An interesting slice of bread to munch on is this. I remember in the previous thread it was mentioned tire tread was found off of 123. The poster quoted a link to AMW and like many other links the information could not be found. I never heard or seen that mentioned before. Also the unspent 9mm which may or may not be the same the type of 9mm brand used in the gun. For whatever thats worth.
So we have Merritts comments where she directed had the girls follow on broad street to 231 (safest, fastest and most logical route to 231 from the store) then lost sight of them after she goes past the "hump" (doesn't exist, there is a slight curvature in the road prior to hitting the stop light and downtown Ozark.) Between the light and store there are a couple of places to turn but first, the assumptions of being pulled over by a cop is weak, because Merritt would have seen the lights of the cops. The girls were according to her, close, within rear view sight. So even if a someone was traveling towards the store she would have noted a cop going in the direction as well. Also the chances of the girls stopping on the road is slim to none be it a stranger or not, assuming these girls dont make that a habit since most dont. Most of the street is fairly well lit too.
So as I mentioned before they could have turned off to depot lane. But as i mentioned it's a short distance and they would come back out towards the store and broad street, if they turned right after hitting depot. If left it would bring them back to broad. Taking a left would take you down the street where McCraney lived during the time. (Road isnt far from depot) Traveling down the road you pass a small housing area, where you can turn into or keep traveling the short road and hitting a stop sign. Taking a right takes you to Downton, you can for the most see some businesses from there. Taking left takes you back to hwy 27. Takes you to a another stop sign where you can take a left back to the store (store can be seen from the left) or right taking to towards hwy 27.
Its logical they turned down the road McCraney went, this is where things could have started.....I will not speculate.
So back to what I was thinking about where the murders took place. There is a possibility it occured on herring. I recall a few years ago, around 1-2 am hearing 6 gunshots outside when I worked at the hospital. Reported it and after some time a cop drove through and nothing came about it. No dogs barked, no lights turned on in the apartments or houses to the left. (There is a really obnoxious tiny dog that barks at the wind is outside at all times roaming the streets---only mentioned because he didn't go ape **** despite 10 min prior he was barking at me and the cars driving past).
On herring the houses are close but not as close as one would think. And there is a creek, a small trail, an abandoned looking barn in the woods. Pitch black at night. I know some pictures were posted in a previous thread. So the killer could have easily driven the vehicle with them there and taken them down said trail before bringing them to the car and discharging 2 fatal shots. Also I'm not sure how concrete the statements about the blood that was sprayed underneath the car suggesting traveling after being shot, mind you it took 6 hours to figure out one can open the trunk from the inside and why it wasn't even thought to open it by other means is odd. They just received missing persons report, warrant or not they could've opened with minimal alterations to what little evidence they had. Then the person could have walked home to wherever, be it close, semi close or not. Rarely did OPD pull over and interact with people walking at night unless it was a suspicious person reported like the few resident alcoholic and the few schizophrenic people they always arrested. (You hear reports over the scanner if they do) Depending on what he was wearing he could have been "jogging" not unheard for a person to go exercise at odd hours, they had one gym that was open 24/7 across from the police department. Also the way the 9mm is described laying on the leg, if the killer drove he would have had to stop, open the trunk a 2nd to place the shell or he did it there only opening and closing it once.
Should be noted, I've noticed how shocked people are (not necessarily here) the car and potential murder happened not far from herring. The police department is a just a little bit away from downtown but its not a bustling area especially at night time. It's not so ballsy as someone would imagine.
It's perfectly reasonable for shots tobe fired or what sounds like shots to go unnoticed or reported in Ozark, I've heard what sounded like random gunshots in and around my neighborhood where nothing came about and it's not related to Ft. Rucker which I dont live far from the gate but I'm even closer to the helicopter field. I forget off hand where the ranges are.
So unless an alien swooped down onto broad street and abducted them there is no reason for Merritt to have lost sight of them unless she was exceeding the 25 mph limit (which didnt happen since its patrolled heavy and prone to pulling people over there) and the girls were creeping like a snail down the road.
Similar to Newton, Alabama. The ones that are familiar know once you hit newton you drive that speed limit.
Too add, it's not crazy to wonder why Merritt stopped at the store even though it was closed. Depending on where she lived and where she was coming from (surrounding country towns) she may have forgotten since some lights do stay on. There was no drink machine outside, no outside restroom, nor exterior camera during that time. Just to clear that up. I've seen it posted before and people were confused. Hence the excellent picture from the camera on the inside pointed at the gas pumps. I believe also there was only 2 pumps at that time vs the 4 there now, I'll have to check on that. At one time it was a junior foods store, then big little store. Its been changed a number of times.
** I was going to post some pictures of the creek, barn, and the neighborhood where he lived but the files are too big.**
I will work on then later today, I'll take some additional ones too
