Found Deceased GA - Lauren Giddings, 27, Macon, 25 June 2011

[Knox]

Originally Posted by PsychoMom

If it was found in the wooded area, that really was in my daughter's backyard. The wooded area is the only thing that separated her house from the apartments. I know they cleared the woods looking for body parts because of an odor, but found an animal instead.

A theory I am working with, not definite but came to mind. I wonder if someone attempted to break in and intentionally made it obvious. Something she would notice and maybe even tell someone about. Then came back on the night of the 25th in some sort of uniform stating, "Ma'am, we have had some attempted break ins in the area, and we are checking to see if any other residents have had any problems." She might have opened the door for that. Maybe not, but we all have those moments where we don't think first. If she had noticed an attempt, she might have thought this was her chance to find out what is going on. Just a thought.

At this point, I don't think someone attempted to break in, nor that she sent the email saying she was afraid to stay in her apartment. Did McD portray the email accurately? The person she sent the email too has not spoke to the media about it. Some have said the recipient was her boyfriend, others say it was the friend from Hashers (JK) who did the interview.

I realize we don't have a stringent accounting of when McD was home during the relevant time frame. But if he was home Sat. night, wouldn't he notice someone pulling up to the apartments and then knocking on Lauren's door? So many unanswered questions ...

[PsychoMom]

Originally Posted by Knox

At this point, I don't think someone attempted to break in, nor that she sent the email saying she was afraid to stay in her apartment. Did McD portray the email accurately? The person she sent the email too has not spoke to the media about it. Some have said the recipient was her boyfriend, others say it was the friend from Hashers (JK) who did the interview.

I realize we don't have a stringent accounting of when McD was home during the relevant time frame. But if he was home Sat. night, wouldn't he notice someone pulling up to the apartments and then knocking on Lauren's door? So many unanswered questions ...

The article quoted a police officer stating they had found the email. So, I believe it was sent. I think she may have sent it. I think it may have been just a blurb in an email. Something along the lines of, "I'm glad I am moving. I think some hoodlums tried to break in here the other day. It scares me living here sometimes." or something similar. Maybe not, but that is common conversation people do have.

I think someone killing her between 6:30-10:30 and sending the email as a ruse is pushing it. I don't see how they would not know that email wouldn't generate phone calls or people coming over to check on her? That would have eliminated the time to do anything with the body. Of course, at this point, it is all up in the air.

I can tell you my daughter just got home from Macon for a few days. I am happy about that! She says the rumors are running rampant down there. Her friend who is an attorney in Macon is really upset. He didn't know LG, but they attended the same school and worked in the same field in the same town. It is a community there, and they are suffering. He hears rumors from the local attorneys and law enforcement. But those are all rumors at this point.

[PDUBBY]

Originally Posted by McMunn

snipped

Bingo! And do we need someone like this working in a "law" position, when they can't even uphold it themselves?

The one thing I am most certain about is his legal career is over even if he didn't have anything to do with the murder. The bar exam is July 26 and 27. Even if they let him take it, I doubt he could pass with everything that is going on. He should be studying 8 hours a day. I don't think they'd let him have his Barbri books in the Macon jail.

Also, to be admitted to practice, you have to be certified by the bar as fit to practice law. He's probably at least committed burglaries during law school (which is a little different than if they had occurred prior to enrolling). There is little chance that he will now be found to be fit to practice.

[bessie]

Yesterday I posted that I was bothered by the discrepancy in these statements.

MICHELLE: Have you met her family before?

MCDANIEL: I mean, there was one time that I met them. They came down through here. She -- she had a little dog, a little brown dog, that she would exercise out in front of the law school. And it got hit as she was coming across the road. I -- I heard the car hit it and ran out, and she was there crying, and we -- thankfully, there was someone who came along who knew a vet or something, and they helped that. And her family came down I think a couple weeks after that or something, and I met them just briefly.

http://www.wmac-am.com/includes/news...oclockhour.mp3

[LG's cousin] said her family was familiar with McDaniel, but he didn’t insinuate that family members suspect that McDaniel had anything to do with Giddings’ disappearance or slaying.

The family had seen McDaniel at a graduation party thrown jointly by the Giddings family and another law student’s family at the Fish N’ Pig restaurant in May.

He said Giddings was always kind to McDaniel.

