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Post by scarcrow on Sept 10, 2018 13:47:51 GMT
ibb.co/bEfCAUNot sure if this is going to work but here is a shot. This is just a theory that could possibly be a way out and would not be seen but would be well hidden that time of night. This allows for the suspect to run along the base of the birm to the woods surrounding the back of the neighborhood and then just a short walk/run through some trees out to a rd that is not connected to Gabriel Estates or Shinville Rd and would allow the suspect to leave and either make a right hand turn to go back towards Mooresville or a left turn to go towards Salisbury and be somewhat well out of the way of the crime scene??
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Post by Steve on Sept 10, 2018 13:55:11 GMT
That's a fantastic theory... and one that a friend of mine was suggesting just this morning!
It could also help explain the dogs barking over in that area at 12:15. If the person (or persons) came in that way, they could have taken their time and maybe even watched the house for a bit before the fateful attack happened... or even needed some time to mess with that back sliding door to get it open if it were actually locked.
For those of you who are leery of links, I've checked that link and it's safe. It takes you to a photo of the route that scarcrow is proposing.
Good work!
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Post by 2ndbest on Sept 10, 2018 14:05:23 GMT
ibb.co/bEfCAUNot sure if this is going to work but here is a shot. This is just a theory that could possibly be a way out and would not be seen but would be well hidden that time of night. This allows for the suspect to run along the base of the birm to the woods surrounding the back of the neighborhood and then just a short walk/run through some trees out to a rd that is not connected to Gabriel Estates or Shinville Rd and would allow the suspect to leave and either make a right hand turn to go back towards Mooresville or a left turn to go towards Salisbury and be somewhat well out of the way of the crime scene?? I was just thinking this through yesterday and this morning. Good job putting this together!
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Post by scarcrow on Sept 10, 2018 14:52:18 GMT
ibb.co/kkgi0UFor those wanting a better look ok of where that road would lead to here it is the blue dot is where I indicated the car would be parked in the last image. The red line would be an exit route out to Mooresville and the the yellow a route to Salisbury, out skirts and toward the downtown area of Mooresville, as well ways to Kannapolis, and Concord.
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Post by freddie on Sept 10, 2018 15:11:25 GMT
Scarcrow this is great, thanks for posting. Also props to 2ndbest for coming up with a similar theory.
Note that in the proposed path Scarcrow mapped out, the assailent wouldn’t have passed anywhere near Melissa’s house, where the dog was heard barking. That house was at the opposite end (Northern most point) of Shepherd Hill Drive, the culdesac north of Gabriel Dr.
The killer could have gone that way, and promtely headed south east, through the woods, parallel Gabriel Dr., to get to the industrial park and drive away on Mezzepa. However, I think Scarcrow’s proposal is more likely bc, to get to where the dog is barking, the killer would have had to cross more backyards and, eventually, cross Gabriel Dr. which would have provided many more opportunities to get spotted.
Note, I spoke with a few neighbors at the southern end of Shepherd Hill Dr who DO NOT remember investigators looking through that end of the street/the woods near where Scarcrow has the killer entering. However, it has been nine years and these folks were likely not studying the investigators actions carefully around the clock... so that search COULD have taken place.
If it didn’t take place. It begs the question; why not? Was there evidence of another path taken?
Good stuff.
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Post by Steve on Sept 10, 2018 15:52:39 GMT
It could also help explain the dogs barking over in that area at 12:15. Note that in the proposed path Scarcrow mapped out, the assailent wouldn’t have passed anywhere near Melissa’s house, where the dog was heard barking. That house was at the opposite end (Northern most point) of Shepherd Hill Drive, the culdesac north of Gabriel Dr. This is exactly why I set up the forums. Alone, I can be an idiot. As a group, we catch each other's mistakes.
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Post by wirebender on Sept 10, 2018 17:04:36 GMT
This is extremely possible and would not take very long to get to this point from shepherds hill. Maybe 5 min brisk walk. 10 in the dark either way if sirens were coming killer could here this and be going opposite the attention. Once to a vehicle there would be no need to hurry or leave arratic drawing no attention to there self. Question is was it searched
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Post by 2ndbest on Sept 10, 2018 18:39:59 GMT
Freddie, thanks for the clarification of the barking dog.
I found through the Iredell county GIS that you can overlay an overhead image from satalite imaging. They have a 2009 Ortho map. The bushes in the back yard on the berm were much smaller than they are today. You can also see the neighbors fences as you go south towards the woods.
