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Message Board Archive (March, 2003 - August, 2010)

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5/24/05 -- Message #2567
  "A Project Jason Brief: ... ''Wednesday, May 25th is National Missing Children’s Day as established by President Reagan in 1983. This serves as an annual reminder to the nation to renew efforts to reunite missing children with their families and make child protection a national priority. National Missing Children’s Day is a reminder to all parents and guardians of the need for high-quality photographs of their children for use in case of an emergency, and for the need for everyone to pay close attention to the posters and photographs of missing children.'' ... "
   
5/24/05 -- Message #2566
  Would someone there please let the rest of us know if there is any new information on the Reker murders? And -- does anyone feel there is a connection between what happened to them -- and Jacob Wetterling -- and Josh?
   
5/24/05 -- Message #2565
  It puzzles me when a murder cannot be solved. When Chandra Levy went missing, the D.C. police tried to say she ran away because her "boyfriend" broke up with her. No one with a brain bought this story. But it took her parents, and the public, demanding more help to make any progress. Even then, it was very clear that the authorities were dragging their feet. The investigation, if you can call it that, was shoddily done -- in fact, it was pathetic. It begs the question: how come some cases are doggedly pursued while others are allowed to languish
   
5/24/05 Anonymous Message #2564
  Everyone should absolutely go to the links provided by the previous posters. The end of last night's segment previews tonight's. Based on that, it appears that it is Stearns County which has asked this elite crime-solving group to look at the Reker case. Will they do the same for Josh?
   
5/24/05 Anonymous Message #2563
  "The second installment of the KARE 11 News Extra, ''A Cold Case Gets New Life'' will be screened tonight on Channel 11's 10 p.m. news broadcast. Last night's broadcast focused on how badly the investigation was botched. The police ''stopped the family from organizing large-scale searches on their own'' and treated the disappearance of Mary and Susanne as ''two runaway girls'' not worth getting ''this whole town excited over.'' ... For 26 days (until the girls' bodies were discovered by another teenager) ''it was the family creating the timelines, conducting the searches and interviewing people who might have seen the girls.'' And even then, investigators ''never secured the crime scene,'' not enough was done to locate the murder-weapon, and investigators ''failed to follow-up with witnesses who claimed to [have seen] the girls with various men on their last day''; ''failed to interview at least two suspects identified by another agency''; and ''either never recorded or lost several reports by other agencies working the case.'' The gross dereliction and incompetence is beyond belief. Here is the link to last night's first installment of the feature, including a video clip and PDF files of St. Cloud Times and Star Tribune reports on the investigation: ... http://www.kare11.com/extras/extras_article.aspx?storyid=97631 ... "
   
5/23/05 Aubs Message #2562
  "Watch KARE 11 at 10pm tonight for latest developments in another unsolved local case: ''KARE 11 Investigates one of Minnesota's most haunting unsolved crimes. For thirty years, the murder of two young sisters has been a mystery. But now, this cold case is heating up. Rick Kupchella tells us how the investigation was botched from the beginning and why there's new nationwide interest in this old case.'' ... Other reports: Details still eerie 28 years after St. Cloud girls were slain (Star Tribune, May 9, 2002) -- Mary Reker's last diary entry is just as chilling today as when it was discovered 28 years ago, shortly after the 15-year-old St. Cloud girl and her younger sister, Susanne, were stabbed to death. Full story: http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/2823149.html ... See also Pioneer Press, May 7, 2002 -- http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/3218679.htm (registration required). ... ''Up to $50,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) responsible for the murder of Mary and Susan Reker. Anyone with information about this case is requested to contact: ... Stearns County Sheriff's office at (320)251-4240 or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Cold Case Homicide Unit at (651)793-7000. ... http://www.spotlightoncrime.org/case_reker_marysusan.cfm "
   
5/11/05 lady Message #2561
  I have never met josh or his family, but I wish to extend my sympathies with them. I can't imagine what you are going through but please know that there are people out there that remember you in their prayers. Someday you will have the answers and I hope the lord gives you peace until then. God bless you.
   
5/11/05 Anonymous Message #2560
  "There is nothing like a little public outcry in the face of the county commissioners to help keep things moving. This outcry requires more people then Joshua's parents" Of course you're absolutely right about this. I guess I keep hoping (and praying) that at some point, someone with pertinent info will come across this board, read the posts, and feel inspired to take action. It's a feeling of desperation, really. Every year that passes, I feel more disheartened. But how can we give up on Joshua. I know I can't.
   
