4th anniversary of the disappearance of Ray Gricar

[gstickley]

Today, 04/15/09, well actually yesterday, marks the 4th anniversary of the disappearance of Ray Gricar. And LE gave us an "anniversary present", a tidbit that's years old (kinda like getting second-hand clothing wrapped up as though it's new). And the "anniversary present" leaves a lot to be desired. Conflicting statements about when & how this earth-shattering, "stop the press", news came about leave such a bad taste. The timing of the earth-shattering, "stop the press" news release also leaves a bad taste. In other words, I agree with Pgal. that there is "something rotten in Bellefonte".

[J. J. in Phila]

New odds:

Walkaway: 48%

Murder: 42%

Suicide: 9%

Something else: 1%

While interesting, and probably just a preview regarding the laptop, the new information doesn't move the walkaway numbers.

In terms of public perception in Centre County, walkaway is much higher.

[Politigal]

IMO, the public has been mislead in Centre County

First Madeira said there was no evidence that Gricar bought software

then Rickard said there was evidence gleaned early on that he had.

And then the same "shenanigans" on the fingerprints...

Where's OOBrett??

Also, Tony's statement per the article I just posted in the links thread raises a good question:

It seems strange, a frustrated Tony Gricar said, that his uncle would use another computer to complete the searches on wiping hard drives without going to great lengths to hide his actions.

[J. J. in Phila]

Originally Posted by Politigal

IMO, the public has been mislead in Centre County

First Madeira said there was no evidence that Gricar bought software

then Rickard said there was evidence gleaned early on that he had.

And then the same "shenanigans" on the fingerprints...

Where's OOBrett??

Also, Tony's statement per the article I just posted in the links thread raises a good question:

It seems strange, a frustrated Tony Gricar said, that his uncle would use another computer to complete the searches on wiping hard drives without going to great lengths to hide his actions.

I is not strange, but it doesn't point walkaway either. He could have been interested in just destroying the data, not hiding the fact that he was destroying the data.

[Politigal]

I wanted to bring Tony Gricar's post from last night to this thread:

Originally posted by tonygricar
Correct, and to add a bit of clarity, "To me,” Tony Gricar said, “it looks like it absolutely knocks out the theory of foul play.” is printed a bit out of context. I was giving my view of how this new "revelation" can/will be perceived as it relates to the general public, not necessarily how I personally view this release. Obviously, if the searches were by Ray, it lessens/destroys the foul play angle, but that doesn't mean I necessarily buy what is being sold.

A few points:
a.) We were not advised of this release until the CDT let me know. I thought I was just receiving the standard anniversary requests, which I was, until their voicemail.
b.) When I phoned LE, I was told that this release is a positive thing and will hopefully generate new leads. Seriously.
c.) Interesting timing. Must be because of the anniversary.

From a media standpoint, here's how I've always viewed the 3 scenarios:
1.) foul play = sympathetic event
2.) suicide = sympathetic event
3.) walkaway = public scorn and outrage (see: Bride, Runaway)

[Politigal]

Changing the tone...

I lost my companion in 2005, and every year on the anniversary of his death, it brings it all back into focus again....and I miss him dearly.

Today must truly be a somber day for RG's daughter Lara, and for Tony & Chris, Barbara and maybe even Emma.

I recall Lara's early press appeal....where she said she wanted to go climb a mountain with her dad....

I too wish for that "one more day" ....

Here's to the family of Ray Gricar .....my deepest sympathies on this awful day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UWx-shGM0g

[gstickley]

I too want the entire Gricar family to know that I am thinking of you on this terrible, ugly, rainy day. No one should have to go through the trauma you have been forced to undergo for the past four years.

I am very sorry the fate of Ray Gricar has not been learned after four long years and that you have no semblance of closure, not that you ever could. My feelings are the same as those of Mr. Bob Bueher, a true friend of Mr. Gricar.

Again, I am sorry the establishment has let you down. I just want you to know that there are some of us who wish the best for you and wish things could be different.

