So is the killer of April Tinsley really smarter than the FBI? The killer has apparently laid down a challenge to the FBI, in essence, catch me if you can. Let's see what we can do to help the FBI. First, a little background. On April 1, 1988, eight year old April Tinsley was playing with her friends in Fort Wayne Indian when she was abducted, raped and killed. The murder was never solved.
In March of 2004, a 5-year-old girl found a note tucked inside a plastic bag in a basket used as a flower pot. The note read,"Hi Honey I Been watching you. I am the same person that kidnapped an Rape an kill Aproil tinsely here is a present foR yo you are my next vitem." A used condom was also found in the bag. Authorities believe that this is not the first clue left by the killer.
He apparently scribbled a message in crayon on a barn in 1990. He also allegedly left four notes for other children in the Fort Wayne area several years later. the notes contained condoms and/or Polaroid photos of the killer's body. The FBI Child Abduction Response Deployment (CARD) team is attempting to reopen the investigation. FBI: April Tinsley: Part 1
FBI: April Tinsley, April Tinsley
DNA evidence from April's body and from the condoms does not match any known suspect to date.The FBI behavioral profile of the killer is as follows: A white male currently in his 40s or 50s who prefers and desires sexual contact with children. The offender likely has "strong ties" to northeast Fort Wayne and Allen County. If you have any information on the Tinsley case, call the Fort Wayne police at (866) 602-7745 or contact your nearest FBI office.
In March of 2004, a 5-year-old girl found a note tucked inside a plastic bag in a basket used as a flower pot. The note read,"Hi Honey I Been watching you. I am the same person that kidnapped an Rape an kill Aproil tinsely here is a present foR yo you are my next vitem." A used condom was also found in the bag. Authorities believe that this is not the first clue left by the killer.
He apparently scribbled a message in crayon on a barn in 1990. He also allegedly left four notes for other children in the Fort Wayne area several years later. the notes contained condoms and/or Polaroid photos of the killer's body. The FBI Child Abduction Response Deployment (CARD) team is attempting to reopen the investigation. FBI: April Tinsley: Part 1
FBI: April Tinsley, April Tinsley
DNA evidence from April's body and from the condoms does not match any known suspect to date.The FBI behavioral profile of the killer is as follows: A white male currently in his 40s or 50s who prefers and desires sexual contact with children. The offender likely has "strong ties" to northeast Fort Wayne and Allen County. If you have any information on the Tinsley case, call the Fort Wayne police at (866) 602-7745 or contact your nearest FBI office.
10-26-09 Update: In the interest of Halloween, a sketch of the killer constructed from hypnosis has been added courtesy of Video Guy. The sketch is not necessarily accurate and is likely out dated.
Update 11-25-11: Not much new in this case. However, in the comments, Profiler has posted in the comments what he or she believes is a profile of the perpetrator. If anyone has any information, call (866) 602-7745.
Update 11-25-11: Not much new in this case. However, in the comments, Profiler has posted in the comments what he or she believes is a profile of the perpetrator. If anyone has any information, call (866) 602-7745.
Update 12-22-11: Here is a previous profile of the perpetrator: LINK.
Do our local experts agree?
The comment thread is truly awesome. The profile picture is pretty close to Miller's actual appearance. To be clear, this killer is not smarter than the police! Furthermore, DNA testing is smarter than this killer. For those that do not know, police apparently got their man when they arrested John D. Miller earlier this week. Miller confessed to raping and killing the 8-year-old victim. This solves the 1988 cold case.
Fort Wayne Police and Indiana State Police detectives had John D. Miller under surveillance at his mobile home in the 13700 block of Main Street in Grabill. Contrary to some of the poster's theories, he lived alone.
On July 6, police secretly collected trash from Miller’s residence which included three used condoms. Indiana State Police Laboratory analyzed for DNA. On July 9, Indiana State Police lab confirmed that the DNA profile extracted from the condoms in Miller’s trash matched the DNA profiles of the condoms found in 2004 and the DNA found in Tinsley’s underwear. Game over. Fort Wayne Police Det. Brian Martin and Indiana State Police Det. Clint Hetrick arrested Miller at his home. When police asked him if he knew why they wanted to talk with him, Miller reportedly said, “April Tinsley.”
Update 7-17-18: The answer is no! DNA testing is smarter than this killer. Police apparently got their man when they arrested John D. Miller earlier this week. Miller confessed to raping and killing the 8-year-old victim. This solves the 1988 cold case.
Fort Wayne Police and Indiana State Police detectives had John D. Miller under surveillance at his mobile home in the 13700 block of Main Street in Grabill. Contrary to some of the poster's theories, he lived alone.
