Tag Archives: forensic mistakes

November 6, 2011 – Day 97 of Morgan’s stalking – wasn’t that a long day?

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Morgan holding Wylah and typing on her computer

At 5:55 am Morgan texts me and says, “Will you let Wylah out? I’m still traumatized.”

We had already arranged that I would let Wylah out at 6:00 am every morning, which was working fine so far, but it seemed that her clock was just running a little fast. I was already on the way to let her out, and didn’t get the message until later, after I had already let her out. Morgan thanked me from under her covers when I came in, and I told her she was very welcome.

Detective Glassmire was coming over at 11:00 am and before he arrived I wanted to ask Elliott one question, based on developments from the Facebook conversation over the last few days between Keenan and Morgan’s friend.  I waited until a little after eight before asking him if he had any information on Wiley, as I knew very little and he was being accused by Keenan of being the stalker.

Around 11:00 am I received a text from our detective that he was running late on a call between Glenwood and Carbondale and shouldn’t be any later than 12:00 pm. It seemed at the time that our officers were spread so thin at our end of the valley.  I told Steve they were running late.

They had a little “routine” with Rob and Steve, where Steve would pull out our ladder, from our garage, when the detectives came so they could use it to check the cameras, usually he just had it close by, but this time it was already pulled out and set up right at the tree where their camera was.  We were both very excited to see their “face shot” of the walkabout, waiting another hour was going to be excruciating.

Detectives Rob and Megan have pressing matters when they arrive. We talk about interviews that are ongoing and plans for the resolution of this case.  It is all promising and we believe they are trying their best, Rob discussed information about cars first, so we talk about cars.

Rob tells us that one of their officers saw a green car by Thunder River– right where Morgan has reported seeing Keenan multiple times when she is coming home from school. Our Detective Glassmire said he has revised his numbers when he looked up the exact model and color car that I have given him and their are 6 of them between Grand Junction, Vail and Aspen, so it might not be Keenan. I asked what the problem is, because Morgan said she actually saw Keenan driving when she saw the car that was following her.  Steve adds that he has seen Keenan’s car in the Catherine Store parking lot, with another girl driving it, and it has a unique emblem on the back and it is doubtful any of the other 5 would share that same emblem too.  He is quite certain also that it was Keenan’s car.  Rob is uneasy, and for a few moments there is a tension between us that has never been there before.  Morgan repeats that she saw Keenan in the car when she saw the little green car.  Rob says he will check into it.  What is suddenly going on?

I just want to see his cameras, and I suggest we look at the camera to cut the tension, and at long last we go out into the yard.  Normally it is just Rob and Steve, but now we are all there as Rob checks the sheriff’s wildlife camera that is in the direct path of where the prints in the snow were seen. Steve is talking about all the cameras he has bought and returned, because it took so long for that first picture, when Rob curses, which is very uncharacteristic for him.  As we all stand and stare we learn that the batteries are dead, there are no pictures, nothing!  How can that be?

Morgan goes back into the house without a word, I don’t think Rob notices, but I am pretty sure Megan does not miss this. I am angry beyond belief, and pull Steve back toward the house to talk with him, as they take the ladder and go to check the other camera.  The other camera that they have pointed at the camera with the dead batteries – surely that camera must have caught something.  Steve tells me he knows why I am so upset, but he does not.  There is no excuse for this.  A felony stalking case and the one time someone does not just pass by, but intentionally marches right in front of their camera, and the batteries are dead.  I’m losing track at the moment, but I think this is battery problem three, at least. I want to start screaming, but I do not.  This is our daughter’s life we are talking about here – will someone please take responsibility for this stuff!

Then we learn that the batteries in the other camera are also dead, but it has some images, just none that can be used, just someone’s back. It is a bad meeting all the way around and we say goodbye.  Steve tells me we are obviously on our own here.  I say great, now what? Pray for snow, lots of snow? Let Mother Nature stop him, because nobody else seems capable?

Right after the detectives leave, Morgan walks up and tells us to get Keenan’s phone number for her.  She wants to call him and confront him.  She knows that he lives only three houses down the street and we can’t go near him, but she has to do something.  I was about to say no when Steve agrees and tells her he will ask Rob, in fact he will suggest that they are on hand to record the call.  Morgan is alright with this and I am surprised.

