Matthew Silliman, 18, murdered, NC, four teens charged

[Kip]

http://www.newsobserver.com/100/story/1320375.html

No motive given yet.

Investigators today confirmed that the body found Wednesday in an abandoned mobile home in the New Hill community was that of Matthew Josiah Silliman, 18, who had been missing from his home in Apex since Nov. 25.

Authorities say Silliman was murdered but are not ready to release the cause of death...Arrest warrants say the killing occurred Sunday.

Meanwhile, a judge this afternoon warned four teenagers today that they could face life in prison if convicted of murder in Silliman's death.

The four teens -- Drew Logan Shaw, 16, of 107 Woolard Way, Apex; Ryan Patrick Hare, 18, of 100 Walnut Hill Court, Apex; Allegra Rose Dahlquist, 17, of 601 Walcott Way, Cary; and Aadil Shahid Khan, 17, of 901 Bristol Blue St., Apex -- are being held in jail without bond....

[Kip]

http://www.newsobserver.com/267/story/1321411.html

[i4doors]

another young person murdered....it is terrible.
prayers for matthew and his family....

[Kip]

Originally Posted by i4doors

another young person murdered....it is terrible.
prayers for matthew and his family....

Yes, another young person senselessly murdered. And apparently four young teens did this -- still no motive given-- some bad decisions and four more lives in ruin.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?se...cal&id=6542927

Matthew was reported missing on November 25 by his parents. This article says he was killed November 30. I wonder if he was held hostage by his friends for those 5 days, or if Matthew had run away, was hiding out in the trailer where he was found and his friends for some reason killed him when they found him.

[i4doors]

thanks for the update kip...prayers for matthew and his family

[:Fiona:]

why do people think they can just take someone life like that...

[Kip]

Originally Posted by :Fiona:

why do people think they can just take someone life like that...

I don't know. I keep looking for updates because I'm trying to understand the psychology behind how something like this could happen. You have two average kids, one kid who had been in trouble (for making bomb threats among other things) and whose parents don't seem to think it's an issue, and another kid who appears to be bright and compassionate and who had everything going for her. How did these four come together and how did Matthew end up dead? I have to think it was more than an accident that they were covering up since they are charged with murder.

The four were officially indicted today by a grand jury, but still no other details:

http://matin.branchez-vous.com/nouve...ntreal_es.html

All are in jail without bond.

[Kip]

In a paragraph-long news bit, the cause of death is given as asphyxiation:

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?se...cal&id=6560819

And, search warrants have been sealed.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4157234/

Originally Posted by Kip

I don't know. I keep looking for updates because I'm trying to understand the psychology behind how something like this could happen. You have two average kids, one kid who had been in trouble (for making bomb threats among other things) and whose parents don't seem to think it's an issue, and another kid who appears to be bright and compassionate and who had everything going for her. How did these four come together and how did Matthew end up dead? I have to think it was more than an accident that they were covering up since they are charged with murder.

The four were officially indicted today by a grand jury, but still no other details:

http://matin.branchez-vous.com/nouve...ntreal_es.html

All are in jail without bond.

I don't get the link - but then it is in french so....... It seems to be about a young woman. What is the connection to this case?

[Kip]

Originally Posted by penguin01

I don't get the link - but then it is in french so....... It seems to be about a young woman. What is the connection to this case?

Sorry, I posted the wrong link.

OMG - new s today - bizarre and sad

TEENS READ TAROT CARDS, THEN KILLED

...Four teenagers charged with Matthew Silliman's death foretold his future using tarot cards, beat him on the head with a h a m m e r, bound him with zip ties, and suffocated him with duct tape, according to search warrants unsealed late Wednesday....

[Kip]

From the news story at the link above:

Dahlquist's defense attorney, Joe Cheshire of Raleigh, said Wednesday night that his client has admitted to participating in Silliman's death. He described her as remorseful and "having a really hard time."
"She's in adult jail. Her whole world is gone. Emotionally, she's a little girl who rode horses and helped with a pet-sitting service. She's not a bad person," said Cheshire.

I know this is her attorney speaking, but, she IS a bad person. Maybe she wasn't in the past, but IMO she certainly is now. No one forced her to do this. What happened apparently wasn't a spur-of-the moment event. There would have been many decision points where she could have opted out of the plan and turned her buddies in and changed the course of events.

Dahlquist has been the one I've been most curious about. I just don't understand how a seemingly, normal, good kid could be talked into doing something like this.

[Kip]

Link to music lyrics?



...On Shaw's Facebook page, he refers to himself as a "Jugalo."

According to the Urban Dictionary website, a jugalo is someone who is "any person identifying with or supporting the Insane Clown Posse."

The Insane Clown Posse is a hip hop duo from Detroit that performs under the personas of murderous wicked clowns. Their music is known as "horrorcore," and is full of dark lyrics that have been targeted by some critics for being too violent and immature for many of the young fans who support the group.

Eyewitness News began reading through some of those lyrics Thursday and came up with some disturbing similarities between the words and what allegedly happened to Silliman.

