Call me crazy, but I think Danny Casolaro... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Xytras · 07-19-2007, 01:11 PM

committed suicide. I know it might sound crazy to a lot of people, but hear me out.

1) The last person to see him alive, a bartender, said that he looked depressed. Yes, I know the episode mentioned that the last time Danny talked to his family, he didn't seem to be that depressed, but time had passed since he talked to his family and he was at the hotel area.

Taken from Wikipedia:
Witnesses reported that Casolaro spent the next few hours (about 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on August 9) at a Martinsburg restaurant. (Ridgeway and Vaughan, 39) "He seemed lonely and depressed, the bartender told police." (Ridgeway and Vaughan, 39)

2) The suicide note. The handwriting found on this note was known to match known handwriting samples from Danny. I know some say, "what if he was forced to write it before murdered." Well, think about it, when people are going to quickly murder you, even if they want to cover it hardcore afterward, why wasn't any sign of struggle or noise made on behalf of Danny to escape (both rooms left and right of Danny's reported no scuffle or noise) to avoid death. Danny would have had to have known that if he was forced to write this note, they were going to try to kill him.

3) Other than the scene in the bathroom, the rest of the room was clean, in place, and orderly. This means that there wasn't a big chance a bigtime scuffle took place. There was also no sign of forced entry into the room.

4) Authorities also found four more razorblades in their package. To me, this suggests it was planned out. I really doubt that perpetrators would leave the razors IN THE PACKAGE in Danny's room in an orderly fashion.

5) As stated above, there was no known noise. Danny would have likely struggled if to die this way, especially since he was extremely squeemish when it came to blood (the episode mentions this as well). In struggles like this, there is little chance that absolutely NO noise will be heard.

6) Danny had consumed a bottle of wine and beer before his death. This suggests he was trying to quell the pain he would feel through the suicide. This is a known consistancy with many suicides of a similar fashion. It also supports that if he were in fact so scared of blood as reported, he would have to drink to actually go through with his decision.

I know there are a lot of theories that Danny was murdered because he was uncovering the "Octopus," and Inslaw but based on these things I still can't see how he was murdered. My theory doesn't explain why none of Danny's documents in a briefcase or manilla envelope have turned up, but I can see him destroying his work so other journalists couldn't take credit for his efforts.

I'd like to hear input from everyone else, as I know this is a favorite case for a lot of people.

crystaldawn · 07-19-2007, 01:20 PM

Wow, I must say I'm impressed at your well thought out post. I always assumed he was murdered due to the very graphic way he died and the whole fear of needles and blood. I must say though your facts are quite compelling and maybe I'll rethink my opinion. That was suprising that there were no signs of a struggle and other people heard no commotion in his hotel room. I wasn't aware of that.

Xytras · 07-19-2007, 01:24 PM

Thanks for your input! I know I don't post too much but I've always thought about factors in this case and it's probably my favorite case that Unsolved Mysteries ever did. I know a lot of others will disagree with me, but I thought I would post what I thought based on my own interest. I do admit though the missing documents Danny carried in his possession threaten my theory the most.

DarkDante · 07-19-2007, 01:38 PM

Good research...I still have a huge problem with the way he committed suicide. I have an equal (if not moreso) fear of blood as Mr. Casolaro did and the thought of intentionally causing myself to bleed (and in fact bleed excessively) is so far from my mind its almost incomprehensible.

There is a qualifier here and that is Casolaro was recently diagnosed with MS prior to his death. As with any life altering illness, it would no doubt prompt some passing thoughts of suicide due to the anxiety and desperation that goes along with it so maybe Casolaro had some sort of a breakdown and killed himself?

Then again Casolaro and those close to him believed due to his research he had a lot of dangerous people upset with him which would provide plenty of motive if in fact Casolaro's research was as in depth as people believe it to be.

themaninblack · 07-19-2007, 01:42 PM

but we must remember, that if he was killed by people working within the government, there is a great likelihood that they knew how to make it look like a suicide.
also i remember dannys brother stating something like his brothers body had been embalmed before they were even informed of dannys death.
sounds like someones covering up something to me.
then again he could very well have used the alcohol to make it easier
to slit his wrists...

