Post by Brad on Feb 23, 2014 14:57:17 GMT
I am happy to discuss what I understand about the incident, and also what I think is going on. Just keep in mind that I know less than some others here, have never been to the exact scene, and I will welcome any of the senior posters, or Visalia locals to chime in as needed.
I will try to place what I understand to be true to your questions:
"I would be so grateful if you would very briefly outline what you think happened during the incident with McGowen and afterwards, during the investigation"
It is my understanding that it went like this: They chose to stake out that garage as a likely target because it had been a hit area before and that leaving the garage door open was a ploy to entice him. Why they chose to do this on this particular day of the week is beyond me based on the day of the week frequency that has been posted here. I understand that McGowen was the only one in the garage and the other officer was placed nearby but not on that exact property. McGowen actually saw the the suspect walk by the window first at a profile, before having a face to face confrontation with him. The suspect fled (there are drawings of this flee path available on this board) McGowen gave chase, and fired a warning shot into the air. The suspect somehow (see madatnite's post for super interesting detail there) got over a fence between backyards, turned and fired at a short distance through the fence, striking the flashlight and injuring McGowen's eye and face. This is how I understand the details. McGowen saw him face to face, no mask. I do not know what the escape route was, I have heard several different things, and I do not know what to believe. McGowen stated, as I quoted earlier, he was sure he had seen the guy before, that he might have even talked to him. Concerning who the McGowen POI turned out to be, there would have been a very plausible reason for this statement.
"Is the shooter McGowen's described POI, or is that some other suspect? Was either cleared?"
This is very, very tricky. I do not want you to think that this is some sort of "i know something you don't know" childish response. Because, in fact, it is more like "I sort of know something that I don't know"
I think the best way to answer this is to say this:
There is no absolute proof that the "VR" was the responsible for every single break-in or ransacking in Visalia between 1973 and 1975. There were a lot of creeps in the 1970s, apparently. I have been to Visalia and it is actually a lovely place, but it was not immune to these creeps at all. So, if you suspend belief that VR was responsible for every single break in in Visalia during that time frame, which i believe is prudent, that would account for some different descriptions and sightings over time.
Now, let me also suggest that if the person we call the VR was responsible for the lion's share of these incidents, he may have been working with another person who was like minded. This could possibly explain the quicksilver escapes, and the crazy ability to gauge the emptiness of homes, particularly on the nights where he hit multiple homes on different streets. Casing and prowling takes time, more than one person can be helpful to that. Having a lookout can also be helpful at times.
So, as to why there would be multiple descriptions/composites, the answer is that more than one person was most likely doing this kind of thing in Visalia, and witnesses reported different descriptions.
As to the actual VR, the two common descriptions could be 2 people working together. A criminal who is so prolific could use some help in not getting caught.
Now, as to McGowen having a specific suspect and what he saw that night in conjunction with composites and descriptions, etc:
If VR was really 2 people working together or a primary person with a helper, it is safe to say that those 2 people would be associated together in real life quite often. They wouldn't be strangers doing this together. In fact, if this hypothesis is true, they would have to be quite close in order for it to stay a secret for 40 years. There are 2 guys that i work with that are best friends and you almost literally never see one without the other. At work, at sporting events, etc. I see them together more than I see them with their wives. So, they are easy to associate with each other.
This is just my opinion, of course. All of this is subject to review factually and debate on the opinion. And I accept that.
But consider this based on the concepts above:
- More than one person was out doing this nonsense
- A large number of these crimes were most likely attributable to the criminal we call "The VR"
- The VR could have had a partner or associate to help
- There is more than 1 composite
- More than 1 person participating in this crime would imply that the participants would have a very close association and trust.
- The person that McGowen saw face to face was someone that he immediately had a feeling that he had seen before or even talked to at some point and he was certain that he could indentify.
- McGowen believed that the VR became the EAR
- it does not necessarily mean that McGowen saw the person face to face in Visalia that he thought was later the EAR. (Or it could have been, but let's go with the first hypothesis for now)
- McGowen could have eventually possibly recalled the recognition of the person he saw and then was reminded of the close association with another man, who he might have been more familiar with.
- Putting 2 and 2 together, McGowen could have thought to look into the close associate as well, as he might have matched the other, non matching descriptions that were turned in.
- It is my understanding that the fingerprints of one of these two men was eventually found at more than one VR scene.
- Just like later in the Maggiore killing, once his face was seen clearly and a solid composite released, activity stopped there and started somewhere else.
- The man out of the 2 close associates whose prints allegedly were found, moved to East Sacramento shortly after. Then the EAR rapes started
- HEe has supposedly been "cleared". Obviously, there is a lot of controversy around that, and there is good reason for it. But that is an ENTIRELY different endless can of worms.
Hypothetically, A, that is what floats through my head, based on some understanding of what has been told to me and some supposition. I am not stating fact, just trying to explain the path to the McGowen suspect and try to clear up your questions.
To the board, I have literally no desire to fight about this. We cannot resolve all the unknowns enough for the fight to ever end. I do not have a POI, or believe that any of this is gospel, I just want the posters who do not know any details and feel frustrated and confused to get some clarity without violating the board rules or a man's rights.
As I said, others know WAY more than me. I was just happy to be able to propose a hypothesis that COULD answer or explain yours (and Evaliant's) questions.
