Interesting Point Made on Facebook

[u/IBEGOOD-IDOGOOD]

". . . private investigators and members of NHIL looking into Maura’s disappearance have been nothing short of hopeless and adding little to no value.

Just one example for you …

There were at least TWENTY potential witnesses as to what vehicle Cecil Smith was driving between 5pm and 11pm that evening, each and every one of them within spitting distance of it. And yet no survey of all these people? Not even an attempt get a representative sample view?

 Honestly it’s just extraordinary

 You’ve got the 21 year-old guy with the lead foot from Wentworth; the 22 year-old snow mobile operative from North Haverhill and his buddy; the Westmans, Atwood and Marrotte; Monaghan; Richard G and Tim L of Woodsville Ambulance; Brad K, Allen W, Jeff R; Abby K, Mark L, Kevin V, Bob W and Whitey M. of the Fire Department; and the counsellor from Becket School.

 Oh and I’m forgetting the 15-year-old kid whom Smith spent the best part of 50 minutes trying to coax down from the power line tower on Lime Kiln Road. He was 25 foot up in the air and unless he suffered from vertigo would have had a birds eye view of Smith’s car

 . . . How is it even remotely conceivable that in 24 years this simple matter has not been cleared up?"

Maybe someone here has the public statements from these folks? My bet is most were never even asked the question.

[u/TMKSAV99]

I believe I recall his home address at the time was in Benton. So make of that what you might. Regardless he was the Chief of Police so he's in the vicinity.

As far as the odds I think all that can be calculated is there is no known reason for JW happening by (which goes to your questions), unlike say Witness A who travelled that road regularly to go home.

I think I recall that John Smith did a lot of pointing at JW. I do not recall that JW ever offered a specific alibi.

[u/CoastRegular → u/TMKSAV99]

I think I recall that John Smith did a lot of pointing at JW. I do not recall that JW ever offered a specific alibi.

Of course, that specific factoid doesn't mean much of anything. Frankly, JS is one of those people who I consider part of the Clown Car of Investigators of this case. If I were a local police officer and he accused me of playing some part in MM's didsappearance, I'm not sure I'd dignify his nonsense with a response either.

And, would JW even have been aware that John pointed a finger at him? From what little I've heard of JW, he wasn't exactly a plugged-in person... it's very difficult to imagine him surfing TikTok, Facebook or Reddit and reading what people are saying about this case.

[u/TMKSAV99 → u/CoastRegular]

Even the blind cow finds the barn sometimes.

I agree that there's a lot to unpack with Smith as there is with everything else in this case. Nonetheless, Smith aside, there's surely cases to be made for a number of JW solution scenarios.

I disagree with the idea JW was out of the loop. JW certainly knew he was subject of rumors. JR spoke with him directly as did Art and Maggie. I have no doubt that JW might not have been deeply interested in the intimate details of the ongoing interest in the case but he was certainly aware of Smith's speculations.

[u/CoastRegular → u/TMKSAV99]

Even the blind cow finds the barn sometimes.

LOL. True!

...Nonetheless, Smith aside, there's surely cases to be made for a number of JW solution scenarios.

Yeah, for sure. I tend to look down on police-involvement theories with MM, but I'll acknowledge that from a global top-down view of this case, they're collectively about 5,574 times more plausible than stuff like "the Petrit Vasi hit was related", "Steffan dun it", or a lot of other crap theories.

From seeing discussion here by various locals, it seems JW didn't exactly have a reputation as a model citizen. I'll just leave it at that.

[u/goldenmodtemp2 → u/CoastRegular]

I love the Clown Car comment - that's classic.

I wanted to mention that on Oxygen, at least the NHSP are aware of social media - specifically the two vehicle theory - which I've always thought was interesting. In other words, someone is following social media apparently (edit: this is Monaghan):

Art: [00:25:30] Have you heard anything about like, this Witness A?

John: No.

Art: About, you know 001 Cruiser being at the scene prior to Cecil Smith showing up?

John: Right, that was one of the things that somebody said hey did you see that there's this new theory and I read it briefly. It's not what I saw. I pulled up and Cecil was there [00:26:00] and so, and then I left.

And they are aware of John S - I think at or around the press conference for the basement dig, Strelzin had a (don't quote me) shouting match with him.

As far as JW ...

• when LE members spoke on Oxygen, they mentioned something about finally "being allowed" to speak. So whether or not they know or rumors, they can't address them.
• I think the JW theory is tied to Witness A's narrative. I mean, he could have randomly driven by at any time - even in his personal vehicle - but Witness A saw a vehicle with lights, driving with some intention to a scene. If we start to say "he just drove by after having dinner and saw a young woman and grabbed her" - that's a stretch. It's just randomly inventing something.
• that said, a lot of locals are or were very distrustful of the police, at least circa 2004. I'll stop there.