Many thoughts and some research, please bear with me:
+
Why are there details about the abductors’ eyebrows but not their eyes – shape, color, etc.? I can’t visualize how someone would see eyebrows but not eyes. Also body build, weight? Clothing? Jeans? Shoes or boots? Size of SUV? Smell of surroundings -- forest?
+ I thought KP’s interview spoke volumes, in what he did not say. It makes sense that at this point, they would know how and where she was taken but, nothing said publicly. He said at least twice, something along the lines of: What I
can tell you is that … He was hesitant and cautious on many points.
The reporter avoided asking detailed questions and the sheriff once again played the Dunno card … after nearly 30 days including FBI involvement, and they don’t know much yet won’t release even the most basic details?
I suspect that the investigation is probably hot, not cold; the interviewer knew this or was given boundaries, and agreed not to probe further (and frame it as: she’s home, story’s over) because it’s an active investigation.
+ LE needs SP to identify/testify against the kidnappers for the cops to make a case for the DA. They may both know who it is (or LE may strongly suspect) but without her ID, the investigation is nil. That may be the delicate dance we appear to be witnessing and lack of progress on the investigation.
Broader context:
+ It turns out that in addition to sex crimes in SP’s Shasta County, sex trafficking, particularly connected to illegal marijuana growers, is a serious issue in neighboring Humboldt County (the 2 counties are connected by a massive forest that hides illegal activity). While likely unrelated to SP’s case, this is an incredible article detailing abuse of women in Humboldt, very much worth your time, with claims that Humboldt LE does not pay much attention to trafficking/sex crimes in the area. (As w/most trafficking, victims weren’t SAHMs.)
https://www.revealnews.org/article/...a-industry-whispers-of-abuse-and-trafficking/
“In 2015, Humboldt County reported 352 missing people, more per capita than any other county in
the state.”
+ CG’s “brazen” “reverse ransom” tactic and very public style is in stark contrast to that of a typical hostage negotiator. This lengthy Vanity Fair article from 1998 (it inspired the film Proof of Life) was ground-breaking because
hostage negotiators are exceptionally discreet about their work.
The article “…sheds light on one of the world's murkiest legitimate businesses — the so-called K&R industry, which provides kidnap and ransom insurance… The K&R business is so secretive that one of the companies lists its return fax number as 000-000-0000. Control Risks proudly boasts that its agents operate under sterner security measures than they did as elite forces for their various governments.”
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=36&dir=2010/January/Monday18
+ CG trains missionaries heading out to the field (seems like mostly missionaries from the local megachurch, Bethel) and claims to have done some K&R for missionaries. He is in a highly competitive business, both on the training and K&R side (usually 2 separate industries) -- though with a potentially good business model as missionaries (volunteers, small stipends, etc.) can’t necessarily afford the larger outfits and the community is tight-knit.
For those heading to unstable/conflict countries the security protocol frequently includes:
+ a pre-field “hostile environment” security training (IEDs, mock kidnappings, similar to what CG showed on 20/20 although the “simulator” storage containers were unusual).
Example of hostile environment training for missionaries:
http://www.cricon.org/2016/fss_april_2017_colorado
Media/non-profit:
http://www.centurionsafety.net/
http://akegroup.com/training/
+ while many orgs have general private security, in an abduction, a specialized K&R team is often brought in:
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/06/the-multi-million-dollar-business-of-ransom-.html
+ if there is a need for an actual “extraction” it can be private security via the K&R team or, very rarely, the military.
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/...ia-rescued-by-us-navy-seals-in-overnight-raid
As evidenced above hostage negotiators are highly specialized and training seems to be another industry. K&R are brought in only for K&R.
So what I found unusual was that despite there being many K&R specialists/competitors, an
anonymous benefactor was willing to hire CG and not a specialized K&R team. This makes me wonder if the donor was local.