On July 6, police secretly collected trash from Miller’s residence which included three used condoms. Indiana State Police Laboratory analyzed for DNA. On July 9, Indiana State Police lab confirmed that the DNA profile extracted from the condoms in Miller’s trash matched the DNA profiles of the condoms found in 2004 and the DNA found in Tinsley’s underwear. Game over. Fort Wayne Police Det. Brian Martin and Indiana State Police Det. Clint Hetrick arrested Miller at his home. When police asked him if he knew why they wanted to talk with him, Miller reportedly said, “April Tinsley.”
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Talk about a cold trail...
This is some creepy shit. Talk about terrorism. Maybe they need to monitor things like public pools, waterparks, girls softball games - places where young girls gather - take a lot of photos and look for an older person who is present in several of those places... why the gap since the killing? copycat? person was in jail? person was in military and returned? moved away and back to area? any similar cases elsewhere in US? Hope they catch him soon.
Good questions.
Creepy? If it's the killer, he does it to likely torment the cops. He figures he is too smart for them. Maybe he is right.
Hoosiers aren't scared of child molestors. He strikes again in Fort Wayne and he will likely be shot before he gets one hand on another child.
Crawl back under a rock you cowardly pervert.
String him up Indiana!
I think creepy is the perfect adj.
Someone lurking around preying on our innocent children....thats f***ing CREEPY AND SICK!!!
Do you think the killer reads blogs??
I think headline news said today that the internet is a common tool that pedophiles use to bond and brag about their exploits. So,
Secrets, there is a decent probability that the perpetrator has a computer.
From the note it sounds like the killer is a low tech ignoramous who is not smart enough to turn on a computer.
Seeker
Low educated!
You can call Americas Most Wanted at (800) 274-6388 or Fort Wayne Police (260) 427-1201.
The killer is not as "low tech" as he would like you to believe. Please look at the writing samples he/she leaves. It "appears" that the alleged killer wants the writing to look uneducated on purpose. Most people have definite ways of forming their letters, whether neat or sloppy. There is a lot of inconsistency in the different letter formations. If you look carefully, sometimes the smaller letters are startig at different points. Some, such as the letter "d" are formed at the top of the "c", swinging around with the line added to complete the "d". Other "d"'s are formed starting at the top and swinging the lower part of the letter around. People usually don't do this many different types of strokes forming the same letters in such a short note. JMO
The killer formulated the note so as to fool the FBI? Could be. Or he could be some barely literate scum who is so sick that he has to picl on little kids. I see this scum bucket as a momma's boy who could never figure out how to have an adult relationship with an adult female.
Tell me it aint so, Momma's boy!
Citizen
I think he used his opposite writing hand and dumbed down his writing skills.
Look at the maps again people, this guy likes to leave evidence near one specific RR track...the same track that runs within blocks of where April was abducted and to the NE where her body was dumped. The barn writing and most of the letters were found within a mile of this SAME RR track owned and maintained by the Norfolk Southern Railway.
BTW...another young girl went missing from the Indiana town of Wabash in 2006, blocks from this same stretch of RR track. Her remains were just recently found 10miles to the SW of Wabash in a rural location, blocks from this same RR track.
If one were to follow the tracks from where April was abducted in Fort Wayne, SW to Wabash and beyond they would pass by all three sites.
If one were to follow this same track to the NE from where April was abducted in Fort Wayne the would pass within blocks of the Barn that was written on and through a town called Grabill where two of the letters were found. Continue to the NE and one would pass within a mile of where Aprils body was found near the town of Spencerville.
Video Guy:
Great observation. So the suspect would likely know his way around this rail road track.
Perhaps employee, perhaps hobo, perhaps train jumper.
Any more observations to share with our readers?
Not a hobo or a train jumper, he needed a vehicle to commit this crime against April and dump her body.
All his activities happen in the spring time, a time they would start maintenance work on the RR tracks...after the winter thaw. Other products that arrive by rail in the spring time are agriculture products...seed, fertilizer, pesticides...ect
This guy is leaving his photos and DNA all over Fort Wayne without care, which leads me to believe he does not reside there and may work there in a seasonal position.
Video guy, How about migrant worker? Where do the tracks lead if you go south?
Rail tie maintenance records? Any one look at who worked on the tracks during the relevant periods?
I have sent my theory to the April Tinsley task force months ago and I'm not sure if they took it seriously or not.
I know they have a prime suspect from the Fort Wayne area and are waiting for the DNA results to clear or arrest him. I do not know what line of work he is in.
A migrant worker is another possibility but remember that Aprils abductor had her body for three days without drawing attention to himself, he must have had a house and was alone over the Easter holiday.
Not sure a migrant worker could afford to rent a house in the area on a temporary basis, where as a RR construction worker could.
These guys (RR const.) do travel to different areas to maintain the tracks for weeks and sometimes months at a time, depending on the project.
Couldn't the girl and/or the body be kept in a car or a trunk for a couple of days?