5/11/05 webmaster Message #2559
  I suppose it might be easy to miss my point. I am by no means saying silence. What I am saying is if you really know something, discuss it directly with law enforcement or at least leave a message via Contact Us. All other speculation and accusations do absolutly no good. Using this board to slam the church, school, friends, family and everything else does NOTHING. False accusations also does a great job of killing hope. The ONLY thing that will solve this case is for someone with knowledge of the details to come forward and give this information to someone who can do something about it. Law Enforcement... For those of us without detailed knowledge of the crime are better off focusing energy in other directions. These things include keeping our eyes open and searching, holding fund raisers, vigils, or a variety of other things to keep Joshua's case in the public eye. This in turn helps keep the pressure on law enforement people to solve the case. Remember, the Sheriff reports to the County Commissioners, the commissioners report to you and me. There is nothing like a little public outcry in the face of the county commissioners to help keep things moving. This outcry requires more people then Joshua's parents. To make a long story short, lets start focusing some energy in ways other then keyboard quarterbacking and the associated accusations. To help offer suggestions to get the ball rolling, perhaps a group can get together and replace some of the faded posters and ribbons around the school or area. Just think of the hope offered to Joshua's parents if a few people were to replace the faded ribons in Joshua's home town. Just think what that tells the criminals who will also see people go to this effort.
   
5/11/05 -- Message #2558
  All good points, Webmaster -- completely understood. I must say, though -- that so little has progressed with this case -- unless others know something we don't. It's beyond frustrating -- it's disheartening, disquieting -- and -- unacceptable. If we, as the public, cannot share ideas and communicate with each other, how will silence contribute to helping find Joshua? Clearly, someone knows what happened. I've often felt that a person or person(s) with potentially helpful information has/have been reading this board -- but are fearful to speak. I am hoping their fears will be put aside at some point in favor of doing the right thing. I also realize that a suspect may be reading this board. That person has to know something -- that people are still looking, watching, observing, pursuing, researching, investigating and asking questions. I have no agenda, my intent is not to slander, I belong to no organization except the doenetwork and I have only one goal for being here, and it's the same as yours. Silence kills hope
   
5/11/05 Webmaster Message #2557
  As you look back through the messages on this board you will find accusations, speculation and theories involving nearly every aspect of possible ways a human can disappear. (yes, there have been messages left about alien abduction…) Unfortunately, speculation doesn’t help, and in some cases has come dangerously close to slander. Messages have accused the university, the church, the Sheriff’s office, staff at St Johns, the mud, aliens and at times Joshua’s closest friends and family in our quest to "help". Now I see we are somehow even dragging my attempt to steer message board content into the conspiracy theory. Hmmm… It's time to do a little moderating or at least a reality check. The Contact Us methods give your information directly to Joshua’s family. If that information goes beyond the occasional condolence message, they will in turn share that information with law enforcement. It is not up to Joshua's family or law enforcement to share leads with you. It is however the role of responsible citizens to feed law enforcement with evidence and leads that will allow them to act without tipping off the criminal or destroying the crime scene and/or evidence. Remember that the person who did the crime is probably reading these messages also. Posting a message on this message board that actually contains a valid lead will only tip off the criminal(s). Posting other accusations without proof runs the risk of causing problems (slander) for Joshua’s friends and family who build and support this web site. This message board is NOT an open forum for you to speculate and accuse. It is a place for Joshua’s family to seek the support they need to resolve the case of their missing son. Before you press the submit key, ask yourself if the message you are posting serves this purpose! (soap box is now dismounted)
   
5/10/05 joshs dad Message #2556
  double dash the only place to give information is the contact us part of this web site if anything will be done with it nobody else is doing a thing except hindering my investigation
   
5/10/05 -- Message #2554
  Here's a question: perhaps the "proper people" currently in charge of this case -- are not the right people to give information to -- for, what if, these people have no desire for this case to be solved. What do you think, Stumbler?
   
5/10/05 spellchecker Message #2553
  manner
   
5/10/05 Stumbler Message #2552
  "The phrase ''proper people in a manor'' comes from the wording of the note above where you enter a message onto this board. ... I hope and pray the new Pope, Benedict XVI, will start to straighten out the church. ... It's good that people are noticing the difference between this and the ''run-away bride'' story. I strongly suspect they knew all along it was a hoax. It got them out of the donut shop for a diversion for a while. Nobody got hurt. ... Our case is deadly serious with very big players."
   
