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** This is an archived, static copy of the Casebook messages boards dating from 1998 to 2003. These threads cannot be replied to here. If you want to participate in our current forums please go to https://forum.casebook.org **

Archive through 11 October 2002

Casebook Message Boards: Beyond Whitechapel - Other Crimes: The Sniper (Tarot Card Killer?) in the D.C. area: Archive through 11 October 2002
Author: Howard Brown
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 12:23 pm
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Dear Scott: Thanks for that story. Do you believe that he has rifles stashed away? This could explain ( unless,I heard incorrectly ) why there were two different rifle makes mentioned...This guy is apparently cunning. Thanks again,amigo

Author: Scott E. Medine
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 12:32 pm
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Just to clarify my statement, I did not say he was working in tandem, I stated he may be working in tandem as that is how military snipers work.

What I will venture to go put on a limb and say is that if the killer is ex-military or has a military fixation then he will probably have 100 kills set as his goal. I say this because the world record for confirmed kills by a military sniper is set at 99 by former US Marine Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock. To break this record is akin to winning a gold medal in an Olympic Event. If the killer is ex-military or has that fixation then I will lay even odds that Hathcock's book, relating his exploits in Vietnam, is in his collection.

Peace,
Scott

P.S. Then again this guy may just be nut.

Author: Monty
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 12:45 pm
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Richard P,

Zodiac hit me when I heard the news at the weekend. I'd expect more correspondence (genuine or not) after this latest attack.

Here in Blighty the news is big. I cant help but think that the people who live in the area are reacting in a similar fashion to those in Whitechapel 1888.

The panic, fear, the "whos next?" factor.

Scott E,

Hope things are going ok !

Monty
:)

David R,

Grow up and cut out the snide remarks. You're acting the ar$e and it impresses no one. If you want to be taken seriously then pack it in....

....if you dont then carry on. Your doing a fine job !

Monty

Author: Scott E. Medine
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 12:50 pm
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Howard,

It could be. The US Army Sniper Operations Manual ( I forget the actual nomenclature of the manual )states that one tactic is for the sniper to cache his weapon and supplies at his firing point ahead of time. This is done in circumstances when he needed to move in and out from a designated area in a hurry and when he has re-locate to another target rich enviromnet. He will leave with the weapon but when he arrives at his other designated point the weapon and supplies will be emplaced for him. This cache is usually emplaced by a forward recon element or the local friendly indigenous population.

As far as his cunning goes....it depends on his experience level. If he indeed has had training in military special operations and is military trained sniper then he is highly disciplined and able to move in and out of his position well ahead of time. This also means the police may be in for the long haul.

All the snipers I have known, both military and police, are extremely disciplined, possess a high level of patience are very introverted, very cold blooded and live and die by their kill record.

Peace,
Scott

Author: Scott E. Medine
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 12:54 pm
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Monty,

All is fine. I am knocking out chapters right and left. I am also knocking the ash out of my lungs and off my clothing.

I have yet to hear from Mr. Barnett. I may have to put the dogs on him.

Thanks

Peace,
Scott

Author: Howard Brown
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 01:00 pm
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Dear Scott....your last paragraph is what we are all afraid of. That he possesses all of those characteristics you mention. As luck would have it,my girlfriend and I and our kids are going to Cumberland Md.,for the train-ride attraction out there tomorrow. I think the train ride ends in Oakland,Md. which is near DC.......................................................... Monty,did you see the latest two Radka posts( pulled )too ? Classics. The second was a mock plea for help because the Connecticut Yankoff was pretending he was the sniper and wanted to stop the spree.....Shame Radka's PC didn't shut down so the rest of the folks could have seen those posts.

Author: Christopher T George
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 01:17 pm
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Hi, Howard:

I believe you and your lady love should be safe in Western Maryland. As Stephen has said, this criminal seems to be staying close to the major roads with access to the Washington, D.C. beltway, probably within a twenty or so mile radius of central D.C. proper. I think you can enjoy your train ride to Cumberland with no fear.

