Zantop Murder--Rental Car Examined
Maggie
McLaughlin reveals victims were stabbed
Attorney General still quiet on related details
by Mark Bubriski and Julia Levy, The Dartmouth Senior Staff
Susanne and Half Zantop were stabbed to death, State Attorney General Philip
McLaughlin confirmed yesterday in a news conference held at the Hanover Police
station.
He refused to comment on whether the weapon or weapons used in the attack were
knives or other sharp objects.
McLaughlin also revealed the police believe the Zantops probably knew the
person or persons who attacked the, since the police believe the couple
regularly kept their doors locked while they were home.
"It is probable that the person or persons who entered their home were let in"
by the Zantops, McLaughlin said.
Although he conceded that investigators could not rule out a random killing --
explaining that the trusting couple "might have let a stranger in" -- he said
the police believe that they are "probably dealing with more of a targeted
event than a random" crime.
"The logic points us in the direction of saying that some person either went
there with the purpose of harming the Zantops or went there for other purposes,
and, while there, something occurred to cause that person to harm the Zantops,"
he said.
Meanwhile, WNDS-TV in Derry, N.H. reported late last night that police had
impounded a rental car that was returned Wednesday to Manchester Airport by an
unidentified middle-aged man. WNDS reported that police were examining it in
connection with the Zantops' homicides.
"They searched the car and fingerprinted it," Thrifty Car Rental garage
employee Young Kim told WNDS.
"They didn't want [the employees] to go near it, but as far as I know from my
supervisors it's connected to the Dartmouth murders," Kim said.
Thrifty Car Rental declined comment, and The Dartmouth was not able to contact
Kim last night and therefore not able to confirm the WNDS report.
At the news conference yesterday, McLaughlin said he would not use the word
"suspect" to define the anonymous College junior who was interviewed by The
Dartmouth early yesterday morning who said he believed he was a suspect.
McLaughlin said his definition of a "suspect" is a person who arouses
"persistent, logical belief" of guilt.
He declined to elaborate on the specifics of the Dartmouth junior. Mc Laughlin
would not say whether the student was still being questioned.
But McLaughlin noted, "It's basically discomforting [for anyone] to be dealing
with a homicide investigator," explaining that investigators tend to get "to
the heart of things."
McLaughlin did not know how many students the investigation team had
questioned, but he said, "We continue to interview a large pool of people,"
including students, friends, colleagues and neighbors of the Zantops.
In response to whether or not the stabbings were "ritualistic" in any way --
referring to the Dartmouth junior's assertion that he was asked if he practiced
the religion, "Santer’a" -- McLaughlin said there were no "overt" signs of a
ritual at the crime scene of which he knew.
For the first time, McLaughlin acknowledged that, in a sense, the investigation
has moved beyond the boundaries of New Hampshire because some of the students
being interviewed are from out of state and "some local people have left the
area," which brings "a rouse of curiosity for us."
McLaughlin said the investigation team was coming closer to determining the
time of death, but he would not release specifics. He also continued to keep
any possible motive under wraps.
He said he released new information yesterday to "strike a balance" between
keeping the public informed and maintaining the integrity of the investigation.
"This issue of maintaining the integrity of the investigation is common to us,"
McLaughlin said, acknowledging that in a community where "intelligent
conversation" is the norm, some people are getting frustrated with the lack of
answers to their questions.
He continued to insist that the members of the Dartmouth and Hanover
communities should not be alarmed.
He said he places faith in the local police and the College's Safety and
Security forces, saying, "There are bad people who do bad things," but that
does not mean residents here are in direct risk of harm.
He reiterated that if the police were to recognize a danger to public safety at
any time during the investigation, the public would be notified.
McLaughlin said he continues to be "eternally optimistic," explaining that the
investigation team is continuously "exchanging new information and new
insights." He said if they were to stop having this type of exchange, it could
mean the investigation had met a dead end.
McLaughlin, at one point, spoke directly of the person or people who committed
the murders, saying they "might well be watching" and then warned that party:
"Be patient. We'll be there."
At the end of the conference, Hanover Police Chief Nick Giaccone stepped up to
the podium and cautioned the 11 camera crews and numerous reporters present,
"The community is concerned with the sensationalism that you've created here."
He said the press should be mindful of children and others in the community as
it continues to cover the ongoing investigation.
McLaughlin indicated that his office would continue to hold press conferences
over the weekend, but he was unsure of the times of the meetings. As of last
night, today's press conference will be held at noon.
Maggie
"When we got into office, the thing that surprised me the most was that things
were as bad as we'd been saying they were."--John F. Kennedy
Hownow
<maggi...@aol.comSPAMBLOC> wrote:
They also haven't ruled out a connection between these knife slayings
and the unsolved knife slaying of a University of Toronto professor on
the previous weekend.
Not that there is a connection but I like the spectral story
possibilities of a mad serial killer stalking academia.
Interestingly, I note that no Toronto paper to my knowledge has done a
police desk phoner to the US if only to come up with one of the tried
and true crime follows:
"US cops investigating (or not) link to Toronto murder" - or something
like that.
- hm
Maggie
>They also haven't ruled out a connection between these knife slayings
>and the unsolved knife slaying of a University of Toronto professor on
>the previous weekend.
>Not that there is a connection but I like the spectral story
>possibilities of a mad serial killer stalking academia.
***Me too. Wish I could send him some names as a matter of fact.
>Interestingly, I note that no Toronto paper to my knowledge has done a
>police desk phoner to the US if only to come up with one of the tried
>and true crime follows:
>"US cops investigating (or not) link to Toronto murder" - or something
>like that.
