Footprint trails caught by a sudden snowstorm
On November 1st, 2011 the March around three sides or our house took place at 11:51 pm. Not only did the trail, left in the sudden snowstorm, completely avoid the side of the house where Morgan’s windows were it was also silent. No banging on windows at all. But it was caught on the video surveillance system, and as for the silence – that would change very soon.
Our neighbor Elliott filled me in on the fact Keenan was gone hunting with his grandfather. The original blog about this march around the house can be found back in the blog at – November 2, 2011 – Day 93 of Morgan’s stalking – the mysterious march, what does it mean? –
It was a hectic time, and the video of the march was not reviewed for a few days, but the footprints were reported to the Garfield Sheriffs department the day they were found. Steve came home, drew a crude map of just where the trails of footprints seemed to start and stop for the Sheriff’s Deputy while they both walked around and followed the footprint together, and gave a copy to the deputy.
Now as I go through the Sheriff’s reports, doing my best to reconcile the reports with all of the hard evidence we have, filling in the gaps as I go, the very first thing that comes to light about this stalking incident is… there is no report! None at all that I have been able to find. And the map Steve drew, and gave the Deputy, that I have not found in the “complete set of Morgan’s Stalking” reports either. Not the first time by any means, but this was an important one. At least we still have the video.
Detective Glassmire and Detective Alstatt were at the house four days later on the 6th of November, but the footprints were melted, and gone long before. Steve drew another map for them and that one did find its way into the official reports, in fact here it is just so you can see my frustration that the original seems to be lost, and it was evidence in a felony stalking case.
So as you look at the map there are three things I would like to point out. First – notice how one trail of footprints starts at James Harris’ house (where Brooke lived) and stops before the Sheriff’s camera’s location. When Steve first saw the footprints he thought they looked like someone had walked to a point and then backed up in the same prints all the way to Jim’s house. He pointed this out the Deputy, as they both walked alongside those prints.
Second – notice were the prints go from the Sheriff’s camera straight to the corner of the house, and then straight back over the berm. Most of the “V” made by that foot trail to the corner of the house is not caught by our video. And right in that corner of the house is the tree we think Keenan used to climb up on the roof. So now I have to wonder aloud, was this march intended to show just how they were getting to that tree to climb up on the roof undetected? And even worse, does it meant that he had already been in the house to see what the cameras covered, and did so he could establish this route to safely get in order to get to the corner of the house?
Third – the spot marked as start was right by a set of car prints in the street, same place where a loop of footprints ended up.
Also, this was the time that the batteries were dead in the Sheriff’s camera so there were no images captured by that camera. This was so extremely frustrating for me because I saw that the footprint were right in front of that camera and there batteries were dead! What was up with that? A timeline of when which footprints were made would have been very helpful in theories of what was the true intent of all this.
For the next couple of days Morgan had a different pattern of rocks on her windows. Just as frightening to Morgan, and all of the incidents were reported, but other than my updated timeline emailed to Detective Glassmire detailing the incidents there was no other mention in official reports. Where are those reports?
Seeing the roof of the house from Google Earth
In another image it easy to see how the roof was used in the commission of the stalking. Point C, is where the tree that was used to get on the roof was. Point A, is a spot on the roof where a person could lie on the roof and be completely concealed. Point B is right over Morgan’s bedroom window. This is right where the rain gutter is torn is half from repeated bending. Steve walked the entire street inspecting all of the other gutters (all of the houses have them and they all appear to be the same. In sixteen homes there is not another gutter with a tear in it of any perceptible degree. Just one spot in sixteen houses and it is exactly centered over Morgan’s bedroom window. That so many things like this were completely overlooked, disregarded, is completely devastating to Steve and I.
How many signatures do you need for the petition? I thought I read 2,000. But, the marker says 552 short with 1947 supporters. The counter seems to be broken? If that’s possible. If it’s 2, 500 needed then wouldn’t it be 553 short? I know it’s only one off, but it makes me wonder if it’s counting all the signatures.
Catherine, thanks for correcting me 53 makes it 2000 and 533 makes it 2500 signatures. It one of many steps planned for the summer of 2013 to raise awareness of what terrors Morgan faced and changes that will bring counties and our country one step closer to realizing the heinous crime stalking is and what so many of us have had to endure
Good question maybe it is off – I’ll have to check. Thanks!
The National Association of Police Chiefs and Sheriffs in conjunction with legislators in each state should come up with national standards for protocol in handling stalking and rape. The protocol should be exactly what they would do for the police chief or the sheriff if they were being stalked or if they had been raped. If the protocol is not followed then the police department and the city should be sued for failing to exercise due diligence. Only this will be the beginning of true change. Passing laws at the state and federal level is not sufficient when the cops at the local level do not share the values behind those laws. Making cities liable for their cops failing to exercise the protocol will put pressure on the cities to hire the right kind of cops and to fire those who protect criminals who harm women and children. What we have been doing is NOT working. It’s time to think outside of the box! If they can’t be motivated to protect women and children based on core values of human decency, then maybe they will be more motivated if the city’s or county’s money and the cops’ jobs are factored into the equation. Something has to change.
In the last ten years, I have been able to accomplish nothing to advance the problem of stalking or to achieve justice. I have been completely and 100% unable to protect my daughter and myself from serial stalkers that harassed from state to state. I feel like a big loser. I feel so powerless. I am.
You are not – you are helping to raise awareness, and it sometimes takes a long time to get to the end result, but we will get there…don’t give up. You are making a difference!
How long did it take before women, and minorities were able to gain the rights that they deserved? It not only takes a lot of time (and it shouldn’t), but also a lot of sacrifice along the way. I wish it were not like this, but it is. And the harder, and louder we fight, the faster it will change for the better. So many people are now becoming aware, so many victims are talking what they have been through, and so many good people around the world are starting to say this is something that needs to be stopped, just like bullying, just like rape, just like racism, just like so many injustices that people did not want to talk about in the past.
Hang in there Catherine, I know this isn’t easy, but I also know you are not powerless, you are making a difference.