DNA would be nice. But so would comparing the subjects body to the photos he (or theoretically she) sent to police. What takes so long for DNA evidence?
I read they have some 200 DNA samples to compare, other sites say as many as 500. This will take some time.
I have been informed at a Fort Wayne forum that they have a prime suspect and are waiting for his DNA to be compared.
There are also a dozen people who refuse to give their DNA as well.
To eliminate the prime suspect should not take more than 2 weeks
This supposed #1 suspect was taken in around June 1st. I don't know if he gave his DNA or resisted.
Oh ya...his initials are H.A. and from the River Haven area. He grew up in New Haven and a young 7-8year old girl was found dead a few hundred yards from his home in the late 60's when he was a young teen.
Shouldn't be too tough to get his finger prints. Ironic how some rough finger printing sometimes transfers DNA....
To H.A: I sincerely hope you submitted your DNA and that you are cleared. IF you are not cleared, thank God that you will get a fair trial. Indiana is fair, but JUST to those who are found guilty.
I'm told this guy DID give his DNA back in the beginning of June. Been a month and I would guess they put a rush on his test so the odds are HA is not their man.
It may be time they gave my theory some serious thought.
HA is NOT likely the killer. That was just a witch hunt!
Anonymous said...
(HA is NOT likely the killer. That was just a witch hunt!)
I don't know...I'm sure they had good reason to suspect him but there has been nothing more said about him and I would think they had the DNA back by now...thats all I'm saying.
Prime-time crime show “America’s Most Wanted” will air a second segment on the abduction, molestation and murder of 8-year-old April Marie Tinsley on Saturday.
After a command center was set up following the first “America’s Most Wanted” airing, workers fielded dozens of calls per day.
That lasted just a week, however, before the tips and the call center fizzled out, said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Bob Ramsey.
The center, which employs only FBI personnel now, answers few calls now.
“Nothing’s breaking, there’s nothing new,” said Ramsey.
Thanks video guy!
Your updates are helpful. Cops ought to hitch the old line and speak to a few transits. Someone knows.
Oh god... his messages are scary.
The killer is a chicken sht. Try hurting some one your own size and see who winds up pushing daiseys.
they've sent 150 to 200 samples taken in our area to the Indiana State Police Lab. It takes four to six weeks to get results back. They haven't gotten back any results so far.
Come on Nikki, it's been over 6 weeks. If they had something, it would have come back as a probable and then further analysis would be done after they tried to get a confession.
Most likely, they got nothing.,,
They got nothing,,,and I'll tell you why! This guy is not a permanent resident of Fort Wayne. Or he would not be spreading his DNA and photos all around town laughing at the police...he lives elsewhere, and works for the railroad for a sub contractor...they have blue trucks!
kcoz,
Have to agree that your theory is much more sound than the theory it was a local. Follow the tracks, follow the repair log and ask for volunteers to give DNA. The ones that won't volunteer should be investigated further...
this is nasty and sick
Yup, murdering pedophiles are nasty sick COWARDS!
I think the killer is a doctor. Here is my reasoning:
(A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000.
(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000.
(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171.
Statistics courtesy of U.S... Dept of Health and Human Services.
Guns
(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S... is 80,000,000.
(Yes, that's 80 million)
(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500.
(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .000188.
Statistics courtesy of FBI
So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners. So remember, 'Guns don't kill people, doctors do.
Jester
I don't believe it was a Doctor. If you look at records of child molesters in the area where April lived..blocks after blocks are red dots!! Meaning molesters are all over. I don't know about 1988 in that area but the molesters convictions range from 1985 till now. Some were convicted of it 2 & 3 times. This man lives or lived near. He went all over throwing off the FBI leaving notes & what not but I believe he is a low life scum bag that planned what he did.
you may be right, but the doctor statistics were funnier...
Psychic picks up Tinsley case
Robbie Thomas is coming to Fort Wayne in October as part of the American Paranormal Conference held at the Scottish Rite on October 12th. Thomas is hoping to work with local police on the Tinsley case
Twenty-one years of investigation, including a trail of evidence, and a long list of ruled out people of interest hasn't lead to the man who raped and killed 8-year old April Tinsley in 1988.
After the renewed effort Fort Wayne Police collected more than 200 DNA samples from local people trying to look into anything that could offer some insight.
"I'll be doing whatever the [Fort Wayne] detective wishes me to do," said Thomas in a phone interview on Friday. "Visiting the crime scene would help."
Despite Thomas, and Stone saying they've talked to Fort Wayne Police, and that detectives are on board, the department's stance is they are not working with psychics on this case.
Apparently all the local DNA samples they have taken are not a match...
During my continued research I have found other girls that have been murdered over the years suspiciously close to the Norfolk Southern Railroad system...one of them in Wabash Indiana along the exact same track that runs through Fort Wayne, past Aprils house and past the barn writing, three of the letters, and near where Aprils body was discovered.