***How far is Toronto from Hanover? How about e-mailing a tip to that
Dartmouth student paper--I bet they'd chase it down.
Hownow
<maggi...@aol.comSPAMBLOC> wrote:
> hm said:
> >They also haven't ruled out a connection between these knife slayings
> >and the unsolved knife slaying of a University of Toronto professor on
> >the previous weekend.
> >Not that there is a connection but I like the spectral story
> >possibilities of a mad serial killer stalking academia.
>
> ***Me too. Wish I could send him some names as a matter of fact.
>
> >Interestingly, I note that no Toronto paper to my knowledge has done a
> >police desk phoner to the US if only to come up with one of the tried
> >and true crime follows:
> >"US cops investigating (or not) link to Toronto murder" - or something
> >like that.
>
> ***How far is Toronto from Hanover? How about e-mailing a tip to that
> Dartmouth student paper--I bet they'd chase it down.
> Maggie
>
Thanks for reminding me. When posting, I was going to callsome old
buddies on Toronto Sun city desk and suggest it to them but it slipped
my mind.
So just got off the phone.
If I were riding the desk at 10 am and looking for Saturday yarns, I'd
assign it. A phoner is cheap 'n' easy and American cops are quite open
and chatty (compared to Toronto) and even a denial makes a story.
Toronto is about 500 road miles (all expressway) to Manchester, less
than 10 hours.
- hm
bluem...@my-deja.com
Here is an article about the murdered Toronto Professor:
U OF T ART PROFESSOR FOUND SLAIN
David Buller, 50, was well known in Toronto gay community
By Cal Millar / Toronto Star Staff Reporter
Homicide detectives are delving into the personal life of a
slain University of Toronto art teacher to find clues that will
identify his killer.
David Buller, 50, who has taught painting in the fine arts
department since 1985, was found dead early yesterday
outside his second floor office in one of the university's
oldest buildings on Spadina Circle, north of College St.
Buller, who was single and lives alone in a King St. W.
apartment building, was also well known in Toronto's gay
community.
''He was a well-liked individual,'' Detective Ken Taylor said
after a day of interviewing students and faculty members
who knew him.
Taylor, who is heading the investigation, said an autopsy is
scheduled for today to confirm the cause of death.
A caretaker found the victim in a pool of blood shortly
before 7 a.m. and preliminary tests show some sort of
wounds had been inflicted to his chest, police said.
No weapon has been found.
The killing is the fourth homicide so far this year, compared
with only a single slaying in Toronto at this time last year.
After spending all day with forensic experts at the homicide
scene, Taylor and his partner, Detective Mark Saunders,
went to the victim's apartment to uncover any clues that
may indicate who is responsible for the slaying.
Taylor said they will look into the victim's background and
speak to everyone who knew him to trace his whereabouts
in the final hours before he was killed.
Police are also hoping that anyone with information will
contact the homicide squad (416-808-7400) or Crime
Stoppers (416-222-8477).
Susan Bloch-Nevitte, the university's director of public
affairs, said Buller, ''a very important part of the
department,'' would normally have arrived at work sometime
between 8: 30 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Since the body was found before 7 a.m., police said, Buller
was apparently attacked sometime Thursday evening or
early Friday morning while making a late night visit to his
office.
The building has been sealed off and will remain closed
while police continue the investigation.
Dan Hutt, manager of police services at the university, said
there isn't anything sensitive in the building, which does not
have a security guard 24 hours a day.
''Hundreds of students and faculty go through that building
in the average week,'' he said. ''It's a large building. It's a
rambling building. It's a beautiful old structure. It's one
that's very busy.''
Buller was ''warm and sensitive and will be missed'' fine arts
professor emeritus David Rifat said yesterday.
In the past Buller exhibited paintings that included works of
abstract triangles at various Toronto venues that included
the Pollock Gallery and Mira Godard Galllery.
He attended the Ontario College of Art and got an MA in
fine arts from Concordia University, Rifat said.
Neighbours at Buller's King St. W. apartment building were
shocked to hear of his murder.
''He was a quiet guy, very pleasant. The bottom line is he
was a very nice guy,'' said Bill Welychka, a program host
and producer at Toronto's MuchMusic, and Buller's next
door neighbour.
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
Maggie
Yet Buller was stabbed to death a week ago Thursday, some time before 4 p.m.,
wounded more than five times.
The 6-foot, physically fit Buller died where he was stabbed, in the hallway
outside his tiny office - part of a warren of small faculty rooms in the
Gothic-looking Connaught Building on Spadina Cres. The building is isolated
from the rest of the university on an island surrounded by busy traffic lanes,
north of College St.
He was found at 6:30 a.m. the next day by a cleaning woman.
Taylor's search for the killer is taking him inside and outside the campus, so
far focusing on several men who knew Buller.
http://www.thestar.com/apps/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layo
ut/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=980549514531&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=
968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News
S.B.Wells
If this is some deranged Unabomer type taking out members of academia,
then I think he got the wrong David Buller. The alive and kicking David
Buller of Northern Illinois University fits in more with the Zantop
circle.
Hownow
wrote:
Just so folk hitting this for the first time don't get misled:
This slaying occurred two weeks ago, not "yesterday"
- hm
Hownow
<blue...@mindspring.com> wrote:
Now that certainly adds another element.
Love it.
Where's my pipe, Watson?
- hm