WA - Mackenzie Cowell, 17, Wenatchee, 9 Feb 2010 - #20

IMO---I don't think it was preplanned.... perhaps he thought of how he would go about killing someone prior (since he seemingly was facinated with death and such), but I think it was a passion killing (otherwise, wouldn't he have picked a better way to accomplish it? I can think of quicker, easier, less messy ways)........ Anyway, he may have had ideas of how he would kill someone someday, so he fell to those ideas after the fact, but I don't think he brought her there to kill her...... obviously he was upsetted by something (rejection, words, comments, etc) I think this is how they get 2nd degree.
 
In regards to phone calls....

---What if they had planned on meeting up to chat (or whatever) but didn't want anyone else to know they were "friends". Maybe he left first---walking........ then she left--driving and picked him up along the way to his apartment. Maybe the number was a number he gave her or what she thought his cell was-- maybe trying to get ahold of him to see "where he was so she could pick him up". Does that make sense? Whatcha think?

I was thinking that she gave him a ride too. Do you remember what that phone number was? I am thinking it was an East Wenatchee prefix?????
 
In regards to phone calls....

---What if they had planned on meeting up to chat (or whatever) but didn't want anyone else to know they were "friends". Maybe he left first---walking........ then she left--driving and picked him up along the way to his apartment. Maybe the number was a number he gave her or what she thought his cell was-- maybe trying to get ahold of him to see "where he was so she could pick him up". Does that make sense? Whatcha think?

It occurred to me that she left, then for some odd reason tried to call him, even though they had just seen each other at work and the need to call to set up a meeting would seem pointless.

Especially since it's only about 3 blocks drive (or walk) from the Academy to the apartments on Okanogan. That does still fall within the rather obscure description of "minutes" from the time she departed the parking lot. But I'd be shocked if enough minutes for her to get into his apartment and whacked on the head and thus incapacitated.

If that WERE the case, it puts premeditation right back on the table for me.

Why would she pick him up for such a short walk? Only thing I can come up with is the plan was to head someplace other than his apartment, but then changed plans. Maybe he "forgot" something, so they turned around (maybe were driving toward the boat launch) to go back to his place.

You have two people in the car, and one of them dialed that phone.

OR, she'd never been to that bldg before and somehow got lost in only 3 blocks? Or forgot the unit number he was in.

I know LE stated they looked at any other possible "close" number, but did they also look at transposed digits? Doesn't take much dyslexia to do that.

Maybe the prefix was COMPLETELY wrong and it should have been one for a landline, not cell. But Mac was the type who lived on that phone, and no doubt dialed a lot of people with 884 (and 881) prefixes in the Wenatchee area.

Perhaps, if she indeed dialed it, as I think (for now) she did, it was to the NEXT place she planned to stop after "apparently" driving over to the Okanogan address. Nobody has reported seeing her anywhere after she left the Academy, so I doubt she stopped, at least for more than a moment, anywhere before meeting up with CW.

Shoot, I could flow chart this thing all day and come up with a dozen options.

As far as the phone number, if she either transposed any two digits, or was completely off on the prefix, whoa. I can't even do the math on that one for the potential for different numbers it could be. If she did both -- got prefix confused AND transposed two or more digits in the last 4 -- have they really run all those possibilities?

She knew people in Tacoma. Maybe she dialed 509 when she meant to dial 253? Both 884 and 881 cell phone prefixes exist there as well. Probably also in other WA area codes, though I haven't looked.

http://phones.whitepages.com/253?page=4

If the wrong number(s) LE thinks they are have no connection to Mac, nor to CW, then who was she (or he) calling, and why? We may never know, and in the scheme of things, probably nothing needed to a conviction anyway. But sure trying to understand how she drove away from the Academy very much alive and was found deceased several days later at Crescent Bar.

The how and why are what is needed to understand how this horrific murder took Mac away from her family and friends.
 
I don't know if this will help anyone from out of town at all, but I tried putting this picture together from Google Earth labeling the major businesses around this building. The image is attached at the bottom.

As you can see the building is in a pretty central location and privacy is slim to none. While I agree that it would technically be "possible" to take the body right out the front door, I don't find it probable. Even if it was late at night he would have to be very cautious of officers coming to and from the jail and juvenile. If the front entrance was used, IMO, a look-out person would be highly necessary.

I should also add that houses are mixed in all around these businesses as well. Many of us could have very possibly driven by, been grocery shopping, checking our mail, making a deposit, or getting an eye exam never knowing we were so close to what took place. Such a sad, heartbreaking thought.
 

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Seems odd to plead "not guilty" with DNA evidence placing victim in his apartment. What am I missing here?

Because gathering and testing and typing and interpreting DNA evidence is hardly an infallible procedure, as it depends, as does everything, on the human element.
 