I drove past the gas station yesterday taking care to look at the cameras on the building. At the location of the Stewart house related to the main part of the gas station (3 cameras are located on the center part of the building facing the gas pump area), I would be very surprised if the cameras would catch the back of the home/berm. Based off of he angles the cameras are positioned today, it appears that area would be off camera. With the Stewart's backyard not being fenced in, and the lower amount of shrubbery, it would not be unrealistic for the killer to go over the berm and meet either a waiting car or their own vehicle behind the gas station, then they could either go 21S or 115S towards town or North towards Troutman.
This theory only fits with a Hitman/hired gunman though.
It would be crazy to be walking in the woods and stumble upon something, wouldn't it.
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Post by Steve on Sept 10, 2018 18:44:27 GMT
It would be crazy to be walking in the woods and stumble upon something, wouldn't it. It sounds like you live in the area... let us know what you find! I suggest you don't go at night. Just to be absolutely clear... I am NOT seriously suggesting this.
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Post by dwight on Sept 10, 2018 18:47:53 GMT
Freddie, thanks for the clarification of the barking dog. I found through the Iredell county GIS that you can overlay an overhead image from satalite imaging. They have a 2009 Ortho map. The bushes in the back yard on the berm were much smaller than they are today. You can also see the neighbors fences as you go south towards the woods. I drove past the gas station yesterday taking care to look at the cameras on the building. At the location of the Stewart house related to the main part of the gas station (3 cameras are located on the center part of the building facing the gas pump area), I would be very surprised if the cameras would catch the back of the home/berm. Based off of he angles the cameras are positioned today, it appears that area would be off camera. With the Stewart's backyard not being fenced in, and the lower amount of shrubbery, it would not be unrealistic for the killer to go over the berm and meet either a waiting car or their own vehicle behind the gas station, then they could either go 21S or 115S towards town or North towards Troutman. This theory only fits with a Hitman/hired gunman though. It would be crazy to be walking in the woods and stumble upon something, wouldn't it. Very good post, and as I recall, this berm was covered in pine needles, but had cleared paths on it from the kids playing on the berm continuously. This would allow someone to go over the berm without it looking disturbed because it already looked disturbed by the children's play.
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Post by Steve on Sept 10, 2018 18:57:08 GMT
Very good post, and as I recall, this berm was covered in pine needles, but had cleared paths on it from the kids playing on the berm continuously. This would allow someone to go over the berm without it looking disturbed because it already looked disturbed by the children's play. Great information! Of course, their scent would still be there for the dogs to pick up and any blood from their clothing or injuries from the struggle might be present. It certainly seems like going over the berm or taking that left turn behind the houses are by far the most likely routes. freddie , did the neighbor weigh in on this?
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Post by 2ndbest on Sept 10, 2018 19:03:30 GMT
Gis map with 2009 overlay.
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Post by scarcrow on Sept 10, 2018 21:05:09 GMT
Freddie, thanks for the clarification of the barking dog. I found through the Iredell county GIS that you can overlay an overhead image from satalite imaging. They have a 2009 Ortho map. The bushes in the back yard on the berm were much smaller than they are today. You can also see the neighbors fences as you go south towards the woods. I drove past the gas station yesterday taking care to look at the cameras on the building. At the location of the Stewart house related to the main part of the gas station (3 cameras are located on the center part of the building facing the gas pump area), I would be very surprised if the cameras would catch the back of the home/berm. Based off of he angles the cameras are positioned today, it appears that area would be off camera. With the Stewart's backyard not being fenced in, and the lower amount of shrubbery, it would not be unrealistic for the killer to go over the berm and meet either a waiting car or their own vehicle behind the gas station, then they could either go 21S or 115S towards town or North towards Troutman. This theory only fits with a Hitman/hired gunman though. It would be crazy to be walking in the woods and stumble upon something, wouldn't it. My only thing about this theory is that there is several houses right there on the other side of that birm with people who live there and lived there. It would be a very bad place to leave a parked car. But it still could be a possibility
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Post by 2ndbest on Sept 10, 2018 21:45:38 GMT
My only thing about this theory is that there is several houses right there on the other side of that birm with people who live there and lived there. It would be a very bad place to leave a parked car. But it still could be a possibility I think this would require a person dropping off and picking up. I agree parking a car behind the gas station would be suspicious especially with the fire station being there. But, a second person in a get away car could drop off and then sit on the little connector road between 21 and 115 waiting for the killer to come over the berm to the car. It would be interesting if the cameras picked up a car passing multiple times.
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Post by dwight on Sept 10, 2018 22:42:13 GMT
I remember the houses on the other side of the berm being really "shady" back when this happened.
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