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Post by rainangel on Nov 12, 2015 21:45:28 GMT
This year marks 20 years since a 17-year old girl was murdered in my hometown. The picture of her wearing her traditional Norwegian costume, called a bunad, has haunted Norway for 20 years.
She was only a year older than me. I didn't know her personally, but because this is a small place in a small country, we could easily have crossed paths.
My grandparents and her grandparents were neighbours. Which means my uncle is good friends with her father. I could easily have met her outside in the street playing, when I was visiting my grandparents.
She was part of a choir, and four or five of my classmates was in the same choir.
She was murdered only a few weeks before my grandfather passed away, and he rests three plots over from hers. We see her everytime we visit my grandfather's grave. Her picture is on her headstone, and there is always fresh flowers and candles at her resting place. Even now. 20 years later. She was an only child, her parents visit almost daily. Even now. 20 years later.
It was brutal. It was unexpected. It came out of nowhere. It was something that only happened in horrormovies.
But it happened to a girl who could be me, in a place I could have been in. I have purposefully avoided reading too much about the case. It's too close for comfort. Even though I am a big true crime fan, and I regularly read, see photos, listen to podcasts and watch movies and tv-shows about crimes that are far more disturbing than this one. I just can't do it.
But lately there has been big breaks in cold cases in Norway. I am assuming some of it has to do with our technology advancing, and re-testing DNA or other evidence make it possible for the police to find new evidence in cold cases.
There have been arrests made in cases that happened 10 and 15 years ago. This means a new hope has emerged in my hometown.
Also, there is a new book out about her case. And the author claims to have 'new information' that should urge the police to re-examine leads pertaining to a specific person.
I know the police in my hometown is now re-examining the evidence from 20 years ago. It hurts my heart that they never found her killer. It hurts my heart that her cousin was arrested, and later acquitted for her murder, essentially tearing a family apart in the process.
It hurts my heart to think about her resting place, and her parents visiting her at it for 20 years.
I have been listening to a lot of podcasts lately. Mainly true crime-related. 'Serial' for instance.
There is now a podcast that just started about her case. I am thinking I should finally learn more about her case. I am terrified. This is not a case I can disconnect from. This is someone I almost knew. I am certain we attended the same events in our town, walked past each other and almost got introduced several times. I probably WOULD get to know her at some point if it hadn't been for her death. I can not disconnect from all the stories about her, her parents, her cousin, her grandparents.... It's too close.
I sincerely hope that every unsolved murder will become solved. I think not knowing what happened to your beloved is one of the things that hurts the most. I am looking forward to the Cold Case unit finally becoming a real thing in my country. There are so many unanswered questions out there. And I am grateful for technology advancing, so that things that were impossible 20 years ago, might be possible today or tomorrow.
My thoughts tonight go out to her parents. Who is watching their daughter yet again become headline news.
She is somebody's promotion, someone's bookdeal, someone's prestige project to solve.
But to them she is the daughter who never came home. I hope they one day will learn the truth.
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MDscrapaholic
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Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Nov 12, 2015 21:49:12 GMT
This is so sad. I hope her parents find closure. I can understand your uneasiness about it, it does hit close to home.
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Post by stampnscrap1128 on Nov 12, 2015 22:50:47 GMT
I truly hope they can find her killer. One of my lifelong closest friend's younger sister was abducted in November 1981. The family and police are certain it was an abduction but have never been able to find her body nor pin the crime on the suspect (the girl's ex-boyfriend). I saw it firsthand how it rocked the family to the core. I make sure my friend knows each year that I have never forgotten Laurel. It seems to give some comfort to my friend. Laurel missing since 1981 |
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Post by Sam on Nov 12, 2015 23:01:34 GMT
I truly hope they can find her killer. One of my lifelong closest friend's younger sister was abducted in November 1981. The family and police are certain it was an abduction but have never been able to find her body nor pin the crime on the suspect (the girl's ex-boyfriend). I saw it firsthand how it rocked the family to the core. I make sure my friend knows each year that I have never forgotten Laurel. It seems to give some comfort to my friend. Laurel missing since 1981When you let your friend know you haven't forgotten about Laurel this year, can you also let her know that others are now also thinking of her, please? I can't imagine how that must be for her friends and family and my heart goes out to them and to you. |
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NoWomanNoCry
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Nov 12, 2015 23:02:27 GMT
rainangel I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time. I'm sending good thoughts your way. I'm curious why they thought it was her cousin at one point that did this and do you feel it was? If you don't want to get into it I 100% understand.