Xytras · 07-19-2007, 01:53 PM

Good points from both of you guys. I can see where you are coming from, and I'll say it again that the thing that damns my theory the most is his missing documents and many enemies made due to his research. You guys have correctly pointed this out.

Another thing I stopped to think about one time as well is, what if Danny Casolaro was overhyping much of his research? He asserted that he was coming to the bottom of Iran-Contra, October Surprise, the closure of Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), the bombing of Pan Am 103, and involving the Central intelligence Agency (CIA), Mossad, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the U.S. Justice Dept, the Wackenhut Corporation, and the British security and intelligence services. To say he had the solution to all of these huge macro-issues in national government policy and decision-making would look a little bit overwhelming to be possible.

Also considering that most historians now discount the 1980 October surprise. The US Senate’s 1992 report concluded that "by any standard, the credible evidence now known falls far short of supporting the allegation of an agreement between the Reagan campaign and Iran to delay the release of the hostages". It should also be known that the Senate was under Democratic control at this point.

So, if he overhyped his research, and kept all of his notes and accordian file secret from everyone (which he did), how do we know the extent of his research? Do we really know he had uncovered everything he claimed, and was going to present it all in a press conference or major newspaper? We don't know because he was notorious elusive about keeping all of his materials, papers, and notes secret, and we don't trully know the extent of the research itself.

kamy · 07-19-2007, 04:17 PM

Other things to consider though, if Danny commited suicide, where did the bloody towels come from that were under the sink as if someone was trying to clean up? Also, where did all his research and paperwork go?
Very compelling reasons to side w/ suicide but there are other factors at play as well............just my thoughts

kadrmas15 · 07-19-2007, 05:28 PM

Well, actually I do not know that he was diagnosed with MS. Yes, the medical examiner determined that Casolaro was in the very early stages of MS and probably didnt even know anything was wrong, I do not believe a doctor ever diagnosed him with that when he was alive.

Yes, it is true he was seen looking lonely and depressed, a lot of people are seen looking lonely and depressed doesnt mean they go off and kill themselves. Also for a man who could not stand the sight of blood for him to slash himself repeatedly and deeply, I believe some of the slashes were so deep a couple of his tendons were severed. There is the bloody towels in the room, perhaps Danny was murdered by someone he thought he knew and trusted, hence no struggle, maybe he was overpowered so quickly that he had no time to struggle, like having a stun gun used on him perhaps or something.

It was a very good and detailed and well thought out post, but Danny probably was murdered in my opinion, he knew too much and pissed off the wrong people and they wanted him snuffed out before he could spill his guts, again my opinion, also all these missing papers and stuff, it points to suicide.

Xytras · 07-19-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamy

Other things to consider though, if Danny commited suicide, where did the bloody towels come from that were under the sink as if someone was trying to clean up? Also, where did all his research and paperwork go?
Very compelling reasons to side w/ suicide but there are other factors at play as well............just my thoughts

Good point, I'm glad you brought this factor up because I wanted to talk about it somewhere down the line.

As far as what I gather from all I have read about this case, the "bloody towels" were never mentioned in any police report or evidence shown to bloodspatter experts (including the famous Henry Lee) and were only claimed to exist by one of the hotel staff members years later. Apparently the staffer claimed years later that she believed the towels were "on the ground in a manner indicative of wiping blood off of the floor" but she seemed to not have mentioned it during the official investigation.

If anyone has conflicting information regarding this, please share, because this is what I recall from a book on the case.

James T · 07-20-2007, 03:36 AM

I think he was murdered, there is just too much that agrees with other people mixed up in dodgy things who end up dead in similar strange circumstances and he was mixed up with some very unsavoury characters, the haste to process the body against the law, the Inslaw affair evidence that has gone through the courts, files vanishing, another reporter investigating simialr stuff who died in a similar manner with his evidence gone, the military guy at the funeral etc.