Morgan receives a text message from Nate in Australia in response to her message yesterday, “fifteen minutes and I’ll be free. Just let me know.”

At 6:15 pm I send Morgan a text myself, “Dad and I are leaving to go to Aspen to drop off food for Dave (Steve’s friend Dave is laid up, so we want to bring him some food), so we are wondering what your plans are, do you want to go with us or go to a friend’s house and wait till we text you that we are home?” Since Steve’s friend is laid up and not answering his phone we have cooked up some of his favorites to cheer him up and we were leaving.  Morgan answers, “Just let me know when you’re home.” And I tell her, “OK.”

Leesa calls and their heater is on the fritz and she wonders if she can spend the night because she would rather not spend the night in a cold house.  I welcome the chance to see my grandchildren, and offer to pick her up.  We make arrangements and then as soon as I hang up Elliott sends me a text message, “He (Wiley) wasn’t here when this (the stalking) started. Don’t know his last name.” I wrote back to Elliott, “I know Wylie wasn’t living here when the stalking started, but Keenan told one of Morgan’s friends that Wylie moved in when this first started and people should be looking at Wylie. Could you get Keenan’s cell # I think Morgan should call him and say she hopes it’s not him doing this, but if he has any information on how it could be someone else then please share that with me.  What do you think?”

As we are putting the ladder away and Steve is wondering how the sheriff’s department would respond to a crate of batteries at their Christmas party, I tell him I am just looking forward to a quiet night with my favorite, and only grandchildren.

We pick Leesa and the kids up just after dark, and head home.  On the way Leesa thinks she sees someone she knows in a group of 3 or 4 walking up Equestrian way in our subdivision, just before the turn to our house. She wants Steve to stop the truck and he does.

Leesa leans out and starts talking to the small group.  One of them is familiar to me, but it is hard to be sure in the dark.  One answers with her name and Leesa asks her if they have heard anything about the stalker, and a most interesting conversation ensues.  It turns out that three of them know all about it, but after being told to shut up, by one particular girl (Brooke Harris) who seems to think she is in charge, all of a sudden they know nothing.  It also turns out that this girl (Brooke) tells us that she has knowledge of a “Video that exonerates her boyfriend Keenan” and says this is also well known. Nobody in the group tells her to shut up, and she goes on to explain that she has heard all kinds of weird stories about cameras all over the neighborhood, and does not know exactly what to make of it all.

At the end of the conversation we drive away in silence, until Steve says, “Now how did she know that? I didn’t think we had told anyone yet?” But of course she knew – she was the one doing the alibi walk I truly believe.

Today is October 23, 2012 – It is so easy to look back and see something different from what presented itself at that time. That is the last time I heard from Elliott until the morning of December, 2 2011 when Morgan was already no longer with us in this world.  Rob never mentioned any of our encounters with the green car again.  And the neighbors walking up Equestrian Way?  We only shared with Rob and Megan the odd conversation that took place.  And now that I read through the sheriff’s reports, I still have not found any mention of it in the official reports.  Strange, isn’t it all?  You would think this would be an important fact to be written in to the police reports.

And as I go over the final edit we have 12 signatures to go before we reach 1,000 on the petition to Governor Hickenlooper to open Morgan’s investigation.  Thank all of you out there – I just honestly don’t know what I would do without you.

Click here to read about the 98th day of Morgan’s stalking https://morgansstalking.com/?p=2001

November 5, 2011 – Day 96 of Morgan’s stalking – whatever it takes now.

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Morgan visiting when she was not being stalked.

Steve was already up and in the kitchen, I heard a noise outside my window in the room.  A loud thud, like a sack of horse grain being thrown from the back of a truck onto the ground, I lie still for a second listening, then asked Steve if coffee was ready.  I was working toward fear until he walked in holding two cups, and said this was unusual sound – what was it?  He raised his eyebrows and raised his shoulders as if to say, “I don’t know”.   I shook my head no, and pointed to the back yard.  He instantly knew something was up, was already dressed and was out our back door in a fraction of a second.

I sat up and listened as motion detectors around the house went off in sequence.  I could almost hear the grass crunching under Steve’s feet as he ran around the house.  Then he was back at the door,  and standing in the room huffing and puffing.

