigating the less likely candidates with equal intensity so as not to lose any evidence if they end up being wrong. If this is the case, hopefully they will be looking at other possible scenarios as well, to cover all bases.

Overall, from an outsider's perspective, I've actually been kind of impressed with the way they have handled this, especially considering that until recently Tracy has really been kind of a podunk town. During the housing boom it became a thriving bedroom community. (I was amazed at the changes from the time we moved from the bay area to soCal in 1998 and moving back a couple of years ago.) Still, it is not the kind of place that would have experience with abduction/murders, and often local LE is just not equipped to handle this kind of thing. Yes, they brought in the FBI early, but that just goes to show how seriously they took this from the beginning. I can't tell you how many local departments would dismiss something like this as a runaway or something until it is too late. They have handled this professionally, and have gone beyond what is often done to find Sandra, and now to get the RIGHT guy behind bars.

Let's all hope that they are on the right track, and get this guy off the streets as soon as possible. I'm guessing that he'll lay low for now, but if they DON'T find him, or, worse, they get the wrong guy, he will kill again. This is not something that is done once and that is it. Hopefully he didn't find joy in the actual killing, but did it out of fear of being caught...

Michelle

[One2Snoop]

Tracy police urge patience in hunt for Sandra Cantu's killer (11:09 a.m.)

TRACY - Police urged patience today as they search for Sandra Cantu's killer and said they cannot release details of the mounds of evidence they are collecting because it could hinder the investigation.

"We are working very hard to maintain the integrity of the investigation," Tracy police Sgt. Tony Sheneman said. "We feel a great deal of pressure. We want to find who is responsible for this."

The 8-year-old girl went missing March 27 from the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park on West Clover Road. Her body was found Monday in a suitcase floating in an irrigation pond just two miles north.

Sheneman said investigators are still awaiting a report from medical examiners on a cause of death, and he could not provide a timeline.

San Joaquin County Sheriff's spokesman Les Garcia said the autopsy has been completed but that an official cause of death is pending toxicology and tissue sample testing, which could take four to eight weeks. He said the coroner does not release a preliminary cause of death.

He also sought to dispel speculation about the origins of the suitcase. He would not confirm any speculated links between the suitcase and the mobile home park or a nearby church that was searched Tuesday. Sheneman said investigators have no report of a missing suitcase.

Hundreds of people have been interviewed by police since Sandra disappeared almost two weeks ago, but no suspects have been named and no arrests have been made.

Police and FBI agents have served in excess of 15 search warrants since March 27, Sheneman said, but he said that with each warrant, the courts are also granting simultaneous requests to keep those warrants sealed.

As many as 100 local, state and federal law enforcement personnel are working the case, including all 25 of the Tracy Police Department's investigative unit, Sheneman said, and other officers with investigative experience are being pulled on as needed.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090408/A_NEWS/90408006/-1/A_NEWS

[tandarat]

OK, question...if you had an old suitcase that was filled with stuff for a rummage sale (as was mentioned above), and someone took it, would you make a police report?

Truthfully, I would not have made one. I would have if I had made some kind of a connection between it and the missing child later on, but what would the chances of that be? Somehow I just don't see my mind going in the direction of, "Well, the little girl disappeared, and if someone took her and murdered her, they'd need something to dump her in, and that suitcase is just about the right size...." Can you honestly say you'd make that connection?

Why bother the cops, who are busy anyway (and especially busy if a little girl is missing) by calling them out to report a theft of something that you didn't want anyway? It would be silly. I'm not concerned that the police have no report on the missing suitcase. Now, they may be AWARE that a suitcase had gone missing, and it is similar to the one Sandra was found in, but the chances of them confirming that would be slim to none at this point.

We gotta be patient and let them do their work. We'll get the information soon. I do respect them for not leading the media to look at any one person...they want to get the RIGHT guy, not just anyone. Good for them. No matter how pressured they are to find someone, it does nobody any good to have them arrest someone just to appease the public. That isn't justice, and in this case, it could very well seal the fate of another little girl.

[Amy]

OK, question...if you had an old suitcase that was filled with stuff for a rummage sale (as was mentioned above), and someone took it, would you make a police report?

Truthfully, I would not have made one. I would have if I had made some kind of a connection between it and the missing child later on, but what would the chances of that be? Somehow I just don't see my mind going in the direction of, "Well, the little girl disappeared, and if someone took her and murdered her, they'd need something to dump her in, and that suitcase is just about the right size...." Can you honestly say you'd make that connection?

Why bother the cops, who are busy anyway (and especially busy if a little girl is missing) by calling them out to report a theft of something that you didn't want anyway? It would be silly. I'm not concerned that the police have no report on the missing suitcase. Now, they may be AWARE that a suitcase had gone missing, and it is similar to the one Sandra was found in, but the chances of them confirming that would be slim to none at this point.

We gotta be patient and let them do their work. We'll get the information soon. I do respect them for not leading the media to look at any one person...they want to get the RIGHT guy, not just anyone. Good for them. No matter how pressured they are to find someone, it does nobody any good to have them arrest someone just to appease the public. That isn't justice, and in this case, it could very well seal the fate of another little girl.

No, don't think I would. Even when we have stuff set up for a yard sale, there are always those who think it brave or cool or whatever to see what they can get for free. We just let them go. I would think, especially in this instance, as you say, there was certainly something big to take the attention of LE, who would bother them w/an essentially discarded suitcase? I wouldn't have even THO'T about some POS putting a child in a suitcase.

[Amy]

Weird. On Headline news just now, the KRON correspondent said the press thinks the surveillance video of Sandra skipping past her house has been edited, that the unedited version may show a person other than her. Maybe they think it was panned to the side to show only her :shrug:

And who do they think edited this? Would grandpa have the equipment @ the house to do it? Or, they think LE did it? Why? Surely, if it was someone other than LE, someone in the department would be able to recognize it as edited, I'd think. I know it was kind of patchy with some wierd coloring of the pavement, but it looked about as good as any of the surveilance videos I have seen on Forensic Files and such.

[Amy]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The KRON guy thinks that the police censored it to not tip off the perp. The police originally said they would not release the tape as there was "material evidence" on it, but then they did release it, but KRON guy thinks it was edited.

Thanks.

Still, it seems if whomever they think is the perp was in the video, wouldn't it be to their advantage to put it out to the public for ID? Or, perhaps the shadow might really be a pack or purse? Cuz, sometimes for sure it looks like she has something along her right side. Other times, not so much.

[wind149]

Seems to keep coming back to that preacher man?? And I agree, Tracy police seem to have more on the ball than Putnam Co does!!! And ITA with Danny, look at those pedophile scumbag priests for years getting away with raping and molesting kids, they all do not look like Chester the Molester, and I have a feeling it just might be someone who knew her. Anyone catch the show about kidnapped children on MSNBC? There was a woman on there who at the age of nine was getting raped by a 40 year old man who was obsessed with her, she was too afraid to tell her family, and when raping her wasn't enough, he grabbed her and went on the run for three months, they were from Wisconsin and he took her all the way to TX where he hid her out in a motel, raping her daily, her name is Jessica Wallenburg and she is now 23 and still very fearful of him. He was arrested when a maid recognized him form AMW and he received a 4o year sentence and this puke was her teacher, his name is Steven Oliver and he looked fairly normal, very homely, but not someone you would think would be come obsessed with a child so bad, that he kidnapped her and her parents did not have a clue who he really was, a scumbag raping piece of s*it who does not deserve to breathe air right now!! Jessica has tried to pick up the pieces, has a boyfriend now, but as you listened to her, you could still hear the anxiety and fear when his name was mentioned and when she advised of the abuse, her hate, the smell of coffee because he drank it all the time and she associates that with him makes her sick, made me want to kill the POS myself!! I feel that they will catch this scumbag, maybe the tape holds a clue, gonna watch Jane to see if anything knew.

[Nawny]

So true Nawny-sad but true. We have had several in our city that were huge news. One a priest who had 30 victims-of those who did come forward. This was years later when it went to trial. Victims now adults and the usual scenerio- messed up lives. Another was a chiropracter who i went to school with. He had many victims-took place in his office. Wife stood by him despite 2 children who really suffered as everyone in the city knew. Wife's family has tons of money so he basically got house arrest. When his time was up they moved to the states and is practising. I had a client who was one of his victim's-I KNOW it happened. Sad that she was dismissed from testifying as she was mentally impaired. Nobody got justice in that case. He was caught once under house arrest leaving his property-nothing came of it as one of his best friends was a cop who had the balls to testify as a character witness. Comfort if ya had to report a sex crime and have that cop show up. Asshat :hat:


I believe every word of your post Beemer! Has it always gone on? I think it has and it's so beyond the scope of stopping it. All young mothers can do it protect them more than ever. No one wants to live in paranoia but keep teaching them how to handle the possibility. Just today I was with my 6 year old twin weebles. They wanted to ride their bikes outside and I said no, I'm cooking and can't take you out there now.. Of course they whined and asked why! Why? I said, "You can't go outside without me, momma, or daddy or someone else in the family because stupid people sometimes like to take kids. The little one said, "Nawny, Stupid is a bad word." So I told her, it applies only to bad people. Everyone isn't always nice. Some people are stupid.

[Lodi]

I agree it looks like she has a purse on her side, no matter what the police say (these are the same folks who said there was no evidence of an abduction and nothing to make them think there was a body in the suitcase, remember...they feel free to lie or at least dissemble if they need to)

If it was edited, I think that it shows the person who got her attention and made her turn toward them. Would there be an investigatory advantage to keeping that information from the killer? Hmmm...not sure...

It sure looks like she's carrying a lightweight backpack. You can't see it when she first appears at the top of the screen. Probably centered on her back. Then she throws her arms left and right and skips a little. The backpack seems to get flung a little to her side. When she is last seen, she appears to be holding the strap with her right hand.

[One2Snoop]

No Murder Weapon Found in Death of California Girl, 8, Suitcase Still a Mystery

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Detectives trying to unravel a murder mystery that left a little girl dead in a suitcase at the bottom of a pond said they haven't yet found the weapon used to kill the 8-year-old and can't say for sure where the luggage came from.

Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman told reporters Wednesday that investigators haven't recovered the instrument used to murder Sandra Cantu, but said her death is being classified as a homicide.

Sheneman also wouldn't confirm reports that the suitcase her body was found stuffed inside was stolen from the Clover Road Baptist Church, which the FBI searched Tuesday night.

"I've heard speculation that the suitcase was stolen from the mobile home park (where Sandra lived). I've heard speculation that the suitcase was stolen by the church ... I've heard speculation that it was part of a rummage sale the church was having," Sheneman said. "We did not have a report of stolen luggage."

There were no plans for further searches on Wednesday, he told the news conference. The autopsy that began Tuesday is still under way.

"We’re waiting to hear from the coroner’s office, as I said yesterday. They are working diligently to uncover as much as they can," the sergeant said. "When they complete the investigation, they’ll let us know."

Investigators still refuse to call anyone a suspect in the case.

"We are focusing on no specific person at this time," Sheneman said.

Tracy police will hold their usual evening press conference at 6:30 p.m. EDT (3:30 p.m. PDT).

Earlier Wednesday, the FBI dusted an SUV for fingerprints a day after they searched a church and questioned its pastor for clues to Sandra's suspicious death.

Sandra's body was found in the suitcase, described as "a large rolling piece of luggage" by Sheneman. It had been dumped in a pond near her mobile home in Tracy, Calif., more than a week after she vanished.

She was last seen walking away from her family's trailer park on March 27.

Investigators searched the Clover Road Baptist Church in Tracy well into the night on Tuesday, but wouldn't say what led them to the church or what, if anything, they found there.

They also interviewed Pastor Lane Lawless for three hours, though police insisted he wasn't considered a suspect.

"I just spent a night down at the police station, answering all their questions," Lawless said, according to FOX San Francisco affiliate KTVU.

A night earlier, the TV station reported seeing the pastor's wife, Connie Lawless, being taken away in a patrol car for questioning.

The Lawless family lived in the same trailer park where Sandra resided with her family.

Lane Lawless told KTVU that the second-grader often visited his home and played with their great granddaughter.

Detectives searched the Lawless home Monday night after Sandra's body was identified, and their computers and phones were seized, according to his wife.

"We're very open to them taking anything they wanted," Connie Lawless told KTVU. "We are not at all disturbed by that. We feel that the more people they can eliminate, the quicker they'll get to the truth."

Connie Lawless said they had nothing to do with the girl's abduction.

"She was the sweetest little thing. It breaks it our hearts to think that anyone would take such a tiny little thing and abuse her and murder her," she said.

Investigators won't comment on whether they've been able to link the suitcase Sandra's body was discovered in to any of the locations they've served search warrants on.

"The coroner is taking his time in this painstaking process," Sheneman said Tuesday. "We're not going to ask for him to hurry so as not to damage the integrity of this investigation."

The luggage containing Sandra's body was discovered Monday by farmworkers draining the pond about two miles from where she lived.

The child was wearing the same clothes she wore when she vanished: a pink "Hello Kitty" T-shirt and black leggings.

Investigators believe that the person who dumped the body in the pond must have known the rural area, just north of the city.

"Someone would have to be familiar with that area to know to go there to place that suitcase," Sheneman told reporters Tuesday.

Authorities also wouldn't say who owns the SUV they were searching. KTVU shot exclusive video of the forensic team and crime scene experts combing through the Kia. A Cadillac in a nearby garage was also being examined, the station said.

Photos of the outgoing girl with dark brown eyes and golden hair were posted all over town, on business fronts, car windows and fire hydrants in the city of about 78,000 people.

Sandra's disappearance sparked a massive search effort around Tracy, about 60 miles east of San Francisco, that included hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement officials, including the FBI, and more than 1,000 tips.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,513244,00.html

[tandarat]

No Murder Weapon Found in Death of California Girl, 8, Suitcase Still a Mystery

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Detectives trying to unravel a murder mystery that left a little girl dead in a suitcase at the bottom of a pond said they haven't yet found the weapon used to kill the 8-year-old and can't say for sure where the luggage came from.

Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman told reporters Wednesday that investigators haven't recovered the instrument used to murder Sandra Cantu, but said her death is being classified as a homicide.



Hmmmm....it makes one wonder if the autopsy indicated that the method used to kill her was not strangulation or suffocation, which is common in these cases. If this is the case, it would show more premeditation...strangulation or suffocation could be accidental or done in a panic. If they are looking for a specific item, chances are they had prepared to take her with the intention of killing her. Unless, of course, a rock or other blunt instrument was used, but it still makes me think.

[wind149]

The suitcase was stolen from the church??? Why does it seem that the preacher and that church and their home is a focal point? They must know more than they are letting on and of course the COD was homicide and ITA it has to be someone from that area because it is very rural out there, kinda like where I live. I know my hood well, I know all the roads around here and most of my neighbors for at least a good mile and if someone were to dump a body out here, they would have to know the area. We have two ponds, one on the front of the property and one out back on the pasture area and if I saw something in one that did not look right, you know LE would get a jingle. So it stands to reason whoever did this heinous act, is a local whether he is a CSO or a wanna be, he figured that the case would stay emerged in the water and he was home free till they decided to drain the ditch and I bet who did this is freaking out, his dirty little secret is found out.

[One2Snoop]

The suitcase was stolen from the church??? Why does it seem that the preacher and that church and their home is a focal point? They must know more than they are letting on and of course the COD was homicide and ITA it has to be someone from that area because it is very rural out there, kinda like where I live. I know my hood well, I know all the roads around here and most of my neighbors for at least a good mile and if someone were to dump a body out here, they would have to know the area. We have two ponds, one on the front of the property and one out back on the pasture area and if I saw something in one that did not look right, you know LE would get a jingle. So it stands to reason whoever did this heinous act, is a local whether he is a CSO or a wanna be, he figured that the case would stay emerged in the water and he was home free till they decided to drain the ditch and I bet who did this is freaking out, his dirty little secret is found out.

Hi ya wind - According to the above article I don't think LE knows exactly where the suitcase came from....

"I've heard speculation that the suitcase was stolen from the mobile home park (where Sandra lived). I've heard speculation that the suitcase was stolen by the church ... I've heard speculation that it was part of a rummage sale the church was having," Sheneman said. "We did not have a report of stolen luggage."

Although I've read the suitcase story came from one of the members of the church, a Fred Williams.

I don't think I'd report a piece of stolen luggage that I'm getting rid of nor do I think I'd associate it with the murder of Sandra, but once the story came out that she was found in a piece of luggage I would hope the person who it orginally belonged to would go to the police - who knows they might have actually seen the person hanging around before it disappeared.

[Lodi]

During the searches, police took bamboo blinds from a mobile home in the park. What would prompt that? Could Sandra have been tied up with cord like that on the blinds?

http://www.kcra.com/news/19121818/detail.html

[Lodi]

KTVU is reporting that the Kia suv belonging to the pastor's granddaughter is of particular interest to the FBI

http://www.ktvu.com/video/19132732/index.html

Maybe this is part of trying to identify the suitcase as being the same one that was stolen earlier. It may have been taken from the pastor's granddaughter's SUV when preparing for the rummage sale.

~Snip~ Williams said that the mysterious black suitcase Cantu was found in was reported stolen by another congregation member the same day Cantu disappeared.

"That suitcase was to go to the church for a rummage sale with some stuff in it and the person put it somewhere, either in the back of a car somewhere. But anyway, when she came back out the suitcase was gone," Williams said.

http://www.kcra.com/news/19121818/detail.html

[Lodi]

http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/04/08/sandra-cantu-investigation-suitcase-reported-stolen-by-church-member/

Blinkoncrime has some interesting information on Fred Williams. He is looking very suspicious.

