Feedback/Ideas on Unsolved Murder Case

[mprentice]

My best friend of 20 years was murdered 5 years ago and to this day, the case remains unsolved. As much as I hate to admit it, it will probably remain unsolved. Unless, I find a way to bring it to the surface again with the police and media outlets.

Without getting into details, he was beat to death as he slept in his apartment, Easter Eve 2002. I found him two days later after he didn't show up to work. There are a variety of different theories, but I am convinced it was his girlfriend at the time, who we later found out, was previously employed as a trained crime scene technician. No suprise, she passed her polygraph.

Unfortunately, my emails and efforts to reach out to the police have been unsucessful. I'm not family and I'm sure there are hundreds of cases piled on top of this one which has caused it to grown cold and inactive. Unfortunately, the family actually gave up looking for answers some time ago, but I'm having a hard time doing the same. There is somebody out there walking the streets that did this.

Can anyone give me any ideas or thoughts on how to bubble a case like this back to the surface with the police or other media outlets? Unlike the family, I refuse to give up...........

Originally Posted by mprentice

My best friend of 20 years was murdered 5 years ago and to this day, the case remains unsolved. As much as I hate to admit it, it will probably remain unsolved. Unless, I find a way to bring it to the surface again with the police and media outlets.

Without getting into details, he was beat to death as he slept in his apartment, Easter Eve 2002. I found him two days later after he didn't show up to work. There are a variety of different theories, but I am convinced it was his girlfriend at the time, who we later found out, was previously employed as a trained crime scene technician. No suprise, she passed her polygraph.

Unfortunately, my emails and efforts to reach out to the police have been unsucessful. I'm not family and I'm sure there are hundreds of cases piled on top of this one which has caused it to grown cold and inactive. Unfortunately, the family actually gave up looking for answers some time ago, but I'm having a hard time doing the same. There is somebody out there walking the streets that did this.

Can anyone give me any ideas or thoughts on how to bubble a case like this back to the surface with the police or other media outlets? Unlike the family, I refuse to give up...........

Hi MP and welcome to CL!

I'm sorry your best friend was murdered and I applaud your efforts in trying to solve his murder and to have those responsible held accountable. I wish you luck in your endeavors.

Once the ME ruled your friend's death as a homicide, even though the case might have grown cold, there is no statute of limitations for Murder One (premeditated murder). However, there are SOLs for lesser degrees of murder, e.g., in Florida, the State has 4 years in which to prosecute a defendant for the lesser charges of M2, M3 and MS.

Was the crime scene bloody? Do they have a murder weapon? Does LE have any suspects in mind? I would imagine there would have been FE recoverable at the crime scene when someone is beaten to death. You've mentioned his g/f was given an LDT and passed. Were LDTs administered to anyone else?

Unless LE can build a case for M1, the time for bringing charges and prosecuting this case, might have already expired, depending upon what State the crime occurred in.

IMO

[mprentice]

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it.

It was a messy scene. He had actually gotten up after or during the incident, made it to the end of his bed and collapsed there, where we found him. The DC states reason for death as, "Homicide-Multiple Injuries".

No weapon was found, and the police never disclosed to anyone what they thought it was, or what evidence was collected. When we were allowed back in, and started emptying the personal items in his apartment, I being the most knowledgeable of his posessions, noticed a couple odd items missing, one of which was a baseball bat in his closet. The PD did tell us that his wallet, money, car keys, watch, were all left untouched. No forced entry.

I think the Miami-dade Police dropped the ball by not doing the LDT until two weeks later, and never searched her car for FE. She was interviewed only by the PD. I'm no detective, but it seems as though they let alot of stuff slip through the cracks.

Thanks again for your feedback. The whole thing just peaves me that nothing has resulted.

[imanewsjunkie]

That has to be so frustrating. I'm so sorry for your loss and the lack of closure on this. I really hope you can find a way to get attention on this again. Sorry I don't have any good ideas for you right now.

[koawally]

Can you tell us all the reasons you suspect the girlfriend?
Can you tell us more about your Friend...what was he like...was he having problems with anyone...was he concerned about anyone or anything. What kind of activities was he involved with...you say you noticed a baseball bat was missing...did he play on a team...do you know if "a bat" was actually used to kill him?

I'm so sorry for the loss of your Friend...Awww...the more you talk and disclose everything and anything you know...the more questions and directions you will have in your search for the truth...

