Were these witnesses mistaken/lying? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JannTosh · 01-19-2016, 05:36 PM

1. The woman in the Edward Harold Bell case that claims Bell broke into her house, and she later recognized his face in the newspaper. This happened in 1984, and Bell murdered Larry Dickens and later was captured and disappeared in 1978. Isn't this the time that Bell had likely fled the United States? I am starting to wonder if this wasn't Bell she saw or she made this story up

2. The main witness in the Kimberly Pandelios segment that claimed he saw a woman tied up and a group of men who scared him away. Apparently, they found out the man who killed her and it apparently wasn't in that area and it was a single guy and not many. Again, I now wondered if this guy was mistaken or just made this story up to get on TV.

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 01-19-2016, 06:59 PM

The one I wonder about the most was the woman who claimed a teenage girl introduced herself giving the name of "Kari Lynn Nixon." Was some runaway or girl with a twisted sense of humor assuming the name of a missing girl, or was that woman crazed or flat-out lying?

Also look at all the people in the "Lil Miss" mystery who were sure they had seen both the girl and the car in places it was later determined they never were.

NDAlum2003 · 01-21-2016, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cori aka ChrisSCrush

The one I wonder about the most was the woman who claimed a teenage girl introduced herself giving the name of "Kari Lynn Nixon." Was some runaway or girl with a twisted sense of humor assuming the name of a missing girl, or was that woman crazed or flat-out lying?

Also look at all the people in the "Lil Miss" mystery who were sure they had seen both the girl and the car in places it was later determined they never were.

I think the lady in the Kari Lynn Nixon segment was personally convinced she had seen Kari, though obviously she didn't, but I do think that maybe a girl gave her Kari's name off a missing child poster. Some kids are mean enough to do that sort of thing.

As to Lil Miss, I think people can maybe conjure up such an image either intentionally or unintentionally, but at that time that car and that plate would literally stick out like a sore thumb.

Hops3098 · 01-21-2016, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NDAlum2003

I think the lady in the Kari Lynn Nixon segment was personally convinced she had seen Kari, though obviously she didn't, but I do think that maybe a girl gave her Kari's name off a missing child poster. Some kids are mean enough to do that sort of thing.

I also thought that the lady genuinely believed that she had seen Kari, but if my memory is correct, she actually worked for some kind of an agency that helps find missing children, so I think her memory of that encounter was clouded by confirmation bias.

NDAlum2003 · 01-21-2016, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hops3098

I also thought that the lady genuinely believed that she had seen Kari, but if my memory is correct, she actually worked for some kind of an agency that helps find missing children, so I think her memory of that encounter was clouded by confirmation bias.

I remembered her seeing a poster in a store that basically "jogged her memory," and then she was convinced she had met Kari at some sort of campsite with a bunch of teenagers just a short time before. I do agree that she was genuine about what she thought she saw and had no intention to really get attention in the first place. She just wanted to help a family who was desperate to get their daughter back.

I definitely am with you on the confirmation bias. At times when you see something like that, you can become convinced you've seen the person, and really haven't. I think it's partly the power of suggestion. Similar to my comment about Lil Miss.

dynoguy88 · 01-22-2016, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShriekoftheVultu

1. The woman in the Edward Harold Bell case that claims Bell broke into her house, and she later recognized his face in the newspaper. This happened in 1984, and Bell murdered Larry Dickens and later was captured and disappeared in 1978. Isn't this the time that Bell had likely fled the United States? I am starting to wonder if this wasn't Bell she saw or she made this story up.

He was on the run for 16 years. We have no idea when exactly he fled the country.

I don't see why she would make this incident up. Multiple people would have been able to back up her story. Her young son was downstairs watching Sesame Street. If he didn't see the man enter the house, he would have heard mommy screaming and chasing the guy out of the house at the very least. And neighbors on the block would have been able to verify hearing all the gunshots as she stood in her driveway shooting at him.

Only six years had passed at the time from Larry Dickens murder. There wouldn't have been that dramatic of a difference in Bell's appearance from his mugshot. And if someone breaks into your house with a knife, you're NOT going to forget his face.

I really don't think she made the whole thing up.

JannTosh · 01-22-2016, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

He was on the run for 16 years. We have no idea when exactly he fled the country.

I don't see why she would make this incident up. Multiple people would have been able to back up her story. Her young son was downstairs watching Sesame Street. If he didn't see the man enter the house, he would have heard mommy screaming and chasing the guy out of the house at the very least. And neighbors on the block would have been able to verify hearing all the gunshots as she stood in her driveway shooting at him.

Only six years had passed at the time from Larry Dickens murder. There wouldn't have been that dramatic of a difference in Bell's appearance from his mugshot. And if someone breaks into your house with a knife, you're NOT going to forget his face.

I really don't think she made the whole thing up.

maybe it's harsh to say she made it up, but I wonder if it was actually a different person than Bell.

James T · 01-22-2016, 08:05 AM

WishfulDreamer · 01-22-2016, 04:06 PM

I think it's possible that the intruder looked like Bell and wasn't actually him, but I doubt the story was fabricated.

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 01-25-2016, 07:45 PM

The person who said he saw Arnold Archambeau alive when he was supposed to have been lying dead in a ditch the whole time. This person is wrong, or whoever said he was dead earlier is wrong or lying.

The guy who saw Kurt Sova alive with somebody. Was Kurt supposed to have been unconscious or dead at the time, depending on the scenario?