[2-B]

I have learned two lessons in my life: first, there are no sufficient literary, psychological, or historical answers to human tragedy, only moral ones. Second, just as despair can come to one another only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.

~Elie Wiesel

To Tony, Lara, Barbara, Chris, Andrew, and other members of the Gricar family on this fourth anniversary of Ray's disappearance, from those of us here at the CTV/In Sessions board, we offer you the only small thing we can.

Hope.

[puzzled]

I agree. My prayers continue to go out to the Gricar Family and friends. I don't think that this "new tidbit" necessarily points to walkaway. However....if Ray did walkaway...does anyone know why he would do that? He seemed to have it all. He was so close to retirement. I have no clue why he would walkaway...if he did. I still think he was murdered but am willing to atleast explore other options. The fact that he supposedly researched destroying a hard drive in water really makes me wonder. I realize also that someone else could have searched on his computer for that info. Also I would like to know how far in advance of him going missing did the computer search take place? I think someone had said that he seemed stressed out, tired, unhappy...for a period of time before he went missing. Could someone have been on his back?

[2-B]

Originally Posted by puzzled

Also I would like to know how far in advance of him going missing did the computer search take place? I think someone had said that he seemed stressed out, tired, unhappy...for a period of time before he went missing. Could someone have been on his back?

[respectfully snipped]

They haven't told us when the alleged searches took place, but I guess we can narrow the time frame down some since they supposedly took place on the home computer, which was purchased at the end of 2004/beginning of 2005. That would put the searches somewhere in the 4-5 month period before Ray disappeared.

What if Ray's inquiries about software to erase the hard drive and the searches are not related to each other?

What if those inquiries were run-of-the-mill thoughts about wiping a hard drive before turning the laptop in prior to retirement?

Two things might be possible if the searches and the inquiries aren't related:

a) as you said, someone could have been "on his back." Maybe someone wanted information on the laptop and Ray wanted to destroy that information. Maybe it wasn't work related (thus no back up copies on any system files at the court house). That explanation could make sense in light of the searches having been found on the desktop computer, since, as Logic pointed out last night, it would be really counter-intuitive for him to do the searches on the desktop rather than the laptop (the hard drive he would purportedly want to "fry").

b) on the other hand, maybe someone else who knew Ray had inquired about software to erase a hard drive (as described above, to clean it before returning it prior to retirement) found that information advantageous. Perhaps someone used that information and deliberately left a trail on the desktop that would appear as if Ray had made searches subsequent to asking about software to erase a hard drive.

I still can't get past the language choice. A forensic linguistic analysis of those choices would be very interesting to me.

[Politigal]

I also would like to apologize to Tony Gricar - for reading too much into comments attributed to him in yesterday's news reports....

Last night I was just so flabbergasted at the reports, the timing of the reports, and of course curious about the intent/motive behind the reports.

[Politigal]

Originally Posted by 2-B

[respectfully snipped]

They haven't told us when the alleged searches took place, but I guess we can narrow the time frame down some since they supposedly took place on the home computer, which was purchased at the end of 2004/beginning of 2005. That would put the searches somewhere in the 4-5 month period before Ray disappeared.

What if Ray's inquiries about software to erase the hard drive and the searches are not related to each other?

What if those inquiries were run-of-the-mill thoughts about wiping a hard drive before turning the laptop in prior to retirement?

Two things might be possible if the searches and the inquiries aren't related:

a) as you said, someone could have been "on his back." Maybe someone wanted information on the laptop and Ray wanted to destroy that information. Maybe it wasn't work related (thus no back up copies on any system files at the court house). That explanation could make sense in light of the searches having been found on the desktop computer, since, as Logic pointed out last night, it would be really counter-intuitive for him to do the searches on the desktop rather than the laptop (the hard drive he would purportedly want to "fry").

b) on the other hand, maybe someone else who knew Ray had inquired about software to erase a hard drive (as described above, to clean it before returning it prior to retirement) found that information advantageous. Perhaps someone used that information and deliberately left a trail on the desktop that would appear as if Ray had made searches subsequent to asking about software to erase a hard drive.

