Welcome to Websleuths, Bookkeeper. I was wondering if you’d show up here. I think you are on the right track with your thinking, but let me tell you where I believe you are wrong.
If it was someone Sherrill knew, I think he would most likely have been alone. I have read before that Sherrill was a very “security minded” person. The police website has the last known contact with her as a phone call with a friend at 11:15pm so it is safe to say it would have taken place after then. I highly doubt Sherrill would have allowed any strange men into her house after 11 pm no matter if they were with someone she knew or not.
If someone knocked on her door any time between say midnight and 2am, do you really believe there is any chance Sherrill would have let them in? Or even have answered the door? I don’t.
If Sherrill was the target of some plot or a planned out event by someone she knew, and they were let into the house before midnight, they would have been able to subdue her and leave well before Suzie and Stacey arrived home a couple of hours later. I seriously doubt they’d hang out and wait for a couple of hours and risk being caught even if they wanted to get Suzie also. After all, it was graduation night and Suzie was supposed to be spending the night at a hotel in Branson.
However, if it was just one man whom she considered to be a “friend” that came by before midnight I can see her letting him in, but still most likely hesitantly.
If it was one or two people really late at night I believe they wouldn’t have to have been “familiar” or known to Sherrill at all and could have found a different way in. Possibly an unlocked door or open window due to the earlier furniture varnishing she was doing. They would easily have been able to hide and keep her subdued and quiet in her room after being interrupted when the girls arrived unplanned and got ready for bed.
Welcome to Websleuths, Bookkeeper.
Thank you for your civility – much appreciated. I was wondering if you’d show up here.
You were? Why? I think you are on the right track with your thinking, but let me tell you where I believe you are wrong.
I can understand that - however, please see my rebuttal notations.
If it was someone Sherrill knew, I think he would most likely have been alone.
No offense intended, however my bet is on renowned profiler James Wright assessing more than one – with one familiar. I have read before that Sherrill was a very “security minded” person. The police website has the last known contact with her as a phone call with a friend at 11:15pm so it is safe to say it would have taken place after then. I highly doubt Sherrill would have allowed any strange men into her house after 11 pm no matter if they were with someone she knew or not.
Not two standing side by side at front door – only the familiar one.
If someone knocked on her door any time between say midnight and 2am, do you really believe there is any chance Sherrill would have let them in?
Not two with one unknown. One at the door - the familiar one - using a ruse. So, yes. Or even have answered the door? I don’t.
I do. Knowing Suzanne was out and about - parents with daughters especially worry – Mrs. Levitt would have answered the door under certain circumstances.
If Sherrill was the target of some plot or a planned out event by someone she knew, and they were let into the house before midnight, they would have been able to subdue her and leave well before Suzie and Stacey arrived home a couple of hours later.
Although most burglaries occur during the day to avoid an encounter with occupant(s) – nite time break-ins etc. occur between 2-4 am - when occupants are thought to be deep asleep. I seriously doubt they’d hang out and wait for a couple of hours and risk being caught even if they wanted to get Suzie also.
12 – 2? Timing? After all, it was graduation night and Suzie was supposed to be spending the night at a hotel in Branson.
Correct – the suspects (the familiar one) may have thought they had all the time needed – why that particular nite?
However, if it was just one man whom she considered to be a “friend” that came by before midnight I can see her letting him in, but still most likely hesitantly.
Not one. Profiler – more than one.
If it was one or two people really late at night I believe they wouldn’t have to have been “familiar” or known to Sherrill at all
(I’ll bet on profiler - one was known) and could have found a different way in. Possibly an unlocked door or open window due to the earlier furniture varnishing she was doing. They would easily have been able to hide and keep her subdued and quiet in her room after being interrupted when the girls arrived unplanned and got ready for bed.
And run? Why didn’t they? Why did they escalate the crime into a triple abduction/homicide when they could have very easily fled? Because Mrs. Levitt would have ID’d. Serious jail time - possibly strike 3?
With two or more - with one as a sentry/lookout – there was ample notice and opportunity - window(s) open – at least one would have heard the sound of two cars pulling in very near to the house, lights shining thru front windows, car doors slamming, girls entering Delmar – run. Or they could have hid and escaped after the girls got ready and/or went to bed. But they didn't - they stayed. I believe at that point in time fleeing wasn’t an option. They needed time to plan their next move and so let the girls prepare for and/or go to bed.