In the song "Murda Cloak," one line reads: "I tied a ***** up, I had to duct tape the ***** face." The song "Wax Museum" says: "It seems my cards of tarot have dealt you a very odd hand," and the song "Like It Like That" says: "Sometimes my dome feels like a cherry bomb. I gotta pound his ***** head with a to keep him calm."

[Kip]

In the story at the link above about the possible tie to music lyrics, there's a link to a pdf file of the search warrants. There are many pages and I just scanned them briefly, but a couple of things:

- 6 Tarot books were taken from Allegra Dahlquist's house, so it looks like she might have been the one who brought the Tarot aspect in

- there are photos of the houses search - these are nice houses - these are well-off kids

[Cary]

This has all been so unspeakable for our community so many lives unraveled, so many families ruined, so many of our children touched and impacted. We all still search for some kind of answers to explain how this could have happened and replay what we have learned. Has has anyone else wondered if he truely ran away on the 26... and whether he spent those days up to his death a run-away or a captive? Did he even actually run or was he abducted?

[Kip]

Originally Posted by Cary

This has all been so unspeakable for our community so many lives unraveled, so many families ruined, so many of our children touched and impacted. We all still search for some kind of answers to explain how this could have happened and replay what we have learned. Has has anyone else wondered if he truely ran away on the 26... and whether he spent those days up to his death a run-away or a captive? Did he even actually run or was he abducted?

Welcome, Cary. I'm also trying to understand how something like this could have happened, but I'm not sure there will be any answers. It's mind-boggling to me how four people could do this without one of them trying to put a stop to it.

I've been thinking that Matthew probably didn't run away, but was lured there. My thinking is that if he ran away, it would be pretty unlikely for the four "friends" to come up with such a crazy plan at that point. I think it's more likely that they came up with the plan and then somehow lured Matthew to the vacant trailer.

[Kip]

Now, a 5th teen, Silliman's girlfriend has been questioned:

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?se...cal&id=6678159

The warrant also says "The Facebook.com chats and interview of Ms. Lippert confirm that Ms. Lippert had knowledge of Mathew Silliman's disappearance and did not report this knowledge to the Authorities when a Silver Alert was issued for Mathew Silliman."

Investigators took cameras, computers, and data disks from the Lippert home.

To date, Lippert has not been charged with any crime.

[karen64]

this is the 1st I've read on the death of Stillman.. I am floored,, this world gets crazier & crazier, I will try to read up and see what's going on.

[concerned14]

I know one of the teens charged with this crime. I live several states away and information is hard to get. Has there been a trial date set.

[Kip]

Originally Posted by concerned14

I know one of the teens charged with this crime. I live several states away and information is hard to get. Has there been a trial date set.

Welcome, concerned14. No, the trial date hasn't been set. There hasn't been much new information coming out. I've been surprised about the scarcity of articles considering how shocking this crime was. Part of that may be that because they're juveniles.

One of the teens had a history of getting in trouble. If he had committed the murder alone, it would have been surprising that his petty crimes escalated to murder, but wouldn't have been so shocking. But, I just can't wrap my mind around how the other three, normal, typical students, hatched this plan in the first place, planned it, and carried it out without one of them backing out at some point along the way.

[Apex]

I am currently a Student at Apex High and I'd like to put my input into this. I knew Matthew and 3/4 of the suspects. In Fact Aadil is (until proven guilty) a very good friend of mine. I always felt I could talk to him. I know its hard for anyone listening and reading these stories to believe but he is a good kid. he is also the only one not charged in conspiracy. I think he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've been paintballing with Aadil, Matthew, Allegra and Ryan several times, one time at the crime scene, I don't know Drew. Knowing these people for years I can say Allegra is not the good little girl they make her sound like. She is always angry at school and always seemed like she wanted to hurt someone. Ryan, however, Is Stone Cold F#$k nuts. On a few occasions he threatened me,and even gotten to a physical point on one occasion (I knocked him down in one punch and I only mention this because I want readers to realize this testimony is coming from someone not bullied or intiminated...I just think hes crazy). Even Matt seemed troubled at times; not dangerous by any means, he was a good kid, just troubled. Whether or not matt had been held hostage those 4 days I have no idea. these people all hung out all the time. It blows my mind to think they could have had him there that long, But I never thought Legra and Aadil to be capable of murder either so what do I know. As for the motive I still remain Clueless. to put some perspective in it there was some kind of Love triangle between Legra, Ryan and Matt. With Ryan's state of mind and Legra's questionable state of mind I admit it seems possible for murder would be their idea of revenge. I still can't even make my own theories how Aadil and Drew got involved though. I have some strange feeling that only Ryan and Legra really knew what was going to happen. I think Drew and Aadil were just in the wrong place or maybe even invited to keep Matt from expecting anything when they were hanging out and went to the trailer.

This Is all my own personal theories because knowing them so well I can't help but wonder so please don't spread this as Fact. I just wanted people to have a better understanding of these kids from my point-of-view before tension was focused in the wrong direction and just realize media doesnt always tell the whole story. If anyone is offended I apologize, again, this is how i see it. Feel free to attack my statement becuase I too want to figure out what happened and any holes in my theory I want to hear. Thank you

[dgfred]

Thanks for the info Apex. We will continue to follow along.