Also included in my research was an education about the RR construction business. Many projects are subed out to contractors from other states that specialize in specific repairs and inspections. When such sub-contractors win a bid they sent their own crews to the area/state to do the work, sometimes spending months and months at location....I now feel Aprils killer works for one of these contractors. There is one in particular out of Pittsburgh, PA. that has caught my attention. They work in several states including Fort Wayne, IN. and in 1995 a 8-year-old girl disappeared in PA near a privet RR track connected to the Norfolk Southern track system there in PA.
Anyone know how I can research construction projects this company was involved with in Fort Wayne?
(in 1995 a 8-year-old girl disappeared in PA near a privet RR track connected to the Norfolk Southern track system there in PA.)
This should read "1985" and her name is Cherri Ann Mahan. search her name and read her story, than look at maps of where she was abducted and compare them to the system map of the Norfolk Southern Railroad.
Video Guy. I think you may be on to something. I suggest that you author a letter to the FBI agent in charge (CARD Unit), to Supervisory Special Agent William "Rocky" Donaldson with the Quantico, Va.-based Behavioral Analysis Unit, and the county prosecutor in Allen County and suggest they subpoena the records. All three have the means to get the records if you write a compelling letter.
I suspect the rail road will cooperate. Once they get the records, it seems likely that it may show the connection to the point that interviews are warranted.
I have studied this case and I do agree Video Guy has an excellent theory regarding the RR Tracks, I
look at the string of events in the N.E. section of Indiana and lately I get the impression more and more that the perp had or still possibly has a delivery route of sorts, I just wonder when the note was found in the mail box was there a flyer or newspaper with it, newspaper delivery would help this guy blend into the community and to see him on a daily basis would not alarm residents, the barn note was composed predawn in other words before sunrise, flyer and or newspaper delivery in started in the early morning hours,he knew little girls lived in the houses when he left the notes.
My sentiments exactly I have noted this information on another thread, I truly believe this perp had or has a delivery route in the North Eastern part of Indiana,he is most likely known and even familier with community folk and their little girls, I would closely watch delivery vehicles passing through, he insisted in one of his notes that the note be reported to the police and the LOCAL NEWSPAPER why not just the local news the word PAPER is what grabbed me, is it because he delivers papers and wants to read about himself to satisfy his need for attention and cut out publications about the case to add to his collection? Sometimes we tend to overlook the obvious, just speculation but it makes total sense.
All of these theories are good. I only hope law enforcement takes them seriously. All of the time and effort placed into coverage and investigation will be worth it if the killer is brought to justice.
Follow this link to a composite drawing created in 1988 of the suspect involved in the murder of April Tinsley:
http://s795.photobucket.com/albums/yy239/illustrator55/?action=view¤t=Tinsleysuspect.jpg
I have been informed that this drawing was created byway of hypnosis. Any one who knows anything about hypnosis will tell you that one has to be very careful about how information is gathered thru hypnosis for risk of creating a FALSE memory. Not every annalist with a psychology degree is qualified to hypnotize an individual with successful results.
I now know what the police have figured out…they have been chasing a ghost for the past twenty years.
Just why is the barn writing case so hard to solve? Have the FBI spent to much time trying to track down the image in the scetch as opposed to following up on rail road workers and subcontractors who work along the tracks?
Actually they do not use the sketch at the website and I think they believe this is a dead end or it would have been used with age enhancement.
We have no clue as to what the FBI is up to... Hopefully they are still running down leads.
Someone is harassing me at my youtube channel in regards to this case and it is not Aprils father as they claim.
Go ahead and post your Youtube site if you want contacts from this site. I would think the FBI would welcome your input. I certainly find your theories a breath of fresh air.
Thanks Legal but I already have...they know of my youtube channel, my theory's, and the forum I post in.
What they are doing with this info I do not know...I only hope that all of this is not wasting their time...this killer needs to be caught, tried, and if found guilty...executed.
Video Guy is apparently a concerned citizen who apparently wanted to light a fire under law enforcement to get this crime solved. No one should ever accuse anyone unjustly. However, making good faith suggestions to investigating officers is sometimes what is needed to break open a case. Granted there is a fine line in all that anyone may do.
Video guy has been a solid contributor to this forum and has not made any specific accusations against anyone here. Please stick to facts as it relates to what he said here on this forum.
It is brave for any citizen to voluntarily speak with law enforcement as a possible informant or otherwise. We all are reminded that all suspects and persons of interest are entitled to a presumption of innocence.
Thanks.
