Cases with little kids as key witnesses - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

SheRaaa · 12-21-2012, 11:12 AM

Christmas is right around the corner so I've been thinking of how weird it seems that the JonBenet Ramsey murder was nearly 16(!) years ago. Now that her brother is older, I always wonder if he has any key memories of that night, or if it was all just a big blur?

There are a few other UM cases where little kids could have valuable recollections:

-Charlotte Pollis case

-Mike Riemer case

Of course, from a legal standpoint it's very difficult to question kids effectively, plus they shouldn't be traumatized any more than they've been already. Nevertheless, are there any other UM cases where little kids held (or could have held) key memories of the events in question?

soilentgreen · 12-21-2012, 11:34 AM

The attacker of Susan Laferte and Doreen Picard witnessed by Laferte's daughter is probably the most disturbing one.

Michaela Garecht's friend and Anthonette Cayedito's sister witnessed their abductions, and some children were the last witnesses to see Nyleen Marshall. It's difficult to make a determination of credibility from a very young child's memories, especially several years after the fact.

1990 UM fan · 12-21-2012, 12:51 PM

Corrine Gustavson's friend witnessed her abduction. Anthonette Cayedito's little sister allegedly witnessed a man kidnap her when she answered the front door. In the "thrill kills" case, Deana Woodard's young child must've seen those 2 men stab/hack her to death.

Hockeygirl · 12-22-2012, 02:43 AM

There's the case about Diana Robertson, 21, and her boyfriend, Michael Riemer, 36. They went to go look at their traps and pick a Christmas tree. Their two year old daughter Crystal was found unharmed at a store, her parents were missing. A couple months later they found the body of Diana. Police thought Michael had murdered Diana and fled.

In 2011 hunters found a skull a mile from where Diana's body was found. It was identified as Michael.

Police asked Crystal where her mother was. She said her mommy was in the trees, I'm wondering how she got to the store and what she saw happen to her mother and father ? The case is still unsolved. There was also another murder of a couple with similarities to Michael and Diana.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localne...coldcases.html

http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Diana_Robertson

Corkys-Place · 12-22-2012, 09:18 PM

Well the little Girl in that Wendy Camp mess certainly knows what happened to her mother and the Sister in Law, but sadly I think that Noe mob disposed of her as well!

RobinW · 12-22-2012, 11:26 PM

One of the most interesting is definitely the Tommy Gibson disappearance where Larry Gibson's four-year old daughter initially claimed to have witnessed an unidentified couple abduct Tommy, but then changed her story to say that she saw Larry beat Tommy to death, which got him convicted for manslaughter. Tommy's body has never been found and Larry still maintains his innocence, and it's believed she may have been coached about both the scenarios she claimed to witness.

SheRaaa · 12-25-2012, 02:03 PM

Ahh yes I forgot about Larry Gibson's daughter possibly witnessing something key to the case.

I also remembered that Linda Sherman's daughter infamously saw her mother lying on the couch but not moving one morning...

WishfulDreamer · 12-25-2012, 03:07 PM

I have some doubts about Linda actually being dead on the couch. Would Don have risked it? What if the daughter had tried to kiss or talk to her? It is a very creepy case regardless.

In the Larry George case, three people were shot in front of two small children while George's own children were next door. I still can't get over the senseless brutality of that one.

Clockworkhigh · 12-30-2012, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinW

One of the most interesting is definitely the Tommy Gibson disappearance where Larry Gibson's four-year old daughter initially claimed to have witnessed an unidentified couple abduct Tommy, but then changed her story to say that she saw Larry beat Tommy to death, which got him convicted for manslaughter. Tommy's body has never been found and Larry still maintains his innocence, and it's believed she may have been coached about both the scenarios she claimed to witness.

I have personally talked to Larry about that case (over Facebook where I looked him up and he was actually chatty). He claims his daughter was coached and they have a great relationship today (his words). Either way, that girl might still have something to share.

Charlotte Pollis' children probably saw nothing since they were gone the day Charlotte went missing.

Diana and Mike Riemer's daughter is the biggest witness. She probably saw her parents get killed, or they turned her away for that. But somebody took the time to drive her to a safe place so she had to have seen his face pretty clear. Could hypnosis help?

WishfulDreamer · 12-30-2012, 04:15 AM

The case where the little girl was beaten up by her nanny. Did they ever catch that scum?

1990 UM fan · 12-30-2012, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

The case where the little girl was beaten up by her nanny. Did they ever catch that scum?

Maria Hernandez?

RobinW · 12-31-2012, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clockworkhigh

I have personally talked to Larry about that case (over Facebook where I looked him up and he was actually chatty). He claims his daughter was coached and they have a great relationship today (his words). Either way, that girl might still have something to share.