I still can't get past the language choice. A forensic linguistic analysis of those choices would be very interesting to me.

the language doesn't seem to fit RG IMO either...

and as Tony relayed in one report -- Why would RG nefariously search for ways to erase data but yet leave evidence of those searches behind?

[puzzled]

EXACTLY! I ran all of this by my husband and he does not think Ray went missing on his own volition.
Incidentally about a week ago I had a dream again about Ray. In my dream Ray came to me and was at my house. Then this couple showed up and they were in my house. Ray was sort of afraid of them and it was as though they could not see him. He seemed calm though. He told me that they had taken him from behind the place where they sell budweiser. In my dream they were at my house but were very private..not really telling me much...and I felt in fear of them. Then this other guy is suddenly there. I remember much more about him than the couple although they seemed to have been in cahoots with one another in respect to Ray going missing. This guy was big and built like a quarterback. He had sort of dark brown thick hair that was long and almost to his shoulders. He sort of reminded me of someone who is part Indian. He was also quiet and sort of gave me the impression of being the planner. He hard dark eyes and a large nose. He had a full mouth and I felt as though he had come to get rid of me. It was strange how Ray kept saying these are the ones...these are the people. In my dream I thought that Ray was alive because I could see him and talk to him. However they could not see him and so I think he was just there in spirit. I had not had a dream about him since I dreamt about his side door being on fire. That is really all I remember. I don't know if it will help at all but that is what I dreamt.

[J. J. in Phila]

Originally Posted by Politigal

the language doesn't seem to fit RG IMO either...

and as Tony relayed in one report -- Why would RG nefariously search for ways to erase data but yet leave evidence of those searches behind?

In terms of searching on the Internet it does. I rarely put "fortnight" into a search engine. To "fry" a drive is almost a term of art. Nothing unusual there.

Now, the second question was answered. RFG didn't care if someone found out that he destroyed data, he didn't want the date itself found. There is ample evidence he did want to destroy something; the question is what was that data?

That in itself could point to walkaway or suicide.

I said a long time ago, I didn't see any happy ending to this case.

MR is quoted today: "I want to generate some leads." "Not to dispel the homicide theory, but to put out there that the information was found, in hopes of keeping interest in the case renewed." But according to the Daily Collegian article, yesterday's press release was prepared by Bellefonte Police and MM (emphasis added).

The timing is obvious. MM could have released this information when he tacked the hard-drive erasing stuff onto the negative report from Kroll Ontrack last October...or any time during his tenure in office. It is just one more instance of using RG for political purposes.

We have seen it before. MM takes office, dumps KA, then publicly declares that no stone has been left unturned. Months later, after missed leads were pointed out, he rejects the family's (and BB's) request. Instead he dials up the PSP unit which, after a 6-month delay, reports...well we do not know, because that report is still cloaked in secrecy.

After the second year goes by, we hear from MM that the case has officially gone cold. DZ moves out. MR moves up. And KA is back in the news...with her googlepages. Months later we learn that MR is into reading science fiction novels.

On the third anniversary, MM notes it is "just another day in which we search for clues"...and that none of the 3 theories can be ruled out. BB blows a gasket and dumps MM on his head. TC rounds up a posse and orders a forced-march to Bellefonte. That does not work, so MM tells us the story of RG's interest in erasing hard drives.

And now this. Why now MM? The reaction has been predictable, despite MR's attempt to patch it up today. As TG is quoted in the Collegian article (linked above), "A walk-away can really turn public opinion away from someone that can still be a victim in this case." "This makes it look like a selfish act or a malicious act, when we don't know that that's the case."

[puzzled]

So JJ are you saying that you think we have an ending? I don't feel as though this case has ended. I feel as though it has never really begun in terms of true investigating. Unless they have Ray stand out on the courthouse steps and say yeah I did all of this I feel that this case is far from over. Based on the wee bit of info they give us each anniversary. I think the whole thing is very cruel. Where are the phone records?? Do you think they will ever make those public? I am sorry but I feel that they have many stones left to overturn!

