individuals, confessed later, “I was planning to attend the memorial service, but I just couldn’t bring myself to go.”
CHAPTER 5
In the area of the body discovery, Crime Scene Detective Ron Weyland set up a command post with several units, in order to collect all relevant evidence.
“Hey, wait a minute,” Weyland asked as a thought occurred. “Are we in Orange County or Osceola County?”
All activity stopped abruptly. Various members of the department expressed their opinions and comments about this unexpected consideration. Within which county’s boundaries was the body discovered? With that determination rested jurisdiction.
“We can’t do anything until that is established,” Weir stated.
In a meeting of officials from both counties, maps were consulted and the opinions of authorities sought.
In addition, an OCSD helicopter, piloted by Sergeant Ralph Glover, flew over the specified land, fixing the coordinates to establish the precise plot where the body was found.
“Come on, fellows, make up your minds,” Weir grumbled at the delay.
In a final judgment it was concluded that the dead body lay inside the boundaries of Orange County.
Weir received the news with relief. “Finally. Okay, let’s get moving,” he ordered.
With jurisdiction established, Dr. Gore ordered the body removed to the morgue for his full examination and autopsy. Also he would pursue and establish identification.
“As soon as possible, Doc?” Weir cajoled.
“Yes, Cam, we’ll get right on it,” Gore said.
With some measure of order established, Weir exchanged views with Linnert. “I don’t want to jump to a conclusion, and we’re never supposed to assume a goddamn thing, but—it’s a pretty sure bet that it’s Carla Larson.”
Weir thought about Jim Larson, wondering how he was taking the latest development. Weir also was not ready to let go of the lingering doubts he still had about this husband. The detective recalled that too frequently cases had unexpected twists. He hoped there wouldn’t be any in this one.
Linnert sighed. “If the ID has to come from dental comparison, we’ll have to wait to know for sure. But the indications are pretty strong that you’re right.”
“Either way, the investigation continues,” Weir assured him.
In the morning Detective Ron Weyland and others from his crime scene unit began a zealous reexamination of the discovery scene and its surrounds. They scoured the area, gathering anything that might be evidence, and took black-and-white and color photographs from every conceivable angle, including aerial shots of the entire vicinity. They used divers to search ponds, lakes, barrow pits and canals for Carla’s clothing, jewelry, purse, any other items of evidence, possibly even her Ford Explorer.
“We’ve searched every possible spot, Cam,” reported Weyland, “and there’s absolutely no trace of Ms. Larson’s clothes, her jewelry, her purse or her vehicle.”
“Well, we have to conclude that the Explorer, with her things in it, departed the Disney World area,” Weir replied. “I guess when all those people saw the vehicle racing onto the parkway, it just kept going. We have APBs out on it, but so far nothing.”
“Well, it’s still pretty early. Maybe you’ll hear something soon.”
“What it looks like right now is that some vicious killer evidently snatched this young woman in broad daylight during the noon hour from a busy grocery store parking lot. All she did was go into that store to buy some stuff and she paid for that with her life. At least that’s the way it looks right now. If it was a random kidnapping, she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Weyland shrugged. “Happens all the time.”
When the mutilated female body was discovered on the Disney properties, the Orlando Sentinel wrote a major story, displaying pictures of Carla Ann and her husband. The story carefully stated that this body was “probably” the missing
CHAPTER 5
In the area of the body discovery, Crime Scene Detective Ron Weyland set up a command post with several units, in order to collect all relevant evidence.
“Hey, wait a minute,” Weyland asked as a thought occurred. “Are we in Orange County or Osceola County?”
All activity stopped abruptly. Various members of the department expressed their opinions and comments about this unexpected consideration. Within which county’s boundaries was the body discovered? With that determination rested jurisdiction.
“We can’t do anything until that is established,” Weir stated.
In a meeting of officials from both counties, maps were consulted and the opinions of authorities sought.
In addition, an OCSD helicopter, piloted by Sergeant Ralph Glover, flew over the specified land, fixing the coordinates to establish the precise plot where the body was found.
“Come on, fellows, make up your minds,” Weir grumbled at the delay.
In a final judgment it was concluded that the dead body lay inside the boundaries of Orange County.
Weir received the news with relief. “Finally. Okay, let’s get moving,” he ordered.
With jurisdiction established, Dr. Gore ordered the body removed to the morgue for his full examination and autopsy. Also he would pursue and establish identification.
“As soon as possible, Doc?” Weir cajoled.
“Yes, Cam, we’ll get right on it,” Gore said.
With some measure of order established, Weir exchanged views with Linnert. “I don’t want to jump to a conclusion, and we’re never supposed to assume a goddamn thing, but—it’s a pretty sure bet that it’s Carla Larson.”
Weir thought about Jim Larson, wondering how he was taking the latest development. Weir also was not ready to let go of the lingering doubts he still had about this husband. The detective recalled that too frequently cases had unexpected twists. He hoped there wouldn’t be any in this one.
Linnert sighed. “If the ID has to come from dental comparison, we’ll have to wait to know for sure. But the indications are pretty strong that you’re right.”
“Either way, the investigation continues,” Weir assured him.
In the morning Detective Ron Weyland and others from his crime scene unit began a zealous reexamination of the discovery scene and its surrounds. They scoured the area, gathering anything that might be evidence, and took black-and-white and color photographs from every conceivable angle, including aerial shots of the entire vicinity. They used divers to search ponds, lakes, barrow pits and canals for Carla’s clothing, jewelry, purse, any other items of evidence, possibly even her Ford Explorer.
“We’ve searched every possible spot, Cam,” reported Weyland, “and there’s absolutely no trace of Ms. Larson’s clothes, her jewelry, her purse or her vehicle.”
“Well, we have to conclude that the Explorer, with her things in it, departed the Disney World area,” Weir replied. “I guess when all those people saw the vehicle racing onto the parkway, it just kept going. We have APBs out on it, but so far nothing.”
“Well, it’s still pretty early. Maybe you’ll hear something soon.”
“What it looks like right now is that some vicious killer evidently snatched this young woman in broad daylight during the noon hour from a busy grocery store parking lot. All she did was go into that store to buy some stuff and she paid for that with her life. At least that’s the way it looks right now. If it was a random kidnapping, she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Weyland shrugged. “Happens all the time.”
When the mutilated female body was discovered on the Disney properties, the Orlando Sentinel wrote a major story, displaying pictures of Carla Ann and her husband. The story carefully stated that this body was “probably” the missing
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