The person responsible for the abduction, beating, rape, and murder of 8 year old April Tinsley is an experienced child predator. Should this case finally catch a break I believe the public will learn April was not his first victim nor his last.He has a pattern that has yet to be put into perspective due to lack of knowledge regarding other child abductions he has no doubt been involved in. This perpetrator gives us hints about his personality for instance he watches and studies his prey before he makes his move in most cases, he enjoys taunting,he wants it to be indirectly known he is responsible for April's fate, he uses intimidation tactics and makes threats, so he has a bully side to his demeanor and bullies are bold and agressive. I do think he will trip himself up and April's case will be solved and at last she will rest in peace.
I think most that have followed this case realize a break is needed. But sometimes, can't just wait, you have to make things happen. Let's hope law enforcement follows every lead and solves this crime.
Best I can tell, Video Guy is a great poster on this forum who stimulates intelligent discussion on a number of topics including April Tinsley. Video Guy seems like someone who would help law enforcement any way he could. So, any one suggesting that video guy is trying to be anything but helpful seems completely off base!
The Tinsley investigation remains open. No suspects have been named. Many theories are being explored.
Do not post any untrue or malicious accusations about any individual or the comment section will be closed.
Fact is, the killer msut have law enforcement stumped.
No DNA proof.
No hand writing evidence.
No eye witness.
Lots of theories and no real suspects. Not a good day for the good guys.
as a young child i lived in the area where aprils body was found. I was sexually abused by this person in 1983 in spencerville. He was a bully, always taunted me, used a knife to threaten me and threaten to kill my family if i told on him. At this time this abuser was 16. I can only wonder if he escalated in his violence and killed april tinsley. Whoever killed her knew the area where her body was dumped. He was comfortable enouggh here to dump her body and leave messages on barns. When i watched the news the first time about April, I was 12 years old. My first instinct was what if it was him. He lived in spencerville, he had a truck, he had family in Leo and Fort Wayne. He would be in his 40s now. What do u think? U think I am making too much out of this? All i can say is ever since i was 12 years old and saw the news, i can never forget it. I pray justice comes for her. Its been far too long.
If any one feels they have helpful information then it should be discussed with law enforcement. The appropriate numbers are listed in the article.
Anon: It is hard for anyone to speculate as to who the killer might be. Legitimate information should be shared with law enforcement and you can let them decide what if anything should be done with it.
This is not a forum to post names of suspects. If you have information concerning a crime, report it directly to law enforcement. Thank you.
Enjoyed the comments!
The killer is very smart. He has ties in that area that are from his very religious family. He would have sexual urges that go against the way he was raised but wouldn't be able to control himself and why this murder happened on good friday. He again will go long sperts without offending until the urge becomes over welming or life stresses to much to cope with, its his release. He is a traveling salesman and in his car and in homes as a business, he doesn't live in the area but travels there for business and family. He is married but addicted to porn specifically child porn and prostitution. He wants recognition because he is an only child from older rebellious mother. He growing up would have been an outcast in school and in band as his mother would have played piano in church being the god fearing woman she was...He wants to be good like his mother but he cant...he worships his mother but he abused her as well with lies and deception...
Profile:
Could be, but I like Video Guy's idea better. Someone associated with the rail road seems like a more probable scenario. But who really knows? IF the FBI has ideas, they don't seem to be sharing them with the public.
e has family who works for the railroad or he has connections in the railroad who shares his same sick fetishes..He wouldnt be working alone he would have individuals that could throw you off the trail and away from him because of where he lives ie: someone from the railroad would put the notes in the areas specified to get his credit that he could witness from afar,.
recent post i misspelled a word..he has a very religious family not rebellious. This person has a god like complex and offends but can pass a lie detector test..he is a sociopath in meaning he has no feelings when he assults the ones he loves, he feels intitled in the name of religion. His wife wouldnt be aware because he is a master manipulater and believes his lies. The wife would know that something isnt right but would be made to feel she is crazy for feeling there isnt something right. she suspects but is told she is crazy..He makes everyone in her circle believe she is crazy in turn isolating her from everyone that was once in her life so that she has no credibility..
He portrays himself as a victim..he needs all eyes to be on him to get the notoriety and recognition to fuel his God like complex..The help he would have would come from the internet and from the same individuals who are into child porn, pedophiles..He may even film some of his offenses to air on the internet to get recognition..sights that are here today and gone tomorrow, not showing his face of coarse but showing the offense of rape.. I don't believe his intent was to kill i believe his attempt was to rape and it went wrong somehow..He may however chose to murder the ones we wouldn't care about,ie: prostitutes because he would feel hw is less likely to get caught...he hasnt offended since 2004 because he is in a new marriage with young children but as that comes to its inevitable close he would have another woman in the works with small children to feed his cravings
He would go by many different alias and would need extra income his wife wouldn't notice for his addiction to prostitution therefor it is likely he would be filming assaults and putting on a fly by night porn site and having money wired to a Swiss bank account...which means hes traveled there...maybe with the band he no doubtfully was part of in high school... He is very smart...very calculating...a sociopath
Profiler: sounds like you have given this matter some thought. If the FBI shares your profile of the perpetrator, why not publicize the information and round up persons of interest for interviews?