[day2day]

I just cant believe it has been four years since Mr. Gricar vanished into thin air. My thoughts and prayers are with Lara and Tony and Chris and Andrew and Barbara today. I pray that one day they will have closure to this nightmare.

[J. J. in Phila]

Originally Posted by puzzled

So JJ are you saying that you think we have an ending? I don't feel as though this case has ended. I feel as though it has never really begun in terms of true investigating. Unless they have Ray stand out on the courthouse steps and say yeah I did all of this I feel that this case is far from over. Based on the wee bit of info they give us each anniversary. I think the whole thing is very cruel. Where are the phone records?? Do you think they will ever make those public? I am sorry but I feel that they have many stones left to overturn!

No, I do not think this is over. The answer to the question, "How did Ray Gricar get out of Lewisburg," may provide one. The answer may be, "He didn't."

The phone records help the public, but not the investigation (and I'd love to see them).

[J. J. in Phila]

Originally Posted by Serendipitous1

MR is quoted today: "I want to generate some leads." "Not to dispel the homicide theory, but to put out there that the information was found, in hopes of keeping interest in the case renewed." But according to the Daily Collegian article, yesterday's press release was prepared by Bellefonte Police and MM (emphasis added).

The timing is obvious. MM could have released this information when he tacked the hard-drive erasing stuff onto the negative report from Kroll Ontrack last October...or any time during his tenure in office. It is just one more instance of using RG for political purposes.

We have seen it before. MM takes office, dumps KA, then publicly declares that no stone has been left unturned. Months later, after missed leads were pointed out, he rejects the family's (and BB's) request. Instead he dials up the PSP unit which, after a 6-month delay, reports...well we do not know, because that report is still cloaked in secrecy.

After the second year goes by, we hear from MM that the case has officially gone cold. DZ moves out. MR moves up. And KA is back in the news...with her googlepages. Months later we learn that MR is into reading science fiction novels.

On the third anniversary, MM notes it is "just another day in which we search for clues"...and that none of the 3 theories can be ruled out. BB blows a gasket and dumps MM on his head. TC rounds up a posse and orders a forced-march to Bellefonte. That does not work, so MM tells us the story of RG's interest in erasing hard drives.

And now this. Why now MM? The reaction has been predictable, despite MR's attempt to patch it up today. As TG is quoted in the Collegian article (linked above), "A walk-away can really turn public opinion away from someone that can still be a victim in this case." "This makes it look like a selfish act or a malicious act, when we don't know that that's the case."

Two points:

1. It's working like a charm.

2. As Willoughby pointed out elsewhere, be careful what you wish for, in regard to lifting the veil of secrecy.

[Politigal]

we can now post threads again instead of just the dailies...per Coldwater

http://boards.insessiontrials.com/sh...d.php?t=351974

[2-B]

Originally Posted by Serendipitous1

MR is quoted today: "I want to generate some leads." "Not to dispel the homicide theory, but to put out there that the information was found, in hopes of keeping interest in the case renewed." But according to the Daily Collegian article, yesterday's press release was prepared by Bellefonte Police and MM (emphasis added).

The timing is obvious. MM could have released this information when he tacked the hard-drive erasing stuff onto the negative report from Kroll Ontrack last October...or any time during his tenure in office. It is just one more instance of using RG for political purposes.

We have seen it before. MM takes office, dumps KA, then publicly declares that no stone has been left unturned. Months later, after missed leads were pointed out, he rejects the family's (and BB's) request. Instead he dials up the PSP unit which, after a 6-month delay, reports...well we do not know, because that report is still cloaked in secrecy.

After the second year goes by, we hear from MM that the case has officially gone cold. DZ moves out. MR moves up. And KA is back in the news...with her googlepages. Months later we learn that MR is into reading science fiction novels.

