TRUE CRIME ROCKET SCIENCE

True Crime Analysis, Breakthroughs, Insights & Discussions Hosted by Bestselling Author Nick van der Leek

Tag: Detective Baumhover

Detective Baumhover Disables Commenting After His Second Post

February 28, 2020 / / 1 Comment

It’s good to see the former lead detective bringing some sense and sanity to the ongoing chatter around the Watts case. In his second blog post, the detective issued this stern rebuke to the legions of brain-addled conspiracy nuts still obsessing over the Accessory Theory:

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CrimeRocket has struggled with the same issue which is why the comment approval setting is still in place on this site as well. TCRS has been criticized in the past for “not allowing” posts that “disagree” with the TCRS position. It’s not as simple as that. This site, like Baumhover’s, is about a particular topic and maintaining both a scientific and neutral approach to the evidence and facts of the case. TCRS doesn’t take sides, unless the truth can be considered a side. So it’s not about your take on that particular topic, and even less whose side you are on, especially when that involves spreading unfounded conspiracies, rumors or gossip, none of which are helpful in true crime, and true crime is infested with it. And as Baumhover writes, some people simply can’t respect that. Those that can’t shouldn’t be allowed to influence the conversation.

There is always a special place for the loonies, and they should stick to those places.

As all creators know, the amount of filthy, mindrotting commentary that comes through on a daily basis by obsessive, addicted followers of the Watts case is staggering. It’s even harder when one has multiple channels [for TCRS it’s this site, the growing YouTube channel, Patreon, social media and book reviews]. Of course each commenter thinks they are the only one, and that their questions are either completely original or deserving of First Amendments Rights. Each voice does matter, but at the same time, when there is a dull roar endlessly recycling the same conspiracy nonsense, it’s just easier to filter that stuff out.

TCRS welcomes the detective’s commentary online. Writing can be cathartic and Baumhover’s approach is likely to do just that. It will also bring some much needed mythbusting to this case, and hopefully by shining a light into the darker side of criminal investigations – the emotional and psychological toll investigators suffer – do some good along the way.

Visit Detective Baumhover’s blog at https://www.mental-armor.org/

Detective Baumhover's Review of Ring Doorbell Footage [58th Tranche]

February 20, 2019 / / 72 Comments

The date of Baumhover’s legal warrant to look into the doorbell footage is worth noting. November 14 was just 5 days prior to the sentencing hearing, and after the plea deal had been signed. This suggests the detective gave some credence to the possibility that Shan’ann’s BAC may have indicated she’d arrived home inebriated.
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Detective Baumhover’s Supplemental Report on the Rzuceks [Discovery Documents Page 1432] [45th Tranche]

January 5, 2019 / / 0 Comments

On 08/20/18, along with Michael Rourke and several DDA’s, I met with Frank and Frankie Rzucek at the Weld County District Attorney’s office. While briefly interviewing both Frank and Frankie I learned the following:
• Watts stated to Sandi that Shanann “was in one of her moods.”
• Nicole spoke with Sandi that morning and was concerned about Shanann and the girls’ whereabouts.
• Shanann’s phone and iWatch were never turned off and that she charged them on her night stand each night. [This is probably a reference to them habitually being left on, in contrast to them being found off ito of the crime scene].
• The girls’ Jack & Jill bathroom doors were typically locked at night to keep Bella and Celeste out of the bathroom.
• Sandi called Watts and left a voice message. She subsequently called him again to check on Shanann.
• Watts was distant with Shanann’s family the one week he was in NC. This was the last week of six weeks Shanann and the girls were in NC visiting family.
• Frank stated Watts’ relationship with his mother is not as good as the relationship with his dad.
• Frank confirmed the conflict between Shanann and her mother-in-law (Cindy Watts) regarding Celeste’s peanut allergy.
• Frankie stated that Shanann “wore the pants” in the family.
• Frank said Watts was more stern and confrontational with Bella and Celeste while he was visiting in NC the last week of the six week trip.
• Frank installed the hotel style latch on the front door to prevent Celeste from opening the door.
• Frank also said a big blue blanket was typically on the couch. Note: this blanket has not been located to date.
• Frank confirmed the outside garage door opener key pad has never worked. Nothing further.

Det. Dave Baumhover #11-02.

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The Suitcase At the Bottom of the Stairs

December 4, 2018 / / 67 Comments

Shan’ann’s suitcase at the bottom of the stairs wasn’t the same as the suitcases she took to North Carolina.

It was a smaller black case, ideal for a two day trip.

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Another maddening aspect of the tsunami of coverage is that there are only fleeting glimpses of the suitcase. You’d think the cops would start at that point, the last known point where Shan’ann left a trace of herself from the trip, but instead they’re everywhere else except looking at the case at the bottom of the stairs.

These are some of the glimpses I’ve been able to grab of it thus far.

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My impression was that the suitcase was left right at the foot of the stairs, but this case has been placed to the side of it, which would have taken two or three steps. Furthermore, Watts has left something of his own right beside it, a blue container, on the side of the case. It’s not clear what it is exactly.

While we’re on the subject of the suitcase, this footage provides some perspective of the motion detectors in the lounge. There appear to be just two, one in the corner by the couches, and another set higher up.

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When one is standing at the foot of the stairs, the small protruding wall blocks the coverage of the upper sensor. Presumably the sensor can detect movement above the first landing on the staircase.Fullscreen capture 20181204 200152Fullscreen capture 20181204 200203Fullscreen capture 20181204 200206

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There’s a strange moment in the footage where the officer asks Watts for information about the doorbell camera. Watts, who has been one great big disappointment in terms of ideas, interest or contributions, suddenly hits his stride. Literally. To explain how well he understands the system, he jogs at the door and shows – demonstrates – to the officer EXACTLY where the range of the doorbell camera extends to.

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There’s also another moment that was of interest to me, and will be of interest to those who have already read the TWO FACE series.  When detective Baumhover and Watts stand below the staircase shooting the breeze, Watts initially appears relaxed, then darts a few glances at his feet and at the floor. If you view the footage carefully, he does this when the detective breaks eye contact and looks away. Nickole Atkinson is also in the room, on his right.

We know Watts’ key tell when he’s nervous is swaying side to side, curling his lower lip and folding his arms. He starts doing that here too.

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When he is initially interrogated, in the kitchen, Watts is standing – from the perspective of the bodycam – between the view of the suitcase [and the stairs]. He’s blocking it, just as he seemed to do in Trinastich’s home when the officer wanted to view the surveillance footage.

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I won’t go into the reasons here, but I believe exactly in this area where Watts is standing, Shan’ann was murdered. She never made it up the stairs, and she never got into bed. There was also no argument, in fact no communication between them after she arrived home. The murder was the only message Watts wanted to send.

But what about the Vivint alerts showing no activity on the main level for over two and a half hours? There’s a well known saying in law, and in true crime, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, or, as I like to put it: the absence of evidence is also evidence.

In the same way Watts was able to hide data on his phone using the Secret Calculator, he knew how to outwit his own home security system. The 01:48 motion alert in the lounge probably came from the overhead sensor, while the one in the corner was neutralized [either digitally turned off, or rendered blind with a piece of paper] until he was finished with his nocturnal work.

Watts was painfully aware of the intricacies of the Vivint system because, while Shan’ann was away, she asked him to repair the dodgy garage sensor.

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Part of his dodgy explanation for Shan’ann leaving was that she left through the garage door. His point being, if she’d left that way, he’d have no way of knowing.

Maybe so, but he’d forgotten about the other sensor spying on his garage: Trisnatich’s.

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