FBI is not like the local police...Police round up and question...FBI investigate than round up...im sure this case has people they are investigating that no one would be aware of until they are sure they have the right one...
Oh Profiler, kind of like love. YOu don't know til the right one comes along. LOL
I personally think you are both wrong... The killer is likely dead and long gone.
seeker: hes not long gone these people never are, they just get better, smarter..they evolve and offend again, they cannot help themselves...think about it, he wanted it published so he could get the notoriety...little mans complex...does someone like that just stop or seek more recognition...
anonymous...is there ever a "right one" or is it how well a person hides their true identity...ie: im sure his wives thought he was the right one but they were mislead...hes still out there and offending..he would be in his 50s now and with over 20 years past since April, be certain there are over 20 years of additional victims from this man...Also take a look at the letter he left behind, it has been implied low educated because of his writing, i say smart, look at the M's and W's...he turned the letter upside down to write some of letters ie: W is his M and so on....look at it and you will see
same with some s's, hes done this thinking it will throw handwriting experts off...
Profiler, Seeker, Anon and previous comment authors: Interesting comments, observations and theories.
I personally don't buy the "smart" perpetrator. First any kidnapper/killer(s)is not very smart to break the law in the first place. Sick, perhaps... smart I think not.
One would tend to agree that the killer seemed to have a desire to be "famous" but he can't be too bright if he left a note and taunted law enforcement.
Interesting comments about the Ms and Ws but I don't know how common it is for it to look like the paper was turned upside down.I hate to give the killer any credit for being creative when he wrote the note.
As for other crimes subsequently being committed by the same person, that seems to be pure speculation. Furthermore, I am aware of no publicly released evidence to confirm such a theory. (Although someone once said the ransom note in the Ramsey case looked similar. http://legalpublication.blogspot.com/2009/02/back-on-cold-trail-of-jonbenet-ramseys.html)
As always, if anyone has any information helpful to law enforcement, please call law enforcement directly.
Legal Pub to address your comments as i do respect them and others if it brings this person to justice. When I said "smart" it is in the sense that its been over 20 years and still he hasn't been caught, that's because he is methodical and calculating, thus not stupid. As far as leaving a note behind he would need the recognition much like killers that need souvenirs of their victims. Lastly isn't all of the comments of this blog speculation and isn't that how we come up with theories that are potentially viable that another didn't think of. it is a wise man who can listen to others with an open mind....speculation or not
I am with profiler on this one
OK lets take this a little further...there was DNA left on Aprils body and later a condom delivered with the note or notes, does anyone know if they matched one another, giving credibility to the theory that there is more than one involved with this crime and coverup. Also given that there hasn't been further communication from this person he likely doesn't or didn't live in the area but visiting family rather, so another question would be this..what major attractions are in Fort Wayne that time of year or even year round that would have someone visiting..big fairs...what...my thought is they were followed home from some outing and he stayed with family long enough to do what he was going to do and than leave...and all the while law enforcement would be looking locally and he could enjoy the media from afar...
funny how legal pub thinks im male....im female...not that it matters but thought it interesting you assumed i was male....
While we are at it, L.P. needs to correct the grammatical error
so does anyone know if the DNA was the same on Aprils body as the condom left at later date?????
also can Burlington Railroad be in this equation
I do not believe the FBI ever released whether the DNA was a match. As for Burlington Rail Rd, Video guy apparently thinks the killer may have some ties to the company.
I favor the killer is long gone... moved, died, or otherwise incapacitated.
what about major attractions in Fort Wayne area during that time of year
I would assume there are periodic events at Allen County Memorial Stadium. They have a semi pro basketball team etc.
im thinking bigger...tourist attractions like how Washington DC would have that would bring tourists to those parts...even big State Fairs that time of the year...
No State Fair in Ft wayne. Maybe a county fair in the late summer.
in doing further research of Fort Waynes occomudations i have come upon an interesting fact...Fort Wayne has a nationally recognized children's zoo...they employ under 100 except during the spring and summer months where they hire an additional 100 employees...where do these employees come from and what about their vendors that may only be there a short time and than back to their native homes...i would imagine some of the items delivered to the zoo would be via train...just a thought, i have to wonder if little April was one of their visitors or even in one of the schools that this zoo is famous for visiting on a regular basis....
here is a question...when information is given to the FBI do they protect that person or is now the informant in real danger trying to balance the two with this person in her life...keep in mind FBI investigates before they round up...much different than local police...Just a question...maybe he has a wife who is scared for her own safety along with the children she undoubtedly has...
