Stalemate

[connieallbright]

For the first time, I bought a book about one of the cases featured on UM. Stalemate - about the Amber Swartz, Ilene Misheloff, Amanda 'Nikki' Cambell and Michaela Joy Garecht cases.

Has anyone else read it? It's very upsetting. Any opinions on Timothy Bindner, the prime suspect in the case. He was involved with the searches for the girls but police viewed him as a suspect in all the cases.

[CrushedVelvet]

Connie, please fill us in, a synopsis, of the story!

[connieallbright]

The story centers around the cat and mouse game Tim Bindner and the police investigators played. The author offers a very objective view of what has to be one of the most complex string of kidnappings and one of the most disturbing suspects. They had footage of Bindner on the UM episode - he is pretty convincing when he speaks...

But the police used bloodhounds to track the kidnapped girl's scents and all were found in Bindner's van and at the grave of another girl, Angela Bugay.

In the end, Bindner sued the police department, I believe, for harrassment or defamation of character. I am about 3/4 of the way through the book. All I can say is that Tim Bindner is about the creepiest, mentally unsound, devious character I have ever come across.

[kadrmas15]

As it turns out, Tim Bidner for sure did not kill Angela Bugay. The guy that actually killed Angela Bugay was a man named Larry Graham Sr. He would have been 32 years old in 1983 when Angela Bugay was raped and murdered in Antioch. Graham had briefly dated Angela Bugay's mother. Graham was originally not a suspect in the case although he was arrested in 1996 after he was linked to the case via DNA evidence. In 2002, Graham was convicted of first degree murder and was sentenced to death. He just killed himself on death row the other day. That is how I found out about this.

[justins5256]

Originally Posted by kadrmas15

As it turns out, Tim Bidner for sure did not kill Angela Bugay. The guy that actually killed Angela Bugay was a man named Larry Graham Sr. He would have been 32 years old in 1983 when Angela Bugay was raped and murdered in Antioch. Graham had briefly dated Angela Bugay's mother. Graham was originally not a suspect in the case although he was arrested in 1996 after he was linked to the case via DNA evidence. In 2002, Graham was convicted of first degree murder and was sentenced to death. He just killed himself on death row the other day. That is how I found out about this.

Do you know how he killed himself? Just curious. I figured death row inmates were under pretty close scrutiny.

[kadrmas15]

Well remember though, this is San Quentin which has those tiered cells on death row. From what I have read officers only go by every 15 to 20 minutes so it would be easy for an inmate to hang themselves. I am not officially sure how he did but my guess would be he hung himself. I mean California has close to 700 people on death row. But to be honest, I am sure the guards in California or anywhere else would not go out of their way to save an inmate, especially a death row inmate. I mean the way they view it, it is a savings of money and especially in California, where the state is not even allowed to execute people and has been blocked from doing so since 06, this is a way for 'justice' although I will say if I believed in the death penalty and was a member of the victims family I would feel cheated that this guy was allowed to take the easy way out and not have to face the relatives of the little girl he killed.

[crystaldawn]

Apparently the dna linked him to her murder:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12607396

[WishfulDreamer]

Aplogies for bumping up this thread, but I really would love to hear others' comments and opinions on Tim Bindner.

[TracyLynnS]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

Aplogies for bumping up this thread, but I really would love to hear others' comments and opinions on Tim Bindner.

I have this book, but it's still packed from the move last year. I know I posted about it somewhere on here but can't find it right now.

While searching, I did find this thread about Binder Bidner Bindner... however it's spelled... that had a bit of interesting info.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ghlight=binder

I'll go see if I can find more posted around here about this guy.

[TracyLynnS]

Some mentions of Binder in these threads: (Wishful, you posted in some of these, tho, so you're already familiar with the content.)

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ight=stalemate

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ight=stalemate

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ight=stalemate

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ight=stalemate

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ight=stalemate

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...hlight=bindner

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

Some mentions of Binder in these threads: (Wishful, you posted in some of these, tho, so you're already familiar with the content.)

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ight=stalemate

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ight=stalemate

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ight=stalemate

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ight=stalemate

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...ight=stalemate

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...hlight=bindner

Thanks, Tracy! Yeah, I remember posting in these and should have just bumped one of them up. I'm just surprised Bindner is not more talked about (maybe it's because there have been few updates) considering how utterly bizarre he is.

[TracyLynnS]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

Thanks, Tracy! Yeah, I remember posting in these and should have just bumped one of them up. I'm just surprised Bindner is not more talked about (maybe it's because there have been few updates) considering how utterly bizarre he is.

The thing that's bothering me is I feel certain that I discussed him after reading Stalemate and I can't find the thread here. I kept looking for it after I posted the links above, and just finally gave up.

When I unpack my books, I'm sure I'll read it again and will have plenty to say about that weirdo.

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

The thing that's bothering me is I feel certain that I discussed him after reading Stalemate and I can't find the thread here. I kept looking for it after I posted the links above, and just finally gave up.

When I unpack my books, I'm sure I'll read it again and will have plenty to say about that weirdo.

Awesome, can't wait to hear your thoughts.

I get chills every time I watch this segment, particularly with Bindner driving around the neighborhood with his van covered in Amber's missing posters and harrassing Kim Swartz--especially when his demeanor changes and he starts talking about finding her body in cold voice after initially being tearful and emotional. Something's wrong with this guy and I bet Philbin put together a good read and analysis of his character.

[MegtheEgg86]

Have you read the book yet, Wishful? I think Tracy and I are in the same boat with our copies--pretty sure mine is packed, and I actually think it's packed somewhere back home in Tennessee.

I purchased the book primarily because I really liked John Philpin after seeing him on the NH serial killer segment and reading a book about that particular case, not because I really wanted to read about Tim Bindner himself. Bindner managed to give me the willies from page 1 until the end of the book.

Over the years, I've changed my mind a few times on it, but I think I can say this with confidence: even if Bindner is completely innocent of responsibility in any of those disappearances, he still does have extremely disturbed and inappropriate feelings toward young girls and a documented history of pestering and inappropriately contacting them. He is a very logical suspect, and even beyond the context of those cases, a probable risk to children.

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86

Have you read the book yet, Wishful? I think Tracy and I are in the same boat with our copies--pretty sure mine is packed, and I actually think it's packed somewhere back home in Tennessee.

I purchased the book primarily because I really liked John Philpin after seeing him on the NH serial killer segment and reading a book about that particular case, not because I really wanted to read about Tim Bindner himself. Bindner managed to give me the willies from page 1 until the end of the book.

Over the years, I've changed my mind a few times on it, but I think I can say this with confidence: even if Bindner is completely innocent of responsibility in any of those disappearances, he still does have extremely disturbed and inappropriate feelings toward young girls and a documented history of pestering and inappropriately contacting them. He is a very logical suspect, and even beyond the context of those cases, a probable risk to children.

I haven't read the book. I really should look into it (along with other UM related books that have been recommended). I also really liked John Philbin in the NH case and that's part of what's got me so interested in reading Stalemate.

I can only judge from the UM segment, but I also feel that even if he's not guilty, he's a potential threat. The letters in the mail were creepy and show an unhealthy interest/attachment. Particularly because he didn't know these girls! Did he live next door to some of them? How else would he know where they lived--AND their names? Moreover, I find him to be a disgusting individual, toying with parents of missing children and pretending to be sympathetic. It's been a while since I've seen it, but I remember on UM Kim Swartz mentioned him sending her quotes from Crime and Punishment and other books, which she described as ''taunting''? That message on her answering machine was also extremely creepy.