Several' bodies found at Mandan, North Dakota business, 1 April 2019 *Arrest*

[MassGuy]

Here’s what I’ll say,
If any of the victims were there on Sunday, and the crime happened Sunday night, you assume owners wife would be freaked out on why her husband didn’t come home.

Someone would have.

I’m convinced that this happened on Monday morning.

 

[drama_farmer]

I agree. Statements like that are confusing to the public. People in the area are going to lock their doors anyway after this.

Not sure where that kind of line got started for law enforcement, but I have seen it so many times. I guess the best is to keep the public calm. IMO.

BBM
Can we see a show of hands? I know I attribute very limited importance to such statements by law enforcement. Anyone else?

On just about every vile/violent crime thread here at WS, you'll find a "no danger to the public" statement from law enforcement. I think this would make a great topic for a true-crime author/afficianado to research and explore.
When did police begin using this statement, what do they really mean by it, and how many times have they announced that there IS danger to the general public?

I'm going to wildly guess that the tradition has its roots in a reporter's question: "Is there any danger to the public?" and then it just grew legs and became a "standard" at every press conference/media interview.

IMO, I don't use the "no danger/threat" statement to help me determine the nature/motive of any crime, or if there is a "suspect" or if the crime is "personal."

I can only remember one fairly recent instance of hearing: "corral your family, stay inside, lock your doors, keep an eye out" etc. (IMO, paraphrasing) It was the manhunt following the Boston Marathon bombing. And that made a lot of sense, and was appropriate.
Occasionally, there are similar statements in the event of a prison break/fugitive on the loose.

I don't think it would serve either law enforcement's or the public's interest to announce that there is a cold blooded murderer on the loose, lock your doors, keep a gun handy, keep the kids inside, curtail your normal activities, etc. Whether there is a particular murderer "on the loose" or not, becoming a victim of crime can happen anywhere, to anyone. Hearing that there's "no danger" to the public can never really be true. Anywhere.

There is a case that, IMO, was a perfect example of when a danger to the public was specific and imminent, but not in the manner you'd expect: Christopher Dorner. Law enforcement was targeted by Dorner, and it seems they devolved into a "shoot first, ask questions later" mindset, in a state of fear. In that case, I wish they had announced there was imminent danger to any citizen driving some version of a Japanese model pickup truck.

All MOO, IMO

 

[cody22]

Anyone else have the feeling that if LE doesn't make an arrest by Friday night, they "ain't got much of nothing" on who did this crime ?...moo

 

[MassGuy]

Anyone else have the feeling that if LE doesn't make an arrest by Friday night, they "ain't got much of nothing" on who did this crime ?...moo

Yes. And if we reach that point, someone has to go in front of the media and say something.

Say anything.

Just keep the public engaged, and this crime in the news.

This is an odd way to handle a crime that you don’t have a handle on, if that is in fact the case.

 

[cody22]

Off topic - They just arrested the LA Bicycle Slasher.....moo.... Hope the same thing happens here soon.

 

[NickoD]

Anyone else have the feeling that if LE doesn't make an arrest by Friday night, they "ain't got much of nothing" on who did this crime ?...moo

Sadly, I am getting that sinking feeling already. I hope the tip line turns something up.

 

[TrinityAlps]

BBM
Can we see a show of hands? I know I attribute very limited importance to such statements by law enforcement. Anyone else?

On just about every vile/violent crime thread here at WS, you'll find a "no danger to the public" statement from law enforcement. I think this would make a great topic for a true-crime author/afficianado to research and explore.
When did police begin using this statement, what do they really mean by it, and how many times have they announced that there IS danger to the general public?

I'm going to wildly guess that the tradition has its roots in a reporter's question: "Is there any danger to the public?" and then it just grew legs and became a "standard" at every press conference/media interview.

IMO, I don't use the "no danger/threat" statement to help me determine the nature/motive of any crime, or if there is a "suspect" or if the crime is "personal."

I can only remember one fairly recent instance of hearing: "corral your family, stay inside, lock your doors, keep an eye out" etc. (IMO, paraphrasing) It was the manhunt following the Boston Marathon bombing. And that made a lot of sense, and was appropriate.
Occasionally, there are similar statements in the event of a prison break/fugitive on the loose.

I don't think it would serve either law enforcement's or the public's interest to announce that there is a cold blooded murderer on the loose, lock your doors, keep a gun handy, keep the kids inside, curtail your normal activities, etc. Whether there is a particular murderer "on the loose" or not, becoming a victim of crime can happen anywhere, to anyone. Hearing that there's "no danger" to the public can never really be true. Anywhere.

There is a case that, IMO, was a perfect example of when a danger to the public was specific and imminent, but not in the manner you'd expect: Christopher Dorner. Law enforcement was targeted by Dorner, and it seems they devolved into a "shoot first, ask questions later" mindset, in a state of fear. In that case, I wish they had announced there was imminent danger to any citizen driving some version of a Japanese model pickup truck.

