Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 19

6/24/02 | Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 19

[stlnative]

Please keep adding 6/24/02 dated Elizabeth Smart updates to this thread...
Remember to keep checking back to this thread today for
today's developing news on the Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping.

Some people may consider today to be actually day 20, I count 1 day for each
24 hours that have passed since Elizabeth was kidnapped.

Links

Suspect being held by FBI in Smart case in SLC - 6/23/02 10pm
Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 18
Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 17

[Vinomori]

I would need corroborating sources. I have a hard time taking any tabloid story as truth based on its own merits.

I agree with you.

[maxwell]

"A mind is like a parachute; it works best when open."

Yeah, and then there's that one about "I used to have an open mind but my brains kept falling out..."

[Boatlawyer]

How many times have facts come out that seem bizarre and inappropriate to many, however are indeed TRUE

Hardly ever.

The sad truth is that the ocassional spectactular case is the exception that proves the rule which is: Good appearing forthright people like the Smarts are what they appear to be: loving, heartbroken parents who are trying to do whatever they can to find their child. And bad people will continue to do bad things, like Ricci and those he may have worked with.

NE in its usual form, has taken the fact that Ed Smart's soft-spoken and emotional demanor does not fit a "he-man" image so they've come up with the homosexual angle. Had he been more "manly" I am sure they would have developed a child abuse theory. In my opinion the sickos are the writers at NE who feed on the pain of others. I hope when this is resolved that the family launches a huge libel suit against them. Unfortunately the family seems too well-heeled and forgiving to do that.

[Palladin]

You asked for a summary of the NE article. Here's what it said:

Police probing the mysterious abduction of 14 year old Elizabeth Smart have made a discovery that's rocked them to the core - a shocking gay sex scandal involving her father Edward and two uncles, The Enquirer has learned exclusively.

Beneath the family's respectable facade authorities are unearthing horrendous facts that will forever change the devoutly religious city of Salt Lake, and perhaps explode the case wide open.

Shortly after Elizabeth's disappearance, police conducted a search of the family mansion.

And the Enquirer learned there was a lot to hide.

1.The police confiscated Edward's computer - and found several explicit pornographic homosexual pictures on the hard drive.

2. During one search of a family member's home, police found a horrifying journal alleging the mind-boggling activities of all three brothers.

3. It contained explicit allegations of homosexual activity concerning Dave, Ed and Tom, including preferences for sadomasochism.

4. Ed and his wife were reportedly having marriage problems.

5. Tom's computer showed attempts at deletion, but more than 100 pages of gay porn were retrieved.

[TheDon]

I'm wondering if Ricci is known to wear the type of hat the abductor is reported to have worn. I'm sure the police were looking carefully at Ricci's clothing style, and hopefully any pictures around the house, when they searched it.

[timestax]

tHIS CASE IS SO BORING, IT ZZZZZZZZZZzxzzzzzzzzzzz

[Boatlawyer]

To me, it makes plenty of sense. They are likely trying to collect independent evidence against the suspect. MK's identity is not likely to be reliable since she saw him only in shadow and profile. A defense attorney would shred any attempt to make an i.d. under these circumstances. They have him in custody, he's consented to searches, so the police at this point have no need for MK to i.d. the photo. Her i.d. is not going to make or break the case. They will need lots of additional evidence.

[r9etb]

This is the kind of detail -- and there are a lot of such details in this case -- that MAKES NO SENSE and leads one to speculate.

It makes perfect sense.

Consider the context. She's a 9 year old girl who is in the very dicey position of being a witness to the abduction of her beloved sister. She will want to help in any way she can, including identifying the person who did it.

If they show her a picture, she's very likely to say "yes, that's him," even if it's not him. At that point she is no longer a useful witness.

This "wanting to please" reflex is something that has been known for a long time. It came to public light as a result of those egregious "sex abuse" cases that weren't true.

[Bella]

Hardly ever. The sad truth is that the ocassional spectactular case is the exception that proves the rule which is: Good appearing forthright people like the Smarts are what they appear to be: loving, heartbroken parents who are trying to do whatever they can to find their child. And bad people will continue to do bad things, like Ricci and those he may have worked with. NE in its usual form, has taken the fact that Ed Smart's soft-spoken and emotional demanor does not fit a "he-man" image so they've come up with the homosexual angle. Had he been more "manly" I am sure they would have developed a child abuse theory. In my opinion the sickos are the writers at NE who feed on the pain of others. I hope when this is resolved that the family launches a huge libel suit against them. Unfortunately the family seems too well-heeled and forgiving to do that.

