MURDERED: 8 yr old Leila Fowler - 12 yr old brother charged

[HairOfTheDog]

VALLEY SPRINGS (CBS13) — Song and candlelight filled the night as a community begins to say goodbye to 8-year-old Leila Fowler. Her family showing their pain, but also their gratitude.

Tuesday night was the first time Leila’s mom Krystal Walters and Leila’s brother Justin Fowler spoke in public since her death.

As the mourning beings, the small community of Valley Springs remains on edge. It’s been more than three days since the 8-year-old was found stabbed to death inside her home. Deputies say her 12-year-old brother reported seeing an intruder leaving the home, only to discover his sister wounded.

Tuesday was all about the prayers and memories for the little girl.

In related news, a Placerville woman fought off an intruder who tried to kidnap her 15-month-old child. Police arrested the man and sent in samples to compare to the Valley Springs case, though they say they’re just covering all of their bases.

Leila's parents, Barney Fowler and Krystal Walters:

[Maggot]

I'm thinking a family member or someone close.

[Jimbone]

Maybe it was the 12 year old... I've noticed they've not excluded or commented about him at all that I've read.

[HairOfTheDog]

From yesterday afternoon's briefing:

Calaveras County Sheriff's officials say they have no new significant breaks in the 8-year-old's murder. But they did reveal what kind of evidence they've taken from the Fowler home.

"Some DNA evidence, I cannot go into any further information on that," Sgt. Hewitt said. "We've collected some fingerprints, and we've collected a few knives. Those are being examined to determine if one of those knives might have been the weapon that was used against Leila."

Calaveras Sheriff's confirmed they did send a detective to Placerville Wednesday morning to take a DNA sample from Jason Wayrynen. He was arrested Tuesday for trying to abduct a toddler. At this point, detectives say there's no clear connection to the Fowler case, but they want to make sure.

Full story:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section...id=9087260

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm thinking a family member or someone close.

Maybe it was the 12 year old... I've noticed they've not excluded or commented about him at all that I've read.

While LE has said that the 12 yr old brother is not a suspect, they haven't said that they've ruled him or any else out. Police usually work from the victim's inner circle (including family) outward in identifying suspects.

In terms of witnesses, it's now down to the word of the 12 year old that someone broke into the house and what that alleged someone looks like.

Why did the neighbor lie? Who else is lying?

The 12-year-old boy vaguely described the intruder as white or Hispanic and that he may have long, gray hair and a large frame. A second witness came forward and was able collaborate the brother's description on two different occasions.

However, in follow-up interviews, the witness said she saw the man running in the opposite direction from what the brother told investigators.

The sheriff's department said during the composite sketch meeting, the second witness retracted her statements and refuse to provide a description of the suspect to the sketch artist.

"The witness's description of the intruder was an important lead for investigators, but as of now it has become clear that this witness is no longer credible," the sheriff's department said in a statement. "Though this may seem like a setback in the investigation, it is actually a positive result in that it allows the investigators to narrow the scope of their investigation."

http://www.news10.net/news/article/24371...urder-case

Sure hope that the writer meant "corroborate" instead of "collaborate".

[HairOfTheDog]

Sergeant Chris Hewitt, with the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, said during a press briefing that the neighbor had met with a composite sketch artist and took back what she originally said about seeing someone.

The composite sketch, which was expected Thursday evening, was not completed after the Sheriff’s Office discredited the woman. Hewitt said that while it may seem like a setback, the recantation has allowed detectives to “narrow the scope of their investigation.”

As for the woman that recanted her story, Hewitt said that charging her with providing false information isn’t a priority right now.

Read more: http://fox40.com/2013/05/02/witness-reca...z2SEw6uyp3

Trusting that Sgt Hewitt and team have grilled this neighbor and have a good idea of why she lied and who benefits from her lie.

[username]

Ugh. That "witness" led me to believe it wasn't the 12 y/o. Now I'm suspicious again.

[HairOfTheDog]

Ugh. That "witness" led me to believe it wasn't the 12 y/o. Now I'm suspicious again.

Looks to me like there's a cover-up in play.

I'd like to know how long Leila was dead before the police were called, what time the family went to the little league game, how close a relationship the family has with the lying neighbor, etc... But, haven't seen any of those details released.

LE says they have DNA from the house, they're testing knives found in the house...

I think LE is covering all the bases, but they're eliminating the possibility of a stranger or intruder and honing in on someone very close to Leila. Squeeze play.

JMO based on what we know now...

[Midwest Spy]

Did I read that this was a blended family?