In the book on the case there has always been one thing that has bothered me about him and that is his lack of secrecy, not long before he died he was in a bar shouting his mouth off to two women who it was suggested may well have been plants- if you were investigating this stuff you should be keeping it as quiet as possible.

wiseguy182 · 07-20-2007, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xytras

committed suicide. I know it might sound crazy to a lot of people, but hear me out.

1) The last person to see him alive, a bartender, said that he looked depressed. Yes, I know the episode mentioned that the last time Danny talked to his family, he didn't seem to be that depressed, but time had passed since he talked to his family and he was at the hotel area.

Taken from Wikipedia:
Witnesses reported that Casolaro spent the next few hours (about 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on August 9) at a Martinsburg restaurant. (Ridgeway and Vaughan, 39) "He seemed lonely and depressed, the bartender told police." (Ridgeway and Vaughan, 39)

2) The suicide note. The handwriting found on this note was known to match known handwriting samples from Danny. I know some say, "what if he was forced to write it before murdered." Well, think about it, when people are going to quickly murder you, even if they want to cover it hardcore afterward, why wasn't any sign of struggle or noise made on behalf of Danny to escape (both rooms left and right of Danny's reported no scuffle or noise) to avoid death. Danny would have had to have known that if he was forced to write this note, they were going to try to kill him.

3) Other than the scene in the bathroom, the rest of the room was clean, in place, and orderly. This means that there wasn't a big chance a bigtime scuffle took place. There was also no sign of forced entry into the room.

4) Authorities also found four more razorblades in their package. To me, this suggests it was planned out. I really doubt that perpetrators would leave the razors IN THE PACKAGE in Danny's room in an orderly fashion.

5) As stated above, there was no known noise. Danny would have likely struggled if to die this way, especially since he was extremely squeemish when it came to blood (the episode mentions this as well). In struggles like this, there is little chance that absolutely NO noise will be heard.

6) Danny had consumed a bottle of wine and beer before his death. This suggests he was trying to quell the pain he would feel through the suicide. This is a known consistancy with many suicides of a similar fashion. It also supports that if he were in fact so scared of blood as reported, he would have to drink to actually go through with his decision.

I know there are a lot of theories that Danny was murdered because he was uncovering the "Octopus," and Inslaw but based on these things I still can't see how he was murdered. My theory doesn't explain why none of Danny's documents in a briefcase or manilla envelope have turned up, but I can see him destroying his work so other journalists couldn't take credit for his efforts.

I'd like to hear input from everyone else, as I know this is a favorite case for a lot of people.

I do appreciate you thinking outside the box, Xytras, but there could be rational explanations for these.

1. It is not uncommon in the least for bartenders to serve people that look lonely and depressed. This is how a lot of people deal with their problems, so Casalaro probably didn't appear to be much different than the typical customer at the bar/restuarant.

2. I can see your point of "why would Danny write a suicide note if he was going to be murdered?" A possible explanation is this: Writing a suicide note buys time, which in this instance, is very precious. It gives Casaloro a little more time to think about how he is going to get out of this mess, whether it be trying to fight the intruder(s), or trying to reason with them or talk their way out of it, or making a dash for the door. It didn't end up making a difference, but Danny had no way of knowing that.

As for no noise being heard, that's not necessarily suspicious in my opinion.
If a gun was pointed at my head, it's probably best if I stay quiet because if I make noise, the person holding the gun is more liable to shoot.

3. I work for a hotel, so I should have a little bit of inside knowledge for this point. Now, I am a stickler on security issues at the hotel, and I like to think that our hotel is in general, but there are a number of ways that somebody could have gained access to Danny's room without forcing their way in. Sad, but true. They could have posed as a member of management (which might be especially convicning if their wearing a suit and tie, that type of thing.)

