...And if someone has charted all these cases is there a strong connection to any case and the Lyon case?...
Right now I don't even know how to post a document so if anyone can advise me it'd be much appreciated....
Richard, do you have any thoughts about this that may help? With all the research you've done, do you see a strong thread which runs through the Lyon case and into others?? Or really any thread leading elsewhere??
I'd appreciate any direction you may provide here. Your opinion is always valued.
Thank you for the nice words.
This topic/featured case started out simply as a thread in the Cold Case section. Joellegirl started it and it sat unnoticed for quite a while before interest started picking up on it.
I had posted a number of other Cold Case threads, and when I thought that something sounded similar to the Lyon case, or to some of the potential suspects, I noted those thoughts in the Lyon Sisters thread. That Cold Case thread was transferred to this Featured Case section when it seemed that there was a lot of activity and interest.
Because the origional thread was so long, it was hard to find info on various topics, and so we started others here - as you have done recently.
I went back into the early thread and into the Cold Case files to post what I thought were cases with similarities to the Lyon case. Most of those are in the section called "Possible Connections". About a year ago, I wrote a summary for that thread in which I listed the cases in chronological order and included links to further information on each. You might locate that summary as a start and then add your other cases to it.
A hint that I can give is to first snip the entire post into an e-mail to yourself, or into a text file where you can work on it off-line, saving your work from time to time.
I do this by placing my little pointer at the top of what I want to copy, then hold down the left button on the mouse and drag it to the end, amplifying (highlighting) the text I want.
Next, I hit Control C to save it, and when I put it on an e-mail draft, I hit Control V. I use the "mail waiting to be sent" feature on my e-mail provider to store what I am working on. (Sorry to be so long winded, but maybe it will help someone.)
I selected my possible connected cases using various criteria:
- I started with descriptions of victims, physical and clothing. Both Lyon girls were white, blonde, blue eyed, and fairly small in size. Young age.
- Time frame and geography were next. I looked for cases nearby and in close time to the Lyon case. In particular, there were three girls who disappeared from Pennsylvania in May, June, and July 1975 near the PA/Maryland border. Also, the case of Kathy Lynn Beatty occurred on 24 July 1975 in Wheaton, Maryland only four mounths and four miles from when and where the Lyon sisters disappeared.
- I looked at a lot of unsolved cases involving missing children and young adults. If this person had an effective way of hiding a body, he might have employed that same method before and after.
- Looking at the possible tape recorder link, I tried to find other incidents where a device or trick might have been employed.
- Shopping centers and parking lots played a part in the Lyon Case and so, I looked at other similar settings.
- It is most likely that the abductor in the Lyon case had a vehicle. So, I looked at other disappearances of children who were out walking or away from home.
- Double abductions were also of interest, due to the rarity and the fact that Sheila and Kate went missing together. There are several of these listed - both male and female victims. Two young boys disappeared in New Jersey in April 1975.
- I also looked at various possible suspects who were in or near Maryland at the time. Then I considered possible cases in places where they had been.
Although a case may have seemingly little to go on, you have to go with what you have.
Coincidences DO occur and you have to realize that. There are probably a number of potential/viable suspects in the area at any given time. But there are many other times when you have to say "this is more than just coincidence".
Try to put yourself into the mind of the abductor. He/she has certain likes and dislikes. Certain patterns, habits, ploys, schemes.
There is much more that goes into it, but hopefully this will give you a few ideas.