[mprentice]

Originally Posted by koawally

Can you tell us all the reasons you suspect the girlfriend?
Can you tell us more about your Friend...what was he like...was he having problems with anyone...was he concerned about anyone or anything. What kind of activities was he involved with...you say you noticed a baseball bat was missing...did he play on a team...do you know if "a bat" was actually used to kill him?

I'm so sorry for the loss of your Friend...Awww...the more you talk and disclose everything and anything you know...the more questions and directions you will have in your search for the truth...

I would type my fingers raw if I wrote all the reasons, but breifly.....

She was the last one to see him alive the night before. They had a blow out argument that night that neighbors actually heard, in which I have a feeling he was breaking it off with her. He shared with me days before he was thinking about it. She never spent the night as she was "separated" but still living with her husband. The next day, she came back (45 min drive) to drop off an easter basket. After seeing his car in the parking lot, and not answering the door, she stated she walked to the patio door, found unlocked, but instead of going in, she made the decision to leave the basket containing chocolate on the patio in the 90 degree heat. (?????). A normal course of action, I would think would be to enter the apartment, or at least call his best friend(me), to see if I had seen him- because something is obviously wrong. Nothing of the sort took place. The following day (Monday) I found him and she made, what I think was inappropriate comments, about previously working for a crime scene unit with a nearby police department.

He was a single(very), professional, fun loving guy with no enemies. The bat was used the week before in a company softball game, in which we both worked. It was his prized bat from our high school days. Also gone was is briefcase, which was large enough to conceal most of a bat. He lived on the ground floor, and always locked his doors as he was worried to lose his home audio equipment. He would always yell at me like my mother when I came in off the patio and didn't put the pin in the sliding door, and close the curtains!

My theory is this. He tried breaking it off, they got into a fight. After which they probably had make up sex somewhere alng the line. He falls asleep, she can't sleep, slips into another state of mind, ...and it happens. Bat missing, briefcase missing, video camera with tapes, and 35mm camera also missing....none of it ever found. Some clothes were removed from drawers but neatly stacked on the bed- not ransacked(looking for tapes/photos?). No signs of a struggle. He was hit, somehow got up, got to the end of the bed and collapsed at foot of bed. Wallet, money and cars keys all left at bedside.

A break in through the slider was next to impossible. The patio was in a courtyard setting, with three additional floors above, and other condos surrounding to either side, and just off the parking lot with one of those huge lights. It was a very well lit area. The condo was a very small 1BR/1BA, maybe 750 Sq Feet. Anyone jiggling the door to break the pin loose, would wake him up for sure, PLUS very risky in such a well exposed area. Front door was locked, sliding door was found unlocked, but closed.

I don't know, but I feel, it all points to her. I can't believe with just this, it wasn't enough to pin her somehow. I guess they need her to tattoo it on her forehead for them to "solve" it. I know I said brief.....but I couldn't stop writing

[Sharon]

That is such a sad tragic story. Do the parents suspect the girlfriend, or are they wanting to not think about it? The way this case is described makes it sound like it is beyond easy to get away with murder right in front of everyones nose. I sincerely hope that you get to see justice served for your friend, who sounds like a super sort of guy.

[sharlock]

Hi mprentice,
I am working on a similar thing with a poster who I now consider a friend she lost her brother in really bizarre circumstances and the police wrote it off as a suicide(he was 11yrs old happy and was supposed to have tied a rope around his neck and lifted his feet off the ground till he died, his feet were still touching the ground.) She was able to get coldcase detectives to look at the case again but she was family and she had to literally hound them everyday for months to get relevant documentation such as the files (which when they are closed can be released to the family) by the time this happened some of the most important files for any reinvestigation of the case were missing. I understand why the family mightn't want to deal with it right now but perhaps you could convince them that when a younger sibling gets older it might consume them as it has my friend and they should at least make moves now to protect the evidence that was gathered because to often it does go missing. If you could convince them to get the autopsy annd casenotes then you have a fighting chance to explore those things that may not be obvious to a policeman who didn't know the victim and the only other piece of advice I could give you is to try and make some friends in the police dept if you can because some doors only open from the inside unfortunately. Best of luck to you but be safe. The killer probably feels pretty safe by now but what if they think you are poking around to much? They have killed before you need to be careful your mate would not want you to get hurt to.