Read more: http://www.macon.com/2011/07/07/1623...#ixzz1RjYYiEjK

It's probably irrelevant, but still I question why McD lied about knowing LG's family. Just now I came across this statement by LG's father, more evidence that the family knew McD.

Giddings' father said he had met McDaniel a few times.
"I would describe him as very average — didn't speak a lot, kind of awkward," Bill Giddings said. "He seemed to be a light-weight, kind of a bookworm."

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/articl...#ixzz1RpNt0qSd

Like I said, it probably deesn't mean a thing. Still, I find it curious and can't help but wonder if McD felt slighted by the family.

[midstateMind]

Originally Posted by PDUBBY

The one thing I am most certain about is his legal career is over even if he didn't have anything to do with the murder. The bar exam is July 26 and 27. Even if they let him take it, I doubt he could pass with everything that is going on. He should be studying 8 hours a day. I don't think they'd let him have his Barbri books in the Macon jail.

Also, to be admitted to practice, you have to be certified by the bar as fit to practice law. He's probably at least committed burglaries during law school (which is a little different than if they had occurred prior to enrolling). There is little chance that he will now be found to be fit to practice.

Good call. You have to pass a "fitness test" to sit for the bar exam. Law students are always furiously trying to clean up credit scores or any pending matters. With matters "pending" (such as the burglary counts), it is unlikely that McD will be allowed to take the test. If/when he is cleared, that status will be updated with explanation, and he can sit for the exam at a later time. I've known people who have had to delay their tests for issues of bankruptcy, etc... It's actually not that big of a deal. That said, it's a heck of a big deal if he's convicted, but I even know a felon who successfully lobbied the GA bar to be admitted on the grounds that he was rehabilitated. A capital felony is likely a different story, though...

Nice snag, guys.

[Knox]

Originally Posted by PsychoMom

The article quoted a police officer stating they had found the email. So, I believe it was sent. I think she may have sent it. I think it may have been just a blurb in an email. Something along the lines of, "I'm glad I am moving. I think some hoodlums tried to break in here the other day. It scares me living here sometimes." or something similar. Maybe not, but that is common conversation people do have.

I think someone killing her between 6:30-10:30 and sending the email as a ruse is pushing it. I don't see how they would not know that email wouldn't generate phone calls or people coming over to check on her? That would have eliminated the time to do anything with the body. Of course, at this point, it is all up in the air.

I can tell you my daughter just got home from Macon for a few days. I am happy about that! She says the rumors are running rampant down there. Her friend who is an attorney in Macon is really upset. He didn't know LG, but they attended the same school and worked in the same field in the same town. It is a community there, and they are suffering. He hears rumors from the local attorneys and law enforcement. But those are all rumors at this point.

Not disputing whether the email was sent, just who sent it. Like I said I'm also curious whether McD accurately portrayed what Lauren wrote.

In the video he says he wishes Lauren would have told him she was afraid. If she was scared to be in her apartment, get her out of there and he could have done something to help, like loan her the small gun he owns (paraphrasing).

Gosh, where are those lab results!!!!!

[Truthful Lies]

Originally Posted by midstateMind

I just ran across this passage from ***********:

"One thing the mother of this missing, murdered student found peculiar was her daughter's growing interest in religion before she disappeared. The woman found out her daughter, who was always a devout catholic, had been attending daily mass. Her mother finds this unusual."

http://*****************/viewArticle.a...81474979609104

I find it to be of interest that her Mom's ears are pricked up at the idea that her daughter was attending daily mass. Makes one wonder what was going on in her life that she'd suddenly develop an interest like that. St. Joseph's (where she attended)has daily mass at 8am, Monday-Friday. Granted, I don't know what source the author cites as insight into the mind of Mrs. Giddings, but I do find this detail to be interesting.

Hi Midstate Your post really made my little ears perk up...this info really set a bell off. Was she maybe interested in someone at the same church? Not accusing her of philandering, but if her mother was suprised, she hadn't told her. Why wouldn't you tell your Mom you were attending daily mass? If her family is Catholic, I can't see how that would be a negative to tell them - Maybe that would even have made her Mom happy. Either something major was going on where she needed that spiritual solace or someone there was of interest. I think LE needs to sniff around there.

