22-year-old reported missing after boyfriend returns home from cross-country trip without her

#302
#302
GroverCleveland said:
Ah, gotcha. I did miss the part about her breaking up with him. If that's the case and he was threatening to leave her alongside the road in middle of nowhere, the situation was tarfu.
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I have watched that a couple of times now. The police while polite didn't do the greatest of jobs there deciphering what was going on. I guess not always the smartest - they were very respectful and trying to solve the relationship issues as they saw it.

My take - first let me say that Brian was extremely good in how he dealt with the police - he came across very respectful and likeable and had them shaking his hand and fist bumping him by the time he had finished smoozing them over. He came across as
likeable and mild mannered.

Here is what the cops missed in my opinion and never really got to. He was locking her out of " her car " threatening to leave her - all the while I am pretty sure that he had her cell phone and had her wallet/ purse. She couldn't really drive the van very well at all - was uncomfortable with doing that -
so she was totally dependent on him for driving and he had taken her cell phone in the past - I think this time he had also taken her wallet. Yes she scratched him as they struggled for the cell phone and as she climbed through the driver side window and over him - just to get into the vehicle and not be left. ( Again probably without the cell phone and what little money she had ) Apparently they had virtually no money - which likely also was a point of friction - as the Van Life seemed to be more her idea than his.
 
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#303
#303
NO SIR EEE said:
Laundries neighbors just said that after he returned from out west, he went on a 3 day camping trip with his parents.
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Well they took the camper and I am sure everything that they could find that might be incriminating - or bought stuff for him to go on the run with.
 
#305
#305
Fullfillmer said:
I have watched that a couple of times now. The police while polite didn't do the greatest of jobs there deciphering what was going on. I guess not always the smartest - they were very respectful and trying to solve the relationship issues as they saw it.

My take - first let me say that Brian was extremely good in how he dealt with the police - he came across very respectful and likeable and had them shaking his hand and fist bumping him by the time he had finished smoozing them over. He came across as
likeable and mild mannered.

Here is what the cops missed in my opinion and never really got to. He was locking her out of " her car " threatening to leave her - all the while I am pretty sure that he had her cell phone and had her wallet/ purse. She couldn't really drive the van very well at all - was uncomfortable with doing that -
so she was totally dependent on him for driving and he had taken her cell phone in the past - I think this time he had also taken her wallet. Yes she scratched him as they struggled for the cell phone and as she climbed through the driver side window and over him - just to get into the vehicle and not be left. ( Again probably without the cell phone and what little money she had ) Apparently they had virtually no money - which likely also was a point of friction - as the Van Life seemed to be more her idea than his.
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Wasn't this stop related to a call that was made about him slapping her?
 
#306
#306
Godfatha said:
Wasn't this stop related to a call that was made about him slapping her?
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Yes - I think two separate people called it in - but , my impression was that the stop was somewhat unrelated to the calls at least to begin with. I could be wrong - he was going 45 in a 15 mph zone and they kind of crashed into the curb while an officer had his lights on. I think they were gathering info and catching up as they went. None of the cops referenced him hitting her which is what one or both of the eye witnesses saw. She did have an abrasion on her face which appeared to be from his grabbing and squeezing her face - but the officers didn't pick up on that either. They came extremely close to charging her - because he had small scratches from when she tried to climb in the driver side window over him = just to get in the car and not get left and when she tried to get her cell phone back out of his hand.
 
#307
#307


The location of the body was very close to the road, very close to where their van was parked for 3 or 4 days and there was no where anyone could have fallen and gotten hurt. He killed her - then ran and hitchhiked for 3 or 4 days and then when he realized nothing was happening - he came back - got her debit card, cell phone and the van and scooted back to Florida.
 
#308
#308
The location of the body was very close to the road, very close to where their van was parked for 3 or 4 days and there was nowhere anyone could have fallen and gotten hurt. He killed her ( probably strangled her )- then ran and hitchhiked for 3 or 4 days and then when he realized nothing was happening - he came back - got her debit card, cell phone and the van and scooted back to Florida imho.
 
#312
#312
Fullfillmer said:
I have watched that a couple of times now. The police while polite didn't do the greatest of jobs there deciphering what was going on. I guess not always the smartest - they were very respectful and trying to solve the relationship issues as they saw it.

