As a reminder, the Sherman Murder series includes some dark details. So too, here. Take care. -d I’ve been thinking more and more about the specifics in this case as of late. It seems others online have, too. The nitty gritty details are often ripe for picking and allow awareness of respectable points of view, in view of the facts of the case and nothing more.
I wanted to add that I appreciate reading fresh perspectives like yours on the Sherman case.
I hope you can give us your views about what the crime scene and murders might say about the killer or killers.
Does the killer seem to have been organized? Purposeful? Honey seems to have been moved into the pool area after being killed. Why would the killer take the time and effort to do that? My view is that the benefit outweighed the risk, but what he gained is unclear to me.
Great questions and very hard to answer conclusively but there is room for rational speculation I think, too, based on some of the facts and, importantly, on the reporting of the crime scene.
I will say that the risks seemed extreme, at least in some ways. Parading around all 3 floors of the estate and manually manipulating the bodies are all mitigatable risks. This before even considering the mechanism used to murder the Shermans. But, as you correctly point out, and as I have said before, it's hard (impossible) to know the psychological needs served that night on the part of the killer. For now, anyway.
My previous post on Dr Death (Brad Garret) highlights some thoughts but more to come!
The email bounced back, unfortunately. I appreciate reading your interesting views on the case and agree with some of them. I hope you don’t mind this feedback.
2. We know from Kevin Donovan that the communication between Honey and the Blaney law firm is considered privileged and the police weren’t permitted to review it. Donovan asked Doug Hendler for a comment and he declined, citing confidentiality.
4. ‘The couple was ambushed at their respective entryways.’ Barry most likely was, based on what the Star has reported, but Honey’s car was found parked by the side entrance which she was known to use most frequently. Her iPhone, however, was found in a powder room by the front entrance, leading to speculation that she may have been confronted by her attacker there. The Star also reported that her coat was off, the alarm was turned off, she was wearing slip-on shoes, and her wallet was on the kitchen counter. So there are some indications that she made it inside safely. Donovan believes she was home by 8:20 and the suspect possibly arrived at around 8:45.
You also wrote ‘The couple never used the front door’. They did use the front doors regularly, according to Donovan.
Also, I think (and hope) if there’s any truth to the front door lock showing signs it had been spun and it had been damaged, the TPS would have caught that immediately. The front doors were also within the view of neighbouring cctv cameras. If the suspect possibly tampered with the front door on that Wednesday he would have been captured on video.
5. ‘Were the real estate photos posted online? Did they include the statues?’ Yes to both questions.
Great commentary and thanks for reading and for your interest in this case. All disagreements or points welcome here.
As for the lawyer, yes, that congruent with what Hendler conveyed to me when I contacted him. I think there is more to this story and it does stand out as a bizarre piece of information, given the report around Honey's will amendments. I'm not sure we know police were not allowed to review it. This was the specific question I asked (did you speak to police about the murder) and the generic response around privilege was all that was given to me and Donovan received the same. We do not know what police have access to or if that answer would be different to a cop in the context of a murder investigation. This is outside my scope, but I don't know of any info confirming police have no knowledge. That is speculative to my knowledge, although not a legal expert, but would it matter in this case anyway?
In terms of the ambush, agreed. Much clearer picture with Barry. The points around her moving around freely for some time are compelling. This is what called to mind the potential for a front door entrance on behalf of the walking man, as or after she entered. It is a good point to ponder, as we don't know for sure who arrived when - aka, was walking man in the house when she got home? We also don't know whether she wore those slip ons outside. I believe there is some conjecture in this direction as she valued comfort. But it was December.
On the front door point, that is more accurate, you are right. They rarely used the front entrance as an entry or exit. Donovan has stated this quite clearly in videos he has released on the crime. This was my main point. It is true they at least used to the door to retrieve the paper in the morning, however. As for spinning a lock, depending on the sophistication, it is not apparent to me that they would be aware of a dry run break in or door pick. But I am not sure here. The front door lock being spun was reported by Donovan in his podcast if memory serves me. Greenspan highlights the police failure to find key information on inspection of the estate that would counter the no forced entry line they parroted in the early going, congruent with Donovan's reporting. I don't believe he sources that info in the podcast specifically but unsure.
