Donel Jacoby Minor

[jasonbigley]

Was his case ever on Unsolved Mysteries? Donel Jacoby Minor was an african american baby boy (age 2 months) that disappeared on December 20th, 1984 from Inglewood California. His mom had portraits done of him. A few days later, a man came to the door and said he had the photos of Donel. She let him inside. He stayed for a bit and asked for a glass of water. She went to get the water and when she returned to the room, the man and Donel were gone and have not been seen since. There are more details about this case on the Charley Project. So I have some questions: Was this photography company a professional one like in WalMart or KMart or was it some fly by night thing? The reason I asked if it was a fly by night company is because that it could have been a set up for the perpetrator(s) to scout kids easier. Second, it says the mom went into the kitchen to get this man a glass of water. Why would a mom leave the newborn son in a room with a complete stranger? Did she ever ask for identification? Did the man have a business card? If I had a newborn son or daughter, I would NEVER leave him or her in a room with a complete stranger. This mom must have been a real trusting or real gullible woman.

[asmitty]

Originally Posted by jasonbigley

So I have some questions: Was this photography company a professional one like in WalMart or KMart or was it some fly by night thing? The reason I asked if it was a fly by night company is because that it could have been a set up for the perpetrator(s) to scout kids easier.

It could very well have been a small independent photographer who was scouting kids. Small independent businesses like that were far more common in 1984 than they are now, and I used to hear stories about things like this being used to scout kids to be snatched when I was young (I grew up in a neighborhood where some kids had gone missing, so there was heightened awareness).

Originally Posted by jasonbigley

Second, it says the mom went into the kitchen to get this man a glass of water. Why would a mom leave the newborn son in a room with a complete stranger? Did she ever ask for identification? Did the man have a business card? If I had a newborn son or daughter, I would NEVER leave him or her in a room with a complete stranger. This mom must have been a real trusting or real gullible woman.

She was obviously trusting, but that wasn't so rare at the time. Here's the thing, people, in general, were far more trusting 30-some years ago in the mid-80s. There was less general awareness of the dangers posed by, say, leaving your child alone with a stranger for a minute or two at that time. Yes, he was a complete stranger. But they were also in her house and I believe she probably felt like she had complete control of the situation until the worst obviously happened.

[James T]

Leaning towards her killing the kid & using the local portrait salesmen as a cover story. Nobody else saw this guy, the vehicle, him carrying the kid etc, none of those companies could identify him as somebody they hired.

How would it be feasible for her to go to the kitchen, pour a glass of water & bring it back & everything to happen during that matter of seconds? Long enough for somebody to pick up the kid who didn't it seems make any noise, while carrying a briefcase & then make away on foot carrying both while trying to run or get to their car, put the kid & case in & close the door, get in the drivers seat, start the car & leave? Not very probable. Even with an accomplice in the drivers seat it doesn't seem likely.

[asmitty]

Originally Posted by James T

Leaning towards her killing the kid & using the local portrait salesmen as a cover story. Nobody else saw this guy, the vehicle, him carrying the kid etc, none of those companies could identify him as somebody they hired.

How would it be feasible for her to go to the kitchen, pour a glass of water & bring it back & everything to happen during that matter of seconds? Long enough for somebody to pick up the kid who didn't it seems make any noise, while carrying a briefcase & then make away on foot carrying both while trying to run or get to their car, put the kid & case in & close the door, get in the drivers seat, start the car & leave? Not very probable.

The mother did pass a polygraph on this case. While that isn't entirely infallible evidence, it does suggest that she may not be guilty.

What if she didn't kill him, but he died of SIDS, and she covered it up to avoid getting in trouble. SIDS wasn't as well known then, so she might have been afraid to report his death and staged it. This would allow her to pass questions on the polygraph related to what happened to him. For example, if asked if she harmed him or killed him, a no answer would be true.

[James T]

Originally Posted by asmitty

The mother did pass a polygraph on this case. While that isn't entirely infallible evidence, it does suggest that she may not be guilty.

What if she didn't kill him, but he died of SIDS, and she covered it up to avoid getting in trouble. SIDS wasn't as well known then, so she might have been afraid to report his death and staged it. This would allow her to pass questions on the polygraph related to what happened to him. For example, if asked if she harmed him or killed him, a no answer would be true.

Yep, polygraphs are pseudoscience & why they aren't legal in most states any longer. The biggest serial killer in US history passed one & went on to kill several more women before he was eventually caught.

It is more than possible that is the case, maybe she had post-natal depression & accidentally killed him. Her story just doesn't really add up-she had no name for this person, no business card with details on, nobody to back her story up & a timeline that seems totally impossible. If she had gone to the toilet maybe, but to fill up a glass of water from a tap?

[Kane]

Originally Posted by jasonbigley

Was his case ever on Unsolved Mysteries?

I searched for the name at UM Wiki, but it didn't come up. Therefore, the answer is no.