First if the hubby is guilty he will never get out of jail to hurt anyone else again. Second fbi does offer witness protection.
you misunderstand anonymous...what if information has been given already...while they are investigation what happens to the informant during the investigation...if it is his wife...she may be in a difficult position during this time and possible danger...what are the guarantees for the informant, they may be scared of retaliation...it has been said that the offender may not be working alone...is there a fear factor in this case and why it has stalled...
Profiler: anything is possible. Typically; however, the witness is protected from day one
I would love for Video Guy to review my posts and tell me what he thinks as it seems he has a solid grasp on the perpetrator...
I agree that video guy is very bright
Unfortunately he seems to have lost interest in this thread.
Video Guy are you out there....does anyone know how to contact him
here is an observation....what other rapist/murderer has evaded law officials for over 20 years, fits the same description as Aprils rapist and killer and has dropped off the map...the East Side rapist otherwise known as the original night stalker...White male, in his 50s now and hasnt attacked or made a presence since the 80s....say it isnt so...same person?
Here is a profile of the alleged perpetrator: http://www.offenderprofiling.com/2010/02/fbi-profile-of-the-april-tinsley-killer/
Does anyone following this thread agree?
Legal Pub, for the most part i do agree with the FBI profile of the perpetrator but hears the thing I think about when raising the issue of possible links between the East side Rapist also known as the original night stalker and April Tinsley...the original night stalker was a white male in his late teens or early 20s and first started offending in the late 70s, rape only at first and than evolved into murder, than he just disappeared...someone like that doesn't just disappear and we know he wasn't arrested for any other offenses because there isn't a DNA match to any known criminals..so what happened to him...my thought is the rapes than the murders he committed were no longer satisfying his urges, we saw that as his crimes progressed from rape to murder..so did he disappear or did he evolve to killing of children as he realized what his preference really was, children...seems a little odd that neither of them have been seen from again at about the same time...I do disagree strongly with the profile that he lives in that area, I do believe he is married, infact married several times over the coarse of the years..I believe he married woman with small children to satisfy his needs and as they got older he had another woman in the works with smaller children therefor he would have been married at least three times over the coarse of the 20 years past..why I believe married instead of a live in partner..because he needs to own the ones in his life to control them...he needs some since of normalcy in his chaotic life that he brings to himself...remember these are urges he cannot control so in order for him to not get caught he has to blend in with the every day Joe....married with a family and a job that puts him in peoples homes...a salesman...
I believe its highly possible they are one of the same....both would be in their 50s now...both have disappeared at about same time...both sought notoriety....both sexual deviants with no known criminal background...both...
to add to my theory...look at the composite sketches of both killers...I believe the early sketch of the east side rapist with short hair was because he just got out of some military branch and why he ties a diamond knot, the later sketches show him with longer hair and it is that picture that looks alot like the April Tinsely sketches...just an observation
Interesting theories and observations
What are your thoughts Legal Pub...look at the composite drawings and see if you conclude there is a high probability...
Photos look similar to me. how about you L. P.?
Happy Holidays to everyone...lets hope that this new year brings some closure and comfort to those who have lost loved ones at the hands of another....
This is a great blog,love all the comments!!
What is to love about this topic. It is murder!
There is nothing to love about this topic anonymous...Rape and murder of our most innocent is tragic on all levels...this and other blogs similar are of people with the same passion and resolve to see justice done and to get these sick people off the streets to not hurt any one else..Nothing to love for certain, rather infuriated passion for justice....
Ditto x10
L.P, this is very much a cold case how do we know if FBI is still actively keeping this case open and on the forefront also if they have any new leads or tips they may be pursuing...
fBI seems completely baffled.
They have been completely baffled but are they still, R there any new leads
early on this blog there was a question posed....why the gap in between the killings...the gap is because is doesn't live there...he never did...he returned every few years to visit loved ones...family...why do you think he is so braisen to leave evidence..that's because he believes he wont get caught being so far away from the crime. If evidence came years later ie: used condom claiming to be from the perpetrator, than I would guess its not from him directly, meaning he wasn't working alone in this crime...I believe the photo of his privates could actually have come from him as he would feel that one piece of evidence will never get him caught but dna evidence would eventually, hes not that stupid...he also feels very comfortable leaving tidbits of evidence because he has no criminal background or record...im sure he has committed other similar offenses but from a different part of the map thinking it wont link him to April Tinsely...my thought is hes gotten smarter in his crimes and that hes evolved in a way that he could get recognition that he needs but not from the law...from others just like himself...internet!!! I believe he films his offenses from some other location than later dumps the body. On the internet sites he wouldnt show his face while committing these crimes...these sites would be here today and gone tomorrow which would give him the recognition with a sense of security in not getting caught....i feel very strongly about this....
