Fishman15 states: "At first I was puzzled with so much ammo left at the scene but if Mr. B was in fact killed and then dumped there it makes sense that the killer would dump the gun there and all ammo he had linking him to the gun as well."
What you say is true about Law Enforcement having less to go on when it comes to tracing shotguns and rifles. Don't hold your breath waiting for them to recover your shotguns and seek you out to return them!
In regard to the large amount of ammunition left at the scene, I feel that there could be a number of explanations. One being, as you state, that a murderer wanted to get rid of any and all connection to that rifle.
Another explanation might be that "Mr. Bones" had moved out of a long time residence and was transporting his own rifle and all his ammunition along with it. Or maybe that he had left the rifle and ammunition with a family member or friend and had recently picked it up and was transporting it.
Another explanation might be that he had just inherited the rifle and ammo or purchased the lot from someone. Unfortunately the story about his death, the rifle and the ammo probably did not get out wide enough to get anyone's attention. Again, an indication that Mr. Bones was a long distance from any friends, family, or acquaintances.
No hunter would go out on a short hunt with such a vast amount of ammo. And Mr. Bones was neither dressed or equipped for hunting. In fact, the time of year that he most likely died would have been in spring rather than in fall during hunting season.
If Mr. Bones was a competative rifle shooter, he might travel with a lot of ammunition, but he would have had other equipment and clothing with him which are used in that sport. And there is no indication that the ammunition was "Match" quality. Certainly the rifle was not of the type used in most rifle matches.
More information about the rifle and ammunition might yet bring forth some useful clues.
Because it leaves such a large wound, it might have been used by a killer to obliterate another type of wound, such as blunt trauma to the head, a pistol wound or knife wound. This would be in the hope that LE would focus on the rifle only.
Using a rifle to commit suicide is certainly effective, but not physically easy. The trigger has to be pulled or pushed with a stick, a branch, or a toe, since the barrel and action would be longer than a person's arm. This is where "in situ" photos taken at the scene would be helpful in making a determination.
What you say is true about Law Enforcement having less to go on when it comes to tracing shotguns and rifles. Don't hold your breath waiting for them to recover your shotguns and seek you out to return them!
In regard to the large amount of ammunition left at the scene, I feel that there could be a number of explanations. One being, as you state, that a murderer wanted to get rid of any and all connection to that rifle.
Another explanation might be that "Mr. Bones" had moved out of a long time residence and was transporting his own rifle and all his ammunition along with it. Or maybe that he had left the rifle and ammunition with a family member or friend and had recently picked it up and was transporting it.
Another explanation might be that he had just inherited the rifle and ammo or purchased the lot from someone. Unfortunately the story about his death, the rifle and the ammo probably did not get out wide enough to get anyone's attention. Again, an indication that Mr. Bones was a long distance from any friends, family, or acquaintances.
No hunter would go out on a short hunt with such a vast amount of ammo. And Mr. Bones was neither dressed or equipped for hunting. In fact, the time of year that he most likely died would have been in spring rather than in fall during hunting season.
If Mr. Bones was a competative rifle shooter, he might travel with a lot of ammunition, but he would have had other equipment and clothing with him which are used in that sport. And there is no indication that the ammunition was "Match" quality. Certainly the rifle was not of the type used in most rifle matches.
More information about the rifle and ammunition might yet bring forth some useful clues.
Because it leaves such a large wound, it might have been used by a killer to obliterate another type of wound, such as blunt trauma to the head, a pistol wound or knife wound. This would be in the hope that LE would focus on the rifle only.
Using a rifle to commit suicide is certainly effective, but not physically easy. The trigger has to be pulled or pushed with a stick, a branch, or a toe, since the barrel and action would be longer than a person's arm. This is where "in situ" photos taken at the scene would be helpful in making a determination.