All the best

Chris

Author: Howard Brown
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 01:23 pm
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Thanks, C.G.....

Author: David Radka
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 03:43 pm
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The popularity of this board at this time disquiets me. It seems to me that a Ripperologist should be a serious, scientific or philosophically-minded person, not someone interested on pouncing on the latest item of mass interest at any given time. It seems to me that the people feverishly posting here don't know the difference between serious and exploitative work, or who perhaps lack the capacity to take any matter seriously. It doesn't really bode well for one's future publications on the Whitechapel murders case if one is to be found revelling in items of mass hysteria such as the above. It would seem that such a person should not be trusted to make reasonable inferences and determinations, and is instead rather more interested in manipulating the public attention for the purpose of immediate profit.

I wouldn't doubt that sometime soon a popular musical will be produced about the tarot card sniper.

David

Author: Christopher T George
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 03:57 pm
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Hello Radka:

I note the smart alecky tone of your last post.

You are the one who has claimed to have been so affected by September 11. Stephen Ryder and I live and work in the areas where these shootings are occurring. Do you wonder that we are concerned about them and are interested in the developments in the case? Possibly if you felt you were in the crosshairs of this killer you might not sound so cynical. I also do think the psychology of the person responsible for these shootings has some pertinence to the Ripper case. If you don't like this thread, if you think it's wierd, go somewhere else.

Chris George

Author: Howard Brown
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 05:08 pm
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Senor Radka:...Besides asking what the hell are you talking about,some of us saw the insensitive and juvenile 2nd post about the sniper you made before you yanked it....Be happy that you don't live near that area of the country. Disquieting? I guess its okay to call someone a jerkoff,insult their ethnicity( regardless of the person's true gene pool,in this case )and accuse them of character flaws for no sane reason. Who is reveling in the acts of the sniper? None of us are or would. Check yourself out,homes.Is this behavior due to an urge to be spanked? C'mon,you're in your 40's..........

Author: Brian H
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 06:19 pm
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I just saw on the news that the killing in Manassas has just been confirmed by police as coming from the same killer. Ballistics tests, evidently.

Author: David Radka
Thursday, 10 October 2002 - 09:05 pm
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The second post I made did not concern the sniper--it was about myself.

Author: Dan Norder
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 04:56 am
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David,

Talking about a high profile case that relates to serial killings is exactly the sort of thing you'd expect people here to be interested in. I don't understand why you don't get this, and I can't figure out how you think anyone here is manipulating anything for profit. The accusation is laughable.

We all know you imagine that ripperologists are someow out to get you. Yet you constantly are the one starting the offensive against other people, whether it be individuals or groups as a whole.

Learn to play nice and maybe people will start taking you seriously.

Dan

Author: Dan Norder
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 05:29 am
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Scott, Thanks for the info about cards and the name God as they relate to military snipers. After you mentioned it, I looked around and found a couple sources mention the movie connection but miss that it has a real basis.

From the beginning I figured it was a military sniper wannabe. I feared that it might be another jaded teenager with a gun living out a shoot-em-up video game type fantasy. The concept that it might be an actual former member of the military is even more scary.

With the regularity of the shootings I think the killer is bound to slip up and get caught (and probably killed in the process) soon. Someone with control would have backed off and waited for the trail to get cold.

I hear that the note with the tarot card was about 30 -40 words long. Hopefully there's something in there the police can use to get to him faster. While I'm curious about its contents, I hope that nobody in the public finds out what the note said until after this maniac is out of the picture.

My heart goes out to all of you living in the affected area, I can't even imagine the stress you could be going through.

Dan

Author: Kevin Braun
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 09:29 am
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Hi Dan,

You write...

"I hear that the note with the tarot card was about 30 -40 words long. Hopefully there's something in there the police can use to get to him faster. While I'm curious about its contents, hope that nobody in the public finds out what the note said until after this maniac is out of the picture."

May I agree to disagree. I think the police should publish the note as is. Someone may recognize the handwriting or the writing style (see the Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski). The public should be given all relevant information.

I am concerned that the press has given this nut a moniker, The Beltway Sniper, simply because it helps sell papers, increase TV ratings. Sound familiar?

Take care,
Kevin

Author: Dan Norder
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 09:54 am
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Kevin,

Withholding info from the public is extremely helpful. Right now people can (and have been) calling up and claiming to be the sniper. Without non-public information there'd be no way to tell if the person was who they said they were. It's also good for prosecuting criminals once they are caught, by showing that the person knew info that only the killer could know.

Giving all the information out loses all that, often for no good reason.

The nickname is solely to identify him... how else are we supposed to refer to him? I've seen references to the "serial sniper in the DC area," which clumsy. "Beltway sniper" is simply an accurate, short description. It doesn't sell any more papers or increase ratings than using a long, convoluted description would use.

Now if they start calling him the "God sniper," "Death card killer," "Grim Shooter," or something like that you'll know they're just hyping it.

Dan

Author: Monty
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 11:12 am
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Scott E,

The dogs are ready.

Monty
:)

Author: David Radka
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 11:17 am
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It really is an effort to reign in immature people, sad to say. All they seem to need is to hear a little bang bang locally, and they come right out of their shoes in their enthusiasm to exploit others. As soon as there is mass interest, they plunge in with both feet and a loud explosion of half-baked notions, hoping to accidentally hit on something--anything--that resonates. Next you'll see the product-development phase, in which the public enthusiasm will be cynically translated into sellable wares. And then the marketing phase, in which the dour-faced Taratologist will be seen sitting with Barbara Walters or Katie Couric skillfully expressing empathetic pathos toward the public for its suffering, and offering the product for sale as the cure. We've seen this over and again, you'd think we'd know the signs by now. But just look at the posts above and see how many people are shallowly aroused. I think that Ripperology, now Taratology, is kind of disease of the enthusiasm glands, leading to irresponsible behaviors.

What gets me is that some of these little 'uns will be asked to pen reviews of the books to be written, as sober-sided "experts" in the "field." In other words, immaturity justifying itself immaturely.

David

Author: Monty
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 11:25 am
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David,

As soon as there is mass interest, they plunge in with both feet and a loud explosion of half-baked notions, hoping to accidentally hit on something--anything--that resonates.

A.R ??

Monty

Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 11:37 am
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David,

Get over yourself. The fact that you are accusing anyone on these boards of being immature absolutely floors me.

Author: Christopher T George
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 12:06 pm
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Hi, David Radka:

You seem to enjoy being the poster boy for certified tax accountants behaving badly.

Chris

Author: Ally
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 12:25 pm
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David, honey,

I might recommend that since your gracious host who is normally the soul of tolerance and gentility lives in the fire-zone and naturally has a keen interest in the subject, considering he has a girlfriend who stops at that gas station in Manassas and considering we do most of our shopping there and considering he has posted on this subject a few times in the above thread, you might want to reconsider calling people who express an interest in the topic to be immature and shallowly aroused.

Regards,

Ally

Author: Scott E. Medine
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 12:33 pm
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Monty,

I am going to give him until the 15th. After that I will e-mail you information I will need you to get from him.

Thanks.

Peace,

Scott

Author: Scott E. Medine
Friday, 11 October 2002 - 12:40 pm
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Are the gas stations and other sites the sniper targeted near woods? Open areas? Urban areas or suburban-urban sprawl? I would imagine he is shooting from high ground.

If I were the investigating detective I would have to ask witnesses if they heard the shot. If they did I would ask for the time difference between the victim falling and the sound of the shot, as sound travels at 330m per second (roughly 150 yards). I would even entertain placing witnesses under hypnosis in order to gain this information.

Peace,
Scott

 
 
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