Ranger/LE???

[cleopatra]

Cathy's wallet was not in her purse. I don't know if the driver's side window of her car was rolled down, but the fact that her wallet was open and it wasn't in her purse does point to the possibility that she was pulled over or approached while parked by a cop.

David's window was partially rolled down and his wallet was on the dashboard with some money in it. It was raining that night and the window wipers were on.  If the window was rolled down, it's also possible that David was pulled over by LE. Otherwise, with it raining the window would have been rolled up. David may have been pulled over by a cop.

Keith's car door was wide open, but there's no info on whether the window was rolled down or not. Keith's wallet was supposedly laying on the back seat, but since a ranger removed then replaced the items, who knows? It could have been on the dashboard, where Keith's watch was. Keith may have also been pulled over by a cop. 

Daniel's window was partially rolled down. Just because Daniel's car was found at the Rest Stop, it doesn't mean they stopped there. Their destination was merely 2 hours from their starting point. David may have been pulled over by a cop while driving on I-64. They could have even gotten close to Virginia Beach. No one knows for a fact that they stopped at the New Kent rest stop or that they never made it to Virginia Beach, regardless of how much gas was in the tank.

Pettinger also could have been approached by a highway patrolman/trooper.  Same with Laura.



time's up...

[billthom56]

Jul 31, 2020 21:43:43 GMT cleopatra said:

Cathy's wallet was not in her purse. I don't know if the driver's side window of her car was rolled down, but the fact that her wallet was open and it wasn't in her purse does point to the possibility that she was pulled over or approached while parked by a cop.

David's window was partially rolled down and his wallet was on the dashboard with some money in it. It was raining that night and the window wipers were on.  If the window was rolled down, it's also possible that David was pulled over by LE. Otherwise, with it raining the window would have been rolled up. David may have been pulled over by a cop.

Keith's car door was wide open, but there's no info on whether the window was rolled down or not. Keith's wallet was supposedly laying on the back seat, but since a ranger removed then replaced the items, who knows? It could have been on the dashboard, where Keith's watch was. Keith may have also been pulled over by a cop. 

Daniel's window was partially rolled down. Just because Daniel's car was found at the Rest Stop, it doesn't mean they stopped there. Their destination was merely 2 hours from their starting point. David may have been pulled over by a cop while driving on I-64. They could have even gotten close to Virginia Beach. No one knows for a fact that they stopped at the New Kent rest stop or that they never made it to Virginia Beach, regardless of how much gas was in the tank.

Pettinger also could have been approached by a highway patrolman/trooper.  Same with Laura.



time's up...

Cleo:

Definitely a possibility-- law enforcement or an "authority figure" who presents as law enforcement even though they be an imposter/wannabe.

Thanks.



Bill Thomas

[cleopatra]

MIDDLESEX TO GET NEW SHERIFF

JUDITH HAYNES

DAILY PRESS

July 11, 1996

Capt. Weldon C. Dandridge will be sworn in Monday as the new sheriff of Middlesex County.

The same day, Lewis Jones III, the sheriff Dandridge is replacing, will be sworn in as deputy chief of the Law Enforcement Division of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

Jones was cleaning out his Saluda office Wednesday to make room for Dandridge, who has been Jones' chief deputy since January 1988, when Jones first took office.

"I hate to see him go," Dandridge said of Jones. "I'll tell you the truth, I hate to see that man go. He's an asset to the county."

Jones, 40, was elected to his third term as sheriff last November. For more than a century, men in his family have helped to preserve law and order in the county. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were commonwealth's attorneys. His grandfather, Lewis Jones, also was a circuit court judge.

Dandridge is acting sheriff until Monday. Jones starts his new job Tuesday.

In November 1997, there will be a special election for sheriff. The person who wins will serve out Jones' term, which ends in December 1999.

Dandridge, 48, said it's far too early to say if he will run for office; he needs to see if he likes being sheriff.

He has chosen Robert Mallory, a retired Richmond police detective, as his chief deputy. Last year, Mallory worked as a deputy at Middlesex High School to help with discipline.

Dandridge has lived in Middlesex since he was a child. He graduated from St. Clare Walker when it was a high school, then entered the Army. He served one tour of duty in Vietnam.

After full- and part-time service in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, Dandridge retired from the National Guard in 1992 as a sergeant first class.

His law enforcement career began in the late 1970s when he became a deputy for Joshua Holmes, then sheriff of Middlesex. In the mid-1980s, Dandridge was a full- and part-time corrections officer at the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center in Saluda.

