I don't understand the reluctance to accept and pursue the information from the Port Aransas South Jetty article from 2010. Astonishingly poor handicapping, if you ask me. Just because it took you guys 9 years to find it, and the information doesn't align with some of your pet theories, you seem group-reluctant to recognize what you have.
That single article is exponentially more valuable than digging through old yearbooks, or tossing out one idea after another.
I'm referring to this article, linked earlier in this thread:
Cold case | Port Aransas South Jetty
That is hardly a trash dubious online source. The author Dan Parker has a journalism degree from the University of Texas-Austin, which is one of the premier journalism schools in the country and especially during the years Parker attended. He has had a long distinguished career at major dailies, and was elected to at least one Hall of Fame based on journalistic contributions. Parker still works for the same paper, or at least he did as of March 2019, the last byline I found. The source Parker quoted for the article -- John Burmester -- is a veteran respected homicide detective from Houston. He retired and joined a cold case squad in Hunstville. From a quick google he is 73 years old and still lives in Huntsville. No doubt he remembers this case. He wouldn't bite. He could verify and perhaps expand on the information from that 2010 article. But you have to ask. I doubt he's going to register on Websleuths tomorrow and volunteer everything he knows.
The lack of trust and usage of the media is preposterous. These are great people. They want to help. People of Parker's age grew up when journalism was one of the most admired and pursued careers imaginable. Yet when I sample these true crime sites and blogs the one thing I seldom if ever detect is competent understanding of the media, or sufficient emphasis. Walker County stands out as uncaring and lazy compared to the jurisdiction that pursued the Orange Socks case. We can understand that and moan about it, or we can use the Walker County media to apply pressure on the local authorities. Direct comparison is a powerful tool.
John Burmester and his cold case colleagues in 2010 would have had greater access than anything you guys have enjoyed, no matter the online digging. That's why the details don't match. They aren't supposed to match. Not everything from those police files made the newspapers in 1980. This wasn't exactly the O.J. Simpson case with the elite investigative reporters assigned.
The girl stepped out of that (estimated 1973 or 1974) car at the Gulf station. Okay, so we basically know she hitchhikes in cars. On that day. So why are we switching to trucks as favored departure and crime scene? Sorry, that makes zero sense. Or almost zero sense. There have been some high profile trucker serial killers. Big deal. There are a heck of a lot more murderers who used basic vehicles than trucks. In adopting trucks as likely, you guys are applying an adjustment far away from the norm. I don't like adjustments. People place far too much faith in low percentage adjustments. If the girl spent a considerable amount of time in the Hitchin Post, and was seen speaking at length to a waitress and perhaps others, there was far too much risk for a trucker to pick her up in the same parking lot
She wasn't being logical. Asking about visiting a prison at 6:30 PM and again an hour or two later. Sounds like blind determination to me. She didn't ask about place to stay overnight. Far more likely than not, the blind determination continued. She used her new map and sense of direction to walk in the direction of the prison. But it's too far. Already dark. She defaults to hitchhiking again. And a car picks her up. Sadly, the wrong car.
Hours pass before the murder, and body dumped. Therefore the straight line route means nothing. If this is a local but inexperienced killer he could take her anywhere, before departing later and deciding on that spot as the dump site. Normally I don't like the theory of multiple perpetrators. But in this case it makes great logic. That's why I was intrigued by that 2010 story, with three guys supposedly inside the car. It is much more common for multiple offenders to subdue the victim and take her to a residence. We have the Hillside Strangler example and Charles Ng, among countless others. The more articulate and calming presence is used as the lure. Imagine a well spoken young guy as the driver, persuading her into the car. Once they hear her plan they convince her the prison wouldn't be open at this hour. Don't worry. We'll let you stay at our place. It's not far away. You can clean up and be presentable for your boyfriend in the morning. We'll drive you there.
Then the betrayal begins.
Obviously this is merely one theory. But I've always preferred that type of thing, upon learning of this case years ago. I'm glad I found this thread because that John Burmester material is light years more interesting and significant than anything else I've come across. For example, the idea of isolating one person from a 1980 hotel stay or 1979 choir picture is next to nothing. That's why DNA solves cases and yearbook scrambling does not.
Dan Parker and John Burmester. Not complicated. When someone has demonstrated interest and knowledge previously, they are big favorite to be interested and helpful again, especially if the correct questions are posed. Correct means plenty of them.
DNA Doe Project can identify this victim but only if Walker County is suitably pressured and shamed to take the prerequisite steps. Looks like the Huntsville Item is the largest paper in the county:
itemonline.com
had to look it up! Here is an excerpt from the article:
