Stashing his "kits"

[northernjustice]

I have wondered before how the EAR was able to prowl as he did and occasionally attack seemingly on impulse without having any of his accessories on him, but the Shelby book brought up an interesting incident where a family in an attack neighborhood found cigarette butts and EAR-esque footprints near the brush in their yard. Hidden in a nearby hedge was a bag containing a ski mask, gloves, and a small but powerful flashlight that matched the description of his flashlight during other attacks.

This information is big time to me and tells us something about his MO that I've never seen discussed on here. Did he regularly stash kits and/or accessories around neighborhoods for easy access? This might explain why his route seemed strange on occasion... i.e. going into neighbors' backyards immediately prior to the attack. It also might explain why there was such a variety of masks and other accessories from attack to attack. Perhaps he had a number of "kits" stashed around and thus needed a variety of each item to go with each kit.

You have to wonder, if one family found a kit in their yard, then why didn't others find them? There are a few possibilities for this:
- Maybe they did find them and simply disposed of them with or without mentioning it to LE.
- He was able to retrieve his kits in almost all cases.
- The kits were so well-hidden that they weren't found, or found a significant amount of time later when the EAR was no longer "relevant".
- He typically hid kits in brush along trails and creek beds, or other areas unconnected to someone's property.

For reference, Israel Keyes buried kits all over the country and in one case didn't dig one of them up until years later when he used it to kill a couple. This would be a more extreme version of what appears to be a similar tactic.

[magnumforce73]

You have to wonder, if one family found a kit in their yard, then why didn't others find them? There are a few possibilities for this:
- Maybe they did find them and simply disposed of them with or without mentioning it to LE.
- He was able to retrieve his kits in almost all cases.

Hi Justice--

Your first possibility is the one I'm most interested in. Since so many people failed to notify police of suspicious persons or activities--like break-ins or prowling episodes occurring in broad daylight--then it begs the question: how many of these little kits were stashed about, and how many were discovered by homeowners? I personally think he probably kept multiple kits in multiple locations as a matter of logistical practicality--if he can't hit Target A at a given time, he can hit Target B, and he doesn't even need to tote his wares in an Alice pack or a duffel bag because he's already secreted his works somewhere nearby the strike zone--he can show up, set up, do it, and be gone. The other advantage to leaving kits in strategic locations: if he happens to encounter a police officer or even a bystander in the neighborhood, he'll look disarming and harmless; if he gets accosted while in possession of a screwdriver, a ski mask, pre-cut cord (ligatures), a snubnose Colt or S&W, gloves and a flashlight, even Barney Fife will scream "Burglary Tools" and that's all the probable cause necessary to reel him in.

mf73

[Brad]

Nov 18, 2014 19:59:19 GMT northernjustice said:

I have wondered before how the EAR was able to prowl as he did and occasionally attack seemingly on impulse without having any of his accessories on him, but the Shelby book brought up an interesting incident where a family in an attack neighborhood found cigarette butts and EAR-esque footprints near the brush in their yard. Hidden in a nearby hedge was a bag containing a ski mask, gloves, and a small but powerful flashlight that matched the description of his flashlight during other attacks.

This information is big time to me and tells us something about his MO that I've never seen discussed on here. Did he regularly stash kits and/or accessories around neighborhoods for easy access? This might explain why his route seemed strange on occasion... i.e. going into neighbors' backyards immediately prior to the attack. It also might explain why there was such a variety of masks and other accessories from attack to attack. Perhaps he had a number of "kits" stashed around and thus needed a variety of each item to go with each kit.

You have to wonder, if one family found a kit in their yard, then why didn't others find them? There are a few possibilities for this:
- Maybe they did find them and simply disposed of them with or without mentioning it to LE.
- He was able to retrieve his kits in almost all cases.
- The kits were so well-hidden that they weren't found, or found a significant amount of time later when the EAR was no longer "relevant".
- He typically hid kits in brush along trails and creek beds, or other areas unconnected to someone's property.

For reference, Israel Keyes buried kits all over the country and in one case didn't dig one of them up until years later when he used it to kill a couple. This would be a more extreme version of what appears to be a similar tactic.

Since reading that book, I have been waiting for someone to bring this up. IMO, it is very enlightening and not an insignificant thing.

[pendleton]

It doesn't surprise me that he would hide something like that, although it does surprise me a little that he would hide it in someone's yard. Given his use of green spaces, you would think he'd find a better hiding place. I think he spent time in neighbours' yards to asses what their situation was too. If his victims started screaming or putting up a struggle then the neighbours could call the police or attempt to help. The fact that he bound his victims and often disabled the phone was pointed out as a reason why so many of his rapes were reported; victims had to go to the neighbours for help. On a few of his rapes he also wore a stocking mask. This is an old burglar/robber trick. You by a pair of stockings/pantyhose and you leave them in the package until you're ready to commit your crime. That way if you get pulled over you don't have a tell tale ski mask in your car and you can chalk it up to a girlfriend.

[northernjustice]

Nov 18, 2014 20:18:36 GMT pendleton said:

It doesn't surprise me that he would hide something like that, although it does surprise me a little that he would hide it in someone's yard. Given his use of green spaces, you would think he'd find a better hiding place. I think he spent time in neighbours' yards to asses what their situation was too. If his victims started screaming or putting up a struggle then the neighbours could call the police or attempt to help. The fact that he bound his victims and often disabled the phone was pointed out as a reason why so many of his rapes were reported; victims had to go to the neighbours for help. On a few of his rapes he also wore a stocking mask. This is an old burglar/robber trick. You by a pair of stockings/pantyhose and you leave them in the package until you're ready to commit your crime. That way if you get pulled over you don't have a tell tale ski mask in your car and you can chalk it up to a girlfriend.

I thought about this, too, and just like he enjoyed using his victims' homes, eating their food, and "marking his territory" much like a dog *es, he may have enjoyed the fact that he was using the neighbors' property without their consent.

That is a good point about assessing the neighbors. There was one attack, too, where they found that he first walked up to a neighbor's window and peeped in before going to the house next door. I believe they weren't home and there was speculation that he originally wanted to attack them and then impulsively moved on to the neighbor, but your idea is another possibility: that he was checking the status of the neighbors before making his move.

[pendleton]

EAR/ONS' propensity as a rapist/sadist/murder was almost matched by his propensity for self preservation. It paints an interesting picture of him. He has always struck me as a very paranoid person full of anxiety and fear.I think that speaks volumes about why he sought out that level of control.

[magnumforce73]

Nov 18, 2014 20:18:36 GMT pendleton said:

It doesn't surprise me that he would hide something like that, although it does surprise me a little that he would hide it in someone's yard. Given his use of green spaces, you would think he'd find a better hiding place. I think he spent time in neighbours' yards to asses what their situation was too. If his victims started screaming or putting up a struggle then the neighbours could call the police or attempt to help. The fact that he bound his victims and often disabled the phone was pointed out as a reason why so many of his rapes were reported; victims had to go to the neighbours for help. On a few of his rapes he also wore a stocking mask. This is an old burglar/robber trick. You by a pair of stockings/pantyhose and you leave them in the package until you're ready to commit your crime. That way if you get pulled over you don't have a tell tale ski mask in your car and you can chalk it up to a girlfriend.

Bingo!  I too believe he spent time just monitoring the yards of potential target homes not only to get a lay of the land (exits/escapes) but as you said, "to assess their situation."  This guy strikes me as the type who'd need to have a backup, especially if his primary target was, for whatever reason, inaccessible.  Since rage is an obvious element, I'd think he'd want to have a kit waiting at a Target B, especially if his primary objective is (at that moment) unavailable to him.  I believe the reason he was brazen enough to hide his little kits right on the targeted properties was because he probably subscribed to the theory that hiding in plain sight is sometimes the best way to hide.  He preyed upon people's obliviousness to such things.