4. I'm not sure about the razorblades. It appears that the cleaning up would have taken awhile for the killers, and they might have been pressed for time and felt an urgency to get out of there.

5. see point 2.

6. I myself am quite squeamish with blood. The mere thought of it makes me cringe, I'm cringing right now as a matter of fact. There are so many other methods of suicide that don't involve blood spattering that I can't imagine Danny choosing this method.

Xytras · 07-20-2007, 03:43 PM

I see what you're saying about Danny deciding to actually write the note to "buy time" or think about what to do, but it still doesn't make sense to me why he didn't struggle, make any noise to let anyone know he was in trouble, or STOP during some part of writing the note to run off or make the note incomplete in hopes his family wouldn't believe it later....or have any marks to suggest he resisted the blades as they were being cut into his wrists.

It still strikes me as odd that...
a) the perpetrators forced him to write the note
b) the perpetrators forced him to drink about the same amount of alcohol that was found in wine/beer he consumed
c) He didn't resist the blades and no other blade marks were found around his body or arms consistant with resisting the cutting
d) No scream of pain or agony, kicks to the wall, banging of head into the wall
e) the perpetrators left additional razor blades neatly in their package in another part of the room
f) no foreign fingerprints consistant with other individuals recently touching the bathroom, walls, or outside ledge (as a possible entrance)
g) no tangible bruises on his body to suggest he was beaten into submission

I submit that you're right that its quite possible many people take their frustration out by drinking, and looking depressed. I think it just feeds into my theory, not proves it.

Xytras · 07-20-2007, 03:49 PM

By the way, a good book on the topic is The Octopus: Secret Government and the Death of Danny Casolaro

http://www.amazon.com/Octopus-Secret...4960941&sr=8-1

James T · 07-21-2007, 06:57 AM

Yes that is the book I have, Keith himself died in rather stange circumstances in 1999 falling off a building and not being keen to go under anaesthetic saying he did not think he would wake up alive, afterwards it became another part of the conspiracy with accusations being made certain hospital workers were releated to government agents who wanted him dead and the like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Keith

TheCars1986 · 05-07-2013, 04:35 PM

I was thinking about this case today and couldn't find a "definitive" Casolaro thread, so I decided to share my two cents here.

I'm leaning towards suicide on this one. I do think both scenarios (murder and suicide) are plausible and likely. But I also think Danny's actions on the day of his death are indicitive of someone who was gearing up to kill himself.

-Casolaro called an investigator on the day of his death to tell him that a publishing company was going to finance his investigation into the "Octopus". This was false. I don't know if Casolaro was lying or received false information, but his manuscript was rejected a month before he died.
-He was seen drinking in bars and restaurants on the day of his death. This could mean nothing, because he spoke with the man who was in the motel room next to his and told him he was going to meet a source (one that was supposed to blow open the "Octopus" story) at 9:00 p.m. that night. Shortly before 9, he ran into the man again and told him that he thought his source was going to no-show.
-His hotel room was clean, except the bathroom. There were no signs of a struggle, no signs of forced entry, and the suicide note was alleged to have matched his handwriting.
-No one staying at the motel heard any strange noises coming from Casolaro's room on the night of his death.
-Two autopsies were performed and both concluded suicide.
-The second autopsy also stated, "There was nothing present in any way that could have incapacitated Casolaro so he would have been incapable of struggling against an assailant, let alone been sufficient to kill him."

I know Casolaro was said to have been afraid of the sight of blood, but this could have been why he was drinking heavily that night and during the day. I think it's possible that Casolaro was "chasing a dragon" during this whole "Octopus" investigation. He might have become despondent over the fact that he spent years investigating a scandal that really wasn't there, or maybe he was despondent over the fact that his informant never showed up. He never shared his papers/research so it's hard to say just how much hard evidence he uncovered. According to wikipedia, "Ron Rosenbaum, a journalist acquaintance of Casolaro's, speculated in Vanity Fair that Casolaro may have intended his suicide to appear to be murder triggered by his research, in order to have others look into the story after his death." I could see this as a definite possibility as well. I just don't think the evidence for murder (except some threatening phone calls, and the alleged towels covered with blood under the sink) is there.