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by sharlock

Hi mprentice,
I am working on a similar thing with a poster who I now consider a friend she lost her brother in really bizarre circumstances and the police wrote it off as a suicide(he was 11yrs old happy and was supposed to have tied a rope around his neck and lifted his feet off the ground till he died, his feet were still touching the ground.) She was able to get coldcase detectives to look at the case again but she was family and she had to literally hound them everyday for months to get relevant documentation such as the files (which when they are closed can be released to the family) by the time this happened some of the most important files for any reinvestigation of the case were missing. I understand why the family mightn't want to deal with it right now but perhaps you could convince them that when a younger sibling gets older it might consume them as it has my friend and they should at least make moves now to protect the evidence that was gathered because to often it does go missing. If you could convince them to get the autopsy annd casenotes then you have a fighting chance to explore those things that may not be obvious to a policeman who didn't know the victim and the only other piece of advice I could give you is to try and make some friends in the police dept if you can because some doors only open from the inside unfortunately. Best of luck to you but be safe. The killer probably feels pretty safe by now but what if they think you are poking around to much? They have killed before you need to be careful your mate would not want you to get hurt to.

Sharlock, what a wonderful reply.

I remember the case you speak about where the little boy was found in a vacant lot. He wasnt the type of boy to play in the dark as police insisted had happened. Also, I believe he wasnt these when first checked , then his body was there supposedly hung from a tree, but the tree wasnt high enough to have been hung from. It was very obvious that foul play was at hand.

And this case with the murdered guy, probably by his girlfriend...you give good advice.

Both cases are so sad. It really gets to me that it is so easy to get away with murder. I cant help thinking that these days.

I cant imagine the battle that you would have to go thru to try to get justice. I wish all the cases good luck.

[mprentice]

Thanks for that feedback. I appreciate it. What you describe is exactly what I'm afraid of. The edividence being lost, memories fading, and all of it eventually turning to dust.

I wish the family had the same drive for justice as I did, but like you inferred, the police will more than likely react to the families persistent efforts, than mine.

Just frustrating, that's all. I think I will contact his mother to see what she thinks, maybe I can light a new fire on this.....It's amazing how something like this just consumes you.....and I don't see it going away anytime soon.

Thanks again.

[sharlock]

Originally Posted by Sharon

Sharlock, what a wonderful reply.

I remember the case you speak about where the little boy was found in a vacant lot. He wasnt the type of boy to play in the dark as police insisted had happened. Also, I believe he wasnt these when first checked , then his body was there supposedly hung from a tree, but the tree wasnt high enough to have been hung from. It was very obvious that foul play was at hand.

And this case with the murdered guy, probably by his girlfriend...you give good advice.

Both cases are so sad. It really gets to me that it is so easy to get away with murder. I cant help thinking that these days.

I cant imagine the battle that you would have to go thru to try to get justice. I wish all the cases good luck.

Yeah it is really sad! His name was Glenn Davenport and there is a thread for him but because there wasn't much input we mainly do things off the board now (anyone who is interested in the case though is still welcome to use the thread and we would go back to using it too!)but there is progress and a person of interest will be interviewed soon who can hopefully give Glenn's family the peace of mind of at least knowing what really happened to him that night. You are right he wasn't there when they were searching that area during the night we think he was actually being held in a derelict house on the same piece of land and was then hung after the searching family and friends left the field his feet were touching the ground when found and his knees were bent so he could have stood up easily if he had accidentally got the rope around his neck but that was not what happened!
Take heart though mprentice because this case is much much older then your friends and even with the missing evidence there is still hope due to the persistence of hissister that it could be solved yet.

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by sharlock

Yeah it is really sad! His name was Glenn Davenport and there is a thread for him but because there wasn't much input we mainly do things off the board now (anyone who is interested in the case though is still welcome to use the thread and we would go back to using it too!)but there is progress and a person of interest will be interviewed soon who can hopefully give Glenn's family the peace of mind of at least knowing what really happened to him that night. You are right he wasn't there when they were searching that area during the night we think he was actually being held in a derelict house on the same piece of land and was then hung after the searching family and friends left the field his feet were touching the ground when found and his knees were bent so he could have stood up easily if he had accidentally got the rope around his neck but that was not what happened!
Take heart though mprentice because this case is much much older then your friends and even with the missing evidence there is still hope due to the persistence of hissister that it could be solved yet.

