The chain of custody is important, and a case like this has to be watertight, but this one is a mess, as you point out. Too many anomalies and contradictions that point to one conclusion - there's insufficient evidence. Eagle Enterprises, for all their denial, could perhaps have shown their sales inventory, and wouldn't they have to keep records for tax purposes and their license? Just some thoughts.
It’s so hard to believe they couldn’t trace the guns since the gun show had a layout of everyone who had a table that day, and they could have interviewed everyone and asked who sold each of the 4 guns. Private dealers would remember their inventory even without a receipt. They bought 3 of the guns (allegedly) within a month of obtaining the TEC, so they would have had those records still. They never investigated it!
EE would have definitely needed to keep receipts for taxes and the background check. I just realized that it doesn’t make sense for Manes to have purchased from a licensed dealer given his record. He wouldn’t have passed a background check. I’ve entertained the idea that EE was in on it somehow, but if not, their name was just used for that fake receipt.
Why would Manes hand over a fake receipt to prove he purchased the TEC knowing the serial would be traced and it would be revealed a lie? And why did police not call out this lie during his hearing?
I think the receipt was only provided to satisfy the investigation on the surface for the investigators who were not part of this scheme. Like, "look, see? I obtained the TEC legally in a purchase from a dealer!" I have reason to believe Manes was already facing other charges for drugs/weapons violations, and was turned into an informant/participant to play a role as the gun dealer in exchange for dropped charges. I think he was given the TEC at the Tanner Gun Show by a federal agent in a pre-arranged meeting.
I was going to suggest that Mane was indeed in a tricky position and probably agreed to a plea deal. There's no other way he could have escaped culpability otherwise. It would be interesting to see if there are any dispositions on record.
Yeah it doesn’t seem right that he only got 6 years and served basically 4 before being let out. And then the victims’ families all filed lawsuits against the school and the parents of the shooters, but no civil suits followed Manes’ guilty plea. In the U.S. at least, it’s common for civil suits to follow a criminal conviction after a guilty plea. That guilty plea basically guarantees people will win their civil suits. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but no ‘angry parents’ went after Manes? I find that hard to believe.
What I also find interesting is that Manes had a massive record before he even turned 18 for drugs and violence, and admitted to police that he became the local drug dealer in town at age 16, and key players for years tried to say it was just a rumor that he was a drug dealer. I happen to know people personally in real life who got their drugs from him on a regular basis back in the day :-D But that’s just anecdotal, so when I came out with his case file where he admitted to being a drug dealer it was radio silence…
Yes the U.S. is very litigious, and it's strange that no civil suits followed his guilty plea. That's a red flag on its own. It's interesting that he also had a big record before all this (it's no coincidence that nearly all the players in the JD case had criminal histories too).
The chain of custody is important, and a case like this has to be watertight, but this one is a mess, as you point out. Too many anomalies and contradictions that point to one conclusion - there's insufficient evidence. Eagle Enterprises, for all their denial, could perhaps have shown their sales inventory, and wouldn't they have to keep records for tax purposes and their license? Just some thoughts.
It’s so hard to believe they couldn’t trace the guns since the gun show had a layout of everyone who had a table that day, and they could have interviewed everyone and asked who sold each of the 4 guns. Private dealers would remember their inventory even without a receipt. They bought 3 of the guns (allegedly) within a month of obtaining the TEC, so they would have had those records still. They never investigated it!
EE would have definitely needed to keep receipts for taxes and the background check. I just realized that it doesn’t make sense for Manes to have purchased from a licensed dealer given his record. He wouldn’t have passed a background check. I’ve entertained the idea that EE was in on it somehow, but if not, their name was just used for that fake receipt.
A case of missing key witnesses also? I have seen that too :) Yes, none of it makes sense in light of what you have found, it's totally illogical.
Why would Manes hand over a fake receipt to prove he purchased the TEC knowing the serial would be traced and it would be revealed a lie? And why did police not call out this lie during his hearing?
I think the receipt was only provided to satisfy the investigation on the surface for the investigators who were not part of this scheme. Like, "look, see? I obtained the TEC legally in a purchase from a dealer!" I have reason to believe Manes was already facing other charges for drugs/weapons violations, and was turned into an informant/participant to play a role as the gun dealer in exchange for dropped charges. I think he was given the TEC at the Tanner Gun Show by a federal agent in a pre-arranged meeting.
I've got more about this in the pipeline!
I was going to suggest that Mane was indeed in a tricky position and probably agreed to a plea deal. There's no other way he could have escaped culpability otherwise. It would be interesting to see if there are any dispositions on record.
Yeah it doesn’t seem right that he only got 6 years and served basically 4 before being let out. And then the victims’ families all filed lawsuits against the school and the parents of the shooters, but no civil suits followed Manes’ guilty plea. In the U.S. at least, it’s common for civil suits to follow a criminal conviction after a guilty plea. That guilty plea basically guarantees people will win their civil suits. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but no ‘angry parents’ went after Manes? I find that hard to believe.
What I also find interesting is that Manes had a massive record before he even turned 18 for drugs and violence, and admitted to police that he became the local drug dealer in town at age 16, and key players for years tried to say it was just a rumor that he was a drug dealer. I happen to know people personally in real life who got their drugs from him on a regular basis back in the day :-D But that’s just anecdotal, so when I came out with his case file where he admitted to being a drug dealer it was radio silence…
Yes the U.S. is very litigious, and it's strange that no civil suits followed his guilty plea. That's a red flag on its own. It's interesting that he also had a big record before all this (it's no coincidence that nearly all the players in the JD case had criminal histories too).
This one had more holes than a wheel of Swiss cheese. I think it's much easier to create a big, confusing mess than it is a perfect fraud.
Haha that’s so true. A confusing mess makes people give up.
Not you though:) and it’s a good thing too.
It’s full of holes at every corner!