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Post by Sam on Nov 12, 2015 23:07:12 GMT
This year marks 20 years since a 17-year old girl was murdered in my hometown. The picture of her wearing her traditional Norwegian costume, called a bunad, has haunted Norway for 20 years. I know the police in my hometown is now re-examining the evidence from 20 years ago. It hurts my heart that they never found her killer. It hurts my heart that her cousin was arrested, and later acquitted for her murder, essentially tearing a family apart in the process. It hurts my heart to think about her resting place, and her parents visiting her at it for 20 years. There is now a podcast that just started about her case. I am thinking I should finally learn more about her case. I am terrified. This is not a case I can disconnect from. This is someone I almost knew. I am certain we attended the same events in our town, walked past each other and almost got introduced several times. I probably WOULD get to know her at some point if it hadn't been for her death. I can not disconnect from all the stories about her, her parents, her cousin, her grandparents.... It's too close. I hope that the new developments result in the case being solved and the family and town being able to get, at least, some sense of closure. I hope that justice is served for this young lady. |
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Post by stampnscrap1128 on Nov 12, 2015 23:20:08 GMT
I truly hope they can find her killer. One of my lifelong closest friend's younger sister was abducted in November 1981. The family and police are certain it was an abduction but have never been able to find her body nor pin the crime on the suspect (the girl's ex-boyfriend). I saw it firsthand how it rocked the family to the core. I make sure my friend knows each year that I have never forgotten Laurel. It seems to give some comfort to my friend. Laurel missing since 1981When you let your friend know you haven't forgotten about Laurel this year, can you also let her know that others are now also thinking of her, please? I can't imagine how that must be for her friends and family and my heart goes out to them and to you. I sure will. Thank you so very much! |
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Trixie Bender
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Jun 26, 2014 11:31:57 GMT
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Post by Trixie Bender on Nov 13, 2015 0:29:21 GMT
Some crimes really do hit close to home and I'm sorry that you are still greatly bothered by this one. I hope that one day, the killer will be caught and brought to justice, so that you and the poor girl's family can have some sort of closure.
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happymomma
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Post by happymomma on Nov 13, 2015 0:36:34 GMT
There is a case in my state that is 30+ years old and due to new/recent information it looks like justice will finally be served.
It's been pretty well-known for all these years who was involved, and that there was a cover-up.
Those involved were just teens at the time, as was the victim.
I've been following closely the past month or two and cannot wait for the day the family gets some closure and justice for their loved one.
If anyone is interested, you can google Erik Cross in Michigan.
I also follow a lot of cases on Websleuths. OP, is the case you speak of on there?