Nothing, he told me and then wondered what had happened.  I told him about the thud – and he walked outside, and again alarms went off for the back yard, and then he was back inside again.  Still nothing.  A thud, he wondered as he handed me my coffee.  He fixated on the noise asking me all about it.  He was thinking someone tripped out back.  We heard them thud the ground, and then he handed me my phone.  Mr. E needs a text right now, the stalker could be outside and perhaps he can check and tell us what he sees from his upstairs window.  He’s offered enough times Steve reminds me.  While I am texting Steve calls dispatch.

At 6:22 am I sent the text to Elliott, I ask him, “Elliott the stalker might still be outside could you look towards our house from your 2nd story window?  Sheriff’s are on their way.”  Elliott writes back a little while later, “Took me a sec to wake. I don’t see anyone.”  I wrote back, “Thanks so much, just thought it was worth a try.”  Elliott writes back, I just heard that Keenan was on a hunting trip Tuesday.  I wrote back, “Do you think that’s true?  What exactly was he told and who told him? Could he be back?”  Elliott said, “Can’t confirm, and I thought the same.”  How reliable is this info from Christina, Brooke’s mom to Elliott?  Supposidly he’s hunting with grandpa.”  I said, “Good to know, we must be getting close to home for him now.”

The sheriff’s were at the house a little later and Steve walked them out back to explain what had happened and how perplexed he was, unless it was just someone who tripped and hit the dirt.  He brought the officers in the house and showed them the one video we had ready to play from the walkabout.  This deputy was different. I heard him telling Steve he had a daughter and was very upset with what was going on here.

As they watched the video I walked in and said hi.  They both immediately came to the same conclusion.  “That is a girl!  Not even a guy!  No way!”  I told them we had pretty much decided the same thing and pointed out the pom pom.  They both shook their heads, this was unbelievable to them.  The deputy wondered if we can up the intensity of the lights in the front yard.  He had seen some of our videos and he thought if it was brighter that might help with the identification of the stalker.

Steve thanked him for the idea and told him to consider it done.  We would have another set of lights installed by Monday.  They assured us we would get this guy and they left.  I wished all the officers were all like those two, I knew it was too much to ask, that there is always the good, and the bad in anything.  But those two were the good and I truly appreciated them.

At 10:30 am I sent Elliott (our neighbor across the street) another text, “So sorry that I woke you both up so early.  I sure hope this is over soon.  At 11:34 am Elliott texted back, “No prob.  I think it’s time you hired surveillance.” I write back, “Good idea, I have a similar plan.”

Steve goes to the hardware store and upgrades our front yard lighting.  During the day it is hard to tell the difference, but Steve assures me that at night it will be quite a difference, he also thinks it can cut both ways, we’ll just have to see how the cameras react to this tonight.

Today Keenan sends another message back to Morgan’s friend on FB and says “I’m just gonna cal the cops when I get back and show em these messages and sue u for harassment.  U will hear from the cops in a few days.”

Morgan’s friend writes back that he isn’t worried and the cops know just who Keenan is…don’t worry.  Keenan now tells him, “I haven’t been in that neighborhood at all in 3 weeks or so.  I’ll call the cops when I get back and I want to see those bullshit tapes ur making up.  I’m done talkin to u.”  Morgan has taken to knitting Christmas presents like crazy – knitting keeps her calm – she doesn’t like all this drama, and when I look at her she reminds me of someone from a distant era.

Fact Check – The Deputies that Steve showed the video to, from only one camera, were the first to see it, and once again someone – Keenan, who shouldn’t have knowledge of the video – is talking about it – was this because he orchestrated the “alibi walk around” of Brooke?  And as for the three weeks comment he made – Keenan had followed Morgan to the corner on October 27th – many have wondered if he was questioned about this, and as far as I know he was not, but it was certainly less than three weeks ago!  And Morgan positively ID’d him as the driver.

N sends Morgan a text message,  “Hey, just found the most amazing dragonfly ever, aquamarine and bright red.  Made me think of you.  Hope you’re having a good week.”  Morgan sends a message to N in Australia,  “Ah!  That sounds so beautiful.  I’m jealous. 🙁 We should skype before you come home because that’s a long time to wait to see your face.  Haha.”

The dragonfly represents change and Morgan and her parents wish for change – for all the other victims of stalking – so their lives may return to them.