[One2Snoop]

False Leads Slow Cantu Murder Investigation

Posted: 9:41 pm PDT April 8, 2009Updated: 1:27 pm PDT April 9, 2009
TRACY, Calif. -- An envelope addressed “From Sandra To My Killer” was discovered early Thursday at the site of a memorial to slain eight-year-old Sandra Cantu, but authorities said it would likely slow, not help, the search for her killer.

At a morning news conference, Sgt. Tony Sheneman said the evidence team was taking everything and anything into consideration in their search, but added that some false leads were simply slowing their progress.

“There was an envelope found where the memorial has been for the last several days and on the envelope it said 'From Sandra To My Killer,'” he said. “It has been collected and will be looked at by our evidence team here shortly… It was left sometime between 4 and 4:30 this morning.”

“Until it is opened and examined we have no idea (what impact it will have on the case). Unfortunately, we are receiving other things like that over the internet into my email and the investigators email… It is detracting from the rest of the investigation.” Sheneman had little other new information for reporters.

Police have served more than 15 search warrants in their attempt to hunt down whoever killed an 8-year-old girl and stuffed her body in a suitcase, but say they "don't want to rush to judgment" and so far have no suspects in the case.

Sheneman said everyone has been cooperative, but he declined to give many details about who was questioned and why, and what was seized during searches this week of a local church and the mobile home park where the victim, Sandra Cantu, lived.

"We feel a great deal of pressure. We want to find who is responsible for this," Sheneman said. "We don't want to rush to judgment and we don't want people tried in the press."

Sandra was last seen alive March 27, when she was caught on a surveillance video skipping down a street near her home at Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park. A massive search ended Monday when her body was discovered stuffed in a suitcase that was dumped into a pond only a few miles from her home.

An autopsy has been completed, but results were pending, said Les Garcia, a spokesman for the San Joaquin County coroner's office. Toxicology and tissue samples were being sent to a pathologist for analysis to help determine the official cause of death, he added. He said it could take eight weeks to get the results.

There has been an outpouring of grief from the community and residents have set up a makeshift memorial outside the mobile home complex with balloons, stuffed animals, cards and flowers. Passers-by have paused to pray, cry and drop off items.

Wednesday afternoon, some of Sandra's relatives visited the memorial and talked briefly with reporters.

"It gives us comfort, and it's a testament to the heart that Sandra had and how many people she touched," said Angie Chavez, Sandra's aunt, referring to the memorial.

The family did not speculate on who might have killed Sandra. Her uncle, Joe Chavez, called for the death penalty for the person or persons responsible.

"It's complete innocence taken for absolutely no reason," Chavez said. "It's ridiculous, absurd and grotesque."

Joe Chavez said a police chaplain informed the family of Sandra's death Monday.

"When that word came in, I heard screams that I'd never heard come out of human beings before," he said. "Primal screams of love and fear like the worst horror movie you could ever watch."

"There's a monster out there," added Jose Chavez, Sandra's grandfather.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/19134275/detail.html#-

[One2Snoop]

Tracy city crews removing Cantu memorial at family's request (9 a.m.)
Volunteers asked to remove missing posters

By The Record
April 09, 2009 12:02 PM

TRACY - At the family's request and with rain showers forecast, city crews last night began dismantling the massive memorial to Sandra Cantu outside Tracy's Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park, where the 8-year-old girl went missing March 27 before she was found dead Monday.

Sandra's family wants to donate the hundreds of stuffed animals, Easter baskets and toys that people have dropped off in recent days to organizations that benefit children, Tracy police said.

Also, the family has asked volunteers to begin taking down all the "missing" fliers with Sandra's face posted around town, police said.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090409/A_NEWS/90409004

[One2Snoop]

Slain Tracy Girl's Mother Speaks Out
Police Search For Killer

POSTED: 5:56 am PDT April 9, 2009
UPDATED: 12:14 pm PDT April 9, 2009

TRACY, Calif. -- The mother of slain 8-year-old Sandra Cantu spoke out early Thursday as Tracy police continued their search for the child's killer.

Police meanwhile were working with an FBI profiler in an effort to get a better idea of who was responsible for the slaying. No arrests have been made.

Sgt. Tony Sheneman told reporters that police are still getting lots of tips, adding that at least one psychic has been in contact with the department.

Cantu's body was found Monday in a suitcase in an irrigation pond north of Tracy. She disappeared from a West Clover Road mobile home park on March 27, setting off an intense hunt that drew national media attention.

"I loved her so much," Maria Chavez said during an emotional interview with Matt Lauer on "Today."

"We don't have any idea who could have done something this horrible to her," added Angie Chavez, Cantu's aunt. "We just are praying that whoever did this gets caught."

Angie Chavez described Cantu as fun-loving and full of energy.

"She loved Hannah Montana," the aunt recalled. "She used to sing 'Best of Both Worlds' all over the house and color and garden. She loved to cook. In fact, the last time that I saw her, she helped me make breakfast."

She recalled how during a trip to Disneyland, Cantu bravely rode the Matterhorn roller coaster.

"At 4 years old, I thought that was pretty incredible," she added.

Cantu's family members late Wednesday removed stuffed animals and toys from a large shrine that took shape in recent days outside of Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park, where the girl lived with her family. They planned to donate the items to hospitals and organizations that benefit children.

Sheneman said police on Thursday took an unusual envelope from the shrine.

"On the exterior of the envelope, it said, 'From Sandra, To My Killer'," Sheneman added. "We collected that. We have no indication that it's connected with the investigation, but we will take a look at it."

Anyone with information about Cantu's death may contact Tracy police at 209-831-4550. Cantu's family members ask that anyone wishing to make money donations in Cantu's memory contact the
Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation
http://www.carolesundfoundation.com/

or Tracy police Crime Stoppers.
http://www.ci.tracy.ca.us/departments/police/

http://www.kcra.com/news/19136354/detail.html

[tandarat]

During the searches, police took bamboo blinds from a mobile home in the park. What would prompt that? Could Sandra have been tied up with cord like that on the blinds?

http://www.kcra.com/news/19121818/detail.html

They may have found blood, tissue, hair, or other potential evidence on the blinds, as well. At this point we can only guess...

[tandarat]

That is very interesting. Even if the specific theft from vehicle thing doesn't pan out though, I find it very odd that he says the suitcase she was found in was stolen. Most would either say, LIKE the one she was found in or, if they never saw it themselves, as he apparently did not, wouldn't say anything at all.

Like I said a couple of days ago, Mr. Williams should be having some "special time" with Dt. Sheneman.

What you are saying makes sense, but just to play devil's advocate, perhaps he just worded everything very poorly. By saying "reported", it SOUNDS like it was reported to the police, but he could have really meant that it was reported to the church, or the person just told some people involved with the church that it was stolen. I would guess that people from the church were glued to the tv when this was reported, and someone may have thought they recognized the suitcase, and assumed it MUST be the same one.

Does this make sense? Sorry, I've got an inflamed nerve along my scalp and face tonight, and I'm having trouble thinking coherently :shrug:, but I can see how this could be a completely innocent remark. Not that it shouldn't be looked into carefully, but I wouldn't fry this guy just yet. Drug and theft convictions (which are often related) do NOT equal pedophiles or child murderers. I would put more chips on the convicted sex offenders and the guy who played kissy with her way before this guy.

I do have a question, though....did Sandra's family attend that church? I haven't heard or read one way or the other, yet. Maybe I just missed it....

[tandarat]

There is also still the potential that this may have been a stranger abduction. I read somewhere that she was friendly with everyone. Someone could have been passing by, saw her, and somehow lured her close enough to snatch her. Chances are it wasn't, but you can't rule it out completely.

It definitely was someone who is familiar with the area, particularly the farmland that surrounds the city. I would guess it isn't a "newcomer" to the town...i.e. one of the many people who moved to Tracy in the past 3-5 years or so during the housing boom. Definitely an "oldtimer" either from Tracy or the surrounding area.

[old_soul]

On one hand, I'm really glad LE in this case is not letting out what they have and what they know.....

On the other hand, I'm pissed as all he** that so much time went by before it was released that she was missing. As I ranted in an earlier, earlier post, she was 8 not 16. 8 year old kids just aren't about 'running away', unless there are issues, and we had no knowledge of that. Word should have been put out at the 8 or 9:00 timeline when the family called LE. By then she was gone at least 4 hours..enough time to posssibly find out Something. IMO too much time was lost..

Now that she has been found, I do believe that LE knows perfectly well what caused her death, despite their 'waiting 'on tox results. True to form, they aren't telling much, and any holding back has to do with clues as to the perp, and Not tipping the SOB off. Another thing I find interesting and it might have been brought up..her clothing was all on, down to her Hannah Montana flip flops. I pray she was not sexually assaulted also........

For Sandra...:rose::rose:
Only caught part of the Mom and Aunt on TV...absolutely heartwrenching,
and so unlike another high profile murder we've been discussing...:rolleyes:

[One2Snoop]

Public memorial service for Sandra Cantu is Thursday

By The Record
April 09, 2009 8:17 PM

TRACY – The family of Sandra Cantu has scheduled a public memorial service for the slain 8-year-old for 1 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in the Merrill F. West High School gymnasium, police announced today.

Also, city crews late Wednesday and early today dismantled the massive memorial to Sandra outside Tracy's Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park, where the 8-year-old girl went missing March 27 before she was found dead Monday. Sandra’s family requested it be taken down, in part so they can donate the hundreds of stuffed animals, Easter baskets and toys that people have dropped off in recent days to organizations that benefit children, Tracy police said.

The family has asked volunteers to begin taking down all the "missing" fliers with Sandra's face posted around town, police said.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090409/A_NEWS/90409015

[One2Snoop]

Roller coaster' of anger, sorrow
Sandra Cantu's family says emotions 'very raw' with killer still on loose

By Daniel Thigpen
Record Staff Writer
April 09, 2009 6:00 AM

TRACY - When Sandra Cantu disappeared, her loved ones spent 10 unbearable days hoping for her safe return. For the past three, they have struggled to accept that will never happen.

For the slain 8-year-old's family, the emotions vacillate among extremes. Anger that Sandra's killer is still walking free. Comfort in the colossal show of support from their town. Grief that will not subside.

"If you've ever experienced a loss, this is about 10 times harder," said Angie Chavez, Sandra's aunt. "Your emotions are very raw. It's like a roller coaster."

They will never get their cheerful Sandra back, so now they yearn for something else:

"Justice - to the full extent of the law," said Jose Chavez, Sandra's grandfather. "If it's the death penalty, that's fine with me. If it's life without parole, that's fine with me. I just don't want him to go free."

If investigators are any closer to finding whoever killed Sandra, they aren't saying.

Police on Wednesday urged patience and said they cannot release details of the mounds of evidence they are collecting because it could hinder the investigation.

"We are working very hard to maintain the integrity of the investigation," Tracy police Sgt. Tony Sheneman said. "We feel a great deal of pressure. We want to find who is responsible for this."

Sandra disappeared March 27 from the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park on West Clover Road. She was last seen heading home after playing with a neighborhood friend.

For days, police maintained optimism they would find her alive and safe, until Monday, when her body was found in a suitcase, floating in an irrigation pond just two miles north of her home.

Sheneman said investigators are still awaiting a report from medical examiners on a cause of death, and he could not provide a timeline.

San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office spokesman Les Garcia said the autopsy has been completed but that an official determination is pending toxicology and tissue sample testing, which could take four to eight weeks. He said the coroner does not release a preliminary cause of death.

snip
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090409/A_NEWS/904090335

[One2Snoop]

Tracy police: Girl's case still hot
Investigators working leads; memorial services set

By Daniel Thigpen
Record Staff Writer
April 10, 2009 6:00 AM

TRACY - Tracy police on Thursday said they are confident their investigation into the death of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu - four days after she was found dead - is headed in the right direction. But they reported no specific progress, no suspects and no arrests.

Investigators, working in tandem with the FBI, are up to more than 1,400 tips in the case, Tracy police Sgt. Tony Sheneman said. Some of them have been designated "high-priority," he said, but would not say how many.

Then there are the bogus tips. Authorities took a note, addressed "From Sandra, to My Killer," away from a makeshift shrine outside the mobile home park where the girl was last seen alive.

Nothing in the handwritten note was relevant to the investigation, Sheneman said.

City crews late Wednesday and early Thursday dismantled the massive memorial to Sandra outside the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park where the 8-year-old girl went missing March 27 before she was found dead Monday.

Sandra's family requested it be taken down, in part so they can donate the hundreds of stuffed animals, Easter baskets and toys that people have dropped off in recent days to organizations that benefit children, Tracy police said.

The family also has asked volunteers to begin taking down all the "missing" fliers with Sandra's face posted around town, police said.

Sandra's family has scheduled a public memorial service for the slain 8-year-old.

Family members also are planning a separate, private funeral service.

snip
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090410/A_NEWS/904100313

[One2Snoop]

Police Cancel Cantu Murder Case News Conference

Posted: 10:43 pm PDT April 9, 2009Updated: 11:15 am PDT April 10, 2009
TRACY, Calif. -- A morning press conference to announce a development in the search for the killer of eight-year-old Sandra Cantu was abruptly cancelled Friday moments before it was set to begin.

Authorities had called an 11:15 a.m. news conference to update progress in the case of the young girl who disappeared from a Tracy mobile home park two weeks ago. But moments before it was to take place, reporters were told it had been cancelled.

Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman told KTVU early Friday that his department was feeling the pressure for an arrest, but that the media attention given to the case was amplifying any action the department takes.

“First of all, there are a lot of things that go on in an investigation that we do not want the public to hear because part of the public would be some of the suspects,” he said. “We do not want them to know what we are doing. We don’t want whoever it is to be tried on television. We want them to receive a fair trial in court. We want them to receive the punishment they deserve there.”

Meanwhile, the family of the slain girl has set up a public memorial to her at Tracy’s Fry Memorial Chapel. Starting Friday morning, local residents had the opportunity to visit the facility and leave their condolences and written thoughts about the young girl.

Police interviewed more people on Thursday as investigators sorted and prioritized more than 1,400 tips.

"Since the discovery of Sandra's body in the collection pond, several of those tips have been classified as high priority and have been assigned and looked into daily," Sheneman said.

It is two weeks since Cantu disappeared from a Tracy mobile home park and five days since her body was discovered inside a black suitcase in an irrigation pond.

Police say they're still waiting for the results of the autopsy. But even when the results are known, police say it's unlikely they will release how and when the second grader died until the investigation is completed.

"The direction of our investigation is headed in the right way. We are still looking forward to a conclusion, but I can't give you a time," said Sheneman.

Police say they are dealing with hundreds of bits of useful and not-so-useful information, including a note left sometime between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. Thursday morning outside the mobile home park where Sandra lived.

Sheneman said, "There was an envelope that was found where the memorial has been for the past several days and on the envelope it said, 'From Sandra, To My Killer'." Police said it was a frustrating waste of department resources because the note turned out to be unrelated to the investigation.

Early Thursday morning, Sandra Cantu's aunt, Angie Chavez, was out at the sidewalk memorial to collect several items and notes left by well-wishers.

Almost two weeks after the child vanished, Sandra's family says it is satisfied with the pace of the investigation into her killing. "We're very happy with the police and FBI. They are working very strong together, tirelessly to find Sandra's killer," said Chavez.

The family is asking the public to stop leaving items because of the sight of the memorial is a painful reminder. After city workers came in overnight to remove the items, a much smaller memorial remains.

A public memorial service for Sandra Cantu is set for next Thursday, April 16, at 1 p.m at West High School in Tracy.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/19144730/detail.html?treets=fran&tml=fran_break&ts=T&tmi=fran_break_1_12280104102009#-

[One2Snoop]

From the Tracy Press link - Huckaby also denies she's the one with legal problems.... Maybe its the reporters fault for poor sentence structure? :shrug:

The documents list the woman’s address as 812 W. Clover Road, Space No. 57, which city property records show is owned by Clifford Lane Lawless and Connie Lawless.

The Melissa Huckaby interviewed today said that’s not her.

Asked why the address and cell phone number in the court documents match her own, she said she has no idea.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said. “That’s not me.”

[One2Snoop]

Tracy police annouce no new details at press conference

By The Record
April 10, 2009 12:48 PM

TRACY -- Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman announced no new details in the Sandra Cantu case today at a 3:30 p.m. conference, beyond saying the "investigation continues."

Blogs and news broadcasts had anticipated an arrest would be made today. No arrest has been announced by the police department. And no new developments were revealed.

"We are still looking at many avenues," he said. "We are confident we will be coming to closure sometime in the future."

Sheneman did suggest that those who wish to contribute to the Tracy Crime Stoppers fund think about donating to the family as they try to deal with funeral costs.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090410/A_NEWS/90410004

[Lodi]

"After Sandra left, her oldest sister Miranda went to Huckaby’s house, too. Huckaby asked Miranda if she could watch her daughter for her while she went down the street to the church. Connie Lawless was home, too."
http://www.tracypress.com/pages/full_story?article-Woman%20in%20mobile%20home%20park%20reported%20mis sing%20suitcase%20=&page_label=home&id=2298054-Woman+in+mobile+home+park+reported+missing+suitcas e&widget=push&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&

Why on earth would Miranda be asked to watch Huckaby's daughter if the grandmother was home? That doesn't sound right to me!

If Huckaby is the killer, why did she ever mention the suitcase at all? Would anyone know she had one exactly like it? Well, I suppose some people might and she didn't think about that until it was too late to retrieve it from the pond. So that forced her to create the missing suitcase story.