Jones said when he was elected he wanted Dandridge to be his chief deputy because of Dandridge's dedication to law enforcement and pride in his uniform.

In his new job as deputy chief of VMRC's Law Enforcement Division, also called the Virginia Marine Patrol, Jones will supervise a patrol force of 60 officers and be responsible for equipment and deployment of officers, he said.The patrol enforces marine fishing and recreational boating laws, does search and rescue, investigates boat accidents and, with the state Health Department, enforces shellfish laws, Jones said.

VMRC offices are in downtown Newport News.

ones said among his accomplishments as sheriff are "having the office run fine and having it well-staffed and well-trained." During his tenure, he said, organizational and record-keeping functions have been improved with the installation of computers.

The county has "probably the best group of deputies that Middlesex has ever had at any one time," Jones said.

When he began as sheriff, there were five deputies; now there are 10 full-time and one part-time. "We've got the best, sharpest group," Jones said. "I mean, we've had individuals before, but I think now we have a team."

[fossilnerd]

Aug 17, 2018 21:50:46 GMT cleopatra said:

If the killer's first plan to burn the car didn't fail, the fire would have brought out fire engines and rangers. The CPK risked being spotted leaving the area.

Unless he intended to be present while the fire was being put out..... because he was indeed LE.

Or, unless he was so inexperienced that he did not think that stuff through. Seems so obvious though, for anyone....that a fire and heavy smoke right in the center of a forestry area would immediately attract attention.

I keep wondering if the diesel fuel is a red herring.

Cleopatra,
I've wondered the same thing.
In a more recent thread, someone (I think it was you) posted a reddit link to a list of several murders of women, particularly in the Virginia Beach area, from the early 1970s - 1980s. I couldn't find a specific thread for posting this, so I figured I'd put it here. I think that the killer could have been military--specifically Navy--and maybe even connected to some of the long list of murders mentioned in that reddit post. The killer would have been able to get onto area bases with a DoD card. It would explain the close proximity of the murders to military bases. A number of murders on that list happened near Little Creek / Ft. Story military base.

Here's a theory: during the time of the CPK murders the killer is active duty or retired military. He is either working or staying at a nearby base. He could have been either stationed at NWS or even Cheatham Annex, both locations right there on the water. He could have thought he'd light Cathy's car on fire and see it from a distance--much like was done to Rafaella Bryant's car after she was killed.

It seems to me that there are basic similarities among the CPK victims, as well as among the cold case victims in Virginia Beach area, both in victim appearance as well as among at least 2 or 3 of the cold case crime scenes from Virginia Beach. It makes me wonder if they're connected. Was he military police? A military guard? I don't know much about military uniforms, but I wonder if a mp or guard would have intentionally appeared to be law enforcement. Also, I realize that the CPK victims are all couples and the Va Beach victims were not all couples, but I still think they could be connected.

[billthom56]

Oct 31, 2020 6:19:11 GMT fossilnerd said:

Aug 17, 2018 21:50:46 GMT cleopatra said:

If the killer's first plan to burn the car didn't fail, the fire would have brought out fire engines and rangers. The CPK risked being spotted leaving the area.

Unless he intended to be present while the fire was being put out..... because he was indeed LE.

Or, unless he was so inexperienced that he did not think that stuff through. Seems so obvious though, for anyone....that a fire and heavy smoke right in the center of a forestry area would immediately attract attention.

I keep wondering if the diesel fuel is a red herring.

Cleopatra,
I've wondered the same thing.
In a more recent thread, someone (I think it was you) posted a reddit link to a list of several murders of women, particularly in the Virginia Beach area, from the early 1970s - 1980s. I couldn't find a specific thread for posting this, so I figured I'd put it here. I think that the killer could have been military--specifically Navy--and maybe even connected to some of the long list of murders mentioned in that reddit post. The killer would have been able to get onto area bases with a DoD card. It would explain the close proximity of the murders to military bases. A number of murders on that list happened near Little Creek / Ft. Story military base.

Here's a theory: during the time of the CPK murders the killer is active duty or retired military. He is either working or staying at a nearby base. He could have been either stationed at NWS or even Cheatham Annex, both locations right there on the water. He could have thought he'd light Cathy's car on fire and see it from a distance--much like was done to Rafaella Bryant's car after she was killed.