My take - first let me say that Brian was extremely good in how he dealt with the police - he came across very respectful and likeable and had them shaking his hand and fist bumping him by the time he had finished smoozing them over. He came across as
likeable and mild mannered.

Here is what the cops missed in my opinion and never really got to. He was locking her out of " her car " threatening to leave her - all the while I am pretty sure that he had her cell phone and had her wallet/ purse. She couldn't really drive the van very well at all - was uncomfortable with doing that -
so she was totally dependent on him for driving and he had taken her cell phone in the past - I think this time he had also taken her wallet. Yes she scratched him as they struggled for the cell phone and as she climbed through the driver side window and over him - just to get into the vehicle and not be left. ( Again probably without the cell phone and what little money she had ) Apparently they had virtually no money - which likely also was a point of friction - as the Van Life seemed to be more her idea than his.
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They should have separated the couple when interviewing them. Domestic violence victims are highly unlikely to give an accurate statement of events with their abuser around them. They already had an eye witness report that he was slapping her, so automatically you should be suspicious of what he is saying. EDIT: It's possible the police were unaware of the eye witness reports as previously stated. I haven't looked into that.

Secondly, and may be this is a bit unfair, but you have to consider the state of being the girl was in. She looked like a scared animal in the back of that police car. It didn't help that the officer's were essentially threatening to take one of them to jail.

Obviously, this is Monday morning QB. But this should certainly be used to help other cops know what not to do in a similar situation.
 
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#314
#314
Fullfillmer said:
I have watched that a couple of times now. The police while polite didn't do the greatest of jobs there deciphering what was going on. I guess not always the smartest - they were very respectful and trying to solve the relationship issues as they saw it.

My take - first let me say that Brian was extremely good in how he dealt with the police - he came across very respectful and likeable and had them shaking his hand and fist bumping him by the time he had finished smoozing them over. He came across as
likeable and mild mannered.

Here is what the cops missed in my opinion and never really got to. He was locking her out of " her car " threatening to leave her - all the while I am pretty sure that he had her cell phone and had her wallet/ purse. She couldn't really drive the van very well at all - was uncomfortable with doing that -
so she was totally dependent on him for driving and he had taken her cell phone in the past - I think this time he had also taken her wallet. Yes she scratched him as they struggled for the cell phone and as she climbed through the driver side window and over him - just to get into the vehicle and not be left. ( Again probably without the cell phone and what little money she had ) Apparently they had virtually no money - which likely also was a point of friction - as the Van Life seemed to be more her idea than his.
Click to expand...

Well I have watched the body cam footage probably 10 times and here is what I opinions from 15 yrs on the force. Like it's been mentioned it's VERY possible the officer that made the traffic stop wasn't fully aware of the possible domestic abuse call. From what I've gathered and read the original officer making the stop wasn't responding to the initial DV call as he was with a separate department from where the 911 call came through.....in the video when the 2nd officer arrives he was the one originally dispatched for the DV call. The officer that makes the traffic stop just happened to be in the area and observed Brian speeding then swerving and initiated the TS. The officer reacted correctly in separating Gabby from the van and taking the keys from Brian. He then proceeded when backup got there to take her away to his cruiser to talk more privately with her about the situation. It was clear that they had a verbal and even physcical altercation as she admitted too. In Utah a officer is to make an arrest if he believes or has proof a domestic battery has happened unlike states where the victim can refuse to press charges against their attacker. So text book says that Gabby should have been or easily could have been arrested for her "attack" since she admitted and Brian had scratches. Now with that said a lot of officers (me included) will often take their gut feeling and what they're hearing from BOTH parties in too account and proceed from their.....There was a lot of "special" circumstances here that "COULD'VE" played a role in the officers letting them both be released without arrests. They include; Both admitted the "incident" was their fault and both were physically fine and not worried about the incident continuing from that point. Let's face it, couple argue. Most arguments don't lead to scratches or physical contact where it can legally be "an attack". The officers also probably took into count that they had traveled cross country and were living in a van and that tensions can rise. Neither appeared to be in harm. It's easy to say the officer(s) should have/could have done more but it's not always black or white and we aren't able to see the future. I'm sure the officers involved feel awful but I don't see where they are to blame personally.