The guy who said he saw Brad Bishop in Italy. What would some disoriented, disheveled, homeless bum with some resemblance to Brad do if someone started yelling at him, calling him Brad, and demanding he turn himself in? Yep, doubtless bolt, which is what he did. That doesn't make him Brad.

MegtheEgg86 · 01-25-2016, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShriekoftheVultu

2. The main witness in the Kimberly Pandelios segment that claimed he saw a woman tied up and a group of men who scared him away. Apparently, they found out the man who killed her and it apparently wasn't in that area and it was a single guy and not many. Again, I now wondered if this guy was mistaken or just made this story up to get on TV.

I never was really sure if I believed this story or not. For the most part, I thought it seemed a little contrived.

tamanshud · 01-25-2016, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShriekoftheVultu

1. The woman in the Edward Harold Bell case that claims Bell broke into her house, and she later recognized his face in the newspaper. This happened in 1984, and Bell murdered Larry Dickens and later was captured and disappeared in 1978. Isn't this the time that Bell had likely fled the United States? I am starting to wonder if this wasn't Bell she saw or she made this story up

Not that it means much, but I live in the city where this happened and I've tried finding out more info and I can't. I even look for a house like that when I'm driving around...but I'm sure they wouldn't use the real house!

DALLASTEXAN!! · 01-26-2016, 01:33 AM

I think all of these go to show eye witness testimony is unreliable. Some people think they tell the truth and some lie(as we saw in Miami serial rapist). I think the lil miss and Harold bell witness think that they are telling the truth but they could be wrong. Clearly the lil miss witnesses had their dates wrong. But if I saw that plate I would remember and I would be compelled to want to help her family(in that time). Obviously now we know more looking back.

dynoguy88 · 01-26-2016, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamanshud

Not that it means much, but I live in the city where this happened and I've tried finding out more info and I can't. I even look for a house like that when I'm driving around...but I'm sure they wouldn't use the real house!

If I had to guess, I would say that was a random house chosen by the producers for the reenactment. Since the witness didn't want her identity revealed in the segment, that would make sense not to film at her home.

But the location of the reenactment of the Larry Dickens murder was authentic. That was Dorothy Lang's actual house, which she was still living at when UM filmed there. She never moved after the murder.

I too have tried to find out more info about the 1984 break in that happened in Bryan, Texas but there's nothing available online.

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 01-26-2016, 07:33 PM

UM didn't always film at actual locations. Resurrection Mary was not, as Resurrection Cemetery does not allow even amateur filming.

01-19-2016, 05:36 PM	#1
JannTosh Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 28, 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 586	Were these witnesses mistaken/lying? 1. The woman in the Edward Harold Bell case that claims Bell broke into her house, and she later recognized his face in the newspaper. This happened in 1984, and Bell murdered Larry Dickens and later was captured and disappeared in 1978. Isn't this the time that Bell had likely fled the United States? I am starting to wonder if this wasn't Bell she saw or she made this story up 2. The main witness in the Kimberly Pandelios segment that claimed he saw a woman tied up and a group of men who scared him away. Apparently, they found out the man who killed her and it apparently wasn't in that area and it was a single guy and not many. Again, I now wondered if this guy was mistaken or just made this story up to get on TV.

01-19-2016, 06:59 PM	#2
Cori aka ChrisSCrush Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 30, 2001 Location: USA and still trying to be proud of it! Posts: 2,071	The one I wonder about the most was the woman who claimed a teenage girl introduced herself giving the name of "Kari Lynn Nixon." Was some runaway or girl with a twisted sense of humor assuming the name of a missing girl, or was that woman crazed or flat-out lying? Also look at all the people in the "Lil Miss" mystery who were sure they had seen both the girl and the car in places it was later determined they never were.

01-22-2016, 08:05 AM	#8
James T Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2006 Location: England Posts: 1,571

01-22-2016, 04:06 PM	#9
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	I think it's possible that the intruder looked like Bell and wasn't actually him, but I doubt the story was fabricated.

01-25-2016, 07:45 PM	#10
Cori aka ChrisSCrush Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 30, 2001 Location: USA and still trying to be proud of it! Posts: 2,071	The person who said he saw Arnold Archambeau alive when he was supposed to have been lying dead in a ditch the whole time. This person is wrong, or whoever said he was dead earlier is wrong or lying. The guy who saw Kurt Sova alive with somebody. Was Kurt supposed to have been unconscious or dead at the time, depending on the scenario? The guy who said he saw Brad Bishop in Italy. What would some disoriented, disheveled, homeless bum with some resemblance to Brad do if someone started yelling at him, calling him Brad, and demanding he turn himself in? Yep, doubtless bolt, which is what he did. That doesn't make him Brad.

01-26-2016, 01:33 AM	#13
DALLASTEXAN!! Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 31, 2007 Location: Devil's Backbone Posts: 3,139	I think all of these go to show eye witness testimony is unreliable. Some people think they tell the truth and some lie(as we saw in Miami serial rapist). I think the lil miss and Harold bell witness think that they are telling the truth but they could be wrong. Clearly the lil miss witnesses had their dates wrong. But if I saw that plate I would remember and I would be compelled to want to help her family(in that time). Obviously now we know more looking back.

01-26-2016, 07:33 PM	#15
Cori aka ChrisSCrush Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 30, 2001 Location: USA and still trying to be proud of it! Posts: 2,071	UM didn't always film at actual locations. Resurrection Mary was not, as Resurrection Cemetery does not allow even amateur filming.