Woman cyclist missing on Silver Comet Trail

What a tragic event. My thoughts are with the family and those of you who live in the area.

Was this an area that someone could only get to by bike or foot? Would the perpetrator likely have been on a bike too? I usually assume that criminals are too lazy or out of shape on unskilled to commit crimes more than about a mile from a road. This rule seem to work pretty well for hiking and backpacking. Areas frequented by locals or accessible by car or ATV are considered unsafe for overnight stays by hikers. So is anyplace a road bike can get to potentially unsafe if not in a well-populated area?

From what I can figure out (and understand that I've done easily two thousand miles on this trail) this happened at a point that was about 1, 1.5 miles from parking lots/trailheads in either direction. I believe it was near a railroad crossing. There are houses right up along the trail in that section too.

Now, here are two thoughts that i'm putting together. A few weeks ago, I was out there (alone, again...) and right in this area was a bunch of police activity. Nothing like cruising along and coming around a bend to see a police cruiser in the middle of the trail. There were a few unmarked police cars off the side of the trail. I never heard what they were doing or what they were looking for. I wonder if something occurred then that gave them a clue to what happened on Tuesday, since they seem to already have a 'person of interest' in this case.

Edit to add: I always thought that this trail was pretty off in the woods, but I've recently realized that a major roadway runs right along side of it in most areas - probably just a couple of hundred feet away. The dense foliage keeps the road hidden from the trail, and unfortunately, the trail hidden from the road.

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Originally Posted by Cindyloo

The area that she put in is very populated and is right near a Publix shopping center but as you get out about 20 miles it becomes a little more rural, crosses a couple of small dirt roads, passes a water treatment plant, and wooded areas. It also passes behind many houses along the way.

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Hi Deb - I understood from what Cindyloo was saying above, that the trail was a mix of areas - some populated, some not. My bf made a good point saying that (since the news says Jennifer rode this same route 3x/week) someone could've known about her routine - and was waiting for her at a certain desolate spot where they could strike w/o being seen or heard.
Often, the people who commit these types of crimes are very good at planning/strategizing their attacks.

I've had scary encounters on three of the four trails I ride on. I don't know what the solution is. All of them are in populated areas, with roads very nearby (adjacent to, in sight of) the trail.

http://tinyurl.com/k94b9

This incident (only time I ever rode without a helmet- now have figured out how to get my hat under it- so you don't need to comment on that!) took place after I quit riding on another trail after I had a scary incident with a couple big teenagers (who were probably only thinking of robbery, not murder).

The creepy guy never confronted me, never harmed me or anyone that I know of, and I continue to see him at various points along this 46 mile trail, including within a couple miles of the isolated parking lot. I am still very unnerved by and very afraid of him.

Nanci - I always see on your avator (anyone know what that stands for?) that your location is North Central Florida. I spent most of my life in FL - Boca Raton, then Tallahassee, then St Augustine. I am curious about where you are referring to. Gainsville maybe?

Alachua. I work in Gainesville. How could you leave??? :eek:

I am from MN, lived in CA for a year (HATED IT!!!) and went back to MN, then moved here for cave diving. I love it here.

Don't assume that criminal types have no bike skills, some of them use bikes as their only conveyance. My recently departed nephew was one of those.
He used to ride at night wearing black clothing to burgle houses to feed his crack habit. However, he was not violent.
I guess what i'm saying is don't assume criminals aren't comfortable on bikes.

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Originally Posted by cherinyc

Granted I get a lot of my crime evidence info from my favorite shows (Law & Order, CSI, and Cold Case) but a lot of that stuff is still partially factual - right?

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don't forgit new dectectives and other shows on the discovery channel or A&E. (csi junkie here)

if she fought like a wild dog, good for her. i hope that evdience brings this sick person/people down. sounds like she was a strong person all around. its to bad that bad things happen to good people.

There is now mention of this on the Randonneuring list. A man contacted me about his fiance, or something, that lives in Atlanta, who is looking for people to ride with. She is qualified for RAAM this year. I told him how to hook her up with TE forums- maybe she will reveal herself soon! If so, I hope you local guys can maybe ride with her.

Nanci

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Originally Posted by cherinyc

Nanci - I always see on your avator (anyone know what that stands for?)