5/9/05 Aubs Message #2551
  If proof is needed that no one – no matter what his position in the community – is above suspicion in Josh's disappearance and that we're not looking for someone who looks like a pervert or a monster, look no farther than a May 7 report that a once respected police officer in Charleston, SC, Daniel William Hiers, has been charged with child molestation. The 11-year-old victim said Hiers told her she would get in trouble if she talked about the abuse and that no one would believe her because he was a police officer. The girl's mother, who is single, said she trusted Hiers so much that she planned to designate Hiers as the girl's legal guardian in case of emergency. After Hiers failed to turn himself in to face charges, his wife was found shot dead in their home, with Hiers a fugitive from justice. The dead woman's sister describes Hiers as charming. Many in Hiers' hometown of Hampton refuse to believe the charges, but U.S. marshals say they believe Hiers was leading a double life.
   
5/9/05 Anonymous Message #2550
  ST.JOHNS REPUTATION IS AT STAKE HERE. MAYBE THE SHERIFF HAS BEEN TOLD,DO NOTHING? MAYBE THIS GOES TO A HIGH LEVEL OF COVER-UPS? WHAT ELSE COULD ACCOUNT FOR NOBODY IN AUTHORITY DOING THIER JOB? WHO KNOWS WHOS HANDS ARE BEING GREASED!
   
5/9/05 -- Message #2549
  Is this case veiled under a "conspiracy of silence?" Is there a "collusion" of some sort happening between various parties? It does give one pause to wonder, in light of the deafening silence and utter lack of any useful information made available....can a person really vanish on a college campus, never to be seen or heard from again...and *no one* knows *anything?* I don't think so my friends
   
5/9/05 -- Message #2548
  One also wonders whether other victims have indeed already stepped forward -- and this information has not been released to the public. After all, very little in the way of any enlightening information has been released. What is being kept from the public view, I wonder...and why
   
5/9/05 -- Message #2547
  Ahh, but -- how long can the miscreant(s) behind these wicked deeds contain themselves/himself -- not forever, I imagine...if certain suspects are being observed...I wonder how long he/they will be able to contain their perversity
   
5/9/05 -- Message #2546
  I just get the sense that the authorities "handling" this case would like for it to be fogotten about...like they're hoping people will stop asking questions as time goes by
   
5/9/05 -- Message #2545
  Aubs, I agree with you about it being strange that a criminal investigation was never begun. If nothing else, one would think the sheriff's dept. would continue to keep up the publicity of this case. When we had a young woman go missing a couple years ago, you heard about it every day -- people were out in the community looking in the cold, rain, heat, it didn't matter. She was found almost eight months later -- alive, thank the Lord. But what impressed me was that the police just never let up, and neither did the public.
   
5/9/05 Aubs Message #2544
  I'm startled that there has been no public acknowledgment -- neither by law enforcement nor by the local media -- of the possibility of foul play, given that Jacob Wetterling disappeared just a few miles away and another boy, Jared, had been kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and released in nearby Cold Spring. I think if a St. Ben's woman had disappeared, the response would have been different -- more like what we saw with Dru Sjodin. But this makes absolutely no sense, because almost all of the sexual assaults and kidnappings in the area have involved boys, not girls.
   
5/9/05 Aubs Message #2543
  I'm startled that there has been no public acknowledgment -- neither by law enforcement nor by the local media -- of the possibility of foul play, given that Jacob Wetterling disappeared just a few miles away and another boy, Jared, had been kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and released in nearby Cold Spring. I think if a St. Ben's woman had disappeared, the response would have been different -- more like what we saw with Dru Sjodin. But this makes absolutely no sense, because almost all of the sexual assaults and kidnappings in the area have involve boys, not girls.
   
5/9/05 Nick Message #2542
  "--", that's a great way of putting the question. I don't know the answer. Someone recently brought up the Wilbanks case. Though obviously the whole thing turned out to be a hoax, the police department investigating still did something exemplary by treating it as a criminal investigation. (I hope the ability to look at cases like that and the Seiler case in hindsight don't hurt the cause of those truly missing, like Josh.) Of course, the Wilbanks case also involved a missing woman. I've thought since shortly after all this began that if we were dealing with a missing woman, it quite probably would have been treated as a likely criminal investigation. My question is whether anyone has knowledge of general law enforcement practice and procedure. Would most agencies treat this is at least a potential crime?
   
