Sherman Murders: Likelihoods & Questions

DALL·E/OpenAI

As a reminder, the Sherman Murder series includes some dark details. So too, here. Take care.

-d

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I’ve been thinking more and more about the specifics in this case as of late. To stimulate a bit of thought, here are some likelihoods and some more questions in relation to this case, based on observation, logical deduction, and what we know, and importantly, don’t know.

1. Matthew Campbell’s new piece, and the important information inside, really rearranged this case for many.

2. Honey Sherman likely had a will or was at least in the process of altering or settling a will at the time of the murders. There are people who know at least something about the details, outside Barry and Honey’s service provider (who spoke of the amendments to Donovan). Of course, this could all be due to Hendler’s privlege.

3. The walking man acted alone on scene, or at least this is the rational view to hold until there is verifiable proof of an accomplice at or near the estate that night. There needs to be some proof. One person could have pulled it all off, no problem. We don’t even know if there was a gun on scene for coercion purposes. BTK controlled entire families and he wasn’t in any sort of peak physical condition. It’s about the element of surprise. And the Old Colony Road murders were likely intentional and planned.

4. The couple was ambushed at their respective entryways. Honey likely surprised the attacker with her level of fitness and will, leading to the struggle. This would explain the facial injury and the position of the phone. She could have been ambushed from the front of the house, that is to say, the walking man entered there after spinning the lock that night, or perhaps in a dry run leading up to the crime. The couple never used the front door, and so this likely would have went unnoticed. The police certainly didn’t notice. Garland even took photos of the lock mechanism in his dry run, went home and searched the lock, and then studied the schematics. Perhaps like someone studied the beautiful layout of the Sherman estate. The chance that this walking man person spent just the one occasion at the estate is something too many people automatically discount.

5. The staging aspect of the crime is perplexing and probably has confused everyone at some point. Were the real estate photos posted online? Did they include the statues? If there is a link between the staging and the statues (is there?) this becomes important. Despite the fact the walking man spent time on all three levels of the home (talk about taking risks), this detail may have been known prior, either on review of the photos, or a virtual showing. Oh, and on the staging, so much is made of Barry’s legs and glasses. Ankle restraints are ideal for non-negotiable control and risk mitigation. The markings would likely not have shown up so easily given the Shermans both had footwear and clothes on. Had the last act been to snip the ties around the ankles, Barry’s legs would have appeared as they did, assuming the ankles were properly positioned and tied. Big conjecture here, but in need of consideration. The glasses as well are visible in photos and videos of Sherman right before the murders. Unless he got new specs, these look pretty affixed. One needs to recall that at the time of the strangulation, its likely they were bound and perhaps completely bound. Some talk of thrashing about - not so much, in a controlled strangulation.

6. Little has been reported on other viable theories. I have written at length on the Garland case. My post on Brad Garret dovetails with this view. On his accounting, this was deeply personal, and was not merely because someone was upset. This was a payback. Of course, we can’t know this for sure, but I find myself leaning more and more in this direction. To do what the walking man did, in search of money, seems awfully risky. Money is only good if you’re free to use it. Throwing caution to the wind is something Garland did, and something the walking man did, too. Put yourself in the mindset to have actually done this. If for inheritance or money, would you take those kind of risks? We are talking enormous additional risk with no reward, outside revenge. That calls to mind this whole thing about Barry being treated better in death. Really? Is this a big assumption? Honey’s wounds are so obviously congruent with a struggle. One that perhaps allowed walking man to gain entry to the home and surprise Barry, obviating the likelihood of a struggle (or at least significantly limiting it due to numerous factors).

7. Many argue that close family members are suspicious, given certain event timelines, and of course all the financial and legal chaos around Sherman at the time. A perpetrator in the form described in #5 (Garland) would of course benefit from that chaos, too. Sherman was in the press as was the estate sale.

8. As I’ve written, there was a bus stop close to where the walking man disappears. Given the grand canvas TPS executed in the area, why is he not picked up anywhere else? Is this simply a lack of video surveillance canvassing?

9. Back to #5 for a moment - knowledge of the schedules may not have been necessary. The timing of the phone call may not have been relevant either. In the Garland case, there was a huge hiccup. The five year old grandson was unexpectedly at home with the grandparents. Sometimes anomalies happen, and sometimes people get lucky.

10. The police may be chasing a ghost, the real killer and truly unknown out among us. The likelihood of this has gone up for me.

A lot more to come.