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NoWomanNoCry
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Nov 13, 2015 1:03:14 GMT
There is a case in my state that is 30+ years old and due to new/recent information it looks like justice will finally be served. It's been pretty well-known for all these years who was involved, and that there was a cover-up. Those involved were just teens at the time, as was the victim. I've been following closely the past month or two and cannot wait for the day the family gets some closure and justice for their loved one. If anyone is interested, you can google Erik Cross in Michigan. I also follow a lot of cases on Websleuths. OP, is the case you speak of on there? I just looked up this case. So sad  I read he had moved to that area that year so it's not like he has established a lot of history with the people there. I mean not enough to be killed over! So strange. |
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Post by rainangel on Nov 13, 2015 8:46:07 GMT
There is a case in my state that is 30+ years old and due to new/recent information it looks like justice will finally be served. It's been pretty well-known for all these years who was involved, and that there was a cover-up. Those involved were just teens at the time, as was the victim. I've been following closely the past month or two and cannot wait for the day the family gets some closure and justice for their loved one. If anyone is interested, you can google Erik Cross in Michigan. I also follow a lot of cases on Websleuths. OP, is the case you speak of on there? It makes me happy to see that old cases are getting new information that might actually lead to some justice! I will read about Erik Cross later. As for my local case, it's not in the US, and I don't know if Websleuths do cases that are international? Her name is Birgitte Tengs. If you search Websleuths maybe you will find something. You sure as hell will find a lot on google, as this is one of the biggest cases in Norway to ever happen. There were rumours that people from the FBI at one point was looking at the case, but that might have been just rumours. Why would the FBI come to Norway to solve a local murder? |
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Post by rainangel on Nov 13, 2015 8:54:17 GMT
rainangel I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time. I'm sending good thoughts your way. I'm curious why they thought it was her cousin at one point that did this and do you feel it was? If you don't want to get into it I 100% understand. It's pretty much public record as this case has been in the media so much over here. Her cousin was arrested, sat in interrogation for hours and hours (not sure how many but probably over 12 hours), with no sleep and little food. He finally confessed. He ws exhausted and wanted to get out of there. He was found guilty, then appealed and found innocent. I think he has even been in the Human Rights Court in Haag with his case because of the duress under the interrogation. This is absolutely one of the reasons I WANT to learn more. The way the cousin was treated and the courtcases and appeals later is something I want to know more about. I found something on it here: Birgitte Tengs cousin |
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happymomma
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Post by happymomma on Nov 13, 2015 8:57:30 GMT
rainangel, interesting. No, nothing on WS. Yes, I do see a lot of articles on Google. They are in a different language, which can be translated into close English, but they are still a bit hard to follow in translation. I will read up a bit more later. That IS interesting about the FBI. Hmmm... Yes, don't lose hope! Cold cases are solved every single day. It just takes the right person to say or do the right thing. My heart always breaks for those who lose loved ones, but it is especially hard when there is a good chance they know who it is and just can't quite pin it on them. Birgitte was a beautiful girl, that is for sure. With all of the second-hand connections you had to her, I can understand why it upsets you so much. I truly hope that one day her killer will be brought to justice. xo
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Post by welshjenni on Nov 13, 2015 9:47:26 GMT
That is so very sad and I hope that new developments and information will now lead the police to finding her killer. Her family need that closure, and of course the killer is still at large and could repeat the crime. I understand your unease about the case too, she could do easily have become a friend at some point.
Laurel' s disappearance is saddening too, I'mthinking of her family and friends. Sometimes a clue becomes evident many years after the event so there is always hope that something will lead to some progress in her case.
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Post by rainangel on Nov 13, 2015 11:02:36 GMT
Well, I just listened to the first episode of the podcast about her murder. I had a pit in my stomach the whole time. They went through the basic events of the night of the murder, from her leaving a party with her youth group that night, and until they found her the next morning. And how the rumours spread around town those first hours after the discovery of her body, and notifying her parents.
In the preview of the next episode they played part of an interview with Birgitte's father. In which he says they (her parents) feel they have gotten their answer about who killed her, but they are hoping for justice. Meaning her parents believe the cousin did it, and they want to see him in jail.
Last week I was groceryshopping with my mother. She ran into an old frind and chatted with her for a few minutes. She is the cousin's mother. This place is not big. This affects us all. But we seem to have divided into those who believe the cousin did it, and those who don't.