Could she have two personalities? One that does bad and one that does good and they don't know each other exist?

[One2Snoop]

hahahhahah!

Jean Cazarez is sitting in for NG, and she had the affrontery to ask Padilla how he knows that when he stated as a fact that Caylee was babysat by Zanax! That is the first time I have ever seen his pronouncements questioned..

LOL - This is the Sandra Cantu thread. :beer:

[old_soul]

Quote: "Court records show a 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby pleaded no contest Jan. 9 to a felony charge of second degree commercial burglary and a misdemeanor charge of property theft with prior theft/burglary/robbery. The criminal complaint says she was locked up in Los Angeles County for conviction of property theft in November 2006 and that she tried to steal something from Target in November last year.

The complaint says she’s on probation in San Joaquin County and is due back in court on April 17, when she might be sentenced.

The documents list the woman’s address as 812 W. Clover Road, Space No. 57, which city property records show is owned by Clifford Lane Lawless and Connie Lawless.

The Melissa Huckaby interviewed Friday said that’s not her.

Asked why the address and cell phone number in the court documents match her own, she said she has no idea.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said. “That’s not me.” B*lls**t

This is very alarming, considering Christian Sinclair was arrested last wek for obstruction of justice when he wouldn't let LE search anything. Considering she had come from California to Florida, to live with her grandparents... Now we can understand where the dots are going........and what LE didn't (or wouldn't) tell the media.

Melissa Huckaby is involved up to her neck, BIG TIME, and either she is covering for Sinclair, or her own two hands were involved in this! What about this fricken note that shows up AFTER Sandra is found?!

:read:

What is the connection here?

[old_soul]

Here is the link for the beige Chevy Silverado seen by Sandra's body..
http://www.kcra.com/news/19146854/detail.html

Anyone know of anything else mentioned on this vhicle or who it belongs to?

LE is not telling us this..it's this guy Memory...

[old_soul]

From the Tracy Press link - Huckaby also denies she's the one with legal problems.... Maybe its the reporters fault for poor sentence structure? :shrug:

The documents list the woman’s address as 812 W. Clover Road, Space No. 57, which city property records show is owned by Clifford Lane Lawless and Connie Lawless.

The Melissa Huckaby interviewed today said that’s not her.

Asked why the address and cell phone number in the court documents match her own, she said she has no idea.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said. “That’s not me.”

Sorry for re posting this above , Snoop, didn't see your post..it's worth repeating though, eh? She's a liar.

[Lodi]

Quote: "Court records show a 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby pleaded no contest Jan. 9 to a felony charge of second degree commercial burglary and a misdemeanor charge of property theft with prior theft/burglary/robbery. The criminal complaint says she was locked up in Los Angeles County for conviction of property theft in November 2006 and that she tried to steal something from Target in November last year.

The complaint says she’s on probation in San Joaquin County and is due back in court on April 17, when she might be sentenced.

The documents list the woman’s address as 812 W. Clover Road, Space No. 57, which city property records show is owned by Clifford Lane Lawless and Connie Lawless.

The Melissa Huckaby interviewed Friday said that’s not her.

Asked why the address and cell phone number in the court documents match her own, she said she has no idea.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said. “That’s not me.” B*lls**t

This is very alarming, considering Christian Sinclair was arrested last wek for obstruction of justice when he wouldn't let LE search anything. Considering she had come from California to Florida, to live with her grandparents... Now we can understand where the dots are going........and what LE didn't (or wouldn't) tell the media.

Melissa Huckaby is involved up to her neck, BIG TIME, and either she is covering for Sinclair, or her own two hands were involved in this! What about this fricken note that shows up AFTER Sandra is found?!

:read:

What is the connection here?

Huckaby says she found the note the day after Sandra's disappearance

[One2Snoop]

LE has already ruled out the note. I posted the update about it earlier today.

[tandarat]

Something is definitely not adding up here. Too many coincidences. Yeah, it sounds like she's covering for someone, but who?

Is there any evidence whatsoever that she knows Sinclair? I'm still guessing he was just drunk and being a general idiot. Booze can bring that out in some people.

She could be covering for a family member or boyfriend, though.

Did she turn that note over to police? Did she tell them about the suitcase at that point? If that note WAS left there, and what she is saying is true, it does not take a rocket scientist to make the connection, you know?

[One2Snoop]

False Leads Slow Cantu Murder Investigation

Posted: 9:41 pm PDT April 8, 2009Updated: 1:27 pm PDT April 9, 2009
TRACY, Calif. -- An envelope addressed “From Sandra To My Killer” was discovered early Thursday at the site of a memorial to slain eight-year-old Sandra Cantu, but authorities said it would likely slow, not help, the search for her killer.

At a morning news conference, Sgt. Tony Sheneman said the evidence team was taking everything and anything into consideration in their search, but added that some false leads were simply slowing their progress.

“There was an envelope found where the memorial has been for the last several days and on the envelope it said 'From Sandra To My Killer,'” he said. “It has been collected and will be looked at by our evidence team here shortly… It was left sometime between 4 and 4:30 this morning.”

“Until it is opened and examined we have no idea (what impact it will have on the case). Unfortunately, we are receiving other things like that over the internet into my email and the investigators email… It is detracting from the rest of the investigation.” Sheneman had little other new information for reporters.

Police have served more than 15 search warrants in their attempt to hunt down whoever killed an 8-year-old girl and stuffed her body in a suitcase, but say they "don't want to rush to judgment" and so far have no suspects in the case.

Sheneman said everyone has been cooperative, but he declined to give many details about who was questioned and why, and what was seized during searches this week of a local church and the mobile home park where the victim, Sandra Cantu, lived.

"We feel a great deal of pressure. We want to find who is responsible for this," Sheneman said. "We don't want to rush to judgment and we don't want people tried in the press."

Sandra was last seen alive March 27, when she was caught on a surveillance video skipping down a street near her home at Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park. A massive search ended Monday when her body was discovered stuffed in a suitcase that was dumped into a pond only a few miles from her home.

An autopsy has been completed, but results were pending, said Les Garcia, a spokesman for the San Joaquin County coroner's office. Toxicology and tissue samples were being sent to a pathologist for analysis to help determine the official cause of death, he added. He said it could take eight weeks to get the results.

There has been an outpouring of grief from the community and residents have set up a makeshift memorial outside the mobile home complex with balloons, stuffed animals, cards and flowers. Passers-by have paused to pray, cry and drop off items.

Wednesday afternoon, some of Sandra's relatives visited the memorial and talked briefly with reporters.

"It gives us comfort, and it's a testament to the heart that Sandra had and how many people she touched," said Angie Chavez, Sandra's aunt, referring to the memorial.

The family did not speculate on who might have killed Sandra. Her uncle, Joe Chavez, called for the death penalty for the person or persons responsible.

"It's complete innocence taken for absolutely no reason," Chavez said. "It's ridiculous, absurd and grotesque."

Joe Chavez said a police chaplain informed the family of Sandra's death Monday.

"When that word came in, I heard screams that I'd never heard come out of human beings before," he said. "Primal screams of love and fear like the worst horror movie you could ever watch."

"There's a monster out there," added Jose Chavez, Sandra's grandfather.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/19134275/detail.html#-

I'm assuming this is the same note? If so, LE has ruled it out as anything significant to the case.

[Lodi]

LE has already ruled out the note. I posted the update about it earlier today.

There seems to be two notes. One found at the shrine that was from Sandra to her killer. The second one was found by Huckaby and included the words Cantu, suitcase, water. I haven't heard that the second note has been ruled out.

[One2Snoop]

Sheneman says note is unrelated to this case....

Police Cancel Cantu Murder Case News Conference

Posted: 10:43 pm PDT April 9, 2009Updated: 11:15 am PDT April 10, 2009
TRACY, Calif. -- A morning press conference to announce a development in the search for the killer of eight-year-old Sandra Cantu was abruptly cancelled Friday moments before it was set to begin.

snip

Sheneman said, "There was an envelope that was found where the memorial has been for the past several days and on the envelope it said, 'From Sandra, To My Killer'." Police said it was a frustrating waste of department resources because the note turned out to be unrelated to the investigation.

snip
http://www.ktvu.com/news/19144730/detail.html?treets=fran&tml=fran_break&ts=T&tmi=fran_break_1_12280104102009#-

[One2Snoop]

There seems to be two notes. One found at the shrine that was from Sandra to her killer. The second one was found by Huckaby and included the words Cantu, suitcase, water. I haven't heard that the second note has been ruled out.

Is LE reporting there's a second note or is this coming from the media only?

[Lodi]

~snip~Huckaby also said that she found a note the day after Cantu's disappearance.

According to Huckaby, the note said, "Cantu, Suitcase, Water. The word 'suitcase' was misspelled, and there were two street names including the word 'Whitehall.'"

"I wish they could have found her a lot sooner, if they would have followed up on this a lot sooner," Huckaby said.

http://www.kcra.com/news/19149311/detail.html

[old_soul]

Huckaby says she found the note the day after Sandra's disappearance

Thanks for the correction Lodi :) This case gets me all messed up.

[tandarat]

I'm assuming this is the same note? If so, LE has ruled it out as anything significant to the case.

I think they are referring to the letter in an envelope that someone left on the memorial after she was found. Different note. Today was the first I heard of the note supposedly left on the driveway.

[One2Snoop]

I think they are referring to the letter in an envelope that someone left on the memorial after she was found. Different note. Today was the first I heard of the note supposedly left on the driveway.

First I've heard of it too and I searched all the news outlets for updates today.
If this info came out earlier today I thought it would at least be mentioned in LE's cancelled press releases and then the one one they ultimately had at 3:39 PM PST today. Go figure. :shrug:

If Huckaby found the note - sounds to me like she's trying to cover something up. JMO

[Its just me]

:rose: For Sandra and for all who love and miss her.


It would be interesting to compare the handwriting of both letters/notes. Huckaby may be totally innocent but something doesn't seem right with her finding the letter/note and having connection to the suitcase that could be the one the body was place in.
It appears she is NOT out of the scope of LE. A good thing. fep

[One2Snoop]

:rose: For Sandra and for all who love and miss her.


It would be interesting to compare the handwriting of both letters/notes. Huckaby may be totally innocent but something doesn't seem right with her finding the letter/note and having connection to the suitcase that could be the one the body was place in.
It appears she is NOT out of the scope of LE. A good thing. fep

So true - LE keeps saying they're close and they'll resolve this but don't want to jump the gun. I'll wait, as long as we don't have to wait 3 years down the road like we've done in other cases. :rose:

[Lodi]

I guess it's normal to look at someone's words and be suspicious but I find Huckaby's words cold.

Huckaby said: "I wish they could have found her a lot sooner, if they would have followed up on this a lot sooner,"

She is making this remark days after Sandra's body was found but I'm assuming she gave the note to LE the day after Sandra disappeared.

She says, "if they would have followed up on this sooner"
This statement doesn't make sense because Sandra wasn't found by anyone following up on this note.

The note had all the facts right. Cantu, suitcase, water, Whitehall
Cantu was placed into a suitcase which was put in water off Whitehall Road.

I have the feeling that she wrote the note in hope that the clues would be followed and Sandra's body would be quickly found. But why?

[One2Snoop]

I guess it's normal to look at someone's words and be suspicious but I find Huckaby's words cold.

Huckaby said: "I wish they could have found her a lot sooner, if they would have followed up on this a lot sooner,"

She is making this remark days after Sandra's body was found but I'm assuming she gave the note to LE the day after Sandra disappeared.

She says, "if they would have followed up on this sooner"
This statement doesn't make sense because Sandra wasn't found by anyone following up on this note.

The note had all the facts right. Cantu, suitcase, water, Whitehall
Cantu was placed into a suitcase which was put in water off Whitehall Road.

I have the feeling that she wrote the note in hope that the clues would be followed and Sandra's body would be quickly found. But why?

I definitely think she knows something now that this second note thing has come out. But when did she actually report the note? And remember two-three days ago LE stated, "No suitcase" had been reported missing.

Is Huckaby looking for attention? 15 minutes of fame? :shrug: I think we need to wait and see what comes out in the next day or two. Agree?

I think LE has a pretty good hunch of who's involved - but the processing forces them to wait. Quite honestly I think she did it or was involved somehow. JMO.

[Lodi]

Between the suitcase and this alleged note: do I ever want to know when both were reported if at all. So far, we have LE saying the suitcase was NOT reported (at least before the press reported it), then this Ms. Huckaby tells media she reported it as soon as Sandra was looked for. Now this note? Giving her name and location? Seems to me if they had that note, if it existed, they would have found her pretty darn fast. Of course, they might have assumed the river, which they spent a lot of time on...

and now Huckaby is quoted as saying that she lost the suitcase "the same hour" Sandra went missing. How would she know what hour Sandra went missing? No one knows that, except Sandra and a perpetrator. And whoever they told, and Sandra's not talking. (http://www.tracypress.com/pages/full_story?page_label=home&id=2298911-Church+searched+again&article-Church%20searched%20again%20=&widget=push&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&)

jmho, but I believe when she said "if they would have followed up on this a lot sooner," I think she was talking about the words in the note. Meaning that she gave LE the note and told them about the suitcase before Sandra was found. If LE didn't know about the note and the suitcase earlier, they wouldn't have had anything to follow up on sooner. She probably gave them the note on the day she says she found it. She knew it was important information and could have no excuse for not turning it in. LE had the clues in the note but they didn't look in the right spot.

[Nawny]

Lawless's granddaughter killed this little girl??? She was just arrested! How old is this animal? Anyone?

I can't take it! :cuss:

[Nawny]

Never mind,, I just found it here ... age is 28! Sorry, I wasn't keeping up. here's the link to fox news report.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,514435,00.html

Sandra baby, have fun in heaven. Prayers for your parents and family...
:rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose:

[samanthajane13]

Calif. Sunday school teacher booked in child death


TRACY, Calif. – A California Sunday school teacher was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and killing an 8-year-old girl whose body was stuffed into a suitcase found in an irrigation pond.

Melissa Huckaby, 28, was arrested at 11:55 p.m., about five hours after she drove herself to the station at the request of police, according to Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman.

"She gave enough information to us during the course of the interview that probable cause was there to arrest her," said Sheneman.

A massive search for the child, Sandra Cantu, included hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement officials. The search ended April 6 when farmworkers who were draining the irrigation pond to water fields found a suitcase.

Pictures of the girl with dark brown eyes and light brown hair were posted all over Tracy, a city of 78,000 about 60 miles east of San Francisco.

The slain girl's aunt, Angie Chavez, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press early Saturday that she was happy to learn of the arrest.

"I want to know why she did it, if she did it," Chavez said.

Huckaby previously told a local newspaper that Sandra visited her home March 27, the day she disappeared. Huckaby also said she had left her suitcase in the driveway that day, and that it was missing.

Huckaby is the granddaughter of Pastor Clifford Lawless, whose Clover Road Baptist Church was the subject of a police search. Huckaby taught Sunday school at the church.

Huckaby's family had been questioned at length during the investigation, and their homes and vehicles had been searched, Sheneman said.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090411/ap_on_re_us/missing_girl

[samanthajane13]

Sunday school teacher charged with killing missing Calif. child

TRACY, Calif. (AP) — A Sunday school teacher has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and killing a California girl whose body was found in a suitcase.

Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman says 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby was arrested late Friday night after voluntarily going to police for questioning about the death of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu.

Sandra's body was found inside a suitcase in an irrigation pond on April 6.

Huckaby previously told a local newspaper that Sandra visited her home March 27, the day she disappeared. Huckaby also said she had left her suitcase in the driveway that day, and that it was missing.

Huckaby is the granddaughter of Pastor Clifford Lawless, whose Clover Road Baptist Church was the subject of a police search. Huckaby taught Sunday school at the church.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-11-charges-missing-california-girl_N.htm?csp=34

[samanthajane13]

Man Seen Near Pond Where Body Found?
By TERRY COLLINS, AP

TRACY, Calif. (April 10) - A police cadet said Friday that he saw someone "acting real strange" at an irrigation pond three days before an 8-year-old girl's body found in a suitcase pulled from the water.

Stephen Memory, a 19-year-old who lives near the pond where Sandra Cantu's body was found, said he spoke to the FBI about what he saw.

Memory said that he thought it was odd to see a beige Chevrolet Silverado truck parked on the shoulder of the road facing in the wrong direction on the afternoon of April 3. Sandra's body was found April 6.

The driver — a white man in his late 40s or early 50s wearing a white baseball cap and gray T-shirt — appeared to be looking down at the ditch beside the road, said Memory, a Stockton police cadet. Only four or five cars travel the remote road, which is a dead end, on a typical day, he noted.

"He was acting real strange," Memory said Friday of the driver. "I drove by real slow to get a good look at him. He looked at me real quick and then he turned away. I just kept going."

The FBI referred questions to Tracy police. Sgt. Tony Sheneman said Friday he was not aware of Memory's report and declined to comment on specifics of the pending investigation.

No suspects have been named in the case, but police have said the department has fielded nearly 1,500 tips in the search for Sandra's killer.

Sheneman said "the investigation is heading in the right direction" but would not elaborate.

On Friday, Sheneman also announced a $32,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Meanwhile, a Sunday school teacher who lives in the mobile home complex where Sandra lived told the Tracy Press that her black suitcase was stolen from her driveway March 27, the day the girl disappeared.