07-19-2007, 01:11 PM	#1
Xytras Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 07, 2007 Posts: 32	Call me crazy, but I think Danny Casolaro... committed suicide. I know it might sound crazy to a lot of people, but hear me out. 1) The last person to see him alive, a bartender, said that he looked depressed. Yes, I know the episode mentioned that the last time Danny talked to his family, he didn't seem to be that depressed, but time had passed since he talked to his family and he was at the hotel area. Taken from Wikipedia: Witnesses reported that Casolaro spent the next few hours (about 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on August 9) at a Martinsburg restaurant. (Ridgeway and Vaughan, 39) "He seemed lonely and depressed, the bartender told police." (Ridgeway and Vaughan, 39) 2) The suicide note. The handwriting found on this note was known to match known handwriting samples from Danny. I know some say, "what if he was forced to write it before murdered." Well, think about it, when people are going to quickly murder you, even if they want to cover it hardcore afterward, why wasn't any sign of struggle or noise made on behalf of Danny to escape (both rooms left and right of Danny's reported no scuffle or noise) to avoid death. Danny would have had to have known that if he was forced to write this note, they were going to try to kill him. 3) Other than the scene in the bathroom, the rest of the room was clean, in place, and orderly. This means that there wasn't a big chance a bigtime scuffle took place. There was also no sign of forced entry into the room. 4) Authorities also found four more razorblades in their package. To me, this suggests it was planned out. I really doubt that perpetrators would leave the razors IN THE PACKAGE in Danny's room in an orderly fashion. 5) As stated above, there was no known noise. Danny would have likely struggled if to die this way, especially since he was extremely squeemish when it came to blood (the episode mentions this as well). In struggles like this, there is little chance that absolutely NO noise will be heard. 6) Danny had consumed a bottle of wine and beer before his death. This suggests he was trying to quell the pain he would feel through the suicide. This is a known consistancy with many suicides of a similar fashion. It also supports that if he were in fact so scared of blood as reported, he would have to drink to actually go through with his decision. I know there are a lot of theories that Danny was murdered because he was uncovering the "Octopus," and Inslaw but based on these things I still can't see how he was murdered. My theory doesn't explain why none of Danny's documents in a briefcase or manilla envelope have turned up, but I can see him destroying his work so other journalists couldn't take credit for his efforts. I'd like to hear input from everyone else, as I know this is a favorite case for a lot of people.

07-20-2007, 03:36 AM	#10
James T Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2006 Location: England Posts: 1,571	I think he was murdered, there is just too much that agrees with other people mixed up in dodgy things who end up dead in similar strange circumstances and he was mixed up with some very unsavoury characters, the haste to process the body against the law, the Inslaw affair evidence that has gone through the courts, files vanishing, another reporter investigating simialr stuff who died in a similar manner with his evidence gone, the military guy at the funeral etc. In the book on the case there has always been one thing that has bothered me about him and that is his lack of secrecy, not long before he died he was in a bar shouting his mouth off to two women who it was suggested may well have been plants- if you were investigating this stuff you should be keeping it as quiet as possible.
	Last edited by James T; 07-20-2007 at 09:39 AM.

07-19-2007, 01:20 PM	#2
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Wow, I must say I'm impressed at your well thought out post. I always assumed he was murdered due to the very graphic way he died and the whole fear of needles and blood. I must say though your facts are quite compelling and maybe I'll rethink my opinion. That was suprising that there were no signs of a struggle and other people heard no commotion in his hotel room. I wasn't aware of that.

07-19-2007, 01:24 PM	#3
Xytras Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 07, 2007 Posts: 32	Thanks for your input! I know I don't post too much but I've always thought about factors in this case and it's probably my favorite case that Unsolved Mysteries ever did. I know a lot of others will disagree with me, but I thought I would post what I thought based on my own interest. I do admit though the missing documents Danny carried in his possession threaten my theory the most.