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Post by miominmio on Nov 13, 2015 11:12:06 GMT
rainangel I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time. I'm sending good thoughts your way. I'm curious why they thought it was her cousin at one point that did this and do you feel it was? If you don't want to get into it I 100% understand. It's pretty much public record as this case has been in the media so much over here. Her cousin was arrested, sat in interrogation for hours and hours (not sure how many but probably over 12 hours), with no sleep and little food. He finally confessed. He ws exhausted and wanted to get out of there. He was found guilty, then appealed and found innocent. I think he has even been in the Human Rights Court in Haag with his case because of the duress under the interrogation. This is absolutely one of the reasons I WANT to learn more. The way the cousin was treated and the courtcases and appeals later is something I want to know more about. I found something on it here: Birgitte Tengs cousin He was found not guilty, but still had to pay compensation to her parents, which means the court found it proven that he had done it, but not beyond a reasonable doubt. Remember, he did confess during three different interrogations. The Hague Court ruled against Norway on technicalities (the fact that you could be aquitted but still have to pay compensation was ruled to be against his human rights). It has been several years since I read the verdicts (not just what's in the media) but I'm still convinced he did it. |
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Post by rainangel on Nov 13, 2015 11:42:06 GMT
It's pretty much public record as this case has been in the media so much over here. Her cousin was arrested, sat in interrogation for hours and hours (not sure how many but probably over 12 hours), with no sleep and little food. He finally confessed. He ws exhausted and wanted to get out of there. He was found guilty, then appealed and found innocent. I think he has even been in the Human Rights Court in Haag with his case because of the duress under the interrogation. This is absolutely one of the reasons I WANT to learn more. The way the cousin was treated and the courtcases and appeals later is something I want to know more about. I found something on it here: Birgitte Tengs cousin He was found not guilty, but still had to pay compensation to her parents, which means the court found it proven that he had done it, but not beyond a reasonable doubt. Remember, he did confess during three different interrogations. The Hague Court ruled against Norway on technicalities (the fact that you could be aquitted but still have to pay compensation was ruled to be against his human rights). It has been several years since I read the verdicts (not just what's in the media) but I'm still convinced he did it. Thanks Mio, this is the kind of stuff I only know bits and pieces about. In the podcast they said the burden of proof is a lot bigger on the criminal charge (murder), and less on the civil charges (compensation). Det er faktisk veldig rart å sitte på et kontor på Hgsd politistasjon og lære om denne saken. Jeg sitter bokstavlig talt 20 meter fra alt bevismaterialet. Men det er jo dører imellom jeg ikke har adgang til da. Men snodig følelse.... |
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Post by miominmio on Nov 13, 2015 11:58:53 GMT
Skjønner det må være rart *klem*. I sivile saker holder det med sannsynlighetsovervekt (altså mer enn 50 prosent), mens det i straffesaker må være bevist utenfor enhver rimelig tvil. Og det er så tett på hundre prosent som man kommer.
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blue tulip
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Post by blue tulip on Nov 13, 2015 13:28:29 GMT
If anyone is interested, you can google Erik Cross in Michigan. I read a news story from September that said the police were giving the people involved one last chance to come forward before they came and got them. that makes me so angry. WTF they've had 32 years to come forward, just go frickin arrest them. it makes me think they were bluffing about knowing who they were at that point. |
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NoWomanNoCry
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Nov 13, 2015 15:36:56 GMT
rainangel I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time. I'm sending good thoughts your way. I'm curious why they thought it was her cousin at one point that did this and do you feel it was? If you don't want to get into it I 100% understand. It's pretty much public record as this case has been in the media so much over here. Her cousin was arrested, sat in interrogation for hours and hours (not sure how many but probably over 12 hours), with no sleep and little food. He finally confessed. He ws exhausted and wanted to get out of there. He was found guilty, then appealed and found innocent. I think he has even been in the Human Rights Court in Haag with his case because of the duress under the interrogation. This is absolutely one of the reasons I WANT to learn more. The way the cousin was treated and the courtcases and appeals later is something I want to know more about. I found something on it here: Birgitte Tengs cousin Thank you. I'm going to read up on it. |
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Post by rainangel on Nov 13, 2015 17:24:08 GMT
I truly hope they can find her killer. One of my lifelong closest friend's younger sister was abducted in November 1981. The family and police are certain it was an abduction but have never been able to find her body nor pin the crime on the suspect (the girl's ex-boyfriend). I saw it firsthand how it rocked the family to the core. I make sure my friend knows each year that I have never forgotten Laurel. It seems to give some comfort to my friend. Laurel missing since 1981Wow, that is a horrible thing for the family to go through. It must be hard to see, as a familyfriend, what this does to a family. I liked how they wrote about Laurel's hobbies. It gives me a greater understanding of who she is as a person. She's not only a name and a picture. I hope you and her family will have closure one day. Either as a reunion, or a resting place to visit. |
