OH OH - William 'Bill' Comeans, 14, Columbus, 7 Jan 1980 - #1

• The notes delivered in batches to multiple families are identical to one another.
• The notes were neatly penciled on pieces of cut envelope.
• Notes were hand delivered, attached to automobiles and porches with leather belts.

pdxmama said:

That worked! Thank you!

Here is the second article. Titled "Coroner Says New Rome Boy Murdered" published April 23rd, 1980.

Key points:

• Police initially suspected suicide but BC's parents disagreed so the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Lab performed a "personality analysis." This is, essentially, a series of interviews with relatives, friends and school officials to determine "personality traits and habits" of a victim. A similar analysis was done my NYCPD.
  
• Dad was working on the car in the garage. BC brought him coffee twice then wandered into the yard, he never returned. He was gone nearly 20 minutes before it was realized. His father said he would not have left the yard without telling someone.
  
• First attack (this info is different from what we had previously): Took place behind Prairie-Lincoln Elementary School at 4900 Amesbury Way at 8:30pm while he was on his paper route. He was on his bike and attacked from behind.
  
• Second attack: BC was walking near Maple and Beacon Hill Rd. when two men jumped from a car and attacked him (time of day not mentioned.)
  
• The notes he received were found in his locker. They were typed and cut from pieces of magazines. His best friend and girl friend also received notes.

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GoingByMyGut said:

Okay, bringing up the rear here, trying to process all of this slowly.

BBM1: This is only a short distance from the high school -- about a half block up, going north on Galloway.

I thought it was probably close, I will put it on the map later tonight.

BBM2: Do you think it's telling that they keep saying "two men" versus "two kids" or "two students"?

I wondered the same thing. I'm wondering what the actual wording was. His dad said he thought it was bullies (which I wouldn't think would be adults.) I wonder if Bill actually said "men"?

BBM3: Bingo: This means it was someone at school, or someone connected to someone at school. Could it be a student? Yes, but it could also be a custodian (often schools hire grads who don't go off to school), or an older sibling/relative/friend of someone in school who didn't like BC.

Yes, someone with access who wouldn't draw any attention to themselves. Someone who "belonged" there.

BBM4: Notes didn't go to random "others" but to others connected to BC. Significant, IMO.

I think so, too.

Even the coroner called it “a very bizarre case”! If there were no marks on BC, or signs of struggle, what was the knife found at the scene used for? I wonder if it might have been what BC's brother used to cut off the scarf?

It seems like it was stated somewhere that the knife used to cut the scarf was his brother's pocket knife. No clue where I read that.


Do you think there's anything to be made of the "gayly colored winter scarf"? Any chance this was a hate crime because some thugs didn't think Bill was masculine enough?

Anything is possible!

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pdxmama said:

Here is the third article. This one was actually from the Columbus Citizen, not the Dispatch. Also dated April 23rd, 1980 and titled "'Bizarre' strangling of boy ruled a homicide.

Key points:

• This article says his body was found around 9:45pm (other articles stated it was 9:00pm)
  
• BC's parents posted signs in their neighborhood offering a $3000 reward for info, no leads as of the writing of the article.
  
• Second attack - additional info: BC was out collecting money for his paper route and didn't return home until 1:00am. "He had rope burns on his neck and told his parents two young men in an aqua-colored car stopped him, tied a rope around his neck and threw him under some bushes, where he lost consciousness."
  
• At least one note was found at Westland HS after BC's death. It said "You're next" and was signed with a red "S". This is according to BC's parents, deputies would not confirm such a note was found.

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pdxmama said:

Another article from the Columbus Dispatch titled "Threat Letters Believed Written By Same Person" published Oct. 31st, 1980.

Key points:

• Detective believed letters were written by the same BC's murderer. Letters were received by families who also lived on Maple Dr.
  
• Handwriting analysis was done and determined all were written by same person.
  
• Some neighborhood children were specifically named in the letters.
  
• 19 letters were received by 8 families between July 21st and "last Tuesday"
  
• Delivered in groups (multiple houses at once) and delivered personally (did not use US Mail)

Two things jump out at me here. One, in the earlier article is said the notes were typed and put together from pieces cut out of magazines. These were handwritten so I'm not convinced that all of the notes came from the same person.

Second, if these notes actually came from BC's killer, it must have been someone who knew him or at least was very familiar with the neighborhood in order to name specific children in the notes.