All MOO, IMO

Well in my county just a few days ago there was a gun battle between two vehicles on the local highway and we were instructed to stay away and shelter inside so there are time when LE does issue a warning.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

I am at a loss here as to how to interpret this statement from KX Net:

“We are also told several community businesses have been helpful in offering up surveillance video -- but they are having difficulty accessing it. Leading them to reach out to individual I-T people who have access to the footage.”

Their tech’s are unable to access surveillance video so they are reaching out to local IT workers to interpret it? I thought LE had the best IT workers on their team already.

Investigation continues into the quadruple homicide in Mandan

 

[zecats]

Here’s what I’ll say,
If any of the victims were there on Sunday, and the crime happened Sunday night, you assume owners wife would be freaked out on why her husband didn’t come home.

I've seen comments ( previously posted on this thread) that a friend saw the owner Sunday evening and that he was in a very good mood. No mention of whether his wife was with him. Also the daughter of Mr. Cobb, stated she received a call from him Monday morning (before work - her words) but didn't answer the phone. Not reported whether he left a voice message. That could rule out Sunday night as the time for this crime, most likely at least. IMO

 

[zecats]

I am at a loss here as to how to interpret this statement from KX Net:

“We are also told several community businesses have been helpful in offering up surveillance video -- but they are having difficulty accessing it. Leading them to reach out to individual I-T people who have access to the footage.”

Their tech’s are unable to access surveillance video so they are reaching out to local IT workers to interpret it? I thought LE had the best IT workers on their team already.

Investigation continues into the quadruple homicide in Mandan

I read that as difficulty accessing the material on the video cameras. Not sure how much technical skill it takes to review what's on a surveillance camera, but I did interpret it that way. Maybe it needs enhancement? All just IMO.

 

[Inthedetails]

I've seen comments ( previously posted on this thread) that a friend saw the owner Sunday evening and that he was in a very good mood. No mention of whether his wife was with him. Also the daughter of Mr. Cobb, stated she received a call from him Monday morning (before work - her words) but didn't answer the phone. Not reported whether he left a voice message. That could rule out Sunday night as the time for this crime, most likely at least. IMO

The Monday morning phone call would likely rule out his and his wife's murders being on Sunday (assuming he was the one who used the phone and not another person), but that doesn't necessarily rule out that someone else was murdered Sunday night.

The other employee murdered worked in maintenance and perhaps he was in the building overnight? IDK - I'm just thinking aloud, not stating facts.

We don't have a good timeline yet, other than the trucks on video around 7am and the 911 call around 7;30ish. We don't even know who called 911, do we? Or who was in the vehicles.

I'm not letting go of the possibility of some victims being killed earlier because of LE statement that they didn't know how long the bodies had been there. The first assumption would be they were killed soon before the 911 call, but LE didn't confirm that.

Then again, LE hasn't really confirmed anything.

Until we know more, I'm trying not to make any assumptions about the logistics of the crime. The murders could've all happened in a matter of minutes or over the course of hours. We don't know.


jmo

 

[zecats]

The Monday morning phone call would likely rule out his and his wife's murders being on Sunday (assuming he was the one who used the phone and not another person), but that doesn't necessarily rule out that someone else was murdered Sunday night.

The other employee murdered worked in maintenance and perhaps he was in the building overnight? IDK - I'm just thinking aloud, not stating facts.

We don't have a good timeline yet, other than the trucks on video around 7am and the 911 call around 7;30ish. We don't even know who called 911, do we? Or who was in the vehicles.

I'm not letting go of the possibility of some victims being killed earlier because of LE statement that they didn't know how long the bodies had been there. The first assumption would be they were killed soon before the 911 call, but LE didn't confirm that.

Then again, LE hasn't really confirmed anything.

Until we know more, I'm trying not to make any assumptions about the logistics of the crime. The murders could've all happened in a matter of minutes or over the course of hours. We don't know.


jmo

I hear ya. Trying to insert a tiny bit of logic since we have nothing from LE. Maybe they're guessing too. I hope they have more than they're saying. This case is certainly an enigma...and it puzzles me why it seems to be so for LE as well.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

I believe all four victims were murdered that morning.

If some had been killed overnight that means they wouldn't have returned home.

Imo, the alarm bells would have sounded much sooner when they didnt arrive back home as expected. A family member would have gone to check or called LE to do a wellness check.

So, imo, all of this was carefully planned, and each victim was murdered, most likely, shortly after each one entering the business on the 1st.

I think it happening on April 1st, was a twisted message the killer was sending.

