Dakota's Double Death..In all Probability a Tragic Accident.

[MissKryssy2287]

Solely from the Unsolved Mysteries original Episode from the early 90's it does sound very strange. Lets start with that is known 1) They were most likely drunk driving in icy weather ( as according to the grandparents who stated they had had too much to drink to take their baby home that night) and flipped the car over. It really is weird that a killer would be waiting in freezing temps outside in the middle of essestially nowhere to kill them. Plus, what's the motive? Rudy's cousin whom they left in the car never heard any screams or noises after they both exited the car. When recuse personal came to the scene, no blood was found in the area or signs of a struggle. There's just no motive. Random killings usually have a motive such as robbery, rape, ect. Yet, nothing was taken and to rape someone outside in freezing weather (below 0) doesn't make any sense. Again, the fact that some killer was walking around in that weather in the middle of nowhere, where they flipped the car over is a little odd to me to say the least. Remember, when that happened forensic technology and things like that were in their infancy. I'v been reading some things online about it and I believe that in all probability this is what happened....

All three were intoxicated from a long night of partying. They chose to drive. The grandparents noticed they were intoxicated and advised it would be better to pick up their daughter in the morning. The reason the grandparents did not stop them from driving any further was most likely a bad judgement call. I believe it was a combination of icy weather and being intoxicated that the car flipped into the ditch. Arnold freed himself from the car and went over to help Rudy get out or Ruby freed herself after Arnold did. Why did they not help their cousin? Well, there's a few explainations 1) If they're drunk they aren't thinking in a rational state of mind. 2) Panic, they knew the cops would be to the crash scene soon and they had been drinking and driving. I believe they fled the crash scene and again, as they were intoxicated weren't thinking clearly to judge where the ice was too thin and they fell through.

Anyone who's fallen into freezing water or knows anything about hypothermia and it's affects on the human body knows that the body goes into shock within seconds. Plus all the heavy winter clothes they had on would weigh them down significantly and make it very hard to pull themselves out. Plus, if one of them had tried to pull themselves out if the ice was thin in that area it would make it extremely difficult as the surrounding ice would break due to their body weight. Why were their bodies found apart? Well, in their struggle one of them might have tried to get one way and the other the other way. Panic and their body's would go into shock.

In water under 32 degrees F which that water was well below, unconsciousness occurs in under 15 minutes. Normally between 5-10 mins. Considering not only the temp of the water plus the temp outside (in that area in the winter usually hovering around the 0 degrees at night or less.) It would've happened very fast. Death is expected at max in water 32 degree's or under in 30 mins or less. This might be a corny example, but remember Titanic? The weather outside that the night Titanic sank was 34 degrees F and the water was approx. 28 degrees F. So, the outside weather was more than 30 degree's warmer than the night Arnold and Ruby fell into the water. It did not say on the episode how cold the water was in the ditch, however Its safe to assume colder than 28 degrees. They also had walked some distance from the car before falling in. The ice, in those temps, could have easily frozen back over fairly quickly after they stop struggling to get out and became unconscious. Therefore, it is more than totally plausible the investigator's did not see any holes in the ice in the days following their search. Also, remember at first the police office being interviewed stated he first believed they were hiding out for awhile in fear of being in trouble for drunk driving.

Remember they were in the middle of nowhere, this was not a populated area by any means. The medical examiner stated they died from exposure. If you research this case further..no signs of stabbing, strangling, ect was found on the bodies. Nothing. Even with just bones left many medical examiners have been able to detemain strangulation (e.i the hyoid bone is broken) or stab wounds that struck the bones. However, in this case the bodies were decently preserved because of the cold. Nothing was found. In recent years, more technology and research (The Body Farm, which specializes in decomposition of bodies for investigators (thats where Caley Anthony's body was sent) has found that even 2 bodies in the same place might not decay the same depending on many factors. The hair found on the road might have blown there after the spring thaw. The police department was very small and did not have the resources that larger agencies have or the technology we have today (This happened in December '92). So they might have combed the area in the winter but in area's like that until the spring thaw many things can go unnoticed especially with as little man power as that had. Also the jogger who told the officer giving the interview that he jogged that path throughout the winter and saw nothing is totally plausible also. Until the the warmer temps came in March, when the bodies were found, the bodies would've stayed under all that ice and snow.


