Case 7.5: Emma Windale

1

I should find out more about Emma, she may know the most about Rich.

 

Windales and Riveras

2

He also mentioned that he and his wife never met with Emma's parents, something doesn't add up there... Why did Mark so easily remember the address?

 

3

Mark did meet the Windale family. I bet he questioned them after Rich's disappearance, but why keep that from April? Did he threaten them somehow? Did he try to scare them to make sure he was getting the truth?

 

4

If Mark is in the cartel, why would he want any investigation into his family life? The only logical reason is that he cares about his family more than his job, which is normal... but this also means that he probably didn't have anything to do with his son's disappearance. Mark would have let the cartel kill me if he knew I found something that would implicate him in his son's disappearance.

 

5

I believe that Mark really did have nothing to do with Rich's disappearance. So now the question is, which other leads can I examine?

 

Emma Windale

 

6

I don't know if Emma is living there though. I suppose I have nothing to hide unless I suspect the Windale family of foul play. Anyone should be treated as a possible suspect. However, my gut says the police would have caught someone so close to Rich... So I can probably introduce myself to them.

 

7

I can visit them tomorrow, it's already 10:40 PM, it's probably too late to visit them today.

 

 

8

Rich went missing on April 5th, 2007. Wait... April? That's the name of Rich's mom, what a coincidence... well, I can tell that two months prior to his disappearance he had a good relationship with Emma Windale, because of his older phone's text conversations. He got his new phone on February 14th, 2007. A lot can change in two months, relationships can deteriorate even in a matter of days...

 

9

It was quite strange to me that Mark and April were so out of the loop. I bet Emma knows a lot more about people in Rich's life... she was one of them.

 

10

*Drive to 1805 Clover Lane*

 

Not too far, only about a 15-minute drive. The Windales don't live in as fancy of a house as the Riveras, they are probably middle-class.

 

*Ring the doorbell*

 

Carl: Hi, there.

Jonathan: My name is Jonathan Steel. I'm investigating Rich Rivera's disappearance.

Carl: Oh, okay. Um, do you want to come in, or...?

Jonathan: Yes, that would be awesome. I just have a few questions.

Carl: Sure thing, I'll get Susan and Emma too, you can have a seat.

 

*Wait for Carl to get his daughter and wife*

 

Carl: They should be down in a sec. So, Rich, huh? What can we help you with?

Jonathan: Well, let's just wait for everyone.

Carl: Alright, sounds good.

 

 

11

Jonathan: I just have a couple of questions for you all.

Susan: Okay, we want to help.

Jonathan: Who did Rich spend most of his time with, was it you, Emma?

Emma: I spent a lot of time with him, it's hard for me to talk about but, I don't even know, there were also these parties. He met people there too.

Jonathan: I can tell the topic upsets you, Emma.

Emma: It's hard. I loved Rich, and when he disappeared, I just felt terrible. I never got closure. It's painful...

Jonathan: I will try my best to find Rich.

Carl: Emma, I thought Rich had a best friend, right?

 

*Wait for Emma's response*

 

Emma: Yeah, Tyler. They were close. It's weird, though, because Tyler was kind of his only real friend.

Jonathan: Okay, let's shift gears. Did Rich say anything to you the day he vanished?

Emma: Yeah... it was very out of character.

Jonathan: What did Rich tell you the day he vanished?

Emma: Okay, this is what I told the police, too. Rich ran away... he's never come back since.

Jonathan: Wait, what? Where did he run off to?

Emma: He said he was excited for this new job, but then later he said he's leaving the country. It was really odd.

Jonathan: Emma, can you show me this text conversation?

Emma: Yeah, take a look.

 

View Emma's Phone

 

12

Emma: Hey boi! I'll be like 10 minutes late, cya soooooon

Rich: Aight chica, cya in a bit :)

Emma: Hereeeeee

Rich: I buzzed you in, you good? lol

Emma: Nopeee, didn't work i guess

Rich: ok, lol, coming down, one sec

 

Hmm, interesting, so Emma didn't live with Rich. Oh, actually, I do remember Mark and April telling me he had no roommate.