5/8/05 -- Message #2541
  I asked this question a long time ago, and now I'm pondering it again...what's in it, so to speak, for the departments responsible for this investigation to not pursue it with every resource available? What factor would prevent the sheriff's dept. from thoroughly examining this case in the context of a criminal investigation? Other than a purported lack of concrete evidence to suggest a criminal element to this case, what other reason could there be for the Sheriff's dept to not ask the FBI for help in finding Josh?
   
5/8/05 Anonymous Message #2540
  The speculation without proof by law enforcement authorities that Josh could have walked into a heavily swampy area and sunk into the mud is contemptible, unless it has some investigatively useful purpose -- which for the life of me I cannot discern. Official speculation needs to be supported by fact. As far as I can tell, the mudslinking "theory" has no credibility whatsoever. Why has this supposed death zone on a college campus not been fenced off or posted? Why is no one searching there? It would be laughable if it were not so serious. In the meantime, no one is willing to come forward with information, because they fear they will look like fools in the absence of any official acknowledgement that a crime may have been committed. Compare this with the Duluth (Georgia) Police Department's classification of missing bride-to-be Jennifer Wilbanks'disappearance as a criminal investigation (see post below).
   
5/8/05 Anonymous Message #2539
  [Cont'd]...4/28/05...CNN anchor Bill Hemmer spoke with Maj. Don Woodruff of the Duluth Police Department about the disappearance of 32-year-old Jennifer Wilbanks. HEMMER: Earlier today, you said this is now classified as a criminal investigation. Why is that, sir? WOODRUFF: Well, yesterday, we did a massive search. We had over 250 people out searching the area ... We had canines on the ground and helicopters in the air. We were unable to find any trace of her. Based on the circumstances as reported to us by the family, we feel we have no other option at this point than to classify it as a criminal investigation. HEMMER: When you put it in that category then, is that to suggest that you have evidence of a crime? WOODRUFF: Well, at the present time, we have no physical evidence that suggests that, but at the same time, we feel based on the circumstances of her disappearance, according to the family members and friends, this is totally uncharacteristic of her...
   
5/8/05 Nick Message #2538
  "--", what your friend said is very interesting. I've never heard of anything like that happening, except in quicksand. But even though it may be possible, why would Josh have been anywhere near a lake or a deep muddy area anyway, unless as the result of foul play? It just doesn't make any sense at all.
   
5/8/05 -- Message #2537
  "proper people in a manor" -- what kind of "manor?" retirement home? monastery? "proper people" = people one would not expect to do improper things? Who are these people? Monks? Talk to me.
   
5/7/05 -- Message #2536
  Hi Stumbler. I had a conversation recently with a friend who said he once had to be rescued by friends while standing at the edge of a lake in Northern MN. He said he literally sunk into the mud. That's the first time anyone has told me an experience like that, and of course I thought of Joshua. I still don't think that's what happened to Joshua, but I bet you that's what the authorities believe. Is there not one single shred of evidence indiciating what may have happened to Josh, I wonder. Further...I find it hard to believe that out of all the students and people who have attended school at this college, and lived and worked there, Josh is the *only one* to have sunk in mud...I'm so frustrated.
   
5/7/05 Stumbler Message #2535
  "How's that ecstatic Sheriff's department and the ''ongoing investigation.'' Who are ''the proper people in a manor?'' ... ''rcf.org'' is a better alternative to SNAP."
   
4/30/05 anon Message #2534
  SNAP+Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
   
4/30/05 -- Message #2533
  Darn it, this is the kind of attention Joshua's case needs and deserves!!
   
4/30/05 -- Message #2532
  ''"Jim, Kelly, and Michael Jolkowski just returned from the Department of Justice’s ''National Strategy Meeting: Identifying the Missing'', which took place in Philadelphia and brought together hundreds of government officials, forensic scientists, medical examiners, coroners, FBI, law enforcement, and families of missing and murdered loved ones from across the country. A few families of the missing and the murdered were chosen to represent the thousands upon thousands nationwide in this effort for all those involved to meet and put together a strategy to resolve the estimated 100,000 active missing person’s cases and to identify the 40,000 to 50,000 unidentified bodies nationwide. John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted was the Keynote Speaker. The Jolkowskis were able to meet with him briefly and share their experience.'' ... "
   
4/30/05 -- Message #2531
  The only reason any of us are here is to find out what happened to Joshua. Someone has to know. The sheriff's dept. doesn't seem to be doing much of anything anymore -- like they've thrown in the towel. How can we, as concerned citizens, stand by and allow the fate of this young man to be left unknown? It's unthinkable. When we stop asking questions, we lessen the ability for information to be exchanged. I don't know what a "SNAP" is -- but I do know this -- I think someone abducted Joshua, and so far they've gotten away with it. I plan on asking questions and researching the answers until he's found.
   