07-19-2007, 01:38 PM	#4
DarkDante Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1,569	Good research...I still have a huge problem with the way he committed suicide. I have an equal (if not moreso) fear of blood as Mr. Casolaro did and the thought of intentionally causing myself to bleed (and in fact bleed excessively) is so far from my mind its almost incomprehensible. There is a qualifier here and that is Casolaro was recently diagnosed with MS prior to his death. As with any life altering illness, it would no doubt prompt some passing thoughts of suicide due to the anxiety and desperation that goes along with it so maybe Casolaro had some sort of a breakdown and killed himself? Then again Casolaro and those close to him believed due to his research he had a lot of dangerous people upset with him which would provide plenty of motive if in fact Casolaro's research was as in depth as people believe it to be.

07-19-2007, 01:42 PM	#5
themaninblack Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 08, 2005 Posts: 573	but we must remember, that if he was killed by people working within the government, there is a great likelihood that they knew how to make it look like a suicide. also i remember dannys brother stating something like his brothers body had been embalmed before they were even informed of dannys death. sounds like someones covering up something to me. then again he could very well have used the alcohol to make it easier to slit his wrists...

07-19-2007, 01:53 PM	#6
Xytras Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 07, 2007 Posts: 32	Good points from both of you guys. I can see where you are coming from, and I'll say it again that the thing that damns my theory the most is his missing documents and many enemies made due to his research. You guys have correctly pointed this out. Another thing I stopped to think about one time as well is, what if Danny Casolaro was overhyping much of his research? He asserted that he was coming to the bottom of Iran-Contra, October Surprise, the closure of Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), the bombing of Pan Am 103, and involving the Central intelligence Agency (CIA), Mossad, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the U.S. Justice Dept, the Wackenhut Corporation, and the British security and intelligence services. To say he had the solution to all of these huge macro-issues in national government policy and decision-making would look a little bit overwhelming to be possible. Also considering that most historians now discount the 1980 October surprise. The US Senate’s 1992 report concluded that "by any standard, the credible evidence now known falls far short of supporting the allegation of an agreement between the Reagan campaign and Iran to delay the release of the hostages". It should also be known that the Senate was under Democratic control at this point. So, if he overhyped his research, and kept all of his notes and accordian file secret from everyone (which he did), how do we know the extent of his research? Do we really know he had uncovered everything he claimed, and was going to present it all in a press conference or major newspaper? We don't know because he was notorious elusive about keeping all of his materials, papers, and notes secret, and we don't trully know the extent of the research itself.

07-19-2007, 04:17 PM	#7
kamy UM Fanatic Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 25, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 625	Other things to consider though, if Danny commited suicide, where did the bloody towels come from that were under the sink as if someone was trying to clean up? Also, where did all his research and paperwork go? Very compelling reasons to side w/ suicide but there are other factors at play as well............just my thoughts

07-19-2007, 05:28 PM	#8
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Well, actually I do not know that he was diagnosed with MS. Yes, the medical examiner determined that Casolaro was in the very early stages of MS and probably didnt even know anything was wrong, I do not believe a doctor ever diagnosed him with that when he was alive. Yes, it is true he was seen looking lonely and depressed, a lot of people are seen looking lonely and depressed doesnt mean they go off and kill themselves. Also for a man who could not stand the sight of blood for him to slash himself repeatedly and deeply, I believe some of the slashes were so deep a couple of his tendons were severed. There is the bloody towels in the room, perhaps Danny was murdered by someone he thought he knew and trusted, hence no struggle, maybe he was overpowered so quickly that he had no time to struggle, like having a stun gun used on him perhaps or something. It was a very good and detailed and well thought out post, but Danny probably was murdered in my opinion, he knew too much and pissed off the wrong people and they wanted him snuffed out before he could spill his guts, again my opinion, also all these missing papers and stuff, it points to suicide.