Nothing happens tonight, it’s quiet.  Steve and I just look at how bright the driveway is at night now, and we wait to see the detectives tomorrow.  We want to make this all end for Morgan, it hurts too much to see our sweet daughter the “target” of a stalker, under attack.

Click here to read about the 97th day of Morgan’s stalking https://morgansstalking.com/?p=1988

I don’t think Morgan will ever be forgotten – none of us, even her friends can stop talking to her

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I don’t think this picture would ever apply to Morgan.  Last week one of Morgan’s friends said:

i think about you everyday. i want to have just one more conversation with you. even though i talk to you at every moment, and about every decision, i need feedback. your words always meant the most. i just want you back. i love you angel. ♥

November 3, 2011 – Day 94 of Morgan’s stalking. Back to the rocks…

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It was a clear night with only tiny patches of snow remaining. Poor Morgan did not get much sleep. The alarm on our next door neighbor, Rhonda’s side of the house, goes off shortly after midnight and then rocks (that’s what we think we are hearing) on Morgan’s windows hit off and on for the rest of the night until sunrise. Morgan doesn’t want to call the deputies, so she just covers her head with a pillow, and tries to ignore the harassment.

First thing in the morning Morgan has an anonymous text message from 970.xxx.xxxx. She it too tired to make her morning classes, so she sleeps in, and talks to Detective Glassmire about the text message. He wants her to send another letter about that particular incident and then he will talk to her about it when he comes to see her over the weekend. That letter becomes one of the group of letters sent on November 5.

Morgan’s letter to Sheriff:
11.5.2011
Dear Detective Rob Glassmire & Detective Meagan Alstatt,
This Thursday morning @ ____ am I was woken up by a text message from a phone number I do not recognize. I immediately thought it had to be the stalker since it said:
Great pic of you in the morning. You will just never be a morning person like your Dad.
I had changed my Facebook profile picture to a sleepy looking face resting on my bed. Since I used to be friends with Brooke Harris a long time ago she has my cell # from way back then, and Keenan might have gotten it from Brooke Harris. The phone the text came from was # 970-xxx-xxxx I responded, “Who is this?” But never received an answer.
Morgan Jennifer Ingram
case #11-20197

Morgan’s friend, on his own, snaps and can no longer take what is happening to Morgan.  He decided this is getting to be too much, and no matter what the sheriff’s say about staying out of it and letting them handle it, he decides he will try to talk with Keenan by sending him a FB private message warning him to stop stalking Morgan, and to leave the Ingram’s alone. The conversation quickly degrades into two young men verbally sparring about who is going to do what to whom.  Evidently at one point Keenan tells him he is out of the state right now, but when he gets back he will decide if this friend of Morgan’s is worth the trouble or not. The verbal argument was just this one time, and attempts to get copies of exactly what was said had proved unsuccessful, but I now have a copy of that conversation.

Our neighbor Elliott lets me know that he has heard that Keenan is out of the state for the week and has been gone for at least two days, he is not positive, but says he will verify it for me. This would confirm what Morgan’s friend has been told by Keenan.  As for my concern about Elliott popping up whenever something happened, this could have been purely a neighbor trying to be helpful, but it was sounding more like pure gossip, and a certain desire to know from me what had really happened.  I decided that I would share nothing with him about the video recorded of the walkabout, which was easy because he never really asked.  As it was we had not really gone over it at any length so far.  Only enough to know that there was a person who had left the footprints and it looked like a “she,” and it looked like Brooke Harris.  It seemed completely diverse from our other video and camera photo captures, which made perfect sense now, because now it appeared Keenan was out of the state anyway.

Elliott had seen Steve walking the deputy around house and down the street.  Elliott came across the street and tells me he wishes I would have called him before the footprints started to melt, because he has a high resolution camera that he could have used to take very detailed pictures and they could have proved useful later. He wanted me to call him right away if anything like this happened again.  Then he asked about the video.  I told we had not had a chance to really look at it yet as we had just been so under the gun with everything else, which was not completely true, but pretty true.

Perhaps I was being too obvious, or maybe I didn’t care if it was completely obvious.  But from Elliott’s reaction I could tell he was not happy that I was withholding from him.  I weighed that possibility for a moment, and decided it was probably for the best.  I decided right then to not give in to any more requests from Elliott for information, and see how that went.  It did not last long.