Um...can they test the remains (blood) they have for pregnancy? I'm sorry to ask, but that might explain the dismemberment. Sorry to be gross =(

[Idreamofgenie]

I hate to be gross, too, but I hope they find the killer's DNA on her. If they find semen, hopefully that will help identify him (assuming the killer is male, which I do of course).

[SaMy]

Originally Posted by Knox

Gosh, where are those lab results!!!!!

Snipped to shorten length of post

I don't know where they are but it's driving me crazy that we haven't heard anything today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Knox]

Did McD live next to Lauren or beneath her, he lived in 4 she lived in 2?

[SaMy]

I'm trying to piece together the relationship between Lauren and SM. The actual relationship that existed and what may have been perceived by SM...if those are two different things. A couple of things seem sort of weird to me -
1. SM shows up un-invited to a grad party that LG's parents co-host
2. Apparently the email LG sent about being afraid was sent to her boyfriend in Atlanta (see article here: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/articl...ad-1456652.php) and yet SM says they found an email she wrote to "a friend in Atlanta" in his interview with the media...clearly he doesn't know her bf's name

Based on the above I feel like SM and LG were nothing more than acquaintances who said "hello" when they saw each other and maybe exchanged some other brief pleasantries. WHY then did he assist her friends in searching her apartment? I'd love to know if he inserted himself or if they went to him asking for info and he volunteered to come look in her apartment with them. I really feel like he thought LG and he were much closer than they actually were.

[SaMy]

Originally Posted by Knox

Did McD live next to Lauren or beneath her, he lived in 4 she lived in 2?

I think next to her based on the article at the link below. Here's a snippet with the relevant info -

Since then, police have scoured Giddings’ apartment, No. 2, as well as the adjacent apartment of Stephen McDaniel, sending off their evidence to the forensics center at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., for testing. Among the areas checked were apartment plumbing, but Burns wouldn’t elaborate. Police are still waiting for lab results from the FBI.

Read more: http://www.macon.com/2011/07/06/1622...#ixzz1RqSvnwdB

[Idreamofgenie]

Originally Posted by Knox

Did McD live next to Lauren or beneath her, he lived in 4 she lived in 2?

They were next door neighbors, second floor facing Georgia Avenue.

[Knox]

Putting this link here for future reference. Many photo's with detailed captions.

http://www.macon.com/2011/06/30/1615...partments.html

[bessie]

Originally Posted by SaMy

I'm trying to piece together the relationship between Lauren and SM. The actual relationship that existed and what may have been perceived by SM...if those are two different things. A couple of things seem sort of weird to me -
1. SM shows up un-invited to a grad party that LG's parents co-host
2. Apparently the email LG sent about being afraid was sent to her boyfriend in Atlanta (see article here: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/articl...ad-1456652.php) and yet SM says they found an email she wrote to "a friend in Atlanta" in his interview with the media...clearly he doesn't know her bf's name

Based on the above I feel like SM and LG were nothing more than acquaintances who said "hello" when they saw each other and maybe exchanged some other brief pleasantries. WHY then did he assist her friends in searching her apartment? I'd love to know if he inserted himself or if they went to him asking for info and he volunteered to come look in her apartment with them. I really feel like he thought LG and he were much closer than they actually were.

Apparently they knew each other well enough that her father had met him a few times, and her cousin said LG was always nice to him.
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/articl...#ixzz1RpNt0qSd

http://www.macon.com/2011/07/07/1623...#ixzz1RjYYiEjK

[ehmadpotter]

Thanks for posting that link Knox! In this picture of SM at his court appearance, does anyone else notice what could possibly be two scratch marks on the upper left side of his neck near his beard line? There's a similar colored mark on the rigth side, but that looks more like a shadow, but I can't see the other two marks as being from shadows. moo.

I've never posted a pic before so I hope this works.


[img]/cymwy.SlMa.71.jpg[/img]

[ehmadpotter]

Okay, thing didn't work. Here's another try.

[Dupree]

http://m.13wmaz.com/topstory/article?a=135324&f=924

Giddings Investigation: No Forensic Results Yet
Erika Adolphus, Producer
July 11, 2011


Police are still waiting for forensic results in the Lauren Giddings homicide investigation.

Last week, they said those results should be back Monday or Tuesday.

The Giddings family has returned to Maryland after spending a weekend in Macon.