As I've stated in one of the threads earlier, no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. There's NO doubt in my mind that this entire family wants and prays that their daughter back, unharmed and alive. I honestly don't know anyone who wouldn't want that..however, there are some whackjobs in this world who could care less about their children. We've all seen NE deliver true news many times, even though initially we've all been sure it wasn't true countless times only because the media wouldn't touch it. Would this story in the NE have been accepted better if the family was catholic, protestant, or anyother religion? Do I believe or discount this story? I've seen things happen before, even strange, weird, against faiths, etc., and I've seen things hushed before also.

[Neenah]

I am afraid to answer you, someone may tell me to get a grip !! hahahahhaha

I find the whole thing very very odd..but then, we are getting drips and drabs, so we watch it unfold. A nightmare to be sure.

[stlnative]

Ahhhhhhhh......A new person to add to my Elizabeth Smart Ping List, since you are in here visiting the Elizabeth Smart Thread and participating! (We don't want you bored Timestax, so I'll make sure you get in on ALL Elizabeth Smart case PINGS)

[Bella]

I'm wondering if Ricci is known to wear the type of hat the abductor is reported to have worn. I'm sure the police were looking carefully at Ricci's clothing style, and hopefully any pictures around the house, when they searched it.

There was a pix of the type hat somewhere online..it looked to be white or light beige..and right now I can't recall what they're called! Is not a baseball cap, but small, sort of flat, w/ a small bill(brim).

[Neenah]

thanks, hope you are right. really.

[Boatlawyer]

All I can say, Bella, is that I hope you are never in the position of having to face such loss while defending yourself against baseless rumors. I can't imagine anything worse. Of course, each of us must reconcile our comments with our conscience at our own pace, I suppose.

[Bella]

All I can say, Bella, is that I hope you are never in the position of having to face such loss while defending yourself against baseless rumors. I can't imagine anything worse. Of course, each of us must reconcile our comments with our conscience at our own pace, I suppose.

Guess you don't understand what I'm saying..Basically it comes down to I don't know and you don't know. All we can do is wait and see...and most of all, pray this child is alive and well.

[PoisedWoman]

With Ricci in the picture, I'm going back to an earlier theory (THEORY!) that somehow kidnapping could be mob-related.

What if Ed Smart has many construction projects going concurrently? Even perhaps, a new ski resort under development, which could explain the "moving to a ski cabin" assertion in Enqwuirer that I thought was a red flag. So SMart hires all kinds of workmen. Teams and squads of them.

Are there building trades unions in SLC? Has the mob muscled in? Becuase clearly, Ricci was low-paid help, demonstrating that Smart was not hiring union or other "sanctioned" help. Elizabeth's kidnapping could be a form of extortion. And a lesson to other builders.

Back in Chicago a few decades ago, my dad had several businesses, he was always paying off the mob to stay open without having his plateglass shattered, fighting with them, etc etc, and may even have been killed by them when he resisted their excessive demands. (And you wonder where I come up with these theories. I just KNOW how high-ticket business works. )

With SLC growing and spreading so quickly, construction trades are shoveling in the sheckles, and are always a tempting target for mobbies and other extortionists. If Ed Smart is a high-rolling developer, he's surely had contact with them.

I'm thinking again about Senator Charles Percy of Illinois whose twin daughter was murdered in her bed back in the '60s. Word around town was that it was a mob hit...so slick, so professionally done. Percy was an engaging and brilliant guy with presidential aspirations, but after his daughter was killed, he never attempted to move up from senator. Case is still unsolved. The question was and remains, who would have benefitted from slowing down Republican candidate with brilliant future? Can we all add one plus one?

Those were the Daley years in Chicago; we had another Daley lying cheating and trying to steal the election for Gore in FL in 2000, as you'll recall. All over the place, there are a thousand little handshakes between business, politics, and the criminal element. Ed Smart could get involved without trying, believe me. If they come after you, you're in big trouble.