07-20-2007, 03:43 PM	#12
Xytras Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 07, 2007 Posts: 32	I see what you're saying about Danny deciding to actually write the note to "buy time" or think about what to do, but it still doesn't make sense to me why he didn't struggle, make any noise to let anyone know he was in trouble, or STOP during some part of writing the note to run off or make the note incomplete in hopes his family wouldn't believe it later....or have any marks to suggest he resisted the blades as they were being cut into his wrists. It still strikes me as odd that... a) the perpetrators forced him to write the note b) the perpetrators forced him to drink about the same amount of alcohol that was found in wine/beer he consumed c) He didn't resist the blades and no other blade marks were found around his body or arms consistant with resisting the cutting d) No scream of pain or agony, kicks to the wall, banging of head into the wall e) the perpetrators left additional razor blades neatly in their package in another part of the room f) no foreign fingerprints consistant with other individuals recently touching the bathroom, walls, or outside ledge (as a possible entrance) g) no tangible bruises on his body to suggest he was beaten into submission I submit that you're right that its quite possible many people take their frustration out by drinking, and looking depressed. I think it just feeds into my theory, not proves it.

07-20-2007, 03:49 PM	#13
Xytras Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 07, 2007 Posts: 32	By the way, a good book on the topic is The Octopus: Secret Government and the Death of Danny Casolaro http://www.amazon.com/Octopus-Secret...4960941&sr=8-1

07-21-2007, 06:57 AM	#14
James T Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2006 Location: England Posts: 1,571	Yes that is the book I have, Keith himself died in rather stange circumstances in 1999 falling off a building and not being keen to go under anaesthetic saying he did not think he would wake up alive, afterwards it became another part of the conspiracy with accusations being made certain hospital workers were releated to government agents who wanted him dead and the like. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Keith

05-07-2013, 04:35 PM	#15
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,613	I was thinking about this case today and couldn't find a "definitive" Casolaro thread, so I decided to share my two cents here. I'm leaning towards suicide on this one. I do think both scenarios (murder and suicide) are plausible and likely. But I also think Danny's actions on the day of his death are indicitive of someone who was gearing up to kill himself. -Casolaro called an investigator on the day of his death to tell him that a publishing company was going to finance his investigation into the "Octopus". This was false. I don't know if Casolaro was lying or received false information, but his manuscript was rejected a month before he died. -He was seen drinking in bars and restaurants on the day of his death. This could mean nothing, because he spoke with the man who was in the motel room next to his and told him he was going to meet a source (one that was supposed to blow open the "Octopus" story) at 9:00 p.m. that night. Shortly before 9, he ran into the man again and told him that he thought his source was going to no-show. -His hotel room was clean, except the bathroom. There were no signs of a struggle, no signs of forced entry, and the suicide note was alleged to have matched his handwriting. -No one staying at the motel heard any strange noises coming from Casolaro's room on the night of his death. -Two autopsies were performed and both concluded suicide. -The second autopsy also stated, "There was nothing present in any way that could have incapacitated Casolaro so he would have been incapable of struggling against an assailant, let alone been sufficient to kill him." I know Casolaro was said to have been afraid of the sight of blood, but this could have been why he was drinking heavily that night and during the day. I think it's possible that Casolaro was "chasing a dragon" during this whole "Octopus" investigation. He might have become despondent over the fact that he spent years investigating a scandal that really wasn't there, or maybe he was despondent over the fact that his informant never showed up. He never shared his papers/research so it's hard to say just how much hard evidence he uncovered. According to wikipedia, "Ron Rosenbaum, a journalist acquaintance of Casolaro's, speculated in Vanity Fair that Casolaro may have intended his suicide to appear to be murder triggered by his research, in order to have others look into the story after his death." I could see this as a definite possibility as well. I just don't think the evidence for murder (except some threatening phone calls, and the alleged towels covered with blood under the sink) is there.