In closing i would like to give you something to think about and consider...are you, any of you familiar with the sites that show older men having sex with very young, prepuce girls...they look and appear to be drugged...that's because they are...my best guess is with a date rape drug called Rufies...these offenses are filmed and i don't know about you but im not familiar with any six, seven or eight year old child that would consent to such a thing, therefor its against their will and they are unaware of what is happening...as I said he was not alone in this offense...he has help covering it up and he continues to offend our children and filming his offenses and airing on the internet...think about the recognition he gets...and isnt that what hes wanted...recognition without getting caught
Sounds like a good Theory profiler. However they contain many assumptions. In the end analysis, I am not sure that law enforcement is much closer...
yes a lot of assumptions for sure, almost sounds like im describing someone I know....
And there in you have the problem profiler. As you analyze the situation with a target person already in mind, objectivity goes out the window.
very good point about the objectivity....time will tell because I believe this person will eventually get caught....
Any child.pornographer caught and convicted will face a maximum sentence. Any child killer is a coward. Neither should escape justice
the problem is so many of them don't get caught...and why we have so many crimes against out children...they only reinvent ways to do what their going to do in ways they are safe...on fly by night sights that are here for a short time and than gone...not gone completely but only opened under a different name...how will we ever protect our children with so much technology being used in a way not intended....
Technology will ultimately serve justice more than it will hinder it.
if that's true than technology could move a little faster this case has been unsolved for over 20 years now and be sure he is still offending
case is stone cold... killer is likely passed away or lost all his drive because of prostrate cancer.
One thing is for certain, the real responsible party is unlikely to ever harm again.
anonymous...interesting comments...you said that the killer is most likely dead or lost all sexual desires because of prostate cancer and than go on to say the "real" killer is for "certain" never going to harm again insinuating they are not one of the same....which is it...is he dead...lost all of his drive or is he alive but your "certain" he will never harm again...
If he is dead, there will be no harm.
If he lost his sexual desires for biological reasons, there will be no harm.
Point is that this particular person is unlikely to harm again under either scenario.
Good question Profiler. Anon, I see your point.
No one at this point knows who April Tinsley's killer is/was. But with the growing DNA data bank, eventually this case may be solved. More importantly, future cases may become routine with a comprehensive data bank.
As to Tinsley's killer, he is a coward for picking on a little girl.
anonymous...if he is dead the only harm is that the family will never have closure..if he has lost his sexual drive for biological reasons rest assure that doesn't stop a child predator...that may stop him from having sex with his wife but prostate or any other kind of cancer will never stop the urges of a pedophile, don't be naive or underestimate a child predator and their sick desires..
I think L.P. is right. The killer is a coward.
The biggest coward!!!!!!
I am in the camp that thinks he is a dead coward. I think there would be a DNA match if this scumbag were still alive committing crimes.
Very interesting theories. Him being a railroad worker makes sense.
Talk about a cold case...
After studying this case I think the killer is a long time resident of Ft. Wayne and lived in New Haven. A backwards man who never felt comfortable around women and was a social failure. Probably didn't marry until late in life and when he did things settled down for him. Maybe martial problems or the stress of a new baby caused him to start writing letters out of the pure boredom of his new "average" life which is nothing but a front to cover his true psychopathic ways.
I picture this man having an authoritative career that revolved around kids. Perhaps a teacher. I don't agree with the railroad theory. I think he is/was a hunter or fisherman as most of the places notes were left, as well as the disposal of the body were around bodies of water.
This was truly a good thread. The profile picture is pretty close. The answer is no, the killer is not smarter than the police! DNA testing is smarter than this killer. For those that do not know, police apparently got their man when they arrested John D. Miller earlier this week. Miller confessed to raping and killing the 8-year-old victim. This solves the 1988 cold case.
Fort Wayne Police and Indiana State Police detectives had John D. Miller under surveillance at his mobile home in the 13700 block of Main Street in Grabill. Contrary to some of the poster's theories, he lived alone.
On July 6, police secretly collected trash from Miller’s residence which included three used condoms. Indiana State Police Laboratory analyzed for DNA. On July 9, Indiana State Police lab confirmed that the DNA profile extracted from the condoms in Miller’s trash matched the DNA profiles of the condoms found in 2004 and the DNA found in Tinsley’s underwear. Game over. Fort Wayne Police Det. Brian Martin and Indiana State Police Det. Clint Hetrick arrested Miller at his home. When police asked him if he knew why they wanted to talk with him, Miller reportedly said, “April Tinsley.”
The brother told the local tv station that John was born a little slow, and never had a girlfriend. John has worked at the Kendallville Walmart for about a dozen years, stocking the electronics department on overnight shifts. When he was a young teenager, John Miller spent time at Wood Youth Center, then a reform school. He may have been molested during his stay according to his sibling. John had a temper, but his brother never imagined he might be involved in this case. Millers parents are both dead.
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