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Its a word with an interesting past. The original meaning of an avatar is a physical manifestation of a god in the Hindu religion (generally as a human or animal). Somewhere in the early days of computers someone decided that it would be a good word to describe the little icon that a person chooses to represent themselves in the machine world. A lot of computer terms have been swiped from religion/mythology - deamon, sprite, avatar - I'll bet you could name a lot more.

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Originally Posted by Eden

Its a word with an interesting past. The original meaning of an avatar is a physical manifestation of a god in the Hindu religion (generally as a human or animal). Somewhere in the early days of computers someone decided that it would be a good word to describe the little icon that a person chooses to represent themselves in the machine world. A lot of computer terms have been swiped from religion/mythology - deamon, sprite, avatar - I'll bet you could name a lot more.

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COOL! Thanks!

http://www.11alive.com/news/news_art...?storyid=82582

Everyone stay safe!
cheri

Thank you for the update Cheri.

hopefully they have the right guy in custody

An article I read at WSB TV said that when he was arrested he had a wound to his genital area that was bleeding profusely and was taken to the hospital. He told police at first that a prostitute had done it and then a wild animal. She was a fighter! I hope his ding-a-ling is still in the kudzu!

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Originally Posted by Cindyloo

An article I read at WSB TV said that when he was arrested he had a wound to his genital area that was bleeding profusely and was taken to the hospital. He told police at first that a prostitute had done it and then a wild animal. She was a fighter! I hope his ding-a-ling is still in the kudzu!

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That may be the best news to come out of this. Hopefully that will give authorities some good blood evidence.

Cindyloo "He told police at first that a prostitute had done it and then a wild animal...."

He was right about that, she fought like a wild animal, like a mother bear.

This is so sad....but good for her.

There's a time to be nice and as women we have that conditioning in all things, and it's beautiful that we do.

But for her to be able to turn that off and rip body parts off....good for her, that's what you do. Keep moving keep moving keep moving.

She fought to survive, for her kids, family. If they caught the right guy there's going to be enough bits and parts of him on her and her on him.

Here's the link: I hope the justice system makes him pay for what he did to her and her family. and for putting fear into countless people who live there and use that recreational trail.


http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9593546/detail.html

they better throw the book at him. the whole thing is just so unbelievable still.

Nancy Grace is discussing this horrendous case, right now!

Who's Nancy Grace? I read on BJ that there is a memorial ride planned August 5th?

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Originally Posted by Trek420

Who's Nancy Grace? I read on BJ that there is a memorial ride planned August 5th?

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We've heard that it was August 26. Please let me know if you hear anything more. The sooner, the better.

Ok Girls, now we need to make this womans life mean something. We need to do something in her honor. There has to be a cause or something that we can come up that we can contribute to so this doesn't happen again. Even if our contribution saves one life. I think it's worth it. What if it were your life?

What can we do? We all live in different area's, so a memorial ride doesn't really work. Tho it is a great one for the local folks. I hope everyone within driving distance to the area makes a real effort to honor this woman. She could have been one of us. Heck, being an avid cyclist she may HAVE been. Even if she was just a lurker. Perhaps she has bought gear from TE before? Who knows. All I know is we all identify with her. From what I read, her life was alot like ours.
Let's honor her, and show her family that her life mean't something by doing something in her honor.
So let's put our collective brains together and figure out what to do.
I'll volunteer to help organize it.

I agree Running Mommy...I'm not sure what to do, but I'd like to be involved.

Running Mommy "What can we do? We all live in different area's, so a memorial ride doesn't really work."

we could ride at the same date and time?

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Originally Posted by Trek420

Running Mommy "What can we do? We all live in different area's, so a memorial ride doesn't really work."

we could ride at the same date and time?

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I think that's a great idea Trek. Even if we can't ride at the same time, maybe we could each dedicate a ride to her memory. It sounds silly, but if we could each hold a little sign saying as much and have someone take a picture, we could assemble them in a slideshow and present it to the family. It may take a couple of weeks to get it together, but at least the family would know that the cycling communities across the world are remembering her. Just a thought, maybe someone else can come up with something more creative.

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Originally Posted by Brandy

I think that's a great idea Trek. Even if we can't ride at the same time, maybe we could each dedicate a ride to her memory. It sounds silly, but if we could each hold a little sign saying as much and have someone take a picture, we could assemble them in a slideshow and present it to the family. It may take a couple of weeks to get it together, but at least the family would know that the cycling communities across the world are remembering her. Just a thought, maybe someone else can come up with something more creative.