Lauren DiSpirito spoke with Lauren Giddings' mother Karen by phone on Monday.

Lauren Giddings was last seen on June 25th. *Her body was found near her Georgia Avenue home on June 30th.

[PDUBBY]

Originally Posted by ehmadpotter

Okay, thing didn't work. Here's another try.

Good find. Those could be scratches. If they are, that's why they've focused on him. On the other hand, they could be from shaving his neck. He is kind of hairy.

[bessie]

Originally Posted by PDUBBY

Good find. Those could be scratches. If they are, that's why they've focused on him. On the other hand, they could be from shaving his neck. He is kind of hairy.

I don't see them in this mugshot, but my eyes aren't the best.

[SaMy]

Originally Posted by ehmadpotter

Okay, thing didn't work. Here's another try.

I think it's just shadows of his hair. If you watch the video of this appearance in court you can't see them.

http://www.13wmaz.com/video/default....tvideo|article

[McMunn]

Originally Posted by Dupree

http://m.13wmaz.com/topstory/article?a=135324&f=924

Giddings Investigation: No Forensic Results Yet
Erika Adolphus, Producer
July 11, 2011


Police are still waiting for forensic results in the Lauren Giddings homicide investigation.

Last week, they said those results should be back Monday or Tuesday.

The Giddings family has returned to Maryland after spending a weekend in Macon.

Lauren DiSpirito spoke with Lauren Giddings' mother Karen by phone on Monday.

Lauren Giddings was last seen on June 25th. *Her body was found near her Georgia Avenue home on June 30th.

This link has the video on it. http://www.13wmaz.com/news/article/1...ic-Results-Yet

[ehmadpotter]

Thanks Bessie for posting that. I hadn't seen his mugshot yet and just looked at it. It's very faint, and could be my overactive eyesight/imagination lol, but if you look from what I assume is a mole, I see a very faint mark that goes down to the left (the photo left, not his left) at about a 45 degree angle. Could be a shaving rash like PDUBBY suggested, or nothing at all...or the faint 5 to 6 day old remnants of scratch marks.

[midstateMind]

Originally Posted by Truthful Lies

Hi Midstate Your post really made my little ears perk up...this info really set a bell off. Was she maybe interested in someone at the same church? Not accusing her of philandering, but if her mother was suprised, she hadn't told her. Why wouldn't you tell your Mom you were attending daily mass? If her family is Catholic, I can't see how that would be a negative to tell them - Maybe that would even have made her Mom happy. Either something major was going on where she needed that spiritual solace or someone there was of interest. I think LE needs to sniff around there.

Um...can they test the remains (blood) they have for pregnancy? I'm sorry to ask, but that might explain the dismemberment. Sorry to be gross =(

Hey, Truthful... It is interesting. As a Catholic, I do find it to be surprising (if it can be confirmed) that her mother was surprised at the devout nature of LG's religious practice. I only have my own perspective as a Catholic, and the only times I've ever ramped up my attendance at mass was when I was having a life "crisis"--however inconsequential it may seem when compared with others' lives. I will say that the pastor at SJS is VERY observant---you won't get anything over on him. If he states that she's been attending daily mass it's because he's greeted her after each one. If you're not attending, he knows, too! :-)

I totally agree with you. Although it is complete speculation, I have to wonder if there was something going on in any of her relationships (personal or professional) that proved to be a tipping point in her life. The reality is that no matter what her state of body, any blood sample obtained would likely bear a valid HcG level---positive or negative is just pure speculation and conjecture at this point, IMO.

[PsychoMom]

He looks like half the woolly booger students in the school. I know people are harping on his hair, but it seems to be the norm for college students these days. I think the police are holding him on these little charges to make the public think he is a suspect without saying it. If the community thinks he is sitting in jail because he is the one who did this, then the public isn't freaking out and forming search parties to go look for this guy. It keeps everyone calm and thinking they are safe. IF this is the case, it pisses me off. It leaves too many young people with a false sense of security and puts them at risk of becoming a victim.

If they really consider him a viable suspect, I hope they have more than he stole some panties or condoms 2-3 years ago and has too much hair. I am not comfortable with that being the basis of suspecting him of going this far.

By the way, has anyone considered he may be gay? If he is, it takes being 'in love' and 'wanting her' off the table. But it might explain his condoms and statement he hadn't had sex.