508mikey said:
Another thing I don't get is who took the pics and videos of them together ?
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Likely a selfie stick
 
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#316
#316
Hoosier_Vol said:
Well I have watched the body cam footage probably 10 times and here is what I opinions from 15 yrs on the force. Like it's been mentioned it's VERY possible the officer that made the traffic stop wasn't fully aware of the possible domestic abuse call. From what I've gathered and read the original officer making the stop wasn't responding to the initial DV call as he was with a separate department from where the 911 call came through.....in the video when the 2nd officer arrives he was the one originally dispatched for the DV call. The officer that makes the traffic stop just happened to be in the area and observed Brian speeding then swerving and initiated the TS. The officer reacted correctly in separating Gabby from the van and taking the keys from Brian. He then proceeded when backup got there to take her away to his cruiser to talk more privately with her about the situation. It was clear that they had a verbal and even physcical altercation as she admitted too. In Utah a officer is to make an arrest if he believes or has proof a domestic battery has happened unlike states where the victim can refuse to press charges against their attacker. So text book says that Gabby should have been or easily could have been arrested for her "attack" since she admitted and Brian had scratches. Now with that said a lot of officers (me included) will often take their gut feeling and what they're hearing from BOTH parties in too account and proceed from their.....There was a lot of "special" circumstances here that "COULD'VE" played a role in the officers letting them both be released without arrests. They include; Both admitted the "incident" was their fault and both were physically fine and not worried about the incident continuing from that point. Let's face it, couple argue. Most arguments don't lead to scratches or physical contact where it can legally be "an attack". The officers also probably took into count that they had traveled cross country and were living in a van and that tensions can rise. Neither appeared to be in harm. It's easy to say the officer(s) should have/could have done more but it's not always black or white and we aren't able to see the future. I'm sure the officers involved feel awful but I don't see where they are to blame personally.




Likely a selfie stick
Click to expand...

This video should be used as text book - that you can't judge a book by it's cover - he came off very meek and charming - friendly, very disarming - and ended up getting fist pumped by one of the officers when they were leaving. She came across as a distraught mess who was almost in shock. Again she didn't know how to drive the van well at all and I think the issue arose around his locking the van - which belonged to her, denying her entry - he also had her cell phone and probably her money. So he had pretty much abandoned her - or certainly caused her to think he was abandoning her but she managed to climb in the driver side window over him - and gain access to her cell phone - scratching him in the process. Leaving a 105 lb 22 year old girl on the side of the road with no money or cell phone - often would not end well -so she had a right to feel scared.

I personally believe that after the issues at the restaurant - or after his scene at the restaurant and her crying when the returned to the van they argued about it and possibly money and he likely strangled her and left her body in the van for roughly the first 3 days after that. He hiked, used her debit card to get some money. Then he may have hiked some more - he hitch hiked - he may have been trying to create some kind of alibi with the hitch hiking - Warped logic. When he was let out by the people that picked him up hitch hiking - he then returned to the van - drug her body with possibly the tarp that evening - not very far - and then headed back to Florida. He probably pulled out in the middle of the night. He drove straight back arriving on the first. He probably left on the 29 th after they dropped him off.
 
#317
#317
Hoosier_Vol said:
Well I have watched the body cam footage probably 10 times and here is what I opinions from 15 yrs on the force. Like it's been mentioned it's VERY possible the officer that made the traffic stop wasn't fully aware of the possible domestic abuse call. From what I've gathered and read the original officer making the stop wasn't responding to the initial DV call as he was with a separate department from where the 911 call came through.....in the video when the 2nd officer arrives he was the one originally dispatched for the DV call. The officer that makes the traffic stop just happened to be in the area and observed Brian speeding then swerving and initiated the TS. The officer reacted correctly in separating Gabby from the van and taking the keys from Brian. He then proceeded when backup got there to take her away to his cruiser to talk more privately with her about the situation. It was clear that they had a verbal and even physcical altercation as she admitted too. In Utah a officer is to make an arrest if he believes or has proof a domestic battery has happened unlike states where the victim can refuse to press charges against their attacker. So text book says that Gabby should have been or easily could have been arrested for her "attack" since she admitted and Brian had scratches. Now with that said a lot of officers (me included) will often take their gut feeling and what they're hearing from BOTH parties in too account and proceed from their.....There was a lot of "special" circumstances here that "COULD'VE" played a role in the officers letting them both be released without arrests. They include; Both admitted the "incident" was their fault and both were physically fine and not worried about the incident continuing from that point. Let's face it, couple argue. Most arguments don't lead to scratches or physical contact where it can legally be "an attack". The officers also probably took into count that they had traveled cross country and were living in a van and that tensions can rise. Neither appeared to be in harm. It's easy to say the officer(s) should have/could have done more but it's not always black or white and we aren't able to see the future. I'm sure the officers involved feel awful but I don't see where they are to blame personally.