Melissa Huckaby, 28, said Sandra visited her home that day to ask if she could play with her daughter. Huckaby said she left the suitcase in the driveway and forgot about it; when she went back for it, it was gone. She said she's spoken to authorities but doesn't know if her missing suitcase matches the one that held the girl's body.

Sheneman declined to comment on Huckaby's comments, only saying that there was no police report filed on a missing suitcase. A call to Huckaby by The Associated Press was not immediately returned.

Melissa Huckaby is a granddaughter of Pastor Clifford Lawless, who was questioned by police for three hours the night Sandra's body was found and whose Clover Road Baptist Church has been the subject of a police search. Lawless has denied involvement in Sandra's disappearance, and police say he's not at the center of their investigation.


http://news.aol.com/article/missing-girl-sandra-cantu/423487

[Nawny]

check out this video! http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/us_world/Man-Reported-at-Pond-Where-Tracy-Girl-Was-Found--.html (click on the one that shows the shed)

At the end, the reporter mentions that Huckaby was questioned for possibly drugging another child at the park months ago!

OMG Jav! I can't stand it when people immersed in religion go kaflooey like this. It's too scary. I'm not surprised that drugs are (or seemed to be) involved. I don't believe that humans are basically designed to do these terrible things. Altered states of mind are the only explanation, IMO.

[Lodi]

Huckaby caught herself. She informed everyone that the suitcase went missing at the same time as Sandra. The suitcase was first said to be part of a rummage sale. Then it contained supplies to clean part of the church. Then it contained scrapbook supplies. She wrote a note that puts Sandra in a suitcase, in water, at Whitehall road. She says she found the note the day after Sandra disappeared. She put herself in the middle of the whole thing.

[old_soul]

I knew it! When we were posting last night, I said if Sinclair didn't do it Huckaby had her hands in it. SOB, with her background in Cali, and her denying that was an eye opener! LE knew what was up, didn't say a word either, did they...they supposedly had the note from her the day after Sandra disappeared, zeroed in on that shed for some reason...she was involved way too much. She never did call in, that her $200.00 suitcase disappeared, must've killed her to part with that after she had no other means to make Sandra's body disappear.

Imagine, asking her older sister to watch Her daughter while she dumped the kids sister. SOB.

[old_soul]

I have followed this somewhat-do u think there is anyone else involved? Or just her?

beem, I'd like to know WTF she would do this! I don't think anyone else was involved, even though her scumbag BF had a rap sheet...she had one too!.... from the sound of it, she did it with Grandma somewhere in the house, then disposed of poor Sandra while she had Sandra's sister (as an excuse) watch her 5 year old... "Can you watch her while I go to the church?" is what she said!

Was she too pretty, unlike her uglyass face? Was she jealous? Absolutely no reason for her to have done this, even if she got aggravated with her, you tell the kids GO HOME!!! A fricken Sunday school teacher!! They can't tell me her grandparents didn't know this
B*T*H was unstable, with her background. I want to know WHY she took this beautiful kids life!

[Lodi]

I knew it! When we were posting last night, I said if Sinclair didn't do it Huckaby had her hands in it. SOB, with her background in Cali, and her denying that was an eye opener! LE knew what was up, didn't say a word either, did they...they supposedly had the note from her the day after Sandra disappeared, zeroed in on that shed for some reason...she was involved way too much. She never did call in, that her $200.00 suitcase disappeared, must've killed her to part with that after she had no other means to make Sandra's body disappear.

Imagine, asking her older sister to watch Her daughter while she dumped the kids sister. SOB.

I'm guessing that Huckaby put the suitcase in her suv and invited Sandra to go to the church with her. She said she called her house and asked about the suitcase but her grandmother told her it was gone. She may have overdosed Sandra at the church and had to get rid of her. The only other person that might be involved is the Williams guy. He was the first to mention the suitcase and he has prior drug arrests.

[old_soul]

Fox News right now...According to the presser right now, no one else helped her. She has not said WHY she did this. They have found the area where she was killed.

Since everything is sealed, they are not releasing cause of death until tox comes back.....

She was Calm cool and collected..............became emotional, then calm again....:punch:

I'm sorry Sandra........RIP Honey :rose:

[Lodi]

Yesterday before she was arrested "Huckaby also says she has spent some time on the farm near the irrigation ditch where Sandra Cantu’s body was discovered in a suitcase that closely resembles the one she reports missing."

http://afterhoursfriends.com/?tag=sandra-cantu

[old_soul]

http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_12119398

We can infer from the presser that Huckaby's daughter is in protective custody...A good question is : Why not leave her with her grandparents? So, that is questionable right there, and has me thinking if the grandmother, who was home at the time knew something was hinky, and although asked, didn't aid in the questioning.

Premeditation is another question, because I understand Sanda was there at their home a bit earlier and left because Huckaby's daughter 'had to clean up her toys...'. Was she pissed because Sandra came back, and hauled off and hit the child? Or was it that she drugged her? Which might be why LE is awaiting tox results....

I am only happy that this B***h will spend her life in prison, and hopefully not in solitary! Remember how the inmates caused an uproar when Caylee was identified? They wanted to rip Totmom apart!

Java, I'm hoping Sandra gave her some good kicks in her ovaries while she was fighting for her life! You know, I don't think much about her lugging 30+lbs of luggage...we all have heard stories of women and men lifting the end of a car up when that adreneline gets pumping..imagine committing a murder and feeling the same way...SOB!!

This one will get hers for taking the life of an innocent child for NO GOOD REASON.

[One2Snoop]

OMG! :eek: I'm just now catching up. I'm in shock. :eek:

[One2Snoop]

Its such a joy to be here...another site has posters suggesting a Tracy poster of being Huckaby since she didn't log on since last night, lol! Then the Tracy poster logged on and was like, WTH?!

I wonder if this still isn't "ring" related. Something still feels hinky about the whole situation. I wonder if Huckaby didn't have a job luring girls, and something went way wrong. Pretty strong for a 120 lb girl to lug that huge suitcase full of 8 year old. Maybe that's how she had internal bleeding, she ruptured something.

LOL, is it WS or SM? :rolleyes:

I'd sure like to know along with the millions of others why Huckaby did this. :cuss:

[One2Snoop]

Tracy Woman Arrested In Cantu Murder Case

Posted: 10:43 pm PDT April 9, 2009Updated: 11:20 am PDT April 11, 2009
TRACY, Calif. -- A Tracy Sunday school teacher, the owner of a suitcase that contained the body of Sandra Cantu, was arrested Saturday for the abduction and murder of the young girl.

Melissa Huckaby, 28, voluntarily came into the Tracy police station at 6 p.m. and was taken into custody just before midnight. She was being held on kidnapping and murder charges without bail at the San Joaquin County jail.

The arrest sent shockwaves through the rural community where hundreds had searched for the missing girl last weekend.

“Just about everyone we have ever spoken to has wished us well -- wished us luck in getting this guy who did this -- the monster who would do this,” said Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman at a mid-morning news conference. “Finding out -- one that it is a woman who is responsible for Sandra’s kidnapping and murder and then finding out it is a member of the community is another blow.”

“Finding out that it was someone Sandra’s family knew is a double blow. Our community will start to heal at some point. Today is going to be a very difficult day for everyone to be able to digest it,” Sheneman said.

Authorities said Huckaby would be arraigned on the charges Tuesday.

Police Chief Janet Thiessen told reporters that police had information that led them to believe Cantu was already dead by the time she was reported missing on March 27.

"I thank you (the media) for putting as much attention on this particular situation as you have, it has helped us bring Sandra home.

Again not in the way we would have hoped, but that was out of our hands shortly after she went missing,” Thiessen said.

"This is a terrible, terrible tragedy -- an act against a child," the chief added.

Sheneman said that during her Friday night interview with police Huckaby had "revealed enough information that we had probable cause to arrest her for both kidnapping and murder."

He confirmed at a pre-dawn news conference that the suitcase Huckaby had reportedly said was stolen the day Cantu went missing was the same as the one the girl's body was found in submerged in a partially drained irrigation pond two miles away from her home.

Sheneman also there no other suspects in the case.

While Huckaby was being questioned by police, Sheneman said, she underwent a swing of emotions.

“She was very relaxed for a bit, then she became very emotional, and then relaxed again,” he said. “And then became resigned to what was happening.”

Sheneman could not confirm that the killing happened at the mobile home park or if drugs were involved. He added that police had talked with Huckaby twice prior to Friday night.

Earlier in the day, Huckaby told the Tracy Press and sources confirmed to KTVU that someone had allegedly stolen her waterproof, charcoal-trimmed Eddie Bauer suitcase from the park two weeks ago. She said she had inadvertently left the suitcase in her driveway and it was taken from there.

She claimed she had filled the suitcase with items to decorate a classroom where she teaches Sunday school at her grandfather’s church, but forgot her keys and cell phone. Huckaby went into the home to retrieve them and then drove off without the bag.

Cantu’s body was found Monday stuffed in a large, dark colored suitcase submerged in the irrigation pond.

“It’s not my grandfather’s,” Huckaby told the paper of the missing suitcase. “It’s mine and someone took it.”

She also admitted that Cantu had come over to her mobile home the day the girl disappeared to play with Huckaby’s daughter. Huckaby said she told Cantu that her daughter had to clean her room and the little girl left to go to another unnamed friend’s home.

Those comments may have given investigators the opening they needed.

“(Police focused on her because of) the fact that a lot of the statements she made to the Tracy Press were inconsistent with statements she had made to us in the initial canvas (by police of all the mobile home residents) and a short interview we had had with her earlier,” Sheneman said.

Local investigators and FBI technicians had seized Huckaby’s Kia SUV earlier in the week and meticulously searched it. Evidence teams had also searched the grounds of the church where her grandfather, Lane Lawless, is the pastor. Police were back at the church on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the family of the slain girl has set up a public memorial to her at Tracy’s Fry Memorial Chapel. Starting Friday morning, local residents had the opportunity to visit the facility and leave their condolences and written thoughts about the young girl.

Cantu's family was also asking the public to stop leaving items because of the sight of the memorial is a painful reminder. After city workers came in overnight to remove the items, a much smaller memorial remains.

A public memorial service for Sandra Cantu is set for next Thursday, April 16, at 1 p.m. at West High School in Tracy.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/19144730/detail.html?treets=fran&tml=fran_break&ts=T&tmi=fran_break_1_07590104112009#-

[One2Snoop]

I have followed this somewhat-do u think there is anyone else involved? Or just her?


Beem - in the above article LE says there are no other suspects.

[old_soul]

The farmhands who found the suitcase will not take any kind of reward.
Sadly, they'll never forget finding it and knowing this little kid was in there.

:(

Sandra should have been home eating chocolate and coloring easter eggs this past week. :rose:

Notice there's no comment from Grandpa Pastor?

[One2Snoop]

Actually, amusingly, it was kind of both! WS started the rumor about a SM poster, then a SM poster transferred the speculation to SM's board, then a bunch of them went ape-poop (lol!) defending the SM poster and had the posts removed, then the SM poster about whom everyone was speculating logged on-NOT happy, as she was a searcher for Sandra...SM is all happy now, but I think WS is still all excited about their brilliant sleuthification.

For the record, though I live in the general area, I am not and am never been a Huckaby! But seriously, I didn't see this coming until yesterday afternoon. I can't even imagine what was going on with this. WHY?

Not surprised at all LOL. That's why I can't go to those places anymore - it drives me insane. I hear you - I don't live all that far away either but I wasn't able to go help search and even if I did I don't think I'd talk about it on a message board for the above reason. I've seen the mob mentality happen all to often, it's kind of sickening when you think about it.

I was just telling my hubby about Huckaby being arrested and he's in shock too! :eek: Who can you trust anymore?

For Sandra :rose:

[One2Snoop]

Motive for Sandra Cantu's Murder a Mystery as Sunday School Teacher Charged

Saturday, April 11, 2009

http://i39.tinypic.com/a4y78x.jpg

Police in Tracy, Calif., say they are baffled over what drove a Sunday school teacher to kidnap and kill an 8-year-old girl, whose body was found stuffed in the woman's suitcase at the bottom of a pond.

Melissa Huckaby, 28, is in jail after being charged with the murder of the girl. Sandra Cantu. Huckaby, who lives in the same mobile home park as Sandra's family, was one of the last people to see the girl alive -- when she came to play with Huckaby's 5-year-old daughter.

The girls were close friends, Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman told reporters Saturday after Huckaby's arrest.

"I couldn't even begin to theorize what her motive is," Sheneman said.

Click here for photos.

He said there are no other suspects in Sandra's murder and no other arrests will be made. He said detectives know where the crime took place, but he wouldn't say where.

Huckaby was taken into custody at 11:15 p.m. Friday night after a police interview, Sheneman said. She is being held without bail in the San Joaquin County Jail on charges she kidnapped and killed the second-grader. An arraignment is set for Tuesday.

snip
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,514435,00.html

[wind149]

My sister called me this morning about 10 to tell me about this as I was just waking up and just about fell over my couch!! WOW! Guess I was dead wrong, I thought it surely had to have been a SO, but also I had my eye on the preacher man, something about him bothered, but his daughter? And pray tel,,l what could be a motive?? Did Sandy see something that she did not want her to? I watched the press conference and the Chief really did not answer many questions, however, it is early on in their investigation, and what is up with her being in the hospital, anyone know? He was asked but dodged that question? I was so heartbroken over this, that sweet little face and here I am thinking it is some pig pedo and it turns out to be a preacher's daughter!! No wonder they searched, they had an inkling early on, and she tripped herself up when she told reporters that it was her suitcase and I am wondering if they seized the matching if there was.

I have a large one, a smaller one and a gym bag type that are Gucci and a round hatbox one that is old, belonged to my granny, but it is great to take on a plane to put small stuff in that I can easily access like makeup and meds. I am just at a loss as to why this woman, a mother could do this to a child and to someone's else's, Mrs. Cantu who entrusted her precious daughter to visit her home and play with her child!!! I was also blown away how a woman who has a record would be allowed to teach and then it was like, her daddy is the preacher, any other church would not have her there. I wonder if a DA will go for the DP, too early to say, but surely she will be held without bail??? Women kill their own kids, but rarely do they kill someone else's child?? I can't fathom why and Sandy's family must be really in shock now, how can you get past that?

I feel so bad and sick for them, I just put a card in the mailbox bound for theTracey police dept for the family and I signed all of my friends and family's name to the card, I want them to know that people do care very much, that we feel their pain and we send our love to them, it is the least I can do, I can't go to a memorial service, but I plan to light a candle tonight, just like I did for Caylee, Jessie and Christopher and Carlie. The family needs to know that she did not die in vain, that this b*tch will be brought to justice and yeah, I want the DP!!!

[dan_uk]

i reckon it could be that huckerby was getting and drugging kids for the local Pedophiles and sandra put up a fight and was screaming when she was taken and was hit and killed or sandra and huckerbys child had a fight and huckerby hit sandra and she died and huckerby got scared and dumped the body,hopfully we will get answers to why she was killed soon

[lorettalockhorn]

The farmhands who found the suitcase will not take any kind of reward.
Sadly, they'll never forget finding it and knowing this little kid was in there.

:(

Sandra should have been home eating chocolate and coloring easter eggs this past week. :rose:

Notice there's no comment from Grandpa Pastor?

OS, I was just thinking the same thing; Sandra, Caylee and Haleigh should be on an Easter egg hunt this weekend, celebrating the return of spring and praising the promise of everlasting life.

Was so hopeful about the suitcase that it would contain the DNA of the owner/killer, and then Huckaby stepped up and said it had been stolen, so that was a combination downer/red flag. Now that we've read that she went out of her way to point out to her grandmother that morning that the suitcase was missing, I have to wonder if this was premeditated from the time that she decided to take the suitcase to the church.

Oh God, don't let her have murdered that baby in that church. :rose:

Question: On the videotape where we see Sandra skipping toward the camera, is she leaving Huckaby's house? Does it look like she veers back toward where she came from before the tape is edited?

[lorettalockhorn]

Thanks Java. Boy, this one came out of nowhere, huh? Well, other than the fact that this woamn sounds like a whack job. Her poor little daughter.

[lorettalockhorn]

Geraldo is doing a segment on Sandra's case.

[old_soul]

OS, I was just thinking the same thing; Sandra, Caylee and Haleigh should be on an Easter egg hunt this weekend, celebrating the return of spring and praising the promise of everlasting life.

Was so hopeful about the suitcase that it would contain the DNA of the owner/killer, and then Huckaby stepped up and said it had been stolen, so that was a combination downer/red flag. Now that we've read that she went out of her way to point out to her grandmother that morning that the suitcase was missing, I have to wonder if this was premeditated from the time that she decided to take the suitcase to the church.

Oh God, don't let her have murdered that baby in that church. :rose:

Question: On the videotape where we see Sandra skipping toward the camera, is she leaving Huckaby's house? Does it look like she veers back toward where she came from before the tape is edited?

Yes Loretta, java is right , that video, it's the return trip back to Huckaby's from the other friends house, I guess they knew from the timeline that the Lawless house was ground zero, so to speak, but I think at first they thought it was Grandpa Lawless... Then Huckaby opened her mouth re: the suitcase, the 'note' and all eyes turned to her.

Who'd a thunk that ugly b***h Melissa would have done this, when countless times little Sandra and her daughter played together. LE is stating they know WHERE she was killed, we can only guess that shed that LE was hot on has something to do with it ~ unless~ good god, she also might have killed Sandra in the same house with her mother and 5 year old kid???
She asked Sandra's sister to 'babysit 'while she went to the church real quick...Don't despair honey, IMHO, she was dumping a deceased little girl, not dragging a live Sandra around when she could have been caught with her..:no: Sandra was in the suitcase already, then put in the car.

