A photograph of the spot she was laying and the surrounding areas might demonstrate through Blood Spatter analysis, whether or not she was killed outright or killed during the commission of another crime like sexual assault
If the blood spatter was localized, to the immediate area, where the victim was laying its safe to assume the weapon was small, possibly like a handgun used to pistol whip the victim.
Pistol Whipping is seldom used as a manner to dispatch a victim intentionally, its more seen as whats referred to as "corrective force". That is force used to gain victim compliance.
Usually because they have a gun, if they want to kill the victim they have a more sure means in the firearm
That could factor in that she was bottomless, which could indicate a possible sexual assault attempt.
The wounds, would be smaller, identical or similar in size to each other. They would not have the "shattering" effect a heavy instrument would , and there would most likely be more of them. The type of wounds would be noted on the autopsy findings .
If there was a greater circumference of cast off blood, like high up the walls, or even on the ceiling, it would indicate, a longer , heavier weapon being brought up higher and swung down, with more force more indicative, of trying to kill the victim.
So why is this important ? this demonstrates 2 different possible motives.
Lets start with the victim :
-Last known location, and last contacts
-Physical traits
-Education
-Any problems in school?
-Has she ever been in trouble with the law ?
-Anyone in her family immediate or otherwise ever been in trouble with the law?
-Any medical history (psychological or physical)
-Did she have any problems?
-Was she on any meds?
-For What ?
-How often administered?
-Did she do this regularly?
-Did anything recently happen or change in her life ?
-How was her mood in the days prior to her murder?
-Was there anything in her lifestyle that would make her a target ?
-Was she or is there any indication she was involved, with anyone romantically?
-Did they have any problems if she was?
-Did she keep a diary, or any writings?
-Any drug or alcohol use , if so has it increased, recently?
-Was she afraid of anything or anyone? (had she ever mentioned being stalked?)
-List of friends especially anyone who visited recently
-Any unusual occurrences prior to the murder?
-Would anyone be willing to help with the investigation? Names ?
-Were they expecting anyone that day?
-Were there any deliveries made to the house or any in the area?
-Who does the family think was responsible?
The crime itself :
She was apparently going about her regular daily activities, and didn't seem to be expecting anyone.
She's home taking care of her mentally retarded brother.
She was mid phone call when she suddenly claimed she had to "get off the phone"-I tend to believe that her haste to end that call had something to do with her death (for ex someone standing there motioning her to get off the phone)
She's found in her bedroom, bottomless, severely beaten about the head.
No weapon is found, but shards of wood are found in the victims, hair, and in the kitchen
She's not bound
Her murder just happened to coincide, with the one day her father left for work early. However its important to note approximately what time the attack actually happened
This all takes place in broad daylight
It seems MORE than coincidence that the 1 day her father leaves, for work early she's attacked.
However that's only important if she was attacked in those hours where she wasn't usually home with just her brother there.
If that is the case, that to me indicates, either 1) prior knowledge, he was leaving, 2) Someone observing him leaving , however that all for naught if the attack occurred in the hours, she was normally home just with her brother .
What seems more likely is someone who knows that she is home, with a mentally handicapped child who would neither be able to render aid, OR relay anything verbally to police
IF it was a Rifle, she was killed with , the car in the driveway makes some sense because walking around with a rifle is pretty noticeable.
The offender was able to ascertain either by surveillance, trial and error, or prior knowledge, that the doors were unlocked. However, its a HUGE risk to get out in someone's driveway with a rifle in hand run up to a door and it be locked.
SO I tend to feel it was someone familiar with the families tendencies, and their comings and goings.
Bringing a rifle into a house with 2 kids only to use the end to bludgeon one of them to death seems unlikely unless there was someone who had an issue with the family .
In which case I state then why not shoot the victim ?
Nothing was stolen ruling out a robbery/burglary
She wasn't sexually assaulted, but it might be a possibility because she was bottomless, yet it seems no attempt was even made, no seminal traces, on her body, or in the area where she was found (as if he/she masturbated)
She was face down and beaten from behind, which may indicate some form of dehumanization of the victim. That makes it easier for the killer to actually kill the victim, because he doesn't have to look her in the face. Its also an indicator of familiarity with the victim in certain cases.
Now depending on whether or not the injuries fall into the "lethal force" or "correctional force" categories,
Beating is usually indicative of anger and frustration, what this seems to indicate at least to me is ANGER, there are other means to kill a victim, strangulation, etc...ther s also a possibility he did intend to shoot her, and there was a malfunction of the weapon and he used, what he had at hand.
If this was someone mad at her, id expect to see some type of interpersonal anger . Interpersonal anger usually demonstrates degradation, and dehumanization through assault of the face of the victim
This was a High risk attempt by the offender, of a extremely low risk victim lifestyle
If this was a planned homicide the removal of her bathing suit bottoms then may have 1 of 2 meanings, 1) Staging to look like a sexual assault, 2) a means of degrading the victim, in which he may've had her remove them herself .
If it was an attempted sexual assault Id expect to see more of an attempt by the offender, such as some type of penetration, (sexual substitution) or masturbating on or near the victim.
Post offensive behavior in any case would involve an odd interest in the case, paranoia, alcohol and drug use increases
The police most likely have interviewed him already and at one point was most likely considered a suspect. He may've even inserted himself into the investigation, to keep tabs on what was happening.
There was most likely something that set him off (precipitating stressor)
Crimes I would look for in the area, break ins, fetish burglaries, and peeping tom cases.