It seems to me that there are basic similarities among the CPK victims, as well as among the cold case victims in Virginia Beach area, both in victim appearance as well as among at least 2 or 3 of the cold case crime scenes from Virginia Beach. It makes me wonder if they're connected. Was he military police? A military guard? I don't know much about military uniforms, but I wonder if a mp or guard would have intentionally appeared to be law enforcement. Also, I realize that the CPK victims are all couples and the Va Beach victims were not all couples, but I still think they could be connected.

Fossil:

Lots of interesting theories here!

Thanks.

Bill Thomas

[cleopatra]

Oct 31, 2020 6:19:11 GMT fossilnerd said:

Aug 17, 2018 21:50:46 GMT cleopatra said:

If the killer's first plan to burn the car didn't fail, the fire would have brought out fire engines and rangers. The CPK risked being spotted leaving the area.

Unless he intended to be present while the fire was being put out..... because he was indeed LE.

Or, unless he was so inexperienced that he did not think that stuff through. Seems so obvious though, for anyone....that a fire and heavy smoke right in the center of a forestry area would immediately attract attention.

I keep wondering if the diesel fuel is a red herring.

Cleopatra,
I've wondered the same thing.
In a more recent thread, someone (I think it was you) posted a reddit link to a list of several murders of women, particularly in the Virginia Beach area, from the early 1970s - 1980s. I couldn't find a specific thread for posting this, so I figured I'd put it here. I think that the killer could have been military--specifically Navy--and maybe even connected to some of the long list of murders mentioned in that reddit post. The killer would have been able to get onto area bases with a DoD card. It would explain the close proximity of the murders to military bases. A number of murders on that list happened near Little Creek / Ft. Story military base.

Here's a theory: during the time of the CPK murders the killer is active duty or retired military. He is either working or staying at a nearby base. He could have been either stationed at NWS or even Cheatham Annex, both locations right there on the water. He could have thought he'd light Cathy's car on fire and see it from a distance--much like was done to Rafaella Bryant's car after she was killed.

It seems to me that there are basic similarities among the CPK victims, as well as among the cold case victims in Virginia Beach area, both in victim appearance as well as among at least 2 or 3 of the cold case crime scenes from Virginia Beach. It makes me wonder if they're connected. Was he military police? A military guard? I don't know much about military uniforms, but I wonder if a mp or guard would have intentionally appeared to be law enforcement. Also, I realize that the CPK victims are all couples and the Va Beach victims were not all couples, but I still think they could be connected.

Fossilnerd,

I agree with your theory about some of the lone-murders - that the CPK may have committed them. 

The four linked murders were very brutal. Especially the murders of Cathy and Becky.  And they were committed so swiftly, as if the killer had some experience. 

I've always believed the CPK is similar to the EARONS.  The EARONS attacked (raped and murdered) mostly couples but sometimes lone victims.  Everyone thought the EAR crimes started his crime spree in Sac in 1976 and stopped in Sac1979, when in fact they started in Visalia, moved to Sac, then moved to So Cal.

So, I'm thinking the CPK possibly lived at least 30 minutes away from each of the crime areas, but not in the immediate areas of where murders or "last seen alive"  occurred.  Bundy, the Green River Killer, and Son of Sam all admitted that they did the same thing - drove to far distances from where they lived to commit their crimes.

Cleo

[billthom56]

Oct 31, 2020 22:00:13 GMT cleopatra said:

Oct 31, 2020 6:19:11 GMT fossilnerd said:

Cleopatra,
I've wondered the same thing.
In a more recent thread, someone (I think it was you) posted a reddit link to a list of several murders of women, particularly in the Virginia Beach area, from the early 1970s - 1980s. I couldn't find a specific thread for posting this, so I figured I'd put it here. I think that the killer could have been military--specifically Navy--and maybe even connected to some of the long list of murders mentioned in that reddit post. The killer would have been able to get onto area bases with a DoD card. It would explain the close proximity of the murders to military bases. A number of murders on that list happened near Little Creek / Ft. Story military base.

Here's a theory: during the time of the CPK murders the killer is active duty or retired military. He is either working or staying at a nearby base. He could have been either stationed at NWS or even Cheatham Annex, both locations right there on the water. He could have thought he'd light Cathy's car on fire and see it from a distance--much like was done to Rafaella Bryant's car after she was killed.

It seems to me that there are basic similarities among the CPK victims, as well as among the cold case victims in Virginia Beach area, both in victim appearance as well as among at least 2 or 3 of the cold case crime scenes from Virginia Beach. It makes me wonder if they're connected. Was he military police? A military guard? I don't know much about military uniforms, but I wonder if a mp or guard would have intentionally appeared to be law enforcement. Also, I realize that the CPK victims are all couples and the Va Beach victims were not all couples, but I still think they could be connected.