[lorettalockhorn]

OS, thanks for helping me with the timeline. I've read that there is a shed, but don't know anything about it. Once we know the details, it still won't make sense.

[old_soul]

I flove Montel! I miss Montel Williams big time! :(

[Nawny]

I knew it! When we were posting last night, I said if Sinclair didn't do it Huckaby had her hands in it. SOB, with her background in Cali, and her denying that was an eye opener! LE knew what was up, didn't say a word either, did they...they supposedly had the note from her the day after Sandra disappeared, zeroed in on that shed for some reason...she was involved way too much. She never did call in, that her $200.00 suitcase disappeared, must've killed her to part with that after she had no other means to make Sandra's body disappear.

Imagine, asking her older sister to watch Her daughter while she dumped the kids sister. SOB.


THAT Fk*n SOB!!!!!!!!!! Un F****ING BELIEVABLE!
:flamemad::cuss::(:mad:

[old_soul]

Yes, my dear Nawny, you speak for all of us.

No matter what happened, if it was an accident, which mean she laid her hands on her, or that Huckaby was twisted about her upcoming court date, and her nerves were frayed, what ever, still no excuse for the death of this child.

An explaination of premeditation is even less of an excuse, why in the world would she kill Sandra?

Doesn't make sense...Candace DeLong just said..only 5% of women are killers of children.......

[Nawny]

Yes, my dear Nawny, you speak for all of us.

No matter what happened, if it was an accident, which mean she laid her hands on her, or that Huckaby was twisted about her upcoming court date, and her nerves were frayed, what ever, still no excuse for the death of this child.

An explaination of premeditation is even less of an excuse, why in the world would she kill Sandra?

Doesn't make sense...Candace DeLong just said..only 5% of women are killers of children.......

Her ship sinkin lips will tell. This ape is stuck on stupid, she'll spill.

She may have been a sexual predator and knows kids tell all. She probably taught the CHILDREN she was teaching catechism too on Sundays, to tell all. This is disgusting to the omth degree. Not only did she kill, and probably drug a child, in the past; she works among them. That's the scariest of all. I can't stand it! I want to swear all night! It's making my brain hurt!!!!

And my heart. Godspeed Sandra baby...:rose:

[old_soul]

On Geraldo, Bernard Kerick was saying for them to even know she was dead within the 4 hour time line, means she confessed enough. She drove herself over to the LE station, after they asked her to come over, and didn't have an atty...good! :tongue:

[Nawny]

It seems as tho this woman is willing to talk from the little i have read. I hope she has before she lawyered up. Not that anything she has to say matters or explains but maybe some insight into her twisted mind so we can make some sort of sense of it. Sigh-another waste of skin walking among us :cuss:

Poppa just said, after I read him some of these posts, "I don't think this is the first time she killed." I said, "WHAT? Why do you say that?" He said, I don't know, maybe because I looked at her eyes when I saw her picture."

Hmmmm,, I just wonder how many kids she's drugged and if I had my druthers I'd interview every child she every taught in that Sunday school. I'd have her own daughter answer every kid shrink's canned screeded questions and there would be no trial. She'd be hung by her toes from a telephone pole in a blizzard of locusts.

I can't seem to get my mind off Sandra's mother. That's the one who will suffer till the day she dies. She will question herself forever. This is worse than losing a child any other way. It must be like being ripped to little pieces until taking the pipe seems the only relief. That poor woman.
The whole family is in hell but the mother... that's something different again.

:rose:

[Nawny]

Thanx OS-how refreshing aye-a murderer who is not a Liar.

I want to know more about this murdering menace. Where are her parents? Why did she live with her grandparents?
Did she work? Is she married, divorced, engaged? What's wrong with this picture? She's 28 years old and lives with her grandparents in a trailer?

Are they going to start a lawyer fund? All donations go to her?

[Nawny]

Thanx OS-how refreshing aye-a murderer who is not a Liar.


Ya know Beemer, the most atrocious part is, she was seen as a highly spiritual trustworthy person. Obviously she had connections ala grandpa the pastor and he probably put her in as a Sunday school instructor. She just ruined his cozy little career. I wonder if he's going to get up there on the alter Sunday behind the podium and speak on her behalf in the name of God. All his little parishioners are going to nod and pray for her.

[old_soul]

I want to know more about this murdering menace. Where are her parents? Why did she live with her grandparents?
Did she work? Is she married, divorced, engaged? What's wrong with this picture? She's 28 years old and lives with her grandparents in a trailer?

Are they going to start a lawyer fund? All donations go to her?

this is still all we know...http://www.tracypress.com/pages/full_story?article-Woman%20in%20mobile%20home%20park%20reported%20mis sing%20suitcase%20=&page_label=home&id=2298054-Woman+in+mobile+home+park+reported+missing+suitcas e&widget=push&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&

:cuss:

[old_soul]

Night all-peepers are closing :seeya: Have a Happy Easter-and how blessed we all are to share family/friends and wonderful food while so many we discuss here will only share heartache. For all those with broken hearts :rose:

Night beem ~

Have a blessed and Happy Easter to you and yours, sweetie!

:beer:

[One2Snoop]

WOW! Take a listen to this conversation with Huckaby and a local reporter. This was before Sandra was found.

http://cbs13.com/services/popoff.aspx?categoryId=6&videoId=51887@kovr.dayport.com&videoPlayStatus=false&videoStoryIds=&videoTime=&

updates-
http://cbs13.com/

[Lodi]

I wonder who held the door open as she hauled the suitcase out? I had thought that nothing could be worse than a molester. Now, the thought that she might have been alive in the suitcase and hearing her sister's voice as she was taken away-worse. Maybe she was drugged...

I personally think the church or the shed was the murder scene. If it was the mobile home, no one would be in it, and I have not heard that they are not in it. The church-they were even on the roof.

The police are still saying they don't know the motive. But it must not have been an accident, as it was charged as murder and kidnapping. I'm still just mystified. All I can think right now is Sandra caught her in a crime in progress? Beats me.

Since it was reported that Huckaby previously gave a young girl drugs, she may have done it again with Sandra. How Sandra reacted to the drug may have led to the next tragic step. Any unusual reaction by Sandra caused by the drug would put Huckaby in an untenable position. Sandra could have passed out or began acting strangely and Huckaby saw no other option except making her disappear. Huckaby seems to do things spontaneously without thinking out the consequences.

Huckaby may have never considered murdering anyone until she got herself into an unescapable delimma

[tandarat]

Although I was surprised, I wasn't really shocked. Too many things pointed to her. I thought she was protecting someone, and part of me still wonders that. LE says no one else was involved, but I have to wonder if she is taking full responsibility for it, and knows enough about what happened that she can, convincingly. If so, why? Is she protecting someone (Daddy, maybe?), or out of fear or some twisted sense of loyalty? Don't know.

What I do know is that everything she did screams of a guilty conscience. She wanted the little girl found, hence the note. She obviously reported the suitcase after the fact to protect her father. From the sound of things, she mentioned the suitcase to someone in the congregation, and when the media latched onto it she was forced to come forward and clear her father by claiming ownership of it.

The only other thing I can think of is that I read somewhere earlier that she was supposed to check in for psychiatric treatment as part of her probation. Why? If this was related to drugs, it would be rehab, not psych. She must have some kind of mental health issue, and pretty severe for a judge to order what sounds like inpatient treatment as part of her probation. I have to wonder what is wrong, especially if the report of allegedly attempting to drug another child is true.

I'm curious about what more will be said of the investigation, especially when this is all over.

[lorettalockhorn]

Tandarat, is there a father in the picture? I have wondered why Huckaby lives with the grandparents instead of her parents, but it's certainly not unusual in this day and age for young adults to return to the nest. Sounds like she hadn't worked in a while. Maybe her psych issues kept her from getting or keeping a job.

Can't help but be dismayed that Huckaby hadn't already been admitted for the court ordered treatment. What was the delay?

[lorettalockhorn]

:seeya: Haven't hit a lick yet today! We're not eating until evening, so I'm reading the paper, watching Dominick Dunne and cowering while the storms move through. It'll all get done. Somehow.

I've tried to check the San Joaquin County court records, but they're pretty much unavailable.

[tandarat]

Tandarat, is there a father in the picture? I have wondered why Huckaby lives with the grandparents instead of her parents, but it's certainly not unusual in this day and age for young adults to return to the nest. Sounds like she hadn't worked in a while. Maybe her psych issues kept her from getting or keeping a job.

Can't help but be dismayed that Huckaby hadn't already been admitted for the court ordered treatment. What was the delay?

I have no idea. I'm just processing what I've gleaned from other sources. I'm guessing no father involved, or the girl would not be in protective custody. I really feel for that little girl. I've got a 5-year-old, and that is the age that they understand some, but not everything. She is probably confused, scared to death, and wants mommy, great-grandma, and great-grandpa. Speaking of which, where are the grandparents? With mom in jail for murder, this is starting to sound like a pretty dysfunctional family to me.

I'd like to know why the great-grandparents do not have custody of the little girl. You'd think that would be the best place for her. If the police don't think so, you gotta wonder what was going on in that house.

[lorettalockhorn]

I have no idea. I'm just processing what I've gleaned from other sources. I'm guessing no father involved, or the girl would not be in protective custody. I really feel for that little girl. I've got a 5-year-old, and that is the age that they understand some, but not everything. She is probably confused, scared to death, and wants mommy, great-grandma, and great-grandpa. Speaking of which, where are the grandparents? With mom in jail for murder, this is starting to sound like a pretty dysfunctional family to me.

I'd like to know why the great-grandparents do not have custody of the little girl. You'd think that would be the best place for her. If the police don't think so, you gotta wonder what was going on in that house.

I thought you were posting about Huckaby's father?? I've never read anything about her parents or her relationship to them OR her husband/exhusband/baby daddy. Melissa may have had custody based on the age old premise that children should be raised by the mother, or he may be a worse case than she seems to be. The five year old might have been placed in protective custody not because she's in imminent physical danger, but simply because the grandparents aren't equipped to shield her from media onslaught.

[lorettalockhorn]

There are so many mental health problems in California I've heard there's a waiting list unless its an emergency.

You know, from reading the various accounts and the rumors that turn up in the Tracy comments, it sounds like the drug incident was handled as a "that's weird" and allowed to drop. No charges anyone knows about or anything. I wonder if the child didn't turn up for drugs, the parents fingered Huckaby, and the cops went, yeah, right, and lectured them about the dangers of having drugs in the house with the kids...blamed them in essence.

And who knows if her own child was a victim? Word is the little one is in protective custody, not with the family, since she was arrested...

check this out: her last myspace login was yesterday: http://www.myspace.com/Cinderella888

is someone who knows her trying to alter any information, I ask?

Um Do we think that site is for real? Something makes me doubt it's MH's.

[lorettalockhorn]

She was a loving mother to her ailing child, she taught Bible study at her grandfather's church...

Huckaby lives with her grandparents because she suffers from severe allergies and wanted relatives' help to be able to have more time "to take better care of her daughter, who is super-thin and gets sick a lot," Browning said. She was named "class mother" of her daughter's preschool, friends said...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/12/MNJQ17163H.DTL

Anyone have any idea what ailment the child has?

[lorettalockhorn]

Since she's accused of drugging one child and killing another, I sure hope that authorities are investigating that same question...

Hmmm Munchausen by proxy comes to mind. Wonder whose hospital bill she was sued for; hers or her daughter's. Seems like if she's an unemployed single mother, she would have Medicaid.

[wind149]

Loretta, I am also watching Dominick Dunne except I just got done eating, everyone had to work today, like my best friend and sister so everyone was gonna do their own thing and I bought a turkey, I can stretch the food stamps too, it will be good for at least three meals. I do not like ham unless it is boiled ham the kind you use for sandwiches and I hate it even more when people put pineapple and cherries on it, yuk! So I made mashed and fresh green beans and I made a chocolate pie, once again, enjoying food as my new surgery date is now 5/5, since they can't do the gastric, I will be getting the band and he is going to fix the hernia then too, can't wait!! I was disappointed at the setback, what can you do?

I am so baffled over this, do you guys think that she is a pedophile or was trying to **** out kids for someone else??? And who did she drug, I missed that part and was she charged??? Sandy's family has to feel so betrayed and angry over this, they trusted this skank with their beloved daughter, how can you not want her dead too? And it was like she wanted to be caught, maybe wants her 15 minutes of shame?? Well she got it. And she is on a suicide watch in the jail, which I find interesting, she wanted to be caught, that is why she left those notes, and admitted to the press that the suitcase was hers, she has to know that her life is over and that she is never going to be free again and now wants to commit suicide?? Her child is only 5, this poor child will grow up knowing her mommy murdered one of her best friends, she is going to have problems, now and later on and it breaks my heart because there are two victims here, she and Sandy and I would like to know what the motive was, how could she murder an innocent child and devastate her own child.

:rose: I remember when I was a kid, there was a girl who lived down the road whose father raped and murdered a little girl and she got picked on constantly, people called her names, she had no friends to speak of and while I felt sorry for her, I never told her that, I never picked on her, but I was not about to make friends with her either. Her mother turned into an alcoholic and oft times you would see her staggering down the road towards home and now all these years later, you can almost see why she drank. And what made this most tragic is the girl committed suicide at the age of 13, so how many victims came of this?? His family suffered greatly and he gets to live, he got 100 years so he will never be out and then later on, Carol's younger sister got killed in a car wreck and the mother drank herself to death and right after she died, somebody set their house on fire so I really feel for MH's child, she will suffer greatly and you know how mean kids can be especially nowadays and what will become of her? Her Dad gonna step in? I hope that her grandparents don't end up with her, I don't think they are wrapped too tight, I had my eye on grandpa and my friend said that maybe she is covering for him that he is a pedophile?? So many questions just like with Caylee and Haleigh and we need to find Haleigh, sadly, I feel that she too is with the angels, too much time has passed and if somebody took her like some people do that can't have kids, somebody would have recognized by now and she would be back home, hopefully would not go to either set of parents!! The card I picked out said it all. That God needed Sandra now, but someday he would return her to her beloved family, I wanted to pick one that was not too mushy, They know that we feel their pain, I wanted them to know that she was not taken in vain, that God just wanted her to be with him at this time.

[lorettalockhorn]

Loretta, I am also watching Dominick Dunne except I just got done eating, everyone had to work today, like my best friend and sister so everyone was gonna do their own thing and I bought a turkey, I can stretch the food stamps too, it will be good for at least three meals. I do not like ham unless it is boiled ham the kind you use for sandwiches and I hate it even more when people put pineapple and cherries on it, yuk! So I made mashed and fresh green beans and I made a chocolate pie, once again, enjoying food as my new surgery date is now 5/5, since they can't do the gastric, I will be getting the band and he is going to fix the hernia then too, can't wait!! I was disappointed at the setback, what can you do?

I am so baffled over this, do you guys think that she is a pedophile or was trying to **** out kids for someone else??? And who did she drug, I missed that part and was she charged???

Wind, your Easter dinner sounds great! We love turkey and eat it pretty frequently, it's just enough different from chicken to be a welcome relief. I'm sure Cinco de Mayo seems eons away now, but just think how much more motivated you'll be when it finally rolls around. You'll be FABU!! It's 2:39pm and here I sit. Doing nothing to miracle food onto the table. :hat:

I think Huckaby is just crazy as a Betsy Bug, it'll be interesting to see how soon she lawyers up and if they ask for a psych eval, especially since she has prior history (although I haven't found any details yet). No clue as to the details of the other child drugged either, but Java may be on to something and the whole incident may have been pooh poohed by LE.

Sad. Can't help but remember that the other day on one of the HLN programs, one of the experts stated that people seldom just snap. That there are always clues to their descent.

[Lodi]

Not that Tracy is a bad place to live, this is the same town where a boy was forced to live inside a fireplace, repeatedly beaten on the head with a baseball bat and given pills, alcohol and marijuana to keep him lethargic.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/01/BAVH16R1H0.DTL

[lorettalockhorn]

Can't believe this family put those young men on camera. The spokesman is prickly; might have made more sense for someone outside the family to read the statement.

ETA: Oops, forgot to thank you for the link.

You would expect people to be coming out of the woodwork to talk about Huckaby, but something tells me that no one knows her.

[One2Snoop]

Not that Tracy is a bad place to live, this is the same town where a boy was forced to live inside a fireplace, repeatedly beaten on the head with a baseball bat and given pills, alcohol and marijuana to keep him lethargic.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/01/BAVH16R1H0.DTL

:confused: For Cripes sake, WTH does this have to do with Sandra? Nothing. :no: :rolleyes:

[ChunkyRed]

I'm amazed after all of the crimes that I have read, this one still shocks me. :eek:

I pray for that little girl. :rose:

[Lodi]

Manson? Los Angeles.
OJ? Los Angeles.

Coincidence? I think not! ;)

Kinda strange you brought that up. :)

[BADSIDEEFEX]

Maybe she was abused as a child and it turned her into a bully. Maybe Sandra saw her hitting her own daughter and said something like "I'm tellin, you can't do that," and it set her off on Sandra. Maybe she is protecting someone (Grandpa, Grandma, a boyfriend, or maybe her own daughter killed Sandra) which would make even better since. We will probably know more when we find out the cause of death. If she is a bully then she might enjoy picking on little kids and being mean to them and it got way out of hand.

[Lodi]

~Snip~
TRACY — The family of Melissa Huckaby preached of strength during adversity as they led an Easter service in their tiny Tracy church Sunday, speaking for the first time about the 28-year-old murder suspect and the death of Sandra Cantu.

