Cases Old and Cold

[koko]

It appears that LE does not suspect the immediate family and has validated the reports of motorists who said they saw her walking by the side of highway 18 in the storm in the wee hours before her parents discovered she was missing.

If I had to guess, I'd say Asha was given some story by an adult figure at her church, school, or within the circle of family/friends and lured to meet him/her at the shed or somewhere in the woods. Or, Asha suffered a mental breakdown that caused her to flee erratically.

Yeah im thinking someone groomed her, maybe for a couple days...maybe slowly for a few months. The family photos in the backpack are tricky too...we're the photos normally somewhere in the house? Did she always keep them in her bookbag? (Kids do weird stuff) On one hand it could support the "adventure" theory....but that's from our POV.

Also I don't know many 9 year olds who'd be able to just lay down in bed for 2+ hours and wait, without dozing off. But her brother noticing her going to the bathroom and coming back makes me wonder if she was checking to see if her dad was actually in bed or not. Maybe checking outside for the car of whoever may have groomed her...or some kind of signal?

I know the paternal aunt and grandmother lived on the same street. I'm assuming in the same house, only because it wasn't specified that they both have their own home. I dont know the age of the aunt either. Im wondering if there were any slightly older cousins..ya know, those "cool kids" one might look up to? None were mentioned so I'm guessing there weren't any living on the street but maybe they came to visit grandma's house? Kind of a stretch. Not that I really think it's a family member....but maybe a friend of a family member?

My suspicions of churchy-types rears it's head again. That was really my first gut instinct.

My best guess on the backpack was that it was wrapped to try and block any of the scent that a dog may be able to pick up. It was found pretty far north of the home, close to I-40. (I checked it when I made that map with the home, shed, and sighting location, Google show as it as a 20+ min drive from their home to the interstate)


Crazy.
After 17 years I really don't think it looks good....but I also didn't think Amanda Berry or Gina DeJesus would be found alive either. So I hope I'm proven wrong.