P, I love your old-school example involving the pantyhose.  He could hide right out in public--and who's going to question a guy with a Leggs canister in his hand?  "For my old lady, Officer." 

mf73

[pendleton]

Nov 18, 2014 20:30:49 GMT magnumforce73 said:

P, I love your old-school example involving the pantyhose.  He could hide right out in public--and who's going to question a guy with a Leggs canister in his hand?  "For my old lady, Officer." 

mf73

It makes me wonder about the pantyhose with a hole poked in the crotch too. EAR was known to enter homes and basically prep while the occupants were sleeping. Did he use the victims' pantyhose as a makeshift mask and then put them back? I think it sounds exactly like something he would do.

[tmacchallenger]

It didn't surprise me one bit that he did this after I read it in Shelby's book. I was surprised that he brought his own beer to his attacks, which was something I was unaware of. It's surprising that no one heard of the found stashes before, unless it was mentioned on this board and I missed it.

Was the Ransacker's stash, that the pistol was recovered from in the McGowen shooting, hidden or did it appear to have been dropped during a getaway? Were there any other reported Ransacker kits also?

[pendleton]

I wonder if it was stashed after an attack/attempted attack. This is another common B&E method, where stolen goods/weapons/burglary tools etc... are hidden after a crime in case the offender is stopped during his getaway. He then comes back later and retrieves them.

[magnumforce73]

Nov 18, 2014 20:37:30 GMT pendleton said:

Nov 18, 2014 20:30:49 GMT magnumforce73 said:

P, I love your old-school example involving the pantyhose.  He could hide right out in public--and who's going to question a guy with a Leggs canister in his hand?  "For my old lady, Officer." 

mf73

It makes me wonder about the pantyhose with a hole poked in the crotch too. EAR was known to enter homes and basically prep while the occupants were sleeping. Did he use the victims' pantyhose as a makeshift mask and then put them back? I think it sounds exactly like something he would do.

P, I wouldn't bet against you on the idea of EAR using a victim's pantyhose as a mask.  He liked to rummage through their clothing--hell, he was wearing the knit ski cap of one of the two sisters he attacked ("Sally and Sarah Graham" from Sudden Terror)--and he liked to drop it off at other crime scenes.  He's sick enough to do just that.

mf73

[pendleton]

Sick and practical. So often he used victim's own belongings and took advantage of their homes. He bound them with their own shoe laces and towels, he ate their food and drank their beverages, he lubed himself with items from their bathrooms, he used their dishes as warning devices and ultimately he killed with items from his victim's own homes.

[tmacchallenger]

Nov 18, 2014 20:59:39 GMT pendleton said:

Sick and practical. So often he used victim's own belongings and took advantage of their homes. He bound them with their own shoe laces and towels, he ate their food and drank their beverages, he lubed himself with items from their bathrooms, he used their dishes as warning devices and ultimately he killed with items from his victim's own homes.

A very good and precise breakdown. Please allow me to also add that he used other people's bikes that he stole too.

[slumbergirl]

Nov 18, 2014 21:08:11 GMT tmacchallenger said:

Nov 18, 2014 20:59:39 GMT pendleton said:

Sick and practical. So often he used victim's own belongings and took advantage of their homes. He bound them with their own shoe laces and towels, he ate their food and drank their beverages, he lubed himself with items from their bathrooms, he used their dishes as warning devices and ultimately he killed with items from his victim's own homes.

A very good and precise breakdown. Please allow me to also add that he used other people's bikes that he stole too.

EAR clearly felt very entitled to the belongings of others including their homes, their food, their bicycles and cars, and, last but definitely not least, their bodies.  I would think that he would also do this, to a lesser extent, in his daily life, and neighbors and co-workers would be quite annoyed by this behavior.

[dbw]

I think it's fair to say EAR preferred to travel light and use items on the scene as much as possible. Items he couldn't count on being on the scene of attacks he could stash in a kit, and I think it likely he stashed kits, possibly multiple kits in a neighbourhood, in areas he was prowling. I think it also highly possible he hid kits when he left the scene, possibly to pick up later, or abandoned them. In the case of #9 it is possible he returned to the area two nights after the attack - was he retrieving a kit?