"People think we're going on business as usual," said Brett Lawless, Huckaby's uncle who delivered the sermon. "Nothing will be as usual after the events of the last 10 days. Not for the community, not for the church, not for our immediate family and certainly not for the family of Sandra Cantu."

After the services, Huckaby's grandmother, the wife of the church pastor, spoke to reporters.

"We're just as shocked," Connie Lawless said. "This is completely outside of what we know of Melissa.

"It's been difficult for all of us. It's surreal," she said.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12128530?source=most_viewed

[Its just me]

Huckaby managing the suitcase with Sandra inside was not an easy task alone. I'd say Sandra weighted 50/60 pounds. fep

[old_soul]

Here's another clip of the family of Huckaby...(todays Comcast)
The reporter is saying it is believed she was killed in the church (?!)

http://www.comcast.net/video/notthewomanweknow/10909113


Apparently they didn't know her too well then, Hmmmmmmmm?:rolleyes:

[old_soul]

Huckaby managing the suitcase with Sandra inside was not an easy task alone. I'd say Sandra weighted 50/60 pounds. fep

Sandra was 4 feet tall and weighed 45 pounds. Not an easy task, I agree, but I'm thinking her adrenaline was pumping, so it's possible when you're trying to cover your a** and get rid of a child you just killed.
:mad::flamemad::cuss::flamemad::cuss:

[Lodi]

I wonder tho if that accounts for her internal injuries? Maybe she fell-hope it hurt-hope it really hurt. :flamemad:

One of the reports said she has suffered from ulcers.

[old_soul]

Anything there new OS-I keep getting this is currently unavailable-often happens that i cant get it not being in the U.S. That is just beyond horrific if it happened in the church. It's bad enough- but not there :flamemad:

Hey beem :seeya:

In the link you couldn't pull up, Jodi Hughes, Melissa's aunt says they are shocked, and it's out of character for Melissa. Uh-huh. She adds: "We love you dearly" to Melissa :rolleyes:. Apparently it was Easter mass as usual at the church where grandpa Lawless preaches........double:rolleyes:!!

Check out this link (CBS) this AM on the today show, it has Huckaby's father and other family talking.http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4938530n

Also the Chavez's are asked about Maria, and how they are doing....Sandra's big sis is having a hard time with this, as they were close...:( Too sad, beem.

[deacon]

The mug shot. I have seen that "mug" somewhere online before. Smoking Gun? Somewhere. IIRC it did have something to do with drugs. I have been looking but can't find it.

[old_soul]

One of the reports said she has suffered from ulcers.

I'll give her fking ulcers!! She should be lucky that's all she has, (if so), cause if someone were to get their hands on her........

:flamemad:

[deacon]

Just looking at her as opposed to earlier photos, I keep thinking meth...do you see how matted her hair is?

I tend to see a combination of stuff. I may forget a name but I seldom forget a face. I have seen a mug shot like that somewhere.:hat:

[Amy]

Maybe she was abused as a child and it turned her into a bully. Maybe Sandra saw her hitting her own daughter and said something like "I'm tellin, you can't do that," and it set her off on Sandra. Maybe she is protecting someone (Grandpa, Grandma, a boyfriend, or maybe her own daughter killed Sandra) which would make even better since. We will probably know more when we find out the cause of death. If she is a bully then she might enjoy picking on little kids and being mean to them and it got way out of hand.

This one I think could pretty well be ruled out--the 5 y/o daughter is described as thin and sick. Even tho Sandra was small for an 8 y/o, I can't think of how a thin sick 5 y/o could kill her. Not even hitting her over the head w/something, doesn't seem like a healthy 5 y/o's strength would be enough to kill.

[Amy]

I wonder if it wasn't a combination of that and an overdose, say of aspirin? She's on suicide watch in the jail...

You know, I just don't buy they have no motive. If they didn't know the why of it, how could they eliminate any accomplices? It just feels wrong...I can't believe there's not more to learn...

It seems that putting a person charged with murder on suicide watch is pretty much a standard procedure. Scott Peterson, Neil Entwistle, I can't remember all the names, but of the cases I have followed, each of the accused was initially placed on suicide watch, and according to jail officials in each of these cases, it is just standard procedure.

[old_soul]

Kind of on the autopsy, Daniel Horowitz was on local news saying it mattered as to what she'll be charged with. He said, a blow to the head, something fast? She might be charged with murder 2. But if it was strangulation, where she had 2-3 minutes (:mad:) to change her mind (and he was gruesome in his description), that would be murder 1.

The way he talked, I don't think he's stepping forward to be her defense attorney...

Jav, for some reason, I keep thinking she lashed out at her. Hit her or swung out at her and all it takes is hitting her head on the end of a table or counter..:shrug:

The reason why I am thinking this is her state of mind: stomach pains, and getting aggravated that Sandra came back to the house.. her own child problematic with sickness, the hearing looming, add in that she's already a mental case (drugging the other child and that story..)

In the link I posted above, CBS talks of the church being the place Sandra was killed. I wonder about that, since LE ain't talking, who or how did they come upon that info??? If that were the case, she would have had to bring a 'just fine' Sandra with her to the church with the suitcase, and why then kill her there? What could have happened at the church that couldn't/didn't happen at the home? Grandma was in the trailer at the time, as was her daughter and Sandra's older sister, and they would have easily seen her lugging that suitcase into the car...too risky.

Oh, I don't know...! Just trying to figure it all out.

[lorettalockhorn]

All over local news, the Cantu family does NOT appreciate the "humanization" of Melissa Huckaby. They do NOT like the apology. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=6757406

I found the uncle's statement yesterday to be somewhat offensive. An apology to the family should be just that and nothing more, and is not the proper venue to twaddle on about the nature of the accused.

ITA with the sentiments expressed by the Cavezes on the CBS video; the prison system is full of people who display "out of character" behavior.

MH's family's statement is bizarre, so she's a fantastic loving mother. Just a sh!tty neighbor? MEH

[lorettalockhorn]

I wonder tho if that accounts for her internal injuries? Maybe she fell-hope it hurt-hope it really hurt. :flamemad:

Maybe Sandra gave her a knee to the groin! Any number of things can cause internal bleeding and/or cause an ulcer to perforate, but I haven't read much about the hospitalization or even how long she was admitted.

[lorettalockhorn]

Kind of on the autopsy, Daniel Horowitz was on local news saying it mattered as to what she'll be charged with. He said, a blow to the head, something fast? She might be charged with murder 2. But if it was strangulation, where she had 2-3 minutes (:mad:) to change her mind (and he was gruesome in his description), that would be murder 1.

The way he talked, I don't think he's stepping forward to be her defense attorney...

Horowitz sounds right on. And IF it's true that Huckaby began the tale of the "stolen" suitcase the morning of the murder (when she spoke to Mrs. Lawless on the phone), and if misplacing the keys was a ruse to drive off without the suitcase, that might be a strong indication of premeditation to me.

[lorettalockhorn]

Jav, for some reason, I keep thinking she lashed out at her. Hit her or swung out at her and all it takes is hitting her head on the end of a table or counter..:shrug:

The reason why I am thinking this is her state of mind: stomach pains, and getting aggravated that Sandra came back to the house.. her own child problematic with sickness, the hearing looming, add in that she's already a mental case (drugging the other child and that story..)

In the link I posted above, CBS talks of the church being the place Sandra was killed. I wonder about that, since LE ain't talking, who or how did they come upon that info??? If that were the case, she would have had to bring a 'just fine' Sandra with her to the church with the suitcase, and why then kill her there? What could have happened at the church that couldn't/didn't happen at the home? Grandma was in the trailer at the time, as was her daughter and Sandra's older sister, and they would have easily seen her lugging that suitcase into the car...too risky.

Oh, I don't know...! Just trying to figure it all out.

Didn't she claim to have packed the suitcase with teaching materials that morning? (Must be a hella lot of notebooks!) Surely GM saw her lugging it out that morning. But then she forgot her keys and all. RUSE! The suitcase was already at the church. It was just a matter of luring Sandra there.

How dare she defile the church? And then put Sandra's body in such a filthy place?

[lorettalockhorn]

LOL!

And yeah, groveling on the ground would have been much better, not dressing up and making a united front about how nice she is, and on Easter Sunday no less. How about, "If we had known, we would never have brought this monster into your midst. There is no way we could make this up this side of eternity. But we will support LE in any way and testify as needed to make sure that justice is done."

Don't defend a killer when apologizing to the victim's family. Sheesh.

Have you ever noticed in real life how people will start an apology and then say BUT *fill in the blank* and it turns into an excuse? Lawsy, if you want absolution from me, don't make your offense be about your problems and the inability to deal with them.

[deacon]

Have you ever noticed in real life how people will start an apology and then say BUT *fill in the blank* and it turns into an excuse? Lawsy, if you want absolution from me, don't make your offense be about your problems and the inability to deal with them.

I'll just say this and then drop it. Humans of all sorts really have problems admitting when they are wrong. Or giving an apology. The Buts get them every time. I would put Christians and those who say they are Christian (there is a huge difference) right at the top of that group. Some seem to think "forgiveness" wipes the entire slate clean and it does not. One must still pay the earthly price for what they have done wrong. Forgiveness is not a "get out of jail free" pass. Forgiveness means we chose not to harbor hate for a person who has done us wrong, not that they get a free pass. The earthly price still has to be paid. You are very correct, when one adds "but" to the apoplgy it does turn into an excuse.

[Headless Gal]

Tandarat, is there a father in the picture? I have wondered why Huckaby lives with the grandparents instead of her parents, but it's certainly not unusual in this day and age for young adults to return to the nest. Sounds like she hadn't worked in a while. Maybe her psych issues kept her from getting or keeping a job.


:seeya:
Hi everyone. Long time lurker here, first time posting.
According to an article I read this AM Melissa moved in with her Grandparents to "try and get her life back on track", obviously that did not work.
She grew up in La Habra, a northern part of Orange County California, the very same La Habra where OCTOMOM now lives (don't get me started). And just to let you know La Habra is in NO WAY the OC you see on those reality shows, it's just a simple community without all the pretension.

Since we all know it's not the norm for women to abduct and murder children, unless they're their own kids, I'm wondering if she drugged Sandra which resulted in an unexpected overdose. I'm in no way making excuses for her just thinking out loud.

There's another article I read over the weekend which outlined her previous legal problems from misdemeanors to one felony. I'll try to find it and link it.
http:www.ocregister.com/articles/fontes-huckaby-school-2362283-year-sandra

[Amy]

I can only imagine the strength of the crazed. Those run-off ponds have very steep sides with loose soil on them. I don't know that I could do it alone, at least without injuring myself. Not to mention lifting the suitcase into the truck. And by all accounts, she's thin and frail.

Odd, real odd. I wonder...

Her pics don't show her to be thin and frail. What I had read, that describes her 5 y/o daughter. People every day lift things 40+ lbs. I don't see where a 40-45 lb girl, with only a couple of pounds added for the suitcase would be too difficult to carry, to lift into the back of a vehicle. I do wonder tho, whether she acted alone or had help, how the suitcase would get out into the pond, far enough to not be seen by searchers before the drainage started.

[old_soul]

Didn't she claim to have packed the suitcase with teaching materials that morning? (Must be a hella lot of notebooks!) Surely GM saw her lugging it out that morning. But then she forgot her keys and all. RUSE! The suitcase was already at the church. It was just a matter of luring Sandra there.

How dare she defile the church? And then put Sandra's body in such a filthy place?

Totally agree with you guys, sticking up for her, saying that crap...did they forget that the only thing their dear Melissa hasn't given LE is the motive? She did it, said as much, and was arrested...Since she has so many 'troubling things going on in her life' maybe they should have stepped up Before she killed a child, instead of wearing their Easter Sunday best and getting their 15 minutes of fame.
The key story definately figures in here, maybe to keep GM busy while she moved sandra?
hey, how many times did she change the contents story of that fricken suitcase anyway? No one saw it in the driveway, not even a neighbor, so it was either in the car or at the church already. What are you guys thinking, she lured her there? (what about sandra's sister being asked to watch her daughter?) Or like java said, she was injured, and.......?

[old_soul]

I'll just say this and then drop it. Humans of all sorts really have problems admitting when they are wrong. Or giving an apology. The Buts get them every time. I would put Christians and those who say they are Christian (there is a huge difference) right at the top of that group. Some seem to think "forgiveness" wipes the entire slate clean and it does not. One must still pay the earthly price for what they have done wrong. Forgiveness is not a "get out of jail free" pass. Forgiveness means we chose not to harbor hate for a person who has done us wrong, not that they get a free pass. The earthly price still has to be paid. You are very correct, when one adds "but" to the apoplgy it does turn into an excuse.

Perfect, deacon!

Your post has made me think of much, not only with this case, but of other things personally, where that BIG OL BUT reared it's ugly head and that apology never came............but neither did my forgiveness ;).

Ah, yes, the 'earthly price'!

[Amy]

Didn't she claim to have packed the suitcase with teaching materials that morning? (Must be a hella lot of notebooks!) Surely GM saw her lugging it out that morning. But then she forgot her keys and all. RUSE! The suitcase was already at the church. It was just a matter of luring Sandra there.

How dare she defile the church? And then put Sandra's body in such a filthy place?

Of course, we have 3 versions of the suitcase. Mr Williams? up front and center saying there was a suitcase supposedly meant for the church rummage sale (did they ever HAVE the rummage sale, was there even one slated?) that "a lady" either left in her driveway or in the trunk of her car--he wasn't too tight on WHERE the suitcase was left. Then, seemingly, the suitcase was to have been filled with cleaning supplies--I guess MH was not only a teacher there, but also helped w/the custodian job (which is quite common in small rural churches, around here, anyway) and had some cleaning to do? Or, the last one, where she had scrapbooking or such supplies, I guess to decorate the classrooms or church for Easter. So, wonder which it was--empty, cleaning supplies, scrapbooking supplies. Actually, I vote for empty, but since there was nothing further about the rummage sale (that I read--maybe canceled because of the disappearance of Sandra?) I would say, just empty.

It's also interesting--how did Mr Williams come into knowledge about the suitcase? LE says it was never reported to them. So, does he live across the street or something from MH? She talked up the suitcase thing even tho she evidently did NOT report it to LE? Does he belong to the church, or maybe he doesn't and MH told him about a rummage sale?

[lorettalockhorn]

Does anyone know how Sandra's sister came to babysit Huckaby's daughter? So Sandra says she's going to visit MH's daughter, but then when Melissa called for the sister to babysit, did she tell Maria or the grandfather that Sandra was still there or that she had gone to another friend's house? Is that where that bit of information came from?

[Lodi]

I wonder if it wasn't a combination of that and an overdose, say of aspirin? She's on suicide watch in the jail...

You know, I just don't buy they have no motive. If they didn't know the why of it, how could they eliminate any accomplices? It just feels wrong...I can't believe there's not more to learn...

It wouldn't surprise me if she committed suicide. There's a good chance she is feeling true remorse for what she's done. It seems that she gave all the appearance of being a good person with a few problems she was trying to work out.

LE probably can't eliminate an accomplice but if they can't find evidence of one, they can only believe she acted alone.

Someone in her family said she never got over her divorce and she hasn't dated since then. The birth of her child may have affected her in someway. I'll bet her former husband could give some insight into her mentality.

Perhaps the one chance anyone had of preventing this was the time she allegedly doped up a child and got away with it. Other than that one incident, she may have never appeared dangerous.

[lorettalockhorn]

I don't think anyone but her has told the tale of the stolen suitcase, except for that one guy FW. Has anyone heard Mrs. Lawless talk about it? I haven't seen it...

I haven't read anything about Mrs. Lawless' recollection of the phone call that Melissa reportedly had with her. But when/if she is questioned about the claim of leaving it behind, her version will be important.

[old_soul]

Does anyone know how Sandra's sister came to babysit Huckaby's daughter? So Sandra says she's going to visit MH's daughter, but then when Melissa called for the sister to babysit, did she tell Maria or the grandfather that Sandra was still there or that she had gone to another friend's house? Is that where that bit of information came from?

Loretta, do you (or anyone else?) know the time of the video when Sandra was skipping? Has it been said? From what I understood, Sandra's sis went there to play also. If Sandra wasn't there, which she wasn't because her sis would have seen her...then where was she? What had MH done with her? The pretense of having her 'babysit' was so that she could run over to the church.....either Sandra was already in the car/or in the suitcase in the car.
There was no video sign of sandra coming back again...it had to have happened after she skipped over there, because it took time to drive over to the area to dispose of the suitcase with sandra in it. Hmmm when was she at the church?? WAS she at the church at all? (despite what the media is saying) LE hasn't said the 'church' was ground zero, and we haven't heard of any thing else being leaked by the Tracy LE.....

[deacon]

Just to throw out my theological point of view, you can't forgive someone for a crime committed against another. Sandra could forgive. Sandra is dead. So, no one is in the position of forgiving this side of eternity. Her family could hand it over to God for their own peace, but they cannot truly forgive the killer.

And I am really sick of the "but" of mitigating circumstances. Nothing mitigates killing another except a true accident or self-defense.

That sort of sums it up. I try not to "wax theological" but sometimes it just jumps out.

