The Smiley Face Murders - Multiple Related Killings Nationwide.

[QKShooter]

This story has really not busted out into the National News Spotlight yet but, it is going to break wide open soon.
This is TRULY Bizarre. Read It!
There are two different stories posted here.

Two retired detectives believe the murder of a Minnesota college student may be linked to similar deaths around the country, Twin Cities station KSTP-TV reported.

University of Minnesota college student Chris Jenkins was found in the Mississippi River in February of 2003.

Minneapolis Police began investigating the case, which also caught the attention of two retired New York Police Department detectives, according to KSTP-TV

Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte believe Jenkins' murder may be connected to dozens of other deaths around the country over the last decade.

In more than 40 cases, the deaths are blamed on a drunken accident -- except for one.
Jenkins' case is the only instance where the cause of death was changed from 'unknown' to a homicide.

Police originally labeled the cause of death as unknown, but redefined it as a homicide in November 2006.

According to KSTP-TV the investigation started 11 years ago in New York when then-Sgt. Gannon made a promise to the parents of Patrick McNeill. Patrick McNeill was last seen at a New York City bar in 1997.
His body was found 50 days later,

"I told them I would never give up on the case," Gannon told KSTP-TV. When Gannon retired, he devoted his life to keeping his promise to the McNeills.

Gannon and Duarte have visited each site where a young man disappeared.
While most local investigations focused on where a body was recovered, Gannon and Duarte tried to figure out where the body went into the river.

City after city, when they'd find the spot where the body went into the water, they would find something else:
The symbol of a smiley face.

"It's very disturbing," Duarte said.

While the paint color and size of the face varies, the detectives are convinced that it's a sick signature the killers leave behind.
They found one eight years ago in Wisconsin and then others in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana.
Most recently, they believe they've found one in Iowa.

Gannon and Duarte said they are confident they've discovered a nationwide criminal enterprise.

The detectives told KSTP-TV they have to go public to "protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty."

"If nothing else, we have to warn the families and the young individuals so that no one else becomes a victim," Gannon said.

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The Smiley Face Murders

Police say they've discovered a link between the drownings of at least 40 men in 25 cities in 11 different states.
The symbol of a smiley face was found at the various locations where the bodies went into the water.
A nationwide criminal network is suspected of the murders.

How did the members of this network meet, if they really are from different parts of the country?
Could they all have known each other at one time?
This would suggest they went to school together or attended the same gathering--a music, political, or social festival.
It could be they all come from the same geographic area and simply travel around the country seeking victims.

Many like-minded individuals first meet each other on the internet. This group could have met in a chat room or on a message board, thought of a plan, and moved their discussion to email or phone and they agreed to meet in person or made plans for killing their intended victims, even though each person may live in a different part of the country.

What motivates a network like this?
They could be "unaffiliated" and simply share an evil mentality and desire to be serial murderers, perhaps having read about famous killers.
They could also be Satanists or members of another religion.
It's possible they are Islamist terrorists and are executing a plot hatched by their masters abroad.

Precious little is available on the idea of a criminal group meeting over the internet to engage in serial murder.
Most crimes involving the use of the internet (other than cybercrime) are individual adults soliciting underage kids for sex, or adults soliciting other adults with a crime as the end result of the eventual personal encounter.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[cdwolf]

HMMM.. This should be interesting!
I wonder did the time line rule out a traveling serial killer?
I was thinking some sort of organized crime ring, but most of them at least have a motive or shared agenda.
Most gangs are shoot'em up statements, river drownings is a lot more planning involved,and abduction!

[retsupt99]

Serial killers need serial lead...

This is a tough one...many young people (most college students) are individuals without the 'yellow light' defense mechanism. They often have a sense of immortality, thus becoming easier targets for some sick individual or group of 'serial misfit(s).

Stay armed...if you can't be armed...stay alert...stay safe!

[QKShooter]

Somebody on talk radio stated that there was a book written some time ago that closely matches these actual killings & that the Smiley Face is symbolic of the Sun AKA the "SON" Of Sam.

They story just broke on TV News today...just remember that you heard it first on DefensiveCarry.com

All The Bizarre News....All The Time....Defensive Carry Dot Com!

[albundy]

I heard about this on Coast to Coast AM while driving into work. Very strange if its true.

[ccw9mm]

Brings new meaning to the phrase "Have A Nice Day," doesn't it.

What would you even look out for, if "Smiley" is doin' the neighbors? Hm.

[cdwolf]

FOXNews.com - Detectives: 40 Drowning Victims May Have Been Murdered by 'Smiley Face Gang' - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

[QKShooter]

This really is totally bizarre.

A possible group of people located in various spots in the U.S. (somehow connected) that are doing same M.O. "kill for thrill" murders and the number of victims so far could be 40 or more?

This is a true first and it's difficult to even fathom it if it's true.

[Supertac45]

I'm more inclined to believe that it's the same killer. Perhaps a business man or truck driver; or someone that plans their vacation times around a killing.

[socuban]

Broke on a Spanish channel this afternoon.

[BENZIN]

sick weird

[CAJUN600]

very disturbing

[iball]

Creepy and sounds kind of supernatural.
Quick, call Sam and Dean Winchester!

[obxned]

It's an interesting theory, but I need to see some solide evidence.

[mcp1810]

Hmmmmm......... smiley faces.......... possibly met on an internet board........ similar interests........

Where were we on the dates in question?