Their friends who stated they saw Arnold after the crash and passed polygraph tests in all probability were just mistaken about the date. So, in that case they weren't lying and would've passed the lie detector. Consider Arnold was found wearing the same clothes he had on the night of the crash, it seems that his friends were just mistaken of the date. Why would he have been walking around in the same clothes for that many days? And the friends NEVER saw Ruby. So, does that mean that Arnold was spared by the killer but Ruby wasn't? And that Arnold never said anything and just went to a party with his friends? And somehow the killer came back for Arnold later? Highly doubtful. That has happened in many investigations were witnesses were just mistaken about the date. If you want any examples, just watch an a few episodes of Forensic Files or The FBI files. Now admittedly this is just an assumption but I'm sure his group of friends had been partying often within those few weeks and I'm sure with alcohol. So, that makes it even more plausible that they had been mistaken, as the car accident and the night they claimed to see Arnold wasn't that far apart.


Honestly, this just seems like a horrible tragic accident. Questions can always remain like "Why didn't they just stay in the car"? "Why didn't they help Ruby's cousin?" ect But like I said being drunk and being in a panic state of mind can alter rational thinking. Also, It's never been confirmed if Ruby's cousin was drinking too however being only 22 myself I'm pretty sure if the other two were she most likely was too. So being intoxicated plus being disoriented from the accident she didn't make the perfect witness. I'm not saying she's lying but just that I'm sure that played somewhat of an affect into her account.

A lot of Unsolved Mysteries Episodes also don't include all the information on the case because of the allowed time limits for each segment. As mysterious as it comes across within the original episode and believe me I use to think maybe they were killed but after further research on the case and common sense about situation. It doesn't seem likely at all.

[Mastermind]

How do you explain the unidentified car and house keys that were found on Arnold?

[justins5256]

Wow, awesome post. I used to think that Ruby and Arnold met with some manner of foul play, but I just don't buy it now and have not for some time. Falling through the ice and drowning seems like the most logical explanation here.

The one thing I do find odd is the police officer interviewed during the segment who feels so strongly that there was foul play. Was he trying to cover the fact that he did a crappy job searching for them, or what?

With segments like this, it's typically the family pressing the issue when official sources rule a loved one's death a suicide or accident, but here the police (or at least one police officer) suspects there is something sinister afoot.

I have not watched the segment in some time so I can't recall if the family suspected a more nefarious scenario, but I would assume they did as well.

Strange case, but I'm going to go with accidental death on this one.

[egswanso]

Agreed, excellent post.

This was an accident. It's thankful that these irresponsible drunk drivers only killed themselves and not innocent victims, like most drunk driver cases on UM. This "mystery" was entirely preventable if anyone involved had exercised good judgment; i just hope Arnold and Ruby's daughter learned from her parents' sad and stereotypical example and has striven to achieve a better life for herself.

[Mastermind]

How do you explain the unidentified car and house keys that were found on Arnold?

I must have missed your answer in the post..how do you explain the unidentified car and house keys found on Arnold?

[Mastermind]

Anybody out there? LOL

[egswanso]

Doesn't seem like much of a mystery to me. The keys could be his friend's, he could have been carrying around some old keys, etc., etc. I think I have a couple keys on my keychain that I'm not sure what they open. I don't think it means much.

[justins5256]

For the longest time, I had a key from a friend's old apartment still on my keychain. I just recently took it off. However, if I turned up dead under unusual circumstances with that key on my key ring, I suppose someone could make an issue out of it, as I'm probably the only person who still remembers what it was for.

Are the keys really the best evidence he was murdered?

[Mastermind]

1. In both those cases, those were house keys on your OWN keychain. I'm pretty sure none of you had BOTH house and car keys on a separate chain that you carried around in same pocket as your SEPARATE car key chain.

2. You guys mean to tell me that your friends give you CAR Keys? What possible reason could someone have to give a non-relative keys to his car?

3. If you have someones car keys and house keys on a chain.....that means that your friend couldn't get into the house or car the same night that Arnold and Ruby had their accident. Someone called a locksmith. Someone was calling around or doing a mass search for their keys. Someone had to have a car jimmy'ed potentially.

4. Why would Arnold carry these keys THAT night? Why wouldn;t he leave them at home. He already has his car keys on the other chain???

5. With a little detective work, I'm sure we could find interview all your close friends and discover that the key belongs to you next door neighbor or your ex-girlfriend. Arnold;s keys have YET to be identified amongst his friends. AND WERE TALKING ABOUT CAR KEYS HERE!!

I suppose someone could make an issue out of it, as I'm probably the only person who still remembers what it was for

That's actually not the same issue. The difference is that those keys are on your own keychain. If we found a separate set of keys on your body, WHILE we have found your OWN car keys, those separate keys become a clue in your death. Wouldn't you do the same?

Are the keys really the best evidence he was murdered?

Here's the thing about the keys.
THEY ARE A PIECE OF EVIDENCE WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED WE DO NOT HAVE ALL THE FACT OR EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE REVEALED. THE KEYS ARE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE INVESTIGATED AND REVEALLED> WE CANNOT DEVELOP A THEORY WHILE THIS LOOSE END EXISTS> THE REVELATION OF THE OWNER OF THE KEYS COULD CHANGE THE CASE RADICALLY!