Likely a selfie stick
Click to expand...
From my understanding the domestic call wasn't relayed to the officer thet pulled them over.
 
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#318
#318
Fullfillmer said:
This video should be used as text book - that you can't judge a book by it's cover - he came off very meek and charming - friendly, very disarming - and ended up getting fist pumped by one of the officers when they were leaving. She came across as a distraught mess who was almost in shock. Again she didn't know how to drive the van well at all and I think the issue arose around his locking the van - which belonged to her, denying her entry - he also had her cell phone and probably her money. So he had pretty much abandoned her - or certainly caused her to think he was abandoning her but she managed to climb in the driver side window over him - and gain access to her cell phone - scratching him in the process. Leaving a 105 lb 22 year old girl on the side of the road with no money or cell phone - often would not end well -so she had a right to feel scared.

I personally believe that after the issues at the restaurant - or after his scene at the restaurant and her crying when the returned to the van they argued about it and possibly money and he likely strangled her and left her body in the van for roughly the first 3 days after that. He hiked, used her debit card to get some money. Then he may have hiked some more - he hitch hiked - he may have been trying to create some kind of alibi with the hitch hiking - Warped logic. When he was let out by the people that picked him up hitch hiking - he then returned to the van - drug her body with possibly the tarp that evening - not very far - and then headed back to Florida. He probably pulled out in the middle of the night. He drove straight back arriving on the first. He probably left on the 29 th after they dropped him off.
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All of that makes a lot of sense - it's still nuts though that he thought he could drive back to Florida without her and people wouldn't ask questions.
 
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#319
#319
05_never_again said:
All of that makes a lot of sense - it's still nuts though that he thought he could drive back to Florida without her and people wouldn't ask questions.
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It has become one of the most high profile cases ever - if not, or if he was a tad smarter or a more clever murderer - or even if it was a more routine murder, he could have possibly stayed out of jail for months if not years.

If the public had not seen the van at the campground - if he hauled her body a couple of miles back into the woods - if the FBI wasn't involved.
So many could identify with Gabby once her video's were shown - charismatic and had a great energy and spirit about her.
 
#320
#320
Fullfillmer said:
It has become one of the most high profile cases ever - if not, or if he was a tad smarter or a more clever murderer - or even if it was a more routine murder, he could have possibly stayed out of jail for months if not years.

If the public had not seen the van at the campground - if he hauled her body a couple of miles back into the woods - if the FBI wasn't involved.
So many could identify with Gabby once her video's were shown - charismatic and had a great energy and spirit about her.
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Fortunately most people who do this sort of thing aren't all that smart, or they are crimes of passion committed in the heat of the moment.
 
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#324
#324
mrMet said:
Seems like all he had to do was legit disappear in the hills of Wyoming Montana Idaho or the dakotas and just never go home
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I don't get Bear Grylls vibes from this dude. Don't think he'd last long out there by himself.

As @Fullfillmer said, if they didn't have public disputes before he killed her, if he spent more time out of sight before he did the deed, and buried her body in a more remote location where it wouldn't have been discovered (they are in a remote part of the country, but I think it was pretty close to a trail), he probably would have gotten away with it. He could have come back to Florida and concocted some story about how she ran off and left him, he couldn't find her, etc.

Sure, there'd be a tremendous amount of suspicion and he'd absolutely be a person of interest in her disappearance, but if nobody remembered seeing them or their van, they never found her body, etc., what would they charge him with?
 
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