Interesting. I've always personally believed that the daughter's story about Larry beating Tommy to death is probably close to the truth (definitely more believable than the stray-bullet-travelled-through-the-cat theory). What I'm not-so-sure about is if she actually did witness this event or if her mother coached her into saying it in order to get Larry convicted.

WishfulDreamer · 12-31-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1990 UM fan

Maria Hernandez?

Yes. Just checked the wiki and see she hasn't been caught. Very disappointing.

Clockworkhigh · 12-31-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinW

Interesting. I've always personally believed that the daughter's story about Larry beating Tommy to death is probably close to the truth (definitely more believable than the stray-bullet-travelled-through-the-cat theory). What I'm not-so-sure about is if she actually did witness this event or if her mother coached her into saying it in order to get Larry convicted.

My guess is that if you saw your dad kill your brother and he has gotten away with it to this day you would not be civil with him at all. I get the feeling the daughter would think that she was manipulated into saying that now that she's an adult. Or who knows, she may just have some serious repressed memories and doesn't know what to believe. It isn't as if Larry told me his entire family situation. She could be a basket case in this day and age for all we know.

12-21-2012, 11:12 AM	#1
SheRaaa Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 30, 2009 Posts: 421	Cases with little kids as key witnesses Christmas is right around the corner so I've been thinking of how weird it seems that the JonBenet Ramsey murder was nearly 16(!) years ago. Now that her brother is older, I always wonder if he has any key memories of that night, or if it was all just a big blur? There are a few other UM cases where little kids could have valuable recollections: -Charlotte Pollis case -Mike Riemer case Of course, from a legal standpoint it's very difficult to question kids effectively, plus they shouldn't be traumatized any more than they've been already. Nevertheless, are there any other UM cases where little kids held (or could have held) key memories of the events in question?

12-21-2012, 12:51 PM	#3
1990 UM fan Unsolved Mysteries fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2011 Location: United States Posts: 2,510	Corrine Gustavson's friend witnessed her abduction. Anthonette Cayedito's little sister allegedly witnessed a man kidnap her when she answered the front door. In the "thrill kills" case, Deana Woodard's young child must've seen those 2 men stab/hack her to death.
	__________________ Join my Unsolved Mysteries page (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unsolv...899616?sk=wall

12-21-2012, 11:34 AM	#2
soilentgreen Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 13, 2005 Posts: 622	The attacker of Susan Laferte and Doreen Picard witnessed by Laferte's daughter is probably the most disturbing one. Michaela Garecht's friend and Anthonette Cayedito's sister witnessed their abductions, and some children were the last witnesses to see Nyleen Marshall. It's difficult to make a determination of credibility from a very young child's memories, especially several years after the fact.

12-22-2012, 02:43 AM	#4
Hockeygirl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2012 Location: Somewhere in Canada. Posts: 51	There's the case about Diana Robertson, 21, and her boyfriend, Michael Riemer, 36. They went to go look at their traps and pick a Christmas tree. Their two year old daughter Crystal was found unharmed at a store, her parents were missing. A couple months later they found the body of Diana. Police thought Michael had murdered Diana and fled. In 2011 hunters found a skull a mile from where Diana's body was found. It was identified as Michael. Police asked Crystal where her mother was. She said her mommy was in the trees, I'm wondering how she got to the store and what she saw happen to her mother and father ? The case is still unsolved. There was also another murder of a couple with similarities to Michael and Diana. http://seattletimes.com/html/localne...coldcases.html http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Diana_Robertson

12-22-2012, 09:18 PM	#5
Corkys-Place Unsolved Mysteries Fan Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 23, 2010 Posts: 790	Well the little Girl in that Wendy Camp mess certainly knows what happened to her mother and the Sister in Law, but sadly I think that Noe mob disposed of her as well!

12-22-2012, 11:26 PM	#6
RobinW Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2010 Posts: 1,874	One of the most interesting is definitely the Tommy Gibson disappearance where Larry Gibson's four-year old daughter initially claimed to have witnessed an unidentified couple abduct Tommy, but then changed her story to say that she saw Larry beat Tommy to death, which got him convicted for manslaughter. Tommy's body has never been found and Larry still maintains his innocence, and it's believed she may have been coached about both the scenarios she claimed to witness.

12-25-2012, 02:03 PM	#7
SheRaaa Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 30, 2009 Posts: 421	Ahh yes I forgot about Larry Gibson's daughter possibly witnessing something key to the case. I also remembered that Linda Sherman's daughter infamously saw her mother lying on the couch but not moving one morning...

12-25-2012, 03:07 PM	#8
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	I have some doubts about Linda actually being dead on the couch. Would Don have risked it? What if the daughter had tried to kiss or talk to her? It is a very creepy case regardless. In the Larry George case, three people were shot in front of two small children while George's own children were next door. I still can't get over the senseless brutality of that one.

12-30-2012, 04:15 AM	#10
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	The case where the little girl was beaten up by her nanny. Did they ever catch that scum?