4/30/05 -- Message #2530
  What does "SNAP" mean? I have never heard of that term.
   
4/30/05 anonymous Message #2529
  Folks please keep in mind the purpose of this message board! This is NOT a forum for members of SNAP!!! Webmaster please HELP!
   
4/30/05 Anonymous Message #2528
  (Re 4/28 6:39 AM). It's possible. The composite has been positively ID'd by independent, reliable sources and it's possible the individual's identity may already have been revealed in this forum. At least 60. Younger than 70. It's not necessary to speculate about his identity. The authorities know. Focus on linkage analysis and developing a strong enough circumstantial case for a successful prosecution.
   
4/30/05 Anonymous Message #2527
  (Re 4/28 6:33:29 AM) That’s almost always the case. Predators tend to be territorial, with a small comfort zone around their homes, places of work, and/or recreational settings. Most of BTK’s victims lived within two miles of each other and one of them lived a few houses down the street. BTK’s wife and children never suspected a thing. Exactly. Ted Bundy was close to the governor of Washington and a trusted friend of Ann Rule, a true crime writer who studied serial killers. She trusted Bundy so much she left him alone with her 16-year-old daughter. All possibilities should be considered. The careful planning and apparent lack of evidence suggests a meticulous, college educated offender.
   
4/30/05 Anonymous Message #2526
  I'm familiar with the "english professor" and though I haven't done a background investigation, I do not regard him as someone to be concerned about. We should focus on someone who was in the area and old enough to have been involved in the Wetterling abduction.
   
4/30/05 -- Message #2525
  4/28 post--..."is it a college professor..."---wasn't a St. John's english professor being investigated in this case?? Has anyone checked into his background thoroughly??
   
4/29/05 -- Message #2524
  Tom...do you have faith this case will ever be solved? I don't plan on giving up trying to find out what happened though...
   
4/29/05 -- Message #2523
  If there is a connection to the Arizona incidences -- it would be someone, then, who used to travel there -- perhaps had family there or ??
   
4/29/05 -- Message #2522
  Thanks, Anonymous...we still need to get more specific. As I said, that man's hairstyle and facial features appear simliar to so many older men -- and the big question is -- should we be focusing only on *registered* sex offenders
   
4/29/05 -- Message #2521
  ''"Caucasian male, balding gray hair, 50 to 55 years of age [in 1989; mid-40s at the time of the Ayotte disappearance; 60s at the time of the Guimond disappearance], height 5'10'' to 6'0'', weight 185 to 210 pounds.'' ... Investigators in all three counties – Stearns, Beltrami, and Dakota – need to look carefully at possible suspects with concurrent residential, employment, family, and/or leisure connections to these three counties. It doesn't require an expensive digital radio network. All it takes is good, old-fashioned detective work, boot leather, an open mind, information sharing, and simple communication across jurisdictional lines. ... "
   
4/29/05 Anonymous Message #2520
  "-- The possible Arizona connection dates back to the 1970s and there's been no apparent activity there for nearly 20 years, since well before Jacob. Here's a link (expires at midnight) to the FBI composite you referred to: ... http://miva.sctimes.com/miva/cgi-bin/miva?Web/page.mv+1+local+855921+&PageAction=Chat ... "
   
4/29/05 -- Message #2519
  Do you think I am being melodramatic, Tom, or do you there may be some truth to what I am saying
   
4/29/05 -- Message #2518
  He will be an older man - I'm guessing 60's. The picture of the man seen in the vicinity of the Wetterling abduction looks like countless older men. Taking the list you put together, with an abduction occurring in 1979, I am speculating the abductor would have been in his 40's then. This would put him in his 60's or thereabouts now. So who has been treated at Southdown for predatory sexual behavior, works in MN during the school year, and travels to AZ during breaks? Or perhaps travels there for other purposes? Someone knows who this person is -- perhaps several do -- perhaps they have their suspicions about some of these disappearances but refuse to get involved...because saying anything might bring danger upon themselves -- retaliation for their involvement (?)
   
4/29/05 -- Message #2517
  So it's quite possible we have a perp who has been protected, and while knowledge of his more wicked deeds may not be fully known, what is known is this person is a risk to young men. He spots his prey and plans his attack. He disguises himself, perhaps, so that his identity is not revealed. But if there were witnesses with keen memories, they would recall his face being somewhere in the vicinity of where an abduction took place.
   

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