JADM 100 In Week 1, we learned of the first of three murders that took place alo
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Question
JADM 100
In Week 1, we learned of the first of three murders that took place along the river walk in Canyon City. A little over a year later, the Arkansas Valley River Walk Killer would soon be tried for her crimes. On June 7th, 2012, local joggers discovered the first body along the Arkansas Valley River Walk. On June 16th and 24th, 2012, two more murders would take place. All three victims were male, and they all died as a result of gunshot wounds from close range. The police were swamped with calls from frightened residents. In total, over 400 calls were received regarding the case. The Arkansas Valley River Walk is a popular area for running and walking along the Arkansas River. The small community was gripped by fear, and the police were under a lot of pressure to solve the case. Every lead was followed up on, resulting in many dead ends. However, two witnesses stepped forward with information that led police to the eventual capture of the defendant, Amy Smith. A later interview with the defendant's roommate also uncovered more information. Witness #1: The first witness, an ex-boyfriend of the defendant, contacted police in July. His statement included the following. Earlier in the year, he and Amy had gone on a few dates. He decided it was not working between them and broke it off. Amy started to stalk him at that time, but he did not feel her actions rose to the point of police notification. However, he was concerned about her mental state and contacted her roommate, asking that she keep an eye on Amy. Amy told him that she had a .45 caliber weapon. This information was not shared with the public, and it was the same caliber as the gun used in the killings. Once the descriptions of the victims were released, he quickly realized that he fit the same profile as the deceased. He and Amy met while running along the river walk. 2. Witness #2: At the end of July, a second witness, a runner who regularly ran along the Arkansas Valley River Walk, came forward. Her statement included the following. The runner witnessed a female (later identified as Amy Smith) run from the river walk to her car, place something under the seat, and drive from the lot in a hurry. The runner frequently saw the female jogging along the trail; therefore, she did not think to report it earlier. Also, she did not know the female jogger's name. 3. Witness #3: An interview with the roommate uncovered the following. Amy had been acting very strange, including angry outbursts and statements regarding making her ex "pay." Amy has a history of depression and other possible mental health issues. Her moods would swing between highs and lows. She had become very withdrawn and spent most of her time in her room when home. Officers obtained a search warrant and searched the home of Amy Smith. During the search, officers found a weapon and a journal describing some of the events surrounding the crimes. The writing in the journal was erratic and confusing. The journal provided information that placed the defendant at the Arkansas Valley River Walk during the mornings of each of the murders. The journal also confirmed that Amy possessed a weapon at the time of the murders and contained statements that she wanted to see her ex suffer for breaking up with her. Based on the witness interviews and the evidence found at the house, Amy Smith was arrested for the murders along the Arkansas Valley River Walk. Soon after the defendant's arrest, she was brought to the courtroom to face trial. Prepare your response to this You Decide by answering the questions beneath each of the roles.
Explanation / Answer
Witness 1: We cannot make it from the statement of witness 1 that she has done something like murder but it can be easily found that she was upset and very angry about her relationship status which was later found by the officers during search. The mental status of convict has been clearly understood from the witness 1 interview.
Witness 2: Witness had later identified the convict near the murder site at same day and nearly same time. The presence of convict and her behavior shows that she was up to something.
Witness 3: Strange behavior of Convict including angry outbursts few days before the murder verify that the person can take extreme steps to satisfy its anger. The convict has a history of depression and other possible mental health issues which clearly state that the person is very angry and can take any extreme action. The possession of similar type of weapon that was used during murder and also confirm that she can have state of mind to take revenge for her bad relationship can end up by killing few people.
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