[lorettalockhorn]

Loretta, do you (or anyone else?) know the time of the video when Sandra was skipping? Has it been said? From what I understood, Sandra's sis went there to play also. If Sandra wasn't there, which she wasn't because her sis would have seen her...then where was she? What had MH done with her? The pretense of having her 'babysit' was so that she could run over to the church.....either Sandra was already in the car/or in the suitcase in the car.
There was no video sign of sandra coming back again...it had to have happened after she skipped over there, because it took time to drive over to the area to dispose of the suitcase with sandra in it. Hmmm when was she at the church?? WAS she at the church at all? (despite what the media is saying) LE hasn't said the 'church' was ground zero, and we haven't heard of any thing else being leaked by the Tracy LE.....

No idea about the time on the video; I've read that it's eighteen seconds, but don't even know if that's before or after LE edited it. I do think that Sandra's GF said that she left around 4pm to go to the Lawless trailer. Maybe we'll get word of a timeline tomorrow when/if the probable cause statement is published.

Because of the thorough detail of the search at the church, I do believe that's where the murder occurred. And call me crazy, but I think it was premeditated because of Huckaby's own words.

[Amy]

Loretta, do you (or anyone else?) know the time of the video when Sandra was skipping? Has it been said? From what I understood, Sandra's sis went there to play also. If Sandra wasn't there, which she wasn't because her sis would have seen her...then where was she? What had MH done with her? The pretense of having her 'babysit' was so that she could run over to the church.....either Sandra was already in the car/or in the suitcase in the car.
There was no video sign of sandra coming back again...it had to have happened after she skipped over there, because it took time to drive over to the area to dispose of the suitcase with sandra in it. Hmmm when was she at the church?? WAS she at the church at all? (despite what the media is saying) LE hasn't said the 'church' was ground zero, and we haven't heard of any thing else being leaked by the Tracy LE.....

All the articles where LE discusses the video puts it @ 4pm.

[lorettalockhorn]

Just to throw out my theological point of view, you can't forgive someone for a crime committed against another. Sandra could forgive. Sandra is dead. So, no one is in the position of forgiving this side of eternity. Her family could hand it over to God for their own peace, but they cannot truly forgive the killer.

And I am really sick of the "but" of mitigating circumstances. Nothing mitigates killing another except a true accident or self-defense.

Well, the Cantu's have been wronged, so to avoid being eaten alive by a grudge that would easily be understood, they will probably try to find a way to forgive. Christianity and the Bible is ull of admonitions to emulate Christ by forgiving others, and Buddha reminds us that holding on to anger is like grasping a coal intending to throw it; you are the one who gets burned.

I have to admit, I struggle with forgiveness for things that seem minute compared to what goes on in the world.

[deacon]

More confirmation on the church: http://www.fox40.com/pages/landing_sandra_cantu/?Source-Sandra-Cantu-Murdered-In-Church=1&blockID=264993&feedID=2674

What happened? And, really now, how could they hold service there?!!! My church is like the size of a city block, so if such a think happened, you could be 1/4 mile away, and I'd still balk. But this building is the size of a mobile home!

Well, the "church" is only a building. The real church is the people that are there. Remember what BTK did in the church he attended. Sick, really sick. :(

[lorettalockhorn]

Genesis 4:10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground." That verse just sums up the injustice of murder for me. I think of Caylee and Sandra, hidden but found.

But in any case, whatever the Cantu's or any victimized family decide to do, however they find any peace, I totally support them. (this is all theoretical and has nothing to do with what I "want" anyone to do) I can't even imagine living next door practically to the family of the killer, and them having the nerve to stay there, in their face practically. I don't blame that uncle at all for wanting to go down there and take care of some business.

PS: I have a temper and a penchant for grudges, sadly!

Great verse! It's obvious that the Cantus are heartbroken, but they strike me as being a strong family.

Me too on the grudges. A friend scolded me once that a most of what eats at us won't matter in a hundred years. When I have trouble letting go, I try to remind myself of that. It helps! Sometimes.

[Lodi]

~Snip~ TRACY - Prosecutors say they're considering rape and molestation allegations against the woman suspected of killing an 8-year-old Northern California girl and putting her body in a suitcase

http://www.fox40.com/pages/landing_sandra_cantu/?Prosecutors-May-Push-Molestation-Rape-Ch=1&blockID=265166&feedID=2674

[deacon]

~Snip~ TRACY - Prosecutors say they're considering rape and molestation allegations against the woman suspected of killing an 8-year-old Northern California girl and putting her body in a suitcase

http://www.fox40.com/pages/landing_sandra_cantu/?Prosecutors-May-Push-Molestation-Rape-Ch=1&blockID=265166&feedID=2674

That is sick!:cuss:

[One2Snoop]

:eek: OMG I think I'm going to be sick. :flamemad:

Here's another update on the charges....

San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Robert Himmelblau told The Associated Press Monday that a homicide charge against Huckaby could also include the special circumstances of rape with a foreign object, lewd and lacivious conduct with a child and murder in the course of a kidnapping.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/19167988/detail.html?treets=fran&tml=fran_break&ts=T&tmi=fran_break_1_03260104132009#-

[One2Snoop]

Oh god-now we know the why. Well i guess her family can eat their words as to what a fine person she was. So sick. We all know by the time they get caught-many many victims. Oh god this is just so heartbreaking. I hope she was drugged and did not know what was happening. And a mother herself. I dont know what else to say but this news must be just killing her family. :rose::rose:

It makes you wonder if she ever sexually abused her own daughter.

[lorettalockhorn]

Well, the "church" is only a building. The real church is the people that are there. Remember what BTK did in the church he attended. Sick, really sick. :(

Agree to an extent, but the church is also its congregation. Huckaby, whether evil, whack, or just hellbent on defiling a blessed place has widened the circle of victims.

[lorettalockhorn]

:eek: OMG I think I'm going to be sick. :flamemad:

Here's another update on the charges....

San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Robert Himmelblau told The Associated Press Monday that a homicide charge against Huckaby could also include the special circumstances of rape with a foreign object, lewd and lacivious conduct with a child and murder in the course of a kidnapping.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/19167988/detail.html?treets=fran&tml=fran_break&ts=T&tmi=fran_break_1_03260104132009#-

So Huckaby truly represents a tiny statistic in the annals of perpetrators.

[Justice Denied?]

Well, the Cantu's have been wronged, so to avoid being eaten alive by a grudge that would easily be understood, they will probably try to find a way to forgive. Christianity and the Bible is ull of admonitions to emulate Christ by forgiving others, and Buddha reminds us that holding on to anger is like grasping a coal intending to throw it; you are the one who gets burned.

I have to admit, I struggle with forgiveness for things that seem minute compared to what goes on in the world.

I still just cannot wrap my mind around this. How can a mother kill another woman's child? She must be mentally ill!

They just announced on HLN, Mike Gallanos, that is is possible rape and molestation charges may be added. Ugg! Makes me nauseous.

[Lodi]

On april 8, Connie Lawless said, "She was the sweetest little thing. It breaks our hearts to think that anyone would take such a tiny little thing and abuse her and murder her."

[lorettalockhorn]

On april 8, Connie Lawless said, "She was the sweetest little thing. It breaks our hearts to think that anyone would take such a tiny little thing and abuse her and murder her."

Hmmm

[tv]

So Huckaby truly represents a tiny statistic in the annals of perpetrators.

Hi Loretta, I was afraid this would turn out to be the motive. :( I wonder is she has other victims out there?

[One2Snoop]

On april 8, Connie Lawless said, "She was the sweetest little thing. It breaks our hearts to think that anyone would take such a tiny little thing and abuse her and murder her."


Link please!

[Lodi]

No Murder Weapon Found in Death of California Girl, 8, Suitcase Still a Mystery

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Detectives trying to unravel a murder mystery that left a little girl dead in a suitcase at the bottom of a pond said they haven't yet found the weapon used to kill the 8-year-old and can't say for sure where the luggage came from.

Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman told reporters Wednesday that investigators haven't recovered the instrument used to murder Sandra Cantu, but said her death is being classified as a homicide.

Sheneman also wouldn't confirm reports that the suitcase her body was found stuffed inside was stolen from the Clover Road Baptist Church, which the FBI searched Tuesday night.

"I've heard speculation that the suitcase was stolen from the mobile home park (where Sandra lived). I've heard speculation that the suitcase was stolen by the church ... I've heard speculation that it was part of a rummage sale the church was having," Sheneman said. "We did not have a report of stolen luggage."

There were no plans for further searches on Wednesday, he told the news conference. The autopsy that began Tuesday is still under way.

"We’re waiting to hear from the coroner’s office, as I said yesterday. They are working diligently to uncover as much as they can," the sergeant said. "When they complete the investigation, they’ll let us know."

Investigators still refuse to call anyone a suspect in the case.

"We are focusing on no specific person at this time," Sheneman said.

Tracy police will hold their usual evening press conference at 6:30 p.m. EDT (3:30 p.m. PDT).

Earlier Wednesday, the FBI dusted an SUV for fingerprints a day after they searched a church and questioned its pastor for clues to Sandra's suspicious death.

Sandra's body was found in the suitcase, described as "a large rolling piece of luggage" by Sheneman. It had been dumped in a pond near her mobile home in Tracy, Calif., more than a week after she vanished.

She was last seen walking away from her family's trailer park on March 27.

Investigators searched the Clover Road Baptist Church in Tracy well into the night on Tuesday, but wouldn't say what led them to the church or what, if anything, they found there.

They also interviewed Pastor Lane Lawless for three hours, though police insisted he wasn't considered a suspect.

"I just spent a night down at the police station, answering all their questions," Lawless said, according to FOX San Francisco affiliate KTVU.

A night earlier, the TV station reported seeing the pastor's wife, Connie Lawless, being taken away in a patrol car for questioning.

The Lawless family lived in the same trailer park where Sandra resided with her family.

Lane Lawless told KTVU that the second-grader often visited his home and played with their great granddaughter.

Detectives searched the Lawless home Monday night after Sandra's body was identified, and their computers and phones were seized, according to his wife.

"We're very open to them taking anything they wanted," Connie Lawless told KTVU. "We are not at all disturbed by that. We feel that the more people they can eliminate, the quicker they'll get to the truth."

Connie Lawless said they had nothing to do with the girl's abduction.

"She was the sweetest little thing. It breaks it our hearts to think that anyone would take such a tiny little thing and abuse her and murder her," she said.

Investigators won't comment on whether they've been able to link the suitcase Sandra's body was discovered in to any of the locations they've served search warrants on.

"The coroner is taking his time in this painstaking process," Sheneman said Tuesday. "We're not going to ask for him to hurry so as not to damage the integrity of this investigation."

The luggage containing Sandra's body was discovered Monday by farmworkers draining the pond about two miles from where she lived.

The child was wearing the same clothes she wore when she vanished: a pink "Hello Kitty" T-shirt and black leggings.

Investigators believe that the person who dumped the body in the pond must have known the rural area, just north of the city.

"Someone would have to be familiar with that area to know to go there to place that suitcase," Sheneman told reporters Tuesday.

Authorities also wouldn't say who owns the SUV they were searching. KTVU shot exclusive video of the forensic team and crime scene experts combing through the Kia. A Cadillac in a nearby garage was also being examined, the station said.

Photos of the outgoing girl with dark brown eyes and golden hair were posted all over town, on business fronts, car windows and fire hydrants in the city of about 78,000 people.

Sandra's disappearance sparked a massive search effort around Tracy, about 60 miles east of San Francisco, that included hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement officials, including the FBI, and more than 1,000 tips.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,513244,00.html

See link above

[One2Snoop]

See link above

Thank you.

[wind149]

I heard on Mike that she also raped and molested the child with a foreign object, this woman is worse than I thought she was when I thought she was just a murderer??? I wonder if she has raped other children??? Women pedophiles are not rare, but usually it is a young boy they have the hots for like Deborah LaFave not a 28 year old mother and Sunday school teacher!!! And I betcha they will seek the DP. I saw her family on Mike, they looked like they wanted to die right there, she just ruined her own family and their reputation, I have a feeling that church is going to be shut down as it also sounds like that might be where the acts were committed, that in itself is beyond disgusting and I gotta applaud the Tracey police for nabbing this b*tch so quick, they had an inkling early on I feel about her, at first I thought they were zeroing in on her father and I was looking at him myself sideays and everyone I know is shocked and dismayed over this, we all expected a SO and to find out it was someone the family trusted and considered family, her family is never going to get over this and I hope the DP goes for the DP!

[dixinites]

I can't stand for the sub-normal retards spewing their BS over these poor little girls. If you don't know what the FFFF you're talking about then just don't friggin' post. These families are in excruciating (look it up) pain over the loss of their children/grandchildren and don't need your idiotic BLATHER about what was or wasn't done to them before they died. GET A FRIGGIN LIFE and stop rambling on about your own lurid suppositions... SICK!

Sorry, to those who post concolences and have the INTELLIGENCE to gather the facts in this case, but the ones who JUMP to lame-brained conclusions make my stomach turn. SICK, SICK, SICK... Shame on you!

GET A LIFE!!!!

[lorettalockhorn]

I can't stand for the sub-normal retards spewing their BS over these poor little girls. If you don't know what the FFFF you're talking about then just don't friggin' post. These families are in excruciating (look it up) pain over the loss of their children/grandchildren and don't need your idiotic BLATHER about what was or wasn't done to them before they died. GET A FRIGGIN LIFE and stop rambling on about your own lurid suppositions... SICK!

Sorry, to those who post concolences and have the INTELLIGENCE to gather the facts in this case, but the ones who JUMP to lame-brained conclusions make my stomach turn. SICK, SICK, SICK... Shame on you!

GET A LIFE!!!!

Poor thing. Just for you:

http://i36.tinypic.com/2wbxhj6.jpg

Um Are you in the right thread? (Or even on the right board??) IJM/Fep rarely posts to my recollection, and for either of them, especially our linkstress extraordinaire O2S to post without having read the latest is unheard of.

Got an axe? Well, here ya go:

http://i39.tinypic.com/2yod4dv.jpg

[old_soul]

I can't stand for the sub-normal retards spewing their BS over these poor little girls. If you don't know what the FFFF you're talking about then just don't friggin' post. These families are in excruciating (look it up) pain over the loss of their children/grandchildren and don't need your idiotic BLATHER about what was or wasn't done to them before they died. GET A FRIGGIN LIFE and stop rambling on about your own lurid suppositions... SICK!

Sorry, to those who post concolences and have the INTELLIGENCE to gather the facts in this case, but the ones who JUMP to lame-brained conclusions make my stomach turn. SICK, SICK, SICK... Shame on you!

GET A LIFE!!!!

?
:rolleyes:

[old_soul]

Forgiveness....

In light of the recent news, I highly doubt we'll be hearing from her family anytime soon, and like I said, doesn't seem they knew 'sweet Melissa' too well. This is not something someone just ups and tries...I also wonder, like Snoop, if her 5 year old was ever sexually abused by her.......also brings to mind the child she drugged that day. I bet they'll be delving into that allegation again.

Geez, Casey syndrome all over again. Her telephone conversation with the media sounded completely.... normal. To think she did this to Sandra and was able to keep a normal facade is absolutely bewildering.

Hate to say, there's no forgiveness in my heart..DP all the way.

Sandra :rose:

[Amy]

Good for the Tracy police for keeping it quiet. Too bad anyone ever had to know. :flamemad:

"I was hoping that wasn't the case," Sandra's aunt, Angie Chavez, said through tears. "I'm in shock. The whole thing is unimaginable."

http://www.tracypress.com/pages/full_story?article-Rape-%20molestation%20-likely-%20to%20be%20alleged%20in%20girl-s%20slaying%20=&page_label=home&id=2310960-Rape-+molestation+-likely-+to+be+alleged+in+girl-s+slaying&widget=push&instance=home_news_bullets&open=&

They would end up knowing when it came to trial, anyway.

[lorettalockhorn]

Good for the Tracy police for keeping it quiet. Too bad anyone ever had to know. :flamemad:

"I was hoping that wasn't the case," Sandra's aunt, Angie Chavez, said through tears. "I'm in shock. The whole thing is unimaginable."

http://www.tracypress.com/pages/full_story?article-Rape-%20molestation%20-likely-%20to%20be%20alleged%20in%20girl-s%20slaying%20=&page_label=home&id=2310960-Rape-+molestation+-likely-+to+be+alleged+in+girl-s+slaying&widget=push&instance=home_news_bullets&open=&

Did LE know this all along? I assumed the information was the result of the autopsy. It's a hard pill to swallow, but it's just as well that people know the truth when it becomes available. Suppose it could have come from a confession. We'll hopefully know more tomorrow after the arraignement if/when the probable cause statement is made public.

Or maybe I'm exhibiting frustration over the Haleigh Cummings case; LE isn't talking, and after all this time, we don't even know what the crime is.

[old_soul]

I honestly don't think they did. I think Sheneman admitted they thought they were looking for a guy. I bet it was confession corroborated by autopsy.

The TPD held their info close to the vest, but at least out here we had the sense they were moving fast and hard. There was a rage in the local coverage you could feel. I don't know if that is out in Florida, too. I hope they find her, at least. We had a rash of girls kidnapped out here in the '80s and never found. Their mothers still look. Of course, I don't think any of them had mysterious child brides or what have you involved...


~~~~
I think this one threw everyone for a loop! First, it's a female. Second is the murder. Third, Molestation and Rape.

We were all thinking a male, probably a SO...

MOO ~ I don't think she confessed to this. More the result of the autopsy, only because she hasn't stated a motive, never mind fully giving a confession (unless she finally talked ~ and he's not telling the public yet) The latest info on the rape came from the DA's office, not him.

Still can't believe this:flamemad:

:rose:

[Amy]

Well, it did have to break, the arraignment's tomorrow. But I don't think the TPD wanted to have to tell them. I hope someone did and they didn't hear from the press. But that's probably wishful thinking...

Oh, I see what you mean--the family being told before it hit the airwaves. I was thinking general public. But, for sure, I would hope some of this would be told to the family in private, instead of seeing it on the local news show.

[DrewBerry]

~~~~
I think this one threw everyone for a loop! First, it's a female. Second is the murder. Third, Molestation and Rape.