On the third anniversary, MM notes it is "just another day in which we search for clues"...and that none of the 3 theories can be ruled out. BB blows a gasket and dumps MM on his head. TC rounds up a posse and orders a forced-march to Bellefonte. That does not work, so MM tells us the story of RG's interest in erasing hard drives.

And now this. Why now MM? The reaction has been predictable, despite MR's attempt to patch it up today. As TG is quoted in the Collegian article (linked above), "A walk-away can really turn public opinion away from someone that can still be a victim in this case." "This makes it look like a selfish act or a malicious act, when we don't know that that's the case."

Post of the Day, perhaps of the week, perhaps of the month, S1. It sums up so much so succinctly and so well.

Why now MM? is the precise question that echoed in my brain as I tried to get to sleep last night.

The answer seems abundantly obvious to those of us who have followed this case closely. What's sad is that the general public, with a less intense eye turned on the details, will see the release of this information exactly as TG has projected in the Collegian article. One need only scan the CDT comments sections to see how that is already playing out.

[Amused]

The article concluded with a phone number to reach the author, Sara Ganim. 814-231-4616.

Just in case anyone here was interested.

It's amazing to me how few of my fellow citizens of Centre County even remember the Ray Gricar case. Very few by name.

My thoughts are with those who miss him still....

[J. J. in Phila]

Two real possibilities:

1. They had the evidence and were suppressing it. LE in this case has done that.

2. It's new evidence. The statement that there wasn't anything is months old. New things have surfaced.

[2-B]

Originally Posted by J. J. in Phila

Two real possibilities:

1. They had the evidence and were suppressing it. LE in this case has done that.

2. It's new evidence. The statement that there wasn't anything is months old. New things have surfaced.

Neither of these fit the explanation Pgal received from SG, however.

[2-B]

Originally Posted by J. J. in Phila

To "fry" a drive is almost a term of art. Nothing unusual there.

From your perspective there may be nothing unusual about that terminology. But you are nearly twenty years younger than Gricar and much more comfortable with computers than he was.

Remember that Ray did not even know how to open a jpg without instructions from TG. I would be willing to lay money down that the phrase "fry a hard drive" was not in Ray's vocabulary.

Originally Posted by 2-B

Post of the Day, perhaps of the week, perhaps of the month, S1. It sums up so much so succinctly and so well.

Why now MM? is the precise question that echoed in my brain as I tried to get to sleep last night.

The answer seems abundantly obvious to those of us who have followed this case closely. What's sad is that the general public, with a less intense eye turned on the details, will see the release of this information exactly as TG has projected in the Collegian article. One need only scan the CDT comments sections to see how that is already playing out.

Thanks for adding about the CDT reader comments (I tend to ignore the sublime ignorance that is usually spewed there).

And I wish the AP had picked up on the Collegian article rather than the CDT's. It comported much better with the sentiments in tG's post here from early this morning.

[day2day]

Originally Posted by 2-B

From your perspective there may be nothing unusual about that terminology. But you are nearly twenty years younger than Gricar and much more comfortable with computers than he was.

Remember that Ray did not even know how to open a jpg without instructions from TG. I would be willing to lay money down that the phrase "fry a hard drive" was not in Ray's vocabulary.

It is really hard for me to believe that Mr. Gricar would use the term "fry a hard drive"!! Of course we all know there was someone else that had access to that computer...**sighs...

[J. J. in Phila]

Originally Posted by 2-B

From your perspective there may be nothing unusual about that terminology. But you are nearly twenty years younger than Gricar and much more comfortable with computers than he was.

Remember that Ray did not even know how to open a jpg without instructions from TG. I would be willing to lay money down that the phrase "fry a hard drive" was not in Ray's vocabulary.

It doesn't have to be, because it is in a search engine's parameters. If you doing a search you need to go with commonly used terms.

As for "why now" my major question is if the case could have advanced, or solved, last year.

[gstickley]

"Suppression of evidence" seems to be a big thing with MM &/or the local LE. With the impending election, don't you wonder what other "suppressed evidence" is likely to hit the press?

