One of the most mysterious items of evidence at RZ's death scene in Spreckels Mansion was a message crudely painted on the door to the murder room.
"SHE SAVED HIM
CAN HE SAVE HER"
Though SDSO removed the door from the mansion as evidence, they steadfastly refused to reveal it's contents. Once the wording was revealed by a family member, SDSO refused to offer anything other than a photo with the painted words masked with white.
The public finally had the chance to view the actual writing on the door when an unedited photo was published late last year in Ann Rule's book.
Many crime experts have questioned why SDSO didn't obtain a handwriting expert to analyze the painted message. SDSO's only answer was
Why can’t you do handwriting comparisons with her suicide note?
The lettering used in the note left on the door was “block style” and was done with paint and a paint brush. Unless we were able to find other written notes or documents done by Rebecca or another identified person, using the same medium and style, no comparison can be done. With this type of lettering, comparison would not likely be conclusive in any event. We found the same paint on Rebecca’s body, the paint brush, in the paint tube, and on the door. The samples were matched using scientific analysis.
http://www.sdsheriff.net/coronado/faq.html
Actually, handwriting comparisons can be done when evidence is written in block lettering. In modern forensics, computer programs like FISH can scan and compare samples of handwriting to find common traits.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/handwriting-analysis.htm
There are as many unique traits in block letter writing as in cursive writing and experts know how to compare them.
Why SDSO chose to keep the painted message on the door secret is a mystery to me. If it were RZ's writing, it would validate their theory of suicide. What do you think?
Note: We spent several months discussing this topic in another thread that was closed for snarky posting. Let's see if we can keep this one open. Thanks.
Here's a link to the old thread to use as reference. There were some very good discussions and information presented there.
The message on the door - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community
ETA: Adding other crime scene photos of paint and brushes, etc.
Will add later when I find smaller ones. The SDSO ones blow out the margins.
"SHE SAVED HIM
CAN HE SAVE HER"
Though SDSO removed the door from the mansion as evidence, they steadfastly refused to reveal it's contents. Once the wording was revealed by a family member, SDSO refused to offer anything other than a photo with the painted words masked with white.
The public finally had the chance to view the actual writing on the door when an unedited photo was published late last year in Ann Rule's book.
Many crime experts have questioned why SDSO didn't obtain a handwriting expert to analyze the painted message. SDSO's only answer was
Why can’t you do handwriting comparisons with her suicide note?
The lettering used in the note left on the door was “block style” and was done with paint and a paint brush. Unless we were able to find other written notes or documents done by Rebecca or another identified person, using the same medium and style, no comparison can be done. With this type of lettering, comparison would not likely be conclusive in any event. We found the same paint on Rebecca’s body, the paint brush, in the paint tube, and on the door. The samples were matched using scientific analysis.
http://www.sdsheriff.net/coronado/faq.html
Actually, handwriting comparisons can be done when evidence is written in block lettering. In modern forensics, computer programs like FISH can scan and compare samples of handwriting to find common traits.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/handwriting-analysis.htm
There are as many unique traits in block letter writing as in cursive writing and experts know how to compare them.
Why SDSO chose to keep the painted message on the door secret is a mystery to me. If it were RZ's writing, it would validate their theory of suicide. What do you think?
Note: We spent several months discussing this topic in another thread that was closed for snarky posting. Let's see if we can keep this one open. Thanks.
Here's a link to the old thread to use as reference. There were some very good discussions and information presented there.
The message on the door - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community
ETA: Adding other crime scene photos of paint and brushes, etc.
Will add later when I find smaller ones. The SDSO ones blow out the margins.