If so, I wonder if the 12-year old is a step-brother to the 8 year old victim?

If he is, it wouldn't surprise me if he had tried something with her (as sick as it is to insinuate) and may have panicked, killing her.

Very tragic.

[JsMom]

Oh, I sure hope not, MS.

[HairOfTheDog]

It's been a week today since Leila was killed.

The FBI and the California Department of Justice are working with local LE.

So far, no credible eyewitnesses to the 12 year old brother's witness account; (police are going house-to-house again this weekend).

LE says they've collected DNA , fingerprints, and knives; all from within the family home. All are being tested but it takes time.

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/05/0...rs-killer/

[username]

Everybody (police and family) are so damn quiet about this case.

Unfortunately, I think it's the 12 year old at this point.

[HairOfTheDog]

Everybody (police and family) are so damn quiet about this case.

Unfortunately, I think it's the 12 year old at this point.

Nothing coming out about the family, polygraphs, tips received...

Very tight-lipped investigation compared to many others that I've followed.

Now, LE is searching for evidence in two reservoirs near the Fowler home. Seems odd, to me, that they'd do that unless they've got a tip or uncovered something that leads them to believe the murder weapon or something related to Leila was tossed there.

Knives were taken from the home for testing earlier this week; no word on whether testing was completed.

Today's update:



VALLEY SPRINGS, CA - Dive recovery teams search two small reservoirs near the Valley Spring's residence on Rippon Road where 8-year-old Leila Fowler was murdered.

Calaveras County Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Hewitt said that two dive teams were deployed Sunday morning and they are expected to search for evidence throughout the day.

Hewitt said this is an additional evidence search and recovery method they are using to help them solve Fowler's murder.

Calaveras County sheriff's investigators will continue canvassing residences in the Rancho Calaveras subdivision Sunday, Hewitt said.

[HairOfTheDog]

LATEST:

-FBI crime dogs have been brought in to assist the investigation.

-The Calaveras County sheriff said investigators are getting closer to wrapping up the case.

-The Sheriff's Office also said officials have started receiving some of the evidence analysis results from the Department of Justice crime lab, although no further details or specifics were released.

-The path leading up to Leila's home, a portion of Rippon Road, remains blocked.

======================================================

I think that LE has a good idea of who killed Leila and probably has since very early on; they are confirming their evidence before making an arrest. Hope so anyway.

[MIKE JONES]

Everybody (police and family) are so damn quiet about this case.

Unfortunately, I think it's the 12 year old at this point.

I hate to admit it but I have to agree with you. Why would somebody break in and kill a 8 year old girl then run. Seems fishy to me. Im thinking the 12 year old tried to do something (sexual) with her and panicked. Probably afraid that she would tell. Terrible..

[Eat Shit And Die]

I'm thinking a family member or someone close.

nearly always is in these cases, 90 percent of the time.

[Jimbone]

I think I said it early on, but I think it's the 12 year old as well.

Never made sense a man stabs an 8 year old but leaves a 12 year old unharmed.

[MIKE JONES]

I think I said it early on, but I think it's the 12 year old as well.

Never made sense a man stabs an 8 year old but leaves a 12 year old unharmed.

Agreed

[HairOfTheDog]

Fox 40 reporting that the family is holding a private memorial for Leila today. Meanwhile, LE is again looking for evidence inside the reservoirs near the home.

I agree that since the 12 year old brother was reportedly the last known person to see Leila alive and was reportedly the only family member in the home when Leila was attacked, he'd be a natural prime suspect. But, we don't know when Leila died as compared to when the rest of the family left the home for the Little League game.

We also don't know why the next door neighbor lied to corroborate the 12 year old's intruder description and whether there were others who regularly went in and out of the Fowler home.

So little has been released by LE and no one has been ruled out publicly. It won't surprise me at all if it turns out to be the brother, but there are still many possibilities as to what exactly went down and who was involved, in my mind.

Hoping for more information and an arrest very soon...

[HairOfTheDog]

Nothing new being reported, but the Sacramento Bee now has a photo gallery for Leila's story.

This one is from the vigil that was held on April 28^th.

Her father, Barney Fowler, and her mother, Krystal Walters, are the adults pictured. No other names for those pictured are provided.

I don't know if the boy with his hand over his face is the 12 year old brother.

I'm curious as to the identity of the boy/man with Lelia's name tattooed on his arm.



Still haven't seen/heard anything about Barney Fowler's fiancee, who I presume (based on the interview with Leila's paternal grandfather) was living in the house and part of the blended family.

Gallery here:
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/05/03/5392923...girls.html