Is there any chance that you can find out whether the knife was a pocket knife like perhaps a Swiss army knife or whether is was a steak knife
The only information we know about the knife for sure is that the tip broke off and lodged in her skull during the attack. Jim Barrett shed light on this:
Because the blade broke off in her skull I am fairly certain it was a pocket knife with a case hardened carbon steel blade or possibly a hardened alloy steel blade. A stainless steel blade would have simply bent. Most kitchen knives are made from stainless steel. A hunting knife would not have broken off. Message 12527589
The only other clue we have is from Jim (Van de Velde) who saw an autopsy picture where Suzanne had one single thin bloodless slit on her throat. What we don't know is whether there was a) any blood had been wiped away from the wound (if not, it would imply the throat wound came last), and b) how deep the damage might have been as no "separation" was seen (my thinking is if there was it would have been shown in the picture for documentation purposes).
One thing is for sure, we're not talking about a "killing instrument", as in a big hunting knife. As even attempting to kill someone using a Swiss Army Knife seems quite odd to me, I'm thinking more along the lines of a simple pocket knife such as knifeshop.com
As you know, my current theory is a random attack by a group of kids cruising around in a car. I can't see a single person, whether they knew Suzanne or not, inducing her into a car (even to drive her home) and then brutally stabbing her without her putting up a fight, especially since an argument would most likely have preceded it and the resulting adrenaline rush usually makes people more aware of "danger" than less. In any event, I admit I may be biased as the only time I was ever attacked in New Haven it was by a bunch of teens riding bikes while I was jogging (on Prospect Street near the hockey rink; I got away unhurt).
My thinking is that a) teens are more likely to travel in packs than adults, and b) teens are more likely to carry smaller weapons than adults. College students that carry knives usually carry them for utilitarian reasons, like having a corkscrew handy (g). Therefore, if the murder weapon were indeed a small pocketknife, I think it consistent with my theory. I'm not saying it proves my theory, just that it fits it. To go further out on a limb, I kind of doubt the kids intended to hurt anyone that night. If they did, I'd think they could have gotten hold of a much bigger weapon. I think the kid with the knife got extremely agitated because perhaps a) an adrenaline rush, b) he was high, c) he was "performing" (showing off) in front of his friends, d) he was dared, etc.), and just couldn't control himself.
- Jeff |