Imo

 

[MOgirlWAworld]

Maybe, just maybe, LE trying to throw off the suspect by leading them to believe LE doesn't know much? Therefore making suspect relax a little to make a mistake. When you feel you've gotten away with something, you get careless. In lots of recent cases even, LE gives very little info then bam! (Kelsey Barreth for example)

 

[Tillicum]

The Monday morning phone call would likely rule out his and his wife's murders being on Sunday (assuming he was the one who used the phone and not another person), but that doesn't necessarily rule out that someone else was murdered Sunday night.

The other employee murdered worked in maintenance and perhaps he was in the building overnight? IDK - I'm just thinking aloud, not stating facts.

We don't have a good timeline yet, other than the trucks on video around 7am and the 911 call around 7;30ish. We don't even know who called 911, do we? Or who was in the vehicles.

I'm not letting go of the possibility of some victims being killed earlier because of LE statement that they didn't know how long the bodies had been there. The first assumption would be they were killed soon before the 911 call, but LE didn't confirm that.

Then again, LE hasn't really confirmed anything.

Until we know more, I'm trying not to make any assumptions about the logistics of the crime. The murders could've all happened in a matter of minutes or over the course of hours. We don't know.


jmo

Unless there's another report out there, the daughter didn't say the missed call was Monday morning. She said he called before he went to work. We don't know if he went in on Sunday or if it was Monday morning. Where my husband works they're open Monday - Friday but he's had to go in unexpectedly on Saturday or Sunday even if they weren't open to the public.

 

[zecats]

Some repeated points

The Latest: Clients of slain company owner say he was kind

Ann Farrell, of Bismarck, fought backs tears as she talked about a conversation she had with Fakler the night before he was found dead. She said he was "very cheerful, very much in a good mood."

Farrell's brother, Rolf Eggers, says Fakler was "kind and cheerful" and he wishes he could turn back time and warn him.

Briann Miller of Girard, Illinois, tells The Associated Press that her 45-year-old mother, Lois Cobb, and 50-year-old stepdad, Bill Cobb, were killed. Police haven't released the names of the victims found Monday at RJR Maintenance and Management.

Bill Cobb was a maintenance supervisor and Lois was an account specialist. Miller says police didn't give her any details about how they died.

Miller says the Cobbs came to North Dakota from Illinois about six years ago. She says they never gave any indication to her of any problems at work.

BBM

 

[oceanblueeyes]

While the police are being closed mouth, rightfully so, imo, it never means they arent making progress.

Some cases just take longer, and aren't solved as quickly as a CSI show.

I can't count the times I've read where the public thinks in just a few short days, the police have nothing, and the case is growing cold already.

I beg to differ with that POV. Imo, like always the investigators are working hard to solve the case, and know much more now than when they were discovered.

I remember one specific case, among multiple others I've followed where the same opinion was held.

It was a Texas case involving a very attractive real estate agent who was alone at a model house opening. She was found brutally stabbed, and bludgeoned to death. Of course the immediate suspect for most on any blog site was it had to be her ex husband, even though it was well known they had remained close friends.

The case languished for a couple of months, and by then most were convinced the police had no clue or any evidence proving who had done it. BUT 2 months after the gruesome murder an arrest was made, and no, it wasn't her ex. The murderer turned out to be an ex felon from Ohio who saw her going into the home alone.

Why did it take over 2 months? Because the police had found a bloody fingerprint on an exit door unbeknown to any of the public, and it took that long to get the lab results back.

I think this case is the same. I think there is most likely a bloody crime scene here, and it will take time to get the lab results back on evidence collected, and sent. It may even take longer than two months depending on the backlog.

Meanwhile they will continue to gather more evidence shoring up their case.

Asking for tips never means the case is stalled or cold.

They need anyone who may have further info to come forward. There is no such thing as too much evidence or too many witnesses.

Jmo though

 

[mrstfs]

Interesting, “working with a private investigator”...

“An employee of RJR told KFYR-TV Wednesday morning they have no comment at this time, but are working with a private investigator and will be releasing a statement sometime in the coming days regarding the murders.”

RJR reopens after bodies found on Monday

 

[Jsizzle]

It’s interesting to me that the Facebook page for the company has donations being split between the Cobb and Fueher families but no mention of anything for Fakler.

 

[x_files]

I agree. That particular individual didn't seem deadly to me. And I believe he moved on to another location, still unhappy, but moved on from the issue as well. IMO

To suspect an unhappy tenant or client though is to consider how upset some of these people are..and if someone in a position where they asked for assistance over and over and didn't get it, would resort to violence. The part that makes me consider this the most is that 2 of the victims worked in maintenance....by that I believe it means they were responsible for the maintaining pf properties aspects of the business, not the maintenance of RJR's building itself. IMO Someone angry about maintenance not being done or done poorly + 2 dead people who work in the maintenance area + the owner...= possibility.

You'd be shocked how much of a grudge someone can hold over the smallest infractions.