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Post by rainangel on Nov 13, 2015 18:03:33 GMT
rainangel, interesting. No, nothing on WS. Yes, I do see a lot of articles on Google. They are in a different language, which can be translated into close English, but they are still a bit hard to follow in translation. I will read up a bit more later. That IS interesting about the FBI. Hmmm... Yes, don't lose hope! Cold cases are solved every single day. It just takes the right person to say or do the right thing. My heart always breaks for those who lose loved ones, but it is especially hard when there is a good chance they know who it is and just can't quite pin it on them. Birgitte was a beautiful girl, that is for sure. With all of the second-hand connections you had to her, I can understand why it upsets you so much. I truly hope that one day her killer will be brought to justice. xo I tried finding the article I once read about the FBI being interested in the case. But it was years ago, and I can't find it now. I did, however, find a LOT of articles about how the interrogation of the cousin is now being used as an example of what NOT to do when questioning a witness/suspect. Former FBI agents who now are lecturing in interrogation techniques will use this case as an example in lectures. |
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happymomma
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Post by happymomma on Nov 13, 2015 19:38:49 GMT
If anyone is interested, you can google Erik Cross in Michigan. I read a news story from September that said the police were giving the people involved one last chance to come forward before they came and got them. that makes me so angry. WTF they've had 32 years to come forward, just go frickin arrest them. it makes me think they were bluffing about knowing who they were at that point. I am also very frustrated, and yes, it 'looks' perhaps to the killers, that they are bluffing. They have had two or more witnesses come forth that the prime suspect confessed to. The prime suspect is a flipping mess. Just got out of jail again. I understand that they need a win-able case to arrest and take it to trial but geez, what else do they need, right? I've read so much about this case, have pages of notes, and it is so obvious. But money talked then and perhaps is still talking now. The law enforcement officer that was involved in the cover up 32 years ago is now dead, but there are likely others that had a hand in it still there and blocking stuff up. It's incredibly sad, what they did to that poor kid. |
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Post by rainangel on Nov 13, 2015 22:46:16 GMT
I read a news story from September that said the police were giving the people involved one last chance to come forward before they came and got them. that makes me so angry. WTF they've had 32 years to come forward, just go frickin arrest them. it makes me think they were bluffing about knowing who they were at that point. I am also very frustrated, and yes, it 'looks' perhaps to the killers, that they are bluffing. They have had two or more witnesses come forth that the prime suspect confessed to. The prime suspect is a flipping mess. Just got out of jail again. I understand that they need a win-able case to arrest and take it to trial but geez, what else do they need, right? I've read so much about this case, have pages of notes, and it is so obvious. But money talked then and perhaps is still talking now. The law enforcement officer that was involved in the cover up 32 years ago is now dead, but there are likely others that had a hand in it still there and blocking stuff up. It's incredibly sad, what they did to that poor kid. I didn't get a chance to read the whole article I found, but the horrors that met me in the first few paragraphs were so sad. I will read the rest tomorrow, but I have a feeling this is an UGLY case. And I didn't even get to the part about the cover up. This is the kind of case you'd think was an episode of CSI right? But sadly it's real. |
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AmeliaBloomer
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Nov 13, 2015 23:34:58 GMT
It's pretty much public record as this case has been in the media so much over here. Her cousin was arrested, sat in interrogation for hours and hours (not sure how many but probably over 12 hours), with no sleep and little food. He finally confessed. He ws exhausted and wanted to get out of there. He was found guilty, then appealed and found innocent. I think he has even been in the Human Rights Court in Haag with his case because of the duress under the interrogation. The whole idea of false confessions is fascinating - and disturbing. Can you imagine being innocent and being so tired and disconnected from reality that you actually unconsciously concoct details...even visualize participating in the crime? So weird. And scary. Of course, the guy (cousin) in this case could have done it AND was exhausted when he confessed. Hard to know (principally because I can't read Norwegian!). If he's guilty, that must be excruciating for the family. I hope listening to the story gets easier for you and answers some of your questions. |
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I read he had moved to that area that year so it's not like he has established a lot of history with the people there. I mean not enough to be killed over! So strange. 