[Kip]

Originally Posted by Apex

I am currently a Student at Apex High and I'd like to put my input into this. I knew Matthew and 3/4 of the suspects. In Fact Aadil is (until proven guilty) a very good friend of mine. I always felt I could talk to him. I know its hard for anyone listening and reading these stories to believe but he is a good kid. he is also the only one not charged in conspiracy. I think he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've been paintballing with Aadil, Matthew, Allegra and Ryan several times, one time at the crime scene, I don't know Drew. Knowing these people for years I can say Allegra is not the good little girl they make her sound like. She is always angry at school and always seemed like she wanted to hurt someone. Ryan, however, Is Stone Cold F#$k nuts. On a few occasions he threatened me,and even gotten to a physical point on one occasion (I knocked him down in one punch and I only mention this because I want readers to realize this testimony is coming from someone not bullied or intiminated...I just think hes crazy). Even Matt seemed troubled at times; not dangerous by any means, he was a good kid, just troubled. Whether or not matt had been held hostage those 4 days I have no idea. these people all hung out all the time. It blows my mind to think they could have had him there that long, But I never thought Legra and Aadil to be capable of murder either so what do I know. As for the motive I still remain Clueless. to put some perspective in it there was some kind of Love triangle between Legra, Ryan and Matt. With Ryan's state of mind and Legra's questionable state of mind I admit it seems possible for murder would be their idea of revenge. I still can't even make my own theories how Aadil and Drew got involved though. I have some strange feeling that only Ryan and Legra really knew what was going to happen. I think Drew and Aadil were just in the wrong place or maybe even invited to keep Matt from expecting anything when they were hanging out and went to the trailer.

This Is all my own personal theories because knowing them so well I can't help but wonder so please don't spread this as Fact. I just wanted people to have a better understanding of these kids from my point-of-view before tension was focused in the wrong direction and just realize media doesnt always tell the whole story. If anyone is offended I apologize, again, this is how i see it. Feel free to attack my statement becuase I too want to figure out what happened and any holes in my theory I want to hear. Thank you

Welcome, Apex. Your theories are as good or better than anyone's because you know the people involved. As you've learned from this case, the media frequently gets things wrong. We know that - but it's all we have to go one - so our discussions are based on that. Thanks so much for adding your up-close and very articulate perspective.

I am drawn to this "case" because I'm trying to understand how a situation like this can happen. It's understandable when there's one crazy/mean/angry person who targets another. Or even two people hatching a plot together. But when there's a group, it seems like at some point, one of the group would have second thoughts and tell someone.

Your theory makes a lot of sense.

I hope you're doing okay. I knew someone who hired a hit man to kill her husband and finding that out was devastating. It's tough to learn that someone know is capable of being part of killing someone. It affected me for a long time - made me wonder about everyone I knew.

[lunchlady]

Just want to say that the Tarot cards aren't to blame. The Death card doesn't actually mean anyone's going to die, it means the end of an era or a relationship or the need for a clean break with the past.

Fortunetelling has a funky black magic vibe that people who want to seem scary enjoy, but the Tarot is not black magic and it doesn't point at anyone and say Your Time's Up!

[Kip]

http://www.carynews.com/news/story/13374.html

After Matthew's death, the teens chatted online about how he died. Two suspects may do plea deals; other two suspects looking at March trial.

[Apex Dad]

Hello all. I came across this thread while searching for updates for the trial and found this to be an interesting read. I am also familiar with personnel investigating this case and have heard first-hand some of the details involved. Due to the fact that they are minors, under NC law, all details and the indictments must be sealed. I can say, however, that the theory given by the Apex student in this thread is plausible. What is (and will be during the trial) much more troubling are the gruesome details of exactly what happened.

[Kip]

Originally Posted by Apex Dad

Hello all. I came across this thread while searching for updates for the trial and found this to be an interesting read. I am also familiar with personnel investigating this case and have heard first-hand some of the details involved. Due to the fact that they are minors, under NC law, all details and the indictments must be sealed. I can say, however, that the theory given by the Apex student in this thread is plausible. What is (and will be during the trial) much more troubling are the gruesome details of exactly what happened.

Welcome, Apex Dad. Any idea when the trial will be?

If Matt and Drew's involvement was peripheral (as suggested by Apex student), are they charged with lesser crimes?

This case intrigued me because it's so hard to understand how "the plan" went through to the end without one of the participants putting a stop to it.

[Debb]

Originally Posted by Apex Dad

Hello all. I came across this thread while searching for updates for the trial and found this to be an interesting read. I am also familiar with personnel investigating this case and have heard first-hand some of the details involved. Due to the fact that they are minors, under NC law, all details and the indictments must be sealed. I can say, however, that the theory given by the Apex student in this thread is plausible. What is (and will be during the trial) much more troubling are the gruesome details of exactly what happened.

I haven't heard much about this case recently, but it cetainly is of interest to me. It seems this type of murder is becoming more prevalent in teens across the country.

Ref. the link above, do you know what the email messages between the teens said about the crime? I guess they didn't know all of that would be retreived by LE.