There is a potential evidence chain and a witness/suspect to be interviewed about how those keys wound up in pocket of Arnold's dead body?

Wouldn;t you want to know who that person is and what his story and relationship is?

Suppose the police tomorrow find out the keys belong to:
1. One of the three men that was allegeded to have been seen with Arnold after the crash. The ones who failed the lie detector test?
2. What if the keys belong to a convicted felon?
3. Or someone who witnessed the whole "accident"?

The revelation of the owner of the keys could could potential create a whole new thread in this case.

[Mastermind]

Are the keys really the best evidence he was murdered?

No, but the unidentifed house and car keys combined with
1. The fact that Arnold cannot be traced by our live witness after the crash. Nor can she confirm that it was Arnold that opened the door.
2. The fact that Arnold's body was found a long time before the crash.
3. The fact that Arnold's body was found in a lesser state of decomp.
4. That there is a descrepency in whether Arnold had the same clothes on the day of the crash.
5. The fact that a witness saw Arnold after the crash with 3 people. All 3 whome failed a polygraph.
6. We only have one witness to the events that happened that night..and here story does not make sense due to Arnold not rescuing her.

This all leads to circumstantial evidence that Arnold may have been alive after the crash and was dumped in the crash site long before the crash.

Whether this ultimatly means murder is difficult too say.

But I do believe that the possibility that Arnold was alive after the crash is a suitable means for an investigation and that the deaths of Arnold and Ruby should be classified as UNEXPLAINED DEATH..pending investigation.

[mattc]

I also tend to believe this was a tragic accident (GREAT POST MissKrissy)..I hope you post more in the future. However, I can understand mastermind's reluctance to conclude this could only have been an accident. There are a few items that don't quite make sense (hence, why it was on UM in the first place).

But, having watched this segments many times over the years, it always struck me as though they were trying really hard to come up with something other than the accident... it appeared almost totally motivated by the cops claiming that they "could not have overlooked the bodies." I find that ludicrous, and more an issue of pride than trying to really solve this tragedy.

The car keys are strange, no doubt, but I'm not able to make the leap that such keys indicate he was alive after the crash; there could be so many reasons for Arnold having someone's keys.. reasons we may never know. Yes, it is not normal to have someone's keys, but what if he had found them on the ground that day/night, and put them in his pocket? That would explain none of his friends knowing where they came from. See my point?

The witnesses, I agree, they need to be taken like most witness accounts on UM... knowing that the human mind makes mistakes, and therefore the accounts aren't always reliable. They might have passed the lie detector because they thought they were accurate, and also, the guys who did fail the tests, I'd like to see the questions that were asked. It it was "did you kill Arnold?" that would be one thing, but if it was "do you know how they died?" I could see why the friends perhaps failed. Maybe their minds were made up that it was an accident, but when asked they said they didn't know, and therefore that would be measured as a lie.

I just feel that 95% of the evidence suggests accident (drunk driving and icy out, hello!), and the 5% of the evidence that is strange can be explained without one necessarily thinking that there was foul play.

Just my thoughts.

[DALLASTEXAN!!]

I've always felt that this segment was a true UM and was a very complex case. It has always left me scatching my head. But using logic there was an accident and drinking was involved. if it were heavy drinking combined with extreme weather conditions combined with serious injury....it probably led to the death of the people. if not directly indirectly somehow.

[Mastermind]

I've always felt that this segment was a true UM and was a very complex case. It has always left me scatching my head. But using logic there was an accident and drinking was involved. if it were heavy drinking combined with extreme weather conditions combined with serious injury....it probably led to the death of the people. if not directly indirectly somehow.

See my previous post regarding the keys.

[Corky Kneivel]

Kudos

That was a very well thought out and very well written analysis of the Dakota Double Death segment. Impressive for a 22 year old, and a welcome voice on the forum. Keep it up!

I 100% agree with you, by the way and wanted to make one suggestion: perhaps neither Ruby nor Arnold went to assist the cousin due to head trauma sustained in the accident ((in addition to the probability of any and/or all of the aforementioned drunkenness, shock, fear, etc.))

[Mastermind]

Kudos

That was a very well thought out and very well written analysis of the Dakota Double Death segment. Impressive for a 22 year old, and a welcome voice on the forum. Keep it up!

I 100% agree with you, by the way and wanted to make one suggestion: perhaps neither Ruby nor Arnold went to assist the cousin due to head trauma sustained in the accident ((in addition to the probability of any and/or all of the aforementioned drunkenness, shock, fear, etc.))

What about the keys? Are we all going to just dismiss an undiscovered piece of evidence?