See below, the copy of an email I received later that day from the felony stalking detective, Sheriff Glassmire.  The “flyer” he is talking about is a flyer he designed for all local law enforcement (police & sheriffs) to be on the lookout, with a picture of Keenan, a picture of his car and information about the victim “Morgan” and what to do if seen following her, or if he is seen by our house, etc.  It had our address, along with some other information, this is what Detective Glassmire had told me.  Here is the email from him to me on this day:

Subject: RE: case #11-20197

Toni,

Thanks for the update. Deputy Hoover told me about the footage you were able to get. I did get those flyers out to our patrol staff. With the exception of a few that were not there ( I will email it to them) everybody is up to speed on the case. This should help alleviate any confusion if a deputy who has been in the Parachute area for a while has to rotate to the Carbondale area. I prefaced by saying, “keep this flyer in your car, you may not even go to Carbondale for months, but when you do you will have this information.”

Also, the text message, in my opinion, very important. It’s also very suspicious and creepy. I will be following up on that. I used a law enforcement data base to check on the number and it did not show anything. This isn’t too unusual, especially for prepaid cell phones. I did check our sheriff’s office records and a person in 2008 was using that phone number that lives in Rifle. This is definitely a lead that we will be following up on. Does he still have that phone number? Does he have a criminal history? Where does he currently live? Like I said the only profile we have on this guy is from an accident in 2008.

I also think it might be feasible to request for a search warrant for the phone records for that phone number. This is a very lengthy process. Once served to the company they have up to 30 days to provide the information. Unfortunately, companies like Verizon, Sprint, ect, often take far to longer than the 30 days and the enforcement process is very difficult. Regardless, it is a lead that I will be following up on.

If you receive additional texts do not reply. We will take photos of the text message(s) on Sunday. I’ll also do a little bit more research on the person in Rifle. Due to the old file I’m hesitant to think that it is him. I also don’t have too much information on him. Also, as investigators, we have to be careful how we introduce a new name or potential suspect to the victims. I’m going to talk to Megan and see if she thinks there is a forensically sound method to see if you recognize the person. I’m thinking something along the lines of a photo lineup. I’ll let you know on Sunday.

In the meantime, continue to call, text, or email me day or night. Stay strong.

Rob

Click here to read about the 95th day of Morgan’s stalking https://morgansstalking.com/?p=1959

If you think you are currently being stalked – this is a good resource for information

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This is from http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center/help-for-victims

Things you can do

Stalking is unpredictable and dangerous. No two stalking situations are alike. There are no guarantees that what works for one person will work for another, yet you can take steps to increase your safety.

  • If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
  • Trust your instincts. Don’t downplay the danger. If you feel you are unsafe, you probably are.
  • Take threats seriously. Danger generally is higher when the stalker talks about suicide or murder, or when a victim tries to leave or end the relationship.
  • Contact a crisis hotline, victim services agency, or a domestic violence or rape crisis program. They can help you devise a safety plan, give you information about local laws, weigh options such as seeking a protection order, and refer you to other services.
  • Develop a safety plan, including things like changing your routine, arranging a place to stay, and having a friend or relative go places with you. Also, decide in advance what to do if the stalker shows up at your home, work, school, or somewhere else. Tell people how they can help you. Click here to learn more about safety plans.
  • Don’t communicate with the stalker or respond to attempts to contact you.
  • Keep evidence of the stalking. When the stalker follows you or contacts you, write down the time, date, and place. Keep emails, text messages, phone messages, letters, or notes. Photograph anything of yours the stalker damages and any injuries the stalker causes. Ask witnesses to write down what they saw. Click here to download a stalking incident and behavior log.
  • Contact the police. Every state has stalking laws. The stalker may also have broken other laws by doing things like assaulting you or stealing or destroying your property.
  • Consider getting a court order that tells the stalker to stay away from you.
  • Tell family, friends, roommates, and co-workers about the stalking and seek their support.
  • Tell security staff at your job or school. Ask them to help watch out for your safety.

If someone you know is being stalked

  • Listen.
  • Show support.
  • Don’t blame the victim for the crime.
  • Remember that every situation is different, and allow the person being stalked to make choices about how to handle it.
  • Find someone you can talk to about the situation.
  • Take steps to ensure your own safety.