Sharlock, I am very upset that the police would come to such a silly conclusion. Its like saying a person drowned in their tea cup. What was going on in with the police in the first place for this to be catorgorised as `not` murder????

Did this crime occur in Australia?

Regards Sharon

[Sharon]

Also, I want to appologise for hyjacking this thread. I am sorry and hope that the poster looking out for her friend gets some answers. But you have to be careful, especially if the `killer` has worked in a crime field and may have people on the inside keeping her informed (as the girlfiend???). I dont think you will be able to proceed without the parents help and involvement. Good luck.

[sharlock]

Originally Posted by Sharon

Also, I want to appologise for hyjacking this thread. I am sorry and hope that the poster looking out for her friend gets some answers. But you have to be careful, especially if the `killer` has worked in a crime field and may have people on the inside keeping her informed (as the girlfiend???). I dont think you will be able to proceed without the parents help and involvement. Good luck.

No Sharon it was in America Jacksonville. I'm also sorry for changing the topic of the thread in any way mprentice, I only mentioned it to give you a few examples of what can be done and things you can do.
Best of luck

[Charon]

Dear Mprentice

I realy feel for your loss and can understand where you're coming from.
I would however like to mention a few things.
I used to be a Criminalistic Expert in the South African Police Service. This is an equivalent of your Crime Scene Techs with the difference that we specialised in EVERYTHING relating to crime scenes.

The lady you suspect, based on what you described alone, having passed her polygraph test, IMO have nothing to do with her previous status as Crime Tech. In fact, being one , and being a GOOD one, might cause you to fail a couple of poly tests since you're expected to "live the scene's you attent". You gotta think like the killer in order to follow the evidence as the mute scene presents it. It's a terrible reality and unfortunately does the human brain not difirentiate between fact and fiction. Confronted during the poly test, she would would go into "overdrive" visualising things like a tech which would rather get her to fail than to pass. I hope you see what I'm getting at.
I'm sure you have other reasons to suspect her, but I think for objectivity sake, you might wanna drop the polygraph angle.

Further threads mentioned a youngster found hanging on a rope that appears to be too short to constitute a successful suicide by hanging. I have seen many of these, and as sad as they are, they are quite possible. What the suicidal attempts is to separate vertebrae by falling from a height. This is instantanious death. The method in question is cerebral asphyxiation since the rope cuts of the oxygen-rich blood supply to the brain which causes unconciousness and then death. All of this could occur in 20 seconds. 4 minutes later the brain will be dead.

Damn, this IS morbid stuff but very very real. Your friend looks down on you in fondness, I'm sure, mprentice, but remember that live is for the living and you shouldn't let death gets you while you're still alive. His Creator will certainly avenge this injustice, that I promise you.

Take care and good luck.

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Charon;8911011.....

Further threads mentioned a youngster found hanging on a rope that appears to be too short to constitute a successful suicide by hanging

. I have seen many of these, and as sad as they are, they are quite possible. What the suicidal attempts is to separate vertebrae by falling from a height. This is instantanious death. The method in question is cerebral asphyxiation since the rope cuts of the oxygen-rich blood supply to the brain which causes unconciousness and then death. All of this could occur in 20 seconds. 4 minutes later the brain will be dead.


Take care and good luck.

Actually the 10 year old boy was not hanging but his dead body was propped to look like that at first glance. His legs were spread and someone dug his feet into the ground to help hold him. The rope was not too short. This little boy was scared of the dark and was not the sort to run away from home. He had met foul play. His body was found at 6.30 am yet at 4.00am the body was not hanging at all in the spot it was found just hours latter. Also the boys jacket was not done up and the night was freezing. The body was on its knees and most likely dead when placed on the rope. imo

[sharlock]

Hi Charon,
Your qualifications sound like they could come in handy around here so I would really like to encourage you to take a closer look at this childs death. Your theory of course is possible if Glenn climbed the tree and then jumped out of the branches with the rope wrapped twice around his neck and tied but this 10yr old boy was not suicidal and I don't beleive your scenario matches an accident either. Still always good to have new eyes looking at it and I would love your input on any other scenarios you may come up with as well.
It would be for example helpful to tell mprentice what you would be looking for when trying to assess this ladies involvement in his friends death especially as you have been trained in investigation techniques. He seems sincerely torn up over the circumstances of his friends murder as is Hissister in regards to her brothers and any assistance you could give us on things that we should be looking for would be really appreciated! Hope you stick around.
Sharlock