I don't know if this will help anyone from out of town at all, but I tried putting this picture together from Google Earth labeling the major businesses around this building. The image is attached at the bottom.

As you can see the building is in a pretty central location and privacy is slim to none. While I agree that it would technically be "possible" to take the body right out the front door, I don't find it probable. Even if it was late at night he would have to be very cautious of officers coming to and from the jail and juvenile. If the front entrance was used, IMO, a look-out person would be highly necessary.

I should also add that houses are mixed in all around these businesses as well. Many of us could have very possibly driven by, been grocery shopping, checking our mail, making a deposit, or getting an eye exam never knowing we were so close to what took place. Such a sad, heartbreaking thought.

Does that mean his "new home" (Jail) is not too far from his "old" home? I don't know why, but I find that a tad comical. Maybe I am just looking for something funny/comical in such a devistating case. All of this has made me so sad. I just want to hug her poor parents/siblings/family.
 
Does that mean his "new home" (Jail) is not too far from his "old" home? I don't know why, but I find that a tad comical. Maybe I am just looking for something funny/comical in such a devistating case. All of this has made me so sad. I just want to hug her poor parents/siblings/family.



Yes, that is exactly what it means!
 
I don't know if this will help anyone from out of town at all, but I tried putting this picture together from Google Earth labeling the major businesses around this building. The image is attached at the bottom.

As you can see the building is in a pretty central location and privacy is slim to none. While I agree that it would technically be "possible" to take the body right out the front door, I don't find it probable. Even if it was late at night he would have to be very cautious of officers coming to and from the jail and juvenile. If the front entrance was used, IMO, a look-out person would be highly necessary.

I should also add that houses are mixed in all around these businesses as well. Many of us could have very possibly driven by, been grocery shopping, checking our mail, making a deposit, or getting an eye exam never knowing we were so close to what took place. Such a sad, heartbreaking thought.

Is the bldg old, as the look and brick suggests, and does it have elevators or stairs only? Almost looks like a conversion from a hotel. Wasn't expecting to see a 6-story brick apartment bldg in Wenatchee.

I wholeheartedly agree. Not a grand location for a planned killing and subsequent removal of the body without help or detection. At least not from a logical standpoint.
 
Is the bldg old, as the look and brick suggests, and does it have elevators or stairs only? Almost looks like a conversion from a hotel. Wasn't expecting to see a 6-story brick apartment bldg in Wenatchee.

I wholeheartedly agree. Not a grand location for a planned killing and subsequent removal of the body without help or detection. At least not from a logical standpoint.


I believe the building dates back to the 1930's and is a historical landmark. And yes, it does have an elevator.

Another piece of info... The owner of these apartments also owns a bail bonds business that is ran out of this building.
 
I believe the building dates back to the 1930's and is a historical landmark. And yes, it does have an elevator.

Another piece of info... The owner of these apartments also owns a bail bonds business that is ran out of this building.

Yeah, I noticed Google maps has that identified as Schxxxxxx Bail Bonds. Can't see, them wanting any part of ponying up bail for CW. Oh well!
 
When is the last time a not-yet-convicted murderer went into court and pleaded guilty? All part of due process, and much as we may hate it, he has the right to be faced with the evidence and his accusers (the State, in this instance) in a court of law and dispute the charges and the evidence. The State has to PROVE him guilty and even DNA evidence can be refuted by a good attorney. Think OJ.

Heck, they might try pleading down to a lesser charge before it goes to trial, but only an attorney who doesn't like his job would make no attempt at providing a defense. We are a long way from an actual trial yet, and there is still much more evidence and a whole bunch of legal wrangling to go on before March. This ride is just beginning.

Keep in mind he only has a public defender...not the dream team. No PD is going to waste alot of effort trying to dispute DNA. States not going to give you the funding.

But I guess it depends on where you live. In my state, what they have now would be enough to get capital murder one. No negotiations, no pleas...just the needle. Insanity would not apply. The only way you might save your skin would be go in remorseful, confess and plead guilty...maybe life without parole...if you are lucky.

If I could find out two things:
1. Where is MC's cellphone?
2. Who helped him move her to where she was found?

What are this guy's stats, weight? height?
 

What are this guy's stats, weight? height?



I would say just by looking at him compared to others.... I would guess between 6 ft and 6.3 and approx 175 lbs.
 
Keep in mind he only has a public defender...not the dream team. No PD is going to waste alot of effort trying to dispute DNA. States not going to give you the funding.

But I guess it depends on where you live. In my state, what they have now would be enough to get capital murder one. No negotiations, no pleas...just the needle. Insanity would not apply. The only way you might save your skin would be go in remorseful, confess and plead guilty...maybe life without parole...if you are lucky.

If I could find out two things:
1. Where is MC's cellphone?
2. Who helped him move her to where she was found?