I wanted to add that I appreciate reading fresh perspectives like yours on the Sherman case.
I hope you can give us your views about what the crime scene and murders might say about the killer or killers.
Does the killer seem to have been organized? Purposeful? Honey seems to have been moved into the pool area after being killed. Why would the killer take the time and effort to do that? My view is that the benefit outweighed the risk, but what he gained is unclear to me.
Too kind!
Great questions and very hard to answer conclusively but there is room for rational speculation I think, too, based on some of the facts and, importantly, on the reporting of the crime scene.
I will say that the risks seemed extreme, at least in some ways. Parading around all 3 floors of the estate and manually manipulating the bodies are all mitigatable risks. This before even considering the mechanism used to murder the Shermans. But, as you correctly point out, and as I have said before, it's hard (impossible) to know the psychological needs served that night on the part of the killer. For now, anyway.
My previous post on Dr Death (Brad Garret) highlights some thoughts but more to come!
Is there a way to send you a private message so I don’t have to post a comment publicly?
reply to the email? maybe?
The email bounced back, unfortunately. I appreciate reading your interesting views on the case and agree with some of them. I hope you don’t mind this feedback.
2. We know from Kevin Donovan that the communication between Honey and the Blaney law firm is considered privileged and the police weren’t permitted to review it. Donovan asked Doug Hendler for a comment and he declined, citing confidentiality.
4. ‘The couple was ambushed at their respective entryways.’ Barry most likely was, based on what the Star has reported, but Honey’s car was found parked by the side entrance which she was known to use most frequently. Her iPhone, however, was found in a powder room by the front entrance, leading to speculation that she may have been confronted by her attacker there. The Star also reported that her coat was off, the alarm was turned off, she was wearing slip-on shoes, and her wallet was on the kitchen counter. So there are some indications that she made it inside safely. Donovan believes she was home by 8:20 and the suspect possibly arrived at around 8:45.
You also wrote ‘The couple never used the front door’. They did use the front doors regularly, according to Donovan.
Also, I think (and hope) if there’s any truth to the front door lock showing signs it had been spun and it had been damaged, the TPS would have caught that immediately. The front doors were also within the view of neighbouring cctv cameras. If the suspect possibly tampered with the front door on that Wednesday he would have been captured on video.
5. ‘Were the real estate photos posted online? Did they include the statues?’ Yes to both questions.
Great commentary and thanks for reading and for your interest in this case. All disagreements or points welcome here.
As for the lawyer, yes, that congruent with what Hendler conveyed to me when I contacted him. I think there is more to this story and it does stand out as a bizarre piece of information, given the report around Honey's will amendments. I'm not sure we know police were not allowed to review it. This was the specific question I asked (did you speak to police about the murder) and the generic response around privilege was all that was given to me and Donovan received the same. We do not know what police have access to or if that answer would be different to a cop in the context of a murder investigation. This is outside my scope, but I don't know of any info confirming police have no knowledge. That is speculative to my knowledge, although not a legal expert, but would it matter in this case anyway?
In terms of the ambush, agreed. Much clearer picture with Barry. The points around her moving around freely for some time are compelling. This is what called to mind the potential for a front door entrance on behalf of the walking man, as or after she entered. It is a good point to ponder, as we don't know for sure who arrived when - aka, was walking man in the house when she got home? We also don't know whether she wore those slip ons outside. I believe there is some conjecture in this direction as she valued comfort. But it was December.
On the front door point, that is more accurate, you are right. They rarely used the front entrance as an entry or exit. Donovan has stated this quite clearly in videos he has released on the crime. This was my main point. It is true they at least used to the door to retrieve the paper in the morning, however. As for spinning a lock, depending on the sophistication, it is not apparent to me that they would be aware of a dry run break in or door pick. But I am not sure here. The front door lock being spun was reported by Donovan in his podcast if memory serves me. Greenspan highlights the police failure to find key information on inspection of the estate that would counter the no forced entry line they parroted in the early going, congruent with Donovan's reporting. I don't believe he sources that info in the podcast specifically but unsure.