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pdxmama said:

Here is the last article I have for today. Also from the Columbus Dispatch and also published on Oct. 31st, 1980. Titled "Death Threats Terrorizing Neighborhood"

Key points:

• The notes delivered in batches to multiple families are identical to one another.
  
• The notes were neatly penciled on pieces of cut envelope.
  
• Notes were hand delivered, attached to automobiles and porches with leather belts.

There was a quote that struck me as pretty interesting as it's quite different from earlier articles where the family was often quoted as being very supportive of the work of LE.

"The worst part of the ordeal, the families said, is what they call the deputies' indifference. 'They weren't interested in Bill from the beginning...They brushed it (the killing) off at first as a suicide' Comeans said. 'They tell us to call whenever we get a letter but then when they get here they just throw them in the trunk of their car and drive away.'"

I will put in my order for the next 5 articles tomorrow morning.

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pdxmama said:

My responses in red
Originally Posted by GoingByMyGut
Okay, bringing up the rear here, trying to process all of this slowly.

BBM1: This is only a short distance from the high school -- about a half block up, going north on Galloway.

I thought it was probably close, I will put it on the map later tonight.

BBM2: Do you think it's telling that they keep saying "two men" versus "two kids" or "two students"?

I wondered the same thing. I'm wondering what the actual wording was. His dad said he thought it was bullies (which I wouldn't think would be adults.) I wonder if Bill actually said "men"?

BBM3: Bingo: This means it was someone at school, or someone connected to someone at school. Could it be a student? Yes, but it could also be a custodian (often schools hire grads who don't go off to school), or an older sibling/relative/friend of someone in school who didn't like BC.

Yes, someone with access who wouldn't draw any attention to themselves. Someone who "belonged" there.

BBM4: Notes didn't go to random "others" but to others connected to BC. Significant, IMO.

I think so, too.

Even the coroner called it “a very bizarre case”! If there were no marks on BC, or signs of struggle, what was the knife found at the scene used for? I wonder if it might have been what BC's brother used to cut off the scarf?

It seems like it was stated somewhere that the knife used to cut the scarf was his brother's pocket knife. No clue where I read that.

Do you think there's anything to be made of the "gayly colored winter scarf"? Any chance this was a hate crime because some thugs didn't think Bill was masculine enough?

Anything is possible!

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pdxmama said:

I went back to look through the articles about the murder published by the Columbus Dispatch and the headline from the article from Dec. 5th, 1980 is "Neighbor of slain youth arrested for penning series of death notes." A second article from the same date is titled "New Rome woman admits threat to neighbors.

I'm going to assume that means they think the letters were a hoax. I'm going to call the number listed and see if I can get my hands on some of those articles.

http://www.columbuslibrary.org/cmlc...ctid=270439&original=Comeans, William&stype=O

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GoingByMyGut said:

BBM1: I'm seeing "All but four deliveries were mailed ..."

Also, re content: "Martin said the messages were 'very brief in three or four words or in poorly constructed sentences.' "

BBM2: Good point.

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GoingByMyGut said:

BBM1: The reporting on the notes, versus LE's comments on the notes -- all over the place. Hard to follow. One says "crudely printed," another "neatly penciled." Very subjective.

BBM2: Yes, noticed that too ...

BBM3: You rule How many are there? If you want, PM me the info and I can email for 5.

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GoingByMyGut said:

BBMs: Remember this earlier post? I'm looking forward to getting some clarity from these articles. I am sensing a difference between the notes left at school and the notes left with neighbors (all or most after BC's death, I think). If there's a hoax, I am betting it involves the letters, not the notes at school. People do things for all kinds of crazy reasons -- I can't even guess this one -- but maybe the woman/neighbor learned about the notes left at school and thought hers would be masked by that mess. OMG, could she be a widow using the belts in her dead husband's wardrobe?!?! No, no, too crazy to be true. Let's see what we learn.

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pdxmama said:

I'm not sure if this is allowed. I will delete if necessary but I was looking up BC on Ancestry.com and found the info from his death certificate. I'm not able to post it or link to it unless I order a copy but it says that there was "No Autopsy Performed" isn't that very unusual for there not to be an autopsy in this type of a situation?

Also, here is a link to BC's Findagrave. I believe the text is from his obituary.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...Sst=37&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=98376117&df=all&

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