The Northwest Herald carries a story this morning that doesn't provide much in the way of new information. Beth Bentley, 41, has been missing since May 23, 2010.
Apparently, Amtrak's policy for on-train purchase of tickets requires the conductor to record the name and address of the passenger who buys the ticket. There is no record of a purchase in Beth's name. Either Beth didn't buy a ticket on the train or the conductor failed to record her name (not likely; he probably likes his job). Is the ticket window at the Centralia Amtrak station open on Sunday afternoon? Probably not. But nothing is being said about that.
Why isn't the name of Beth's female friend, with whom she traveled from Woodstock to Mt. Vernon, being mentioned? Or the name of that friend's male friend in Mt. Vernon, who is reported as being in that area to rehab a house?
Woodstock Police Chief Bob Lowen said, "The friend places her (Beth) at the station." OK, so does that mean that Beth's female friend "said" she took Beth to the station and left her there, or has Beth's arrival at the train station in Centralia been confirmed?
Has any Woodstock police officer gone to Centralia or Mt. Vernon to investigate Beth's disappearance? Will any Woodstock officer be at the train station tomorrow afternoon to question anyone boarding the northbound train about whether Beth was seen two weeks ago at the station? Have any nearby businesses been canvassed?
Have Beth's cell phone records been checked to determine where she was when she called her husband about 4:00PM on Sunday, May 23? Has there been any attempt to trace Beth's cell phone since? If it is turned on, it may emit a signal that can be tracked.
What did Beth do during the time between arriving in Mt. Vernon and her call to her husband on May 23? If she was a "people" person, then someone in Mt. Vernon ought to be able to remember any visits to stores, restaurants, bars and other types of businesses.
Where did Beth stay in Mt. Vernon? Do family, friends and law enforcement know? Because the friend with whom she traveled is not being named, are police investigating the relationship between Beth and that friend and that friend's boyfriend?
Visit http://www.bethismissing.com/ for more information, as it becomes available.
7 comments:
Yup, keep watching those "Andy Griffith" shows. You may need the experience.
Nahhh, don't you remember? I got my training by watching The Dukes of Hazzard. Oh, and CHiPs, too.
Finally, your resume and credentials. Don't forget you were Inspector Clouseau in a previous life. Probably Inspector Irskin of the FBI as well.
This whole story about her being dropped off at the train station has a funny smell to it.
M.U.G., I agree. According to media reports, her husband said he had talked to Beth at 4:00PM, only two hours before train time, and he says she didn't say anything about taking the train.
Maybe the whole train story is a red herring?
Think the Woodstock Police are the lead law enforcement agency, or could Mt. Vernon P.D. be?
Of course it is. It is a "story" from someone who did not think it through carefully, nor has much insight into trains.
I would like to hear from a representative of Amtrak what time the train arrived at Union Station. Every Amtrak train I have taken has arrived late.
I would like to know, from Amtrak, if the train even stopped at Centralia. The conductor keeps records of tickets sold, even if s/he does not fill out the person's name/address.
There are cameras at Union Station, regardless of which exit Beth might have chosen to get to Ogilvie Station.
The train "story" has too many things that can be checked out. Somebody did not think this through.
Let's hope that the professionals have more information than you do, or the "sleuths" website.
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