Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 21

06/26/02 | Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 21

[Bella]

The story says the person's sex is unidentifiable. It is unlikely that all indications of sex would have disappeared in three weeks. Elizabeth's hair would still be there unless there had been predation. However, nothing can be ruled out.

Agreed..the body wouldn't have decomposed THAT quickly..no way would they not be able to determine the sex..that body they found isn't Elizabeth..

[mountaineer]

Thanks for the clarification

[stlnative]

I just noticed on Fox News when they showed the picture of the Jeep again, the rear windows are custom tinted on it. They look pretty dark. I was trying to see if I could see the back seat in the picture, but the rear windows are tinted too much to see the rear seat.

[Bella]

I just noticed on Fox News when they showed the picture of the Jeep again, the rear windows are custom tinted on it. They look pretty dark. I was trying to see if I could see the back seat in the picture, but the rear windows are tinted too much to see the rear seat.

No one can see inside my Jeep from the outside..most of the Jeeps come this way, along w/ other models of SUV's.

[stlnative]

What year is your Jeep? and is it a Grand Cherokee? (the older ones did not have tinted windows... By looking at Ricci's Jeep it just a Cherokee and not a Grand. I don't mean to argue with you... But about 5 years ago I was shopping heavy for a used one in my price range and ended up looking at 1988 to 1992 models and very rarely they had tinted windows and if they did they where Grand Cherokees only. I have a 1991 Cherokee and it does not have tinted windows.

[stlnative]

Some scenic pictures of Little Cottonwood Canyon

I have never been to Utah, but it sure looks like a awesome state. I have only been as far west as Texas.

[FR_addict]

Post21: Police said they have not shown Ricci's photo to Elizabeth's 9-year-old sister, Mary Katherine.

I heard the police make this statement a few days ago. And was very surprised that they hadn't shown his picture to Mary Katherine.

I don't believe in lie detector tests, except as an investigative tool, but the police should also give one to the man's wife. She said he was with her during the time of the kidnapping.

[Carolina]

Pinging you to this post.

What is your opinion on this decomposition?

[Carolina]

Beautiful scenery.

[stlnative]

Here is a good one of the area

[Carolina]

The Smarts' home is in Federal Heights which is in the northeast sector, IIRC.

[twigs]

I read that they had checked her alibi, so it's possible that they have given her a polygraph as well. You're right; she needs a thorough check as well.

[r9etb]

Here is a paper on human decomposition. Nothing specific to this case, but it gives some of the factors.

[Carolina]

Thanks, r. Off to read it now.

[eosuser]

On Banfield last night she interviewed Dave Smart. When asked what was missing from the Jeep he said he wasn't sure what the Police were refering to, but he did say the back inside Wheel Cover was missing. I assume this this what covers the spare area?

[lsee]

If true, I don't understand the logic. Do you?

I watched a special a few nights ago about our brain's ability to remember faces. They used an example of a woman who identified the wrong man as her rapist, causing him to serve 11 years, until DNA evidence (unavailable before then) cleared him and identified the real rapist.

The researchers determined that during times of stress, such as a crime, our brains are wired to "super-charge" the image of the perpetrator's face with strong emotions...so that when we see the image of a very similar-featured person, our brains might attach those emotions to THAT face, too. Because our brains see faces in generalities, two very similar faces can be categorized in the same place unless there is some distinguishing characteristic that clearly sets them apart, such as a large scar or something like that.

The woman was CONVINCED the man she identified WAS the rapist because his face was similar enough to the rapist's face to register "that's him" in her brain.

Unless they showed Mary Katharine a man's face in profile, wearing the type of hat she says he was wearing, I doubt her brain would recognize him anyway. If she didn't see him face-on, seeing a face-on photo of him wouldn't help at all and might cause her brain to accept "that's him" when in fact it might not be true. As eager as I am to catch the perpetrator, I would hate for her to identify the wrong guy...a criminal, without a doubt, but not Elizabeth's particular criminal. I think the police don't want to taint MK's memory of the man she saw with images of other "possibles"...and when they do show her Ricci's picture, I'd imagine his photo would be mixed in with several others. I think they should photoshop a hat on the men they show her.

[stlnative]

Here is a step by step view of decomposition with explanations

From the information on this site it is very possible that it could be her, depending on the temperture and the fact that the body was in a sleeping bag.

[stlnative]

no... the front driver side wheel well rubber piece is missing on the outside of the Jeep. Something of importance is missing from the inside of the Jeep.

[stlnative]

I had found that PDF file, but decided not to post the link, because of the picture of the bodies in it. But as you can see (those who wish to look at it) the picture shows a body just after 12 days. They sure don't look good!

[Vinomori]

For the police to have made such a big public deal out of Ricci, it would seem that there is a lot that they have on him that they are not revealing. You don't go public that way if you think there's a chance that the guy is totally innocent of all involvement. For a number of reasons. Not the least of which is long-lasting shame and public humiliation for how incompetent you have been at finding out what has happened here.