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Great idea, Brandy. If we get even a few of us in each city where we live to ride in Jennifer's memory, and send a montage of photos to her family, it would be great. It may also serve as a little protest against violence to women...but the main thing would be to honor Jennifer.

We could do it the day of her official memorial ride. If it's the 26th, that's the first day of my vacation. Maybe my bike club group could ride "in her honor."

I like that idea, too.

If y'all do that, I'll try to contact our local papers to make sure they know that this is so much more than a local concern (with everyone's approval). This way, the family might know that the entire country/world is thinking about her. I'll be at whatever memorial ride gets put together, and I think the numbers are going to be staggering.

I thought of Jennifer when we were out enjoying a beautiful ride today.

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Originally posted by Brandy: It sounds silly, but if we could each hold a little sign saying as much and have someone take a picture, we could assemble them in a slideshow and present it to the family.

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That doesn't sound silly at all Brandy, it's a wonderful idea.

Perhaps we could have T-shirts made up with Jennifer's picture and a saying that "Her Beautiful Memory Lives On". It would be nice to find a company (or companies), to donate the T-shirts - which then can be purchased ? through a website, or 1-800 #. It would be wonderful if these t-shirts can be sold through various bicycle websites, and local bike shops, etc....

A fund could then be put together in Jennifer's honor, to help her family with finances, etc...

Running Mommy I think you've come up with a great idea.... Jennifer has really touched all of our lives, and no doubt touched lives throughout the world.

Have a peaceful evening.

Denise

First, your hearts are in the right places...

The idea of people taking pictures of themselves with a small sign & then sending it to the family sounds fine to me. I'll do it-just let me know where to send it & will work on it.

I hate to tell you this but this crime wasn't reported down here in the major papers-It's nice you want people overseas to send their thoughts to the family but you need to realize that this is not news in some areas of the world. I checked The Australian, The CBC & the bbc...

Had I not read this post I wouldn't have known about the crime....Again, your hearts are in the right places...It's great you want people to know & make people aware of dangers to cyclists everywhere.

c

I'm all in.

If someone wants to organize a ride in Dallas, please announce it.

Otherwise I think even as individuals the idea of holding up a sign and taking pics of our rides is a great idea. Those who can bring several people together -- that's terrific. Otherwise, doing it singly works.

I don't think it makes any difference whether it was picked up by local news or not. I have no idea if it has been in Dallas newspapers. The fact is, the bicycling community knows and cares, and that's what we're saying.

pooks "I don't think it makes any difference whether it was picked up by local news or not. I have no idea if it has been in Dallas newspapers. The fact is, the bicycling community knows and cares, and that's what we're saying."

has this been announced or suggested on BJ? Seems a good way to get the word out to a wider audience?

How would I get a photo to the family? I suppose they could be sent to her church? According to the paper that's Buckhead Church at 4967 Roswell Road.

I'd already been invited to an ALC ride that day, but just found out that it's the division training/meeting for the Aikido Association. More important Eva, a woman from Poland who I've trained with will be testing for 3rd degree black belt there. I think I should go and see that, I can take a picture there too if this collection is being done.

I think the idea is just being tossed around here, but if it were firmed up it shouldn't be too hard to get the word out to other forums, etc., right?

Ok, I just got back from my tri in so cal and I was happy to see that we have a spark. I *may* have a line on inexpensive t-shirts that we could get screen printed and take a picture of ourselves in the tee with our bike.
I'm thinking of having it say " A woman should never be afraid to ride alone" and say "in memory of...." at the bottom. What do you gals think? I can look into it. Nothing fancy, just a nice simple tee. And I really like the idea of sending a picture to the family with a note of condolence. I think I'll also find a charity to send some $$ to in her name. I just want them to know she didn't die in vain.

Keep us updated Running Mommy!

did she have a favorite charity? It's often referenced in the obit.

there is an online guest book formed for people to post a message

http://www.legacy.com/Atlanta/Guestb...sonID=18695293

I want to keep following this case, to see what ends up happening with the law and/or safety precautions on trails, etc. I just read this update from 11 Alive news in Atlanta. It's very disturbing that this man was ever allowed to be free in this country.
http://11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=82755