 

13

Emma: omg, my boss is so annoying, always micromanaging

Rich: yeah... i still need to find a job lmao, but I got enough money for years lol

Emma: rich is rich :P

Rich: wanna do something tonight?

Emma: yeah! downtown? lets get italian!

Rich: sweet! ill pick ya up at 6:45!

 

He had enough money for years? Did his parents really give him that much money? And Rich said he had no job... so all the money must be his parents'??

 

14

Rich: chica! I got a new job!

Emma: haha wut? where at!?

Rich: its sales, ill tell u more about it later, i gotta mee my new boss

Emma: mysterious, i like it, dont be too mysterious thooooo

Rich: ill tell you I promise, aight i gtg

Emma: love youuuuu

Rich: love you too, ttyl chica!

 

Rich met with his "boss" on April 3rd? Or was it the 4th? He kept this job a secret from Emma as well. What was this job?

 

15

Rich: Hi, I will be gone for a very long time. I will text you when I am back.

Emma: hold up Rich, what?

Rich: I will leave. Bye now.

Emma: ur breaking up with me over text??? are u kidding me?

Rich: I have to go.

Emma: Rich what the hell?

Emma: im sry for whatever i did, talk to me, rich

Emma: where r u?

 

How bizarre... Rich broke up with Emma the day he got his new job? Then he vanished?

 

16

Rich: I'm leaving the country.

Emma: omg, what the hell is going on!!!

Emma: just talk, call me, please, seriously talk to me

Rich: I'm going to a new country.

Emma: wtf are you saying??

Emma: what did i do???

 

Then he vanished... that was the last text he sent. Emma said she tried to call him after this, and his phone went straight to voicemail. He also never answered the phone when it didn't go to voicemail.

 

 

17

Jonathan: Emma, where are the rest of the texts?

Emma: We fought and stuff, I deleted them because they made me sad.

Jonathan: I see. Was there anything I should know about those fights?

Emma: Mostly just us being stupid about random things. It was pointless.

Jonathan: So, overall the relationship was...

Emma: It was good. I loved Rich, we just had some bad times. I feel bad about it all.

Jonathan: How old is this phone?

Emma: A couple years. I got it February 14th, 2007, for Valentine's Day.

Jonathan: You deleted so many messages, two years worth of texts... There are only about 40 texts here.

Emma: Look, I need to move past him. I feel terrible for everything.

Jonathan: Okay, thank you, Emma. I'm sorry for bringing this tragedy up again, but I will find him, I promise.

Emma: It's okay. I'm just not really over him, I'm sorry.

Jonathan: Thank you all for your time.

Susan: If you need to talk again, you can stop by.

 

Analyze Interview

 

18

It's understandable, but all those deleted texts, that was super strange.

 

19

Nothing stood out about Susan or Carl Windale, they genuinely wanted to help me.

 

20

When I brought up the deleted messages, she instantly looked guilty. This doesn't necessarily mean that she is guilty, but I can't help but wonder what she was actually thinking... because her words rarely matched her facial expressions.

 

Conclude Investigation

1. Is Carl Windale hiding something?

  • No
  • Yes

 

2. Is Susan Windale hiding something?

  • No
  • Yes

 

3. Is Emma Windale hiding something?

  • No
  • Yes

 

4. Did Rich leave the country?

  • No
  • Yes

 

5. Was Mark involved with his son's disappearance?

  • No
  • Yes

Correct Answers

1. Is Carl Windale hiding something?

  • No

 

2. Is Susan Windale hiding something?

  • No

 

3. Is Emma Windale hiding something?

  • Yes

 

4. Did Rich leave the country?

  • No

 

5. Was Mark involved with his son's disappearance?

  • No