What are this guy's stats, weight? height?

Regardless of being paid by the State, his attorney is still required to put up a working defense if client chooses to plead not guilty. Still have rights to all discovery and due process.

Check this link out for an example of State-paid attorneys at work, in a capital murder case. And they haven't even gotten to Motions in front of judge yet (was scheduled for today, but a defense attorney was ill, so postponed):

http://www.kscourts.org/State-v-longoria/default.asp

Ineffective representation = almost guaranteed appeal. Even the State of WA won't keep attorneys like that on the payroll. Right to trial is thankfully still in effect in this country. His attorney waived right to speedy trial because of the mountain of evidence that will have to be sorted through. That doesn't sound like he isn't going to bother to take this seriously. He wants time to be able to put together a defense strategy.

But he would also be remiss after looking at the evidence if he didn't advise his client to take a plea deal "if" offered. I would hope the prosecutor doesn't even consider that since the charge is still only Murder 2.

State pays for all of this either way. Do they have the Constitutional right to only pay the judge and the prosecutors to do a thorough and fair job, but not the defense? Not even.

Cell phone I suspect was smashed into many pieces and then either tossed into the river or buried under a rock or and apple tree. Needle in a haystack would be easier to find.

We don't yet know if CW had any help or not. It sure would make moving a body a lot easier, but also remember that there was a "drag trail" at CB from the driveway down to the river. Two people presumably would not need to drag her.

Middle of the night would be less problematic to sneak a body out of those apartments, but still not an easy task at all. And then presumably into trunk of a car? Tough, but not impossible.

Haven't seen his height or weight put out officially, but unless the officers escorting him to-from court are below average height for males, he's 6-ft or more. And thin. I stink at guessing weights, but maybe 160-175 range, if he's around 6 to 6-2. Several good shots in that courtroom video from KXLY, and he appears to be the tallest person standing in all of them.
 
This is a tad bit disturbing to me. My granddaughter told me some friends (girls) of hers who went to court because they knew Mac. You would think they would be disgusted by what he (CW) is accused of doing but the girls thought he was cute tall, attractive. They said he probably could be charming. They didn't even know him. Could he have a chrismatic personality over girls Would Mac kinda feel the same way? Maybe that is why so many girls are saying he did'nt do it. Also it might have been stated but how long had CW been going to beauty school?
 
The shaded area in the google picture has an entrance into the building from the street. Basically the "back way". The picture in the Wenatchee World is from the south side of the picture. The Plaza grocery store is a glorified convenience store that I would most certainly not want to be any where around after dark....if you know what I mean. This area of town isn't the best. The courthouse is across from the BH but the jail is on the back side (right hand side of the picture) so he really can't see it from his cell. It's too bad.
 
This is a tad bit disturbing to me. My granddaughter told me some friends (girls) of hers who went to court because they knew Mac. You would think they would be disgusted by what he (CW) is accused of doing but the girls thought he was cute tall, attractive. They said he probably could be charming. They didn't even know him. Could he have a chrismatic personality over girls Would Mac kinda feel the same way? Maybe that is why so many girls are saying he did'nt do it. Also it might have been stated but how long had CW been going to beauty school?

Classic type of personality to be an abuser, or heck, a serial killer. Females being attracted to that makes me physically ill when they KNOW what type of person lurks underneath.

But Mac probably never knew. At least not until it was too late.

Charming ought to be the number one "be careful" warning. Bundy used it very effectively, as I'm sure other killers have. I've seen it in a number of people personally who as it turns out were classic abusers. But never, ever let that abusive persona out in public. Always presented as charming as a snake and funny and friendly when "others" were watching and rarely let their guard down.
 
The shaded area in the google picture has an entrance into the building from the street. Basically the "back way". The picture in the Wenatchee World is from the south side of the picture. The Plaza grocery store is a glorified convenience store that I would most certainly not want to be any where around after dark....if you know what I mean. This area of town isn't the best. The courthouse is across from the BH but the jail is on the back side (right hand side of the picture) so he really can't see it from his cell. It's too bad.

Is the Plaza open 24 hours? Where is it exactly in relation to the south entrance of the apartment bldg? From aerial looks to me like houses just across the street to the south, or are those zoned commercial and converted to businesses? I think if I were trying to spirit a body out the south entrance after dark, I'd be worried most about the houses which seem to offer an unobstructed view of the south parking lot.

Although I doubt anybody would look out a window and imagine they were seeing a body being loaded into a vehicle, even in a less than desirable neighborhood.

My guess is she was wrapped up in something. Rug, blanket or tarp which was held on with duct tape. Then a piece of the tape pulled loose when she was being drug down to the river. Blessedly he missed that, but why the knife left behind?

A very disorganized crime. Or so it seems based on what we currently know.
 

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