[2-B]

Originally Posted by J. J. in Phila

It doesn't have to be, because it is in a search engine's parameters. If you doing a search you need to go with commonly used terms.

As for "why now" my major question is if the case could have advanced, or solved, last year.

One needs to frame the search terms used, and that means not only being familiar with them, but THINKING in those terms.

The two phrases reportedly found in the alleged searches were how to "wreck a hard drive" and "fry a hard drive." That would indicate phrases typed into the search by the person who typed them in, and that person would need to THINK in those terms to begin with.

Are those the phrases a nearly 60-year-old, non-computer-comfortable attorney type THINKS in? Highly unlikely. In general, much more likely: something along the lines of "how to DESTROY a hard drive."

As for the "why now," the question is really a political one, not an investigatory one. That's abundantly obvious.

[J. J. in Phila]

Originally Posted by day2day

It is really hard for me to believe that Mr. Gricar would use the term "fry a hard drive"!! Of course we all know there was someone else that had access to that computer...**sighs...

First, whether or not he'd use the term conversationally, it is probably the better term to search under.

Second, MR was rather specific that it wasn't just on the computer but RFG did the search.

[2-B]

Originally Posted by J. J. in Phila

Second, MR was rather specific that it wasn't just on the computer but RFG did the search.

And so here we are back at this claim and the attendant question: how was it proven to be Gricar himself who did the search??

If there is actual proof, what is that proof?

Or is this just the same kind of conclusion being drawn that we apparently have (according to SG) with regard to the purchase of the software?

IIRC, and it's obviously been many years, when LE found the Rock Creek Park searches on Chandra Levy's computer after her disappearance, they said there was no way of determining for certain that Chandra herself had done the searching.

[2-B]

Re my post above about CL's computer:

Washington Police Chief Charles Ramsey announced on May 22, 2002, that remains that match the dental records of Chandra Levy were found by a man who was walking his dog and looking for turtles in the Rock Creek Park near Levy's apartment in northwest Washington, DC. Police had previouly searched well over half the area of the 2000+ acre park, which was visited by Levy on many occasions, after determining that someone had used Levy's laptop computer to search for the park's Klingle Mansion on the day police think she vanished.

http://knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Chandra_Levy/

[bolding mine]

This is as I remember the discussion of computer searches in the CL case--that it appeared to have been Chandra who did the searches, not that it had ever been determined it was she who did the searches. And Chandra lived alone and did not share her computer with anyone else in the home.

[gstickley]

Everyone needs to read S1's latest "sticky" link, "SW defends the way his dept. has handled the inv."

Pay particular attention to this sentence: Weaver told WTAJ News investigators found an opened box that at one time contained hard drive erasing software. It is his belief Gricar used that software on his county issued laptop. The Chief said the department gets about one tip a month about the cold case. That is why they released this latest tidbit of information.

Ask yourself exactly when this 'opened box" was found. According to DZ, the house was not searched; according to an earlier statement about the box, 'PF thought she remembered seeing a box' which has now morphed into 'a box found'.

**Is there or isn't there a receipt for "the box"?
**What is the proof that "the box" belonged to or was purchased by RG?
**If LE didn't recover "the box" at the time the laptop was supposedly discovered missing, when did they find it?
**Upon learning the laptop was missing, & wanting to cover tracks, who else might have done "the searches" on the home computer?
**Who else might have had "the box" to be found?

[J. J. in Phila]

Originally Posted by 2-B

One needs to frame the search terms used, and that means not only being familiar with them, but THINKING in those terms.

The two phrases reportedly found in the alleged searches were how to "wreck a hard drive" and "fry a hard drive." That would indicate phrases typed into the search by the person who typed them in, and that person would need to THINK in those terms to begin with.

Are those the phrases a nearly 60-year-old, non-computer-comfortable attorney type THINKS in? Highly unlikely. In general, much more likely: something along the lines of "how to DESTROY a hard drive."