Fossilnerd,

I agree with your theory about some of the lone-murders - that the CPK may have committed them. 

The four linked murders were very brutal. Especially the murders of Cathy and Becky.  And they were committed so swiftly, as if the killer had some experience. 

I've always believed the CPK is similar to the EARONS.  The EARONS attacked (raped and murdered) mostly couples but sometimes lone victims.  Everyone thought the EAR crimes started his crime spree in Sac in 1976 and stopped in Sac1979, when in fact they started in Visalia, moved to Sac, then moved to So Cal.

So, I'm thinking the CPK possibly lived at least 30 minutes away from each of the crime areas, but not in the immediate areas of where murders or "last seen alive"  occurred.  Bundy, the Green River Killer, and Son of Sam all admitted that they did the same thing - drove to far distances from where they lived to commit their crimes.

Cleo

Cleo:

Creepy.  Commuting to kill.

Thanks.

Bill Thomas

[cleopatra]

Yes, creepy.....

If he is LE, he wouldn't have wanted crimes happening in his neighborhood or within the vicinity of his home.

[billthom56]

Nov 13, 2020 23:30:56 GMT cleopatra said:

Yes, creepy.....

If he is LE, he wouldn't have wanted crimes happening in his neighborhood or within the vicinity of his home.

Cleo:

I am working with a noted geographic profiler on the Colonial Parkway Murders-- will ask him about the distance question.

Thanks.

Bill Thomas

[tosh]

This is a really interesting paper - Rennison, C M & Dodge, M, (2011) 'Police Impersonation: Pretenses and Predators'.

Police Impersonation: Pretenses and Predators

There are not a huge amount of cases for the authors to draw from as it seems not every victim reports such a crime. Nonetheless, it is a fascinating and insightful read especially as we know investigators have considered someone posing as an authority figure in these murders.

Some tidbits -

Of the 63 police impersonators in the sample 87% were male, 85% were white and they tend to be older than overall violent offenders.

"The highway/roadway/alley and in/near the residence/home of the victim makes up the majority of locations impersonation took place."

"The most typical impersonator incident involves an offender driving an unmarked car who uses a spotlight or red and blue flashing lights for a pull-over (33%)."  "In the majority of pull-over cases, offenders drive unmarked, white, Ford Crown Victoria vehicles." ” In six cases the offenders drove relatively non-descript sedans or sport utility vehicles: a white Chevy Impala, a silver four door, a maroon newer model Chevrolet four-door, and a black sport utility vehicle. Accessories (e.g.sirens, lights, push bumpers) may be simple or elaborate."

According to Felson (2006), impersonation serves three purposes. First, by distinguishing themselves as law enforcement officers, impersonators scare off would-be enemies. Second, using these tools, impersonators are able to get victims to comply with their wishes. Third, the actions of impersonators discourage bystanders from interfering. The “tricky” offender, according to Felson, uses aggressive mimicry to close-in on unsuspecting prey by imitating something desirable, that is, copying “legal behavior in order to carry out illegal acts” (p. 256).

[billthom56]

Tosh:

Very interesting. This could apply to the Colonial Parkway Murders.

Thanks.



Bill Thomas

[daedra]

Published in the NN Daily Press on Feb 3 1987 - an Isle of Wight PI had his weapon permit revoked for tailing a woman and her boyfriend, pointing a gun at them, and demanding she lower the window. Checks off a couple of boxes (car, couple, authority figure): 

[daedra]

June 23 1987 a PI / former security officer for the NAVY impersonated an LEO and robbed a group of kids:  

[daedra]

Dropped this in another thread but thought it would be worth putting here too: an 18 year veteran of Hampton PD was fired for pulling over a woman while in plain clothes and walking away when she requested ID. He was a real cop but because he was off-duty he was technically impersonating. Kind of reminded me of how GSK was fired for theft. Like I'm sure this guys blends really well, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had slip-ups here and there. 

Aug 25 1987

[cleopatra]

Mar 26, 2021 21:59:32 GMT daedra said:

Dropped this in another thread but thought it would be worth putting here too: an 18 year veteran of Hampton PD was fired for pulling over a woman while in plain clothes and walking away when she requested ID. He was a real cop but because he was off-duty he was technically impersonating. Kind of reminded me of how GSK was fired for theft. Like I'm sure this guys blends really well, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had slip-ups here and there. 

Aug 25 1987

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Dedra,

You've posted some great finds!

Cleo