We were all thinking a male, probably a SO...

MOO ~ I don't think she confessed to this. More the result of the autopsy, only because she hasn't stated a motive, never mind fully giving a confession (unless she finally talked ~ and he's not telling the public yet) The latest info on the rape came from the DA's office, not him.

Still can't believe this:flamemad:

:rose:

Me too, OS. I was more than stunned when I heard about the sexual assault. :flamemad: I do hope they go for the DP.
I am so sorry for Sandra's family. What a sweet little child. :rose:
Drew B

[BADSIDEEFEX]

Maybe melissa knew this guy? How did he get bail? He must have alot of money. He probably drugged his victims also. Maybe they teamed up when his business was taken. People like this don't stop what they do just because they are caught. They usually find another way to continue.






Local
More women accuse doctor in Tracy of molestation
The Associated Press
2009-04-14 04:49:53.0
Current rank: Not ranked

STOCKTON, Calif. -
More women have come forward alleging a plastic surgeon sexually assaulted them at his Tracy office.

San Joaquin County prosecutors filed a revised criminal complaint Monday accusing 46-year-old Peter Chi of molesting 64 women. Chi was charged with sexually assaulting eight women after he was arrested in February.

Chi has already been arraigned on counts of sexual battery and rape by a foreign object and is expected to appear in court Tuesday on the additional charges.

The doctor operated Beauty Renewed in Tracy and also worked from a Stockton office.

He has been ordered to stop practicing and has surrendered his medical license while the case continues.

He is currently free on $100,000 bail.

[BADSIDEEFEX]

It is a possibility though. She needed money and we have to wonder how she got a LV suitcase on her salary. I don't own anything LV and our family makes four times as much as hers. Population of 81000 is not very big, and she use to work in a grocery store. You meet alot of people when you work in retail. What has Peter Chi been up to since Feb.? I don't think he can stop what he does.

[One2Snoop]

It is a possibility though. She needed money and we have to wonder how she got a LV suitcase on her salary. I don't own anything LV and our family makes four times as much as hers. Population of 81000 is not very big, and she use to work in a grocery store. You meet alot of people when you work in retail. What has Peter Chi been up to since Feb.? I don't think he can stop what he does.

Anythings a possibility but the police have stated several times, "there are no other suspects in this case".

Again today....

Police have not said how, where or why Sandra was killed, [color=blue] but Sgt. Tony Sheneman said investigators believe she acted alone.[/blue]

http://www.ktvu.com/news/19167988/detail.html?treets=fran&tml=fran_break&ts=T&tmi=fran_break_1_03260104132009#-

[deacon]

Poor thing. Just for you:

http://i36.tinypic.com/2wbxhj6.jpg

Um Are you in the right thread? (Or even on the right board??) IJM/Fep rarely posts to my recollection, and for either of them, especially our linkstress extraordinaire O2S to post without having read the latest is unheard of.

Got an axe? Well, here ya go:

http://i39.tinypic.com/2yod4dv.jpg

What you said.

[tandarat]

A couple of things keep bothering me. I can't help but wonder if TPD is keeping something hidden from the public still to protect the investigation, or if they've missed something.

I can't help but wonder if she did NOT work alone, or if she assisted someone and is covering/protecting them. I also have to wonder if she has told the truth during questioning, or at least the whole truth. The addition of rape/molestation charges just adds to my uneasiness.

I was able to "get" the murder and possible drugging thing, as shocking as it is. I'm not getting the rape/molestation charge. Not because it isn't possible, but because of her actions before she was arrested. What she was doing was erratic, showed signs of guilt/remorse, etc.

If SHE was the one who molested Sandra, I don't think she would have reacted the way she did. I also don't think Sandra would have been the first one. If she reacted this way for Sandra, it makes sense she would act in a similar fashion during any other incidents, and would have been caught. This does not appear to be the case.

Before the rape allegations, I was starting to lean towards munchausen syndrome, or something similar. Almost everything seemed to fit: the sickly child, accusations of drugging children, then Sandra. If Sandra was the first one to die, she may have been shocked and guilt-ridden when it finally dawned on her that she was really hurting others, and this time the child was not coming back.

This just does not really fit anymore. Something is missing. I'm very interested in hearing the evidence in this case.

I guess MH could have a pathological need to exert power, and children are the easiest target. Drugging children perhaps made her feel powerful, especially when they were made completely helpless. I guess molestation or rape would be a logical (?) next step, followed by killing the victim. I would guess the molestation was NOT sexual in nature, but rather a way to prove to herself, and the victim if he/she were conscious, that she had complete power. A frightening scenario and not a state of mind I'd like to explore to deeply, I don't think. This still doesn't explain her actions during the search and then after Sandra was found. Bipolar mania, perhaps? That could also explain the other actions, too, I suppose, though that is not a normal direction for bipolar to take....

[deacon]

A couple of things keep bothering me. I can't help but wonder if TPD is keeping something hidden from the public still to protect the investigation, or if they've missed something.

I can't help but wonder if she did NOT work alone, or if she assisted someone and is covering/protecting them. I also have to wonder if she has told the truth during questioning, or at least the whole truth. The addition of rape/molestation charges just adds to my uneasiness.

I was able to "get" the murder and possible drugging thing, as shocking as it is. I'm not getting the rape/molestation charge. Not because it isn't possible, but because of her actions before she was arrested. What she was doing was erratic, showed signs of guilt/remorse, etc.

If SHE was the one who molested Sandra, I don't think she would have reacted the way she did. I also don't think Sandra would have been the first one. If she reacted this way for Sandra, it makes sense she would act in a similar fashion during any other incidents, and would have been caught. This does not appear to be the case.

Before the rape allegations, I was starting to lean towards munchausen syndrome, or something similar. Almost everything seemed to fit: the sickly child, accusations of drugging children, then Sandra. If Sandra was the first one to die, she may have been shocked and guilt-ridden when it finally dawned on her that she was really hurting others, and this time the child was not coming back.

This just does not really fit anymore. Something is missing. I'm very interested in hearing the evidence in this case.

I guess MH could have a pathological need to exert power, and children are the easiest target. Drugging children perhaps made her feel powerful, especially when they were made completely helpless. I guess molestation or rape would be a logical (?) next step, followed by killing the victim. I would guess the molestation was NOT sexual in nature, but rather a way to prove to herself, and the victim if he/she were conscious, that she had complete power. A frightening scenario and not a state of mind I'd like to explore to deeply, I don't think. This still doesn't explain her actions during the search and then after Sandra was found. Bipolar mania, perhaps? That could also explain the other actions, too, I suppose, though that is not a normal direction for bipolar to take....


Or, just plain evil.

[tandarat]

Sounds like police don't think that it relates to this case, but you never know...

http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2009/04/04/news/7_tracy_090404.txt
*snip*

Police have also focused on Tracy’s registered sex offenders.

The state says 78 registered sex offenders call Tracy home. And Tracy police have their eye on as many as 60 people in the city who they have found to exchange child pornography over the Internet, police said.

*snip*

I just have to say, if the police know these people are exchanging child porn on the internet, why aren't they under arrest? It IS illegal, isn't it?

I'm sure they're working on it. Gotta get their ducks in a row to make charges stick.

[Lodi]

A couple of things keep bothering me. I can't help but wonder if TPD is keeping something hidden from the public still to protect the investigation, or if they've missed something.

I can't help but wonder if she did NOT work alone, or if she assisted someone and is covering/protecting them. I also have to wonder if she has told the truth during questioning, or at least the whole truth. The addition of rape/molestation charges just adds to my uneasiness.

I was able to "get" the murder and possible drugging thing, as shocking as it is. I'm not getting the rape/molestation charge. Not because it isn't possible, but because of her actions before she was arrested. What she was doing was erratic, showed signs of guilt/remorse, etc.

If SHE was the one who molested Sandra, I don't think she would have reacted the way she did. I also don't think Sandra would have been the first one. If she reacted this way for Sandra, it makes sense she would act in a similar fashion during any other incidents, and would have been caught. This does not appear to be the case.

Before the rape allegations, I was starting to lean towards munchausen syndrome, or something similar. Almost everything seemed to fit: the sickly child, accusations of drugging children, then Sandra. If Sandra was the first one to die, she may have been shocked and guilt-ridden when it finally dawned on her that she was really hurting others, and this time the child was not coming back.

This just does not really fit anymore. Something is missing. I'm very interested in hearing the evidence in this case.

I guess MH could have a pathological need to exert power, and children are the easiest target. Drugging children perhaps made her feel powerful, especially when they were made completely helpless. I guess molestation or rape would be a logical (?) next step, followed by killing the victim. I would guess the molestation was NOT sexual in nature, but rather a way to prove to herself, and the victim if he/she were conscious, that she had complete power. A frightening scenario and not a state of mind I'd like to explore to deeply, I don't think. This still doesn't explain her actions during the search and then after Sandra was found. Bipolar mania, perhaps? That could also explain the other actions, too, I suppose, though that is not a normal direction for bipolar to take....

MH is a real puzzle. Has she just gone insane in the last few years? She reminds me of a woman locally that started off normal but in her mid twenties evolved into a crazy lady. After having a few kids, she began doing unusual things although she hasn't murdered anyone yet. She visited me one time and we chatted. She told me that her kids were all artificially inseminated and the donor was Andy Griffith. She had twins named Opie and Oopie. She said Andy took Opie because he liked the name better. I went to the bathroom for about 3 minutes and when I got back she had rearranged all the furniture in my den.

[One2Snoop]

MH is a real puzzle. Has she just gone insane in the last few years? She reminds me of a woman locally that started off normal but in her mid twenties evolved into a crazy lady. After having a few kids, she began doing unusual things although she hasn't murdered anyone yet. She visited me one time and we chatted. She told me that her kids were all artificially inseminated and the donor was Andy Griffith. She had twins named Opie and Oopie. She said Andy took Opie because he liked the name better. I went to the bathroom for about 3 minutes and when I got back she had rearranged all the furniture in my den.

That sounds more like the story you've told in the Grinstead discussion about yourself. For pete sake Lodi you're so disgusting sometimes. :rolleyes:

[lorettalockhorn]

MH is a real puzzle. Has she just gone insane in the last few years? She reminds me of a woman locally that started off normal but in her mid twenties evolved into a crazy lady. After having a few kids, she began doing unusual things although she hasn't murdered anyone yet. She visited me one time and we chatted. She told me that her kids were all artificially inseminated and the donor was Andy Griffith. She had twins named Opie and Oopie. She said Andy took Opie because he liked the name better. I went to the bathroom for about 3 minutes and when I got back she had rearranged all the furniture in my den.

http://i36.tinypic.com/2wbxhj6.jpg

[lorettalockhorn]

Larry King Live (with Joy Behar), 4/13/09:

http://www.artharris.com/

Includes comments by Sgt.Tony Sheneman:

...But first, let's talk with Sergeant Tony Sheneman. He's the spokesman for the Tracy Police Department.

Hello, Sergeant Sheneman.

What made Huckaby suspicious?

SGT. TONY SHENEMAN, SPOKESMAN, TRACY POLICE DEPARTMENT: Inconsistent statements that she had made over the course of being spoken to during the initial canvas when we were looking for Sandra and then later on when she was interviewed prior to her interview with the Tracy Press. And then again when she was interviewed by the Tracy Press, all of her statements were fairly inconsistent.

BEHAR: Uh-huh.

Is the investigation in the case still going on?

SHENEMAN: There's still work being done that needs to be completed for prosecution. However, all of the work that was done to identify the person who was responsible for Sandra Cantu's death has been completed. We had no indication that anyone else was involved. And if we did, we would have arrested those people at the same time.

BEHAR: OK. So there are no further arrests anticipated, then?

SHENEMAN: Correct.

BEHAR: OK.

Was molestation the motive?

SHENEMAN: We don't have a motive and we've been trying to determine one. She didn't give us one. And we can't come up with a reason why a mother would murder another mother's child.

BEHAR: But the allegation is that it was rape, kidnapping and rape with an object. It's kind of gruesome, what you're saying and what we're hearing.

What evidence do you actually have on the case that would lead us to those -- those statements?

SHENEMAN: I appreciate the question. Unfortunately...

BEHAR: You can't answer it.

SHENEMAN: I can't answer it right now.

BEHAR: OK. And the suspect, Melissa, is reportedly under suicide watch.

Is there a specific reason why she in particular is under a suicide watch or is everybody who is arrested in these type of cases under that?

SHENEMAN: Everyone who's arrested in these type of cases is put in an observation area for their own safety. According to the sheriff's department, she's made no statements that she wants to harm herself or is a danger to herself.

BEHAR: I see.

What -- what charges do you expect to be filing, exactly, tomorrow?

SHENEMAN: When she was -- when she was booked, she was booked on charges of kidnapping and murder. And we're informed by the district attorney that she'll be charged with abduction, murder, rape with a foreign object and lewd and lascivious acts with a child.

BEHAR: And how -- how is the community dealing with it?

It's a terrible, terrible crime.

How is everyone around there dealing with this? SHENEMAN: It's very difficult to accept that a member of your community would be responsible for such a heinous act. So we were hoping that we would begin the healing process. But with the additional charges, that's an additional blow, besides the fact that we found out it was a member of the community and a woman.

BEHAR: Uh-huh.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Sergeant.

SHENEMAN: Thank you.

BEHAR: We'll be keeping in touch with you...

[Jennifer33]

I don't visit here much anymore...truthfully because it ruins me. But it never ceases to amaze me how you guys know the things we are just now finding out through the news. I'm just wondering when you are going to join forces and solve crimes! Truly...you guys are incredible in laying out the facts, and ideally law enforcement should take up stake here and learn.

I'm a faithful...(sorry to those who don't like her) Nancy Grace fan. I watch nightly and have been following case after case just like this one. I'm going to be honest with you all and say that nothing surprises me anymore. Now knowing that she was sexually abused before she died I have to run with the death penalty plea. This monster quite possibly will be responsible for more of the same I'm sure. Somewhere...there's a missing child with this ...this..ok..I'll refrain from that word...but her finger prints will be found on more than just Sandras I'm afraid.

Thanks for listening...

[Justice Denied?]

Oh, joy, now we have a motive...and to think I assumed otherwise because she's female. I guess she learned her lesson from the one that she got questioned about last year...don't let 'em get away.

Cruel and unusual punishment should be allowed in this case. Just this once. :flamemad:

I personally wouldn't mind seeing a plain, normal lethal injection. If she did what she is accused of, she deserves to die.

[Jennifer33]

I personally wouldn't mind seeing a plain, normal lethal injection. If she did what she is accused of, she deserves to die.

I'd settle for the lethal injection, but with a dirty rusted needle??:shrug:

[One2Snoop]

Huckaby arrest defies research
By John Simerman
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 04/13/2009 07:28:00 PM PDT
Updated: 04/14/2009 09:51:33 AM PDT

If the discovery of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu's body in a suitcase last week and the weekend arrest of neighbor Melissa Huckaby seemed doubly stunning, there is good reason, experts in child killings say.

Not only are children Sandra's age among the least likely murder victims, but their killers are rarely women, research shows. Women are responsible for 43 percent of homicides of children 12 and younger, but three-quarters of their victims are younger than 6 and most often are infants, according to a 2001 federal Department of Justice study.

Similar tendencies apply to child abductions. Women tend to take young children or babies, according to the 2002 National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Throwaway Children.

"For 8-year-olds, overwhelmingly abductors are male. In homicide cases, they are overwhelmingly male. Our assumption in these kinds of cases is you're looking for a man," said Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "A lot of the typical profiles that you use in these cases may not apply here. This may be something else."

The why, how, and even where of Sandra's killing remain hidden from view, although prosecutors revealed Monday that they are considering rape and molestation charges against Huckaby, the 28-year-old Sunday school teacher arrested early Saturday on suspicion of murder. Sandra often played with Huckaby's 5-year-old daughter.

Little reliable research exists on women who molest children, and none that specifically identifies women who molest girls, experts say. A decade-old federally funded study reported that about one in every 50 sex offenders overall is a woman. Another study suggests that women commit 1 percent to 3 percent of all violent sex offenses against children.

"You're speaking about a phenomenon that's an anomaly. You have very little data because they're so infrequent," said L.C. Miccio-Fonseca, a San Diego clinical psychologist and researcher who focuses on sexually abusive people. "This is a relatively young woman. This woman's history, what she's been into "... we don't know anything."

Also rare, for children Sandra's age, is murder. According to the youth homicide report, the murder rate for children ages 6 to 11 — fewer than one in 100,000 — is the lowest of any segment of the population. That age range "seems to be a time when children are relatively immune from the risk of homicide," the report said.

The reason: Children that age become less of a burden on parents and also are "better able to hide from, dodge the blows of, and get away from angry parents than young children," the report said. "It takes more force and energy to inflict a lethal injury on a child age 6 to 11 than on a younger child. By the same token, children in middle childhood are protected from some of the dangers that affect adolescents."

When they are killed, family members commit six in 10 of the killings. About one in eight are killed by strangers. The report specifically cited negligent gun use and sex offenders as more common risks.

"Some sex offenders are attracted to children in this age range and sometimes murder children to hide their crimes," the report said.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_12135576?nclick_check=1