And when he does, he sees reference to "frying" the drive. You're kind of assuming that was the first search. I wouldn't be.

As for the "why now," the question is really a political one, not an investigatory one. That's abundantly obvious.

Now, on that point, I agree with you. I don't think it will be last revelation of the season either. That's both good and bad.

It's very bad news for JKA, and lesser bad news for TdB and SPM. We get more information but it will likely serve a political purpose.

[Politigal]

The contradictions about the software seemed to have sprouted legs....they just keeps growing.

First, Patty Fornicola recalls seeing a software box but it isn't found.

Second, Madeira said there was no receipt or evidence that Gricar ever purchased any hard drive erasing software.

Rickard then says Gricar did indeed purchase the software.

and now (from S1's newest linked article) Weaver said they found the software box.


Da*mn...and CDT journalist Sara Ganim says *we* need to look at the big picture.

Well folks - the picture ain't purty. Bellefonte apparently can't get their **** straight.

From the looks of it.....I think they're working overtime to try and sweep Gricar under the rug before the election of a new DA.

[Politigal]

another one from memory lane:

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive...s.aspx?print=1

In response to what Madeira called "rumors" that Gricar was interested in clearing his hard drive before retiring, Madeira said there is no evidence Gricar tried to wipe the hard drive clean. Madeira said Gricar's girlfriend at the time, Patty Fornicola, remembered seeing "what she thought was a box for that type of program" at the house, but no wipe-drive program was ever recovered.

[2-B]

Originally Posted by Politigal

another one from memory lane:

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive...s.aspx?print=1

In response to what Madeira called "rumors" that Gricar was interested in clearing his hard drive before retiring, Madeira said there is no evidence Gricar tried to wipe the hard drive clean. Madeira said Gricar's girlfriend at the time, Patty Fornicola, remembered seeing "what she thought was a box for that type of program" at the house, but no wipe-drive program was ever recovered.

So in this version, PF didn't even recall seeing a box for the software. She recalled seeing what she thought was a box for that type of program.

This seems to be PF's initial report, correct?

I would like to know, then, whether LE ever actually found such a box in the home (and if so, when). whether a receipt for such software was found, or whether this comes down to the whole issue of memory again, as it has with witness sightings. Is memory being shaped over time through repeated questioning?

Don't know. But I'd like to know.

[2-B]

Originally Posted by J. J. in Phila

Now, on that point, I agree with you. I don't think it will be last revelation of the season either. That's both good and bad.

It's very bad news for JKA, and lesser bad news for TdB and SPM. We get more information but it will likely serve a political purpose.

From the link S1 provided:

Buehner also questioned why the information was released now, saying that Centre County District Attorney Mike Madera [sic] is up for re-election in a hotly contested race, so he thinks politics plays a role in this announcement.

http://www.wqkx.com/1070_WKOK/WKOK_local_news.htm

[Politigal]

I found this post by S1 from 10/3/08 at 6pm in the Laptop thread

Originally posted by Serendipitous1
Ah, why do you have the idea it was recent? Come to think of it, why have people (including PB) ascribed a nuance which, so far, I have not seen published?

The CDT reported, "A box for such software was seen at Gricar's home sometime after January 2004..." But The Daily Collegian included the quote..."Madeira said Gricar's girlfriend at the time, Patty Fornicola, remembered seeing 'what she thought was a box for that type of program' at the house..."

In the CDT, MM is quoted as saying, "There was some discussion of having seen Mr. Gricar expressing an interest in getting software to erase the hard drive of the computer." And SW added, "He talked about, or expressed an interest in, cleaning up his county laptop prior to retirement so he could return it without any personal information on it."

None of which do I find surprising, especially given the fact that he had announced his retirement in early January 2004, and had apparently shelved the laptop...as in, stopped using it. None of which do I believe necessarily points to a planned walkaway...in fact, just the opposite. The bigger question to me is, if he did erase the hard drive and did not use the laptop afterward, why would he (if he did) take the laptop on a ride to Lewisburg?