Leo Hamel sent me this some time ago:
As proof that he did all he could to find Theresa. The writing says, "Photo Police, 2 Dec, 78"... "2:15 h: call back SQ in Quebec Re: Dogs"
If that's Leo in the photo he sure aged b/w November and the following Spring. The caption under the other photo reads, "Theresa Allore se trouve-t-elle dans un bois de la region de Austin?" Which seems to suggest Photo Police had something on the ball even back then.
I have many questions about this photo, but I'll let you discuss it first.
But FYI: I recently heard from a source I deem reliable that everyone in the region knew Theresa's death would be covered up - too much conflict of interest b/w police-criminals-bikers-and the local establishment.
posted by John Allore @ 10/30/2007 10:32:00 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Well, question number one: If that photo was taken December 2nd, why are all the leaves still on the trees?
Question number two: Don't search and rescue dogs wear some sort of vest to identify them as such?
As would their accompanying human(s)?
This just looks like some guy out taking a walk with his dog.
Nice Anon,
I have a few others... why's Leo's writing in English? All his reports from that era are in French (seems to have been added after the fact).
If that's Leo, why's he leading the dog? I've been on these searches before, there's a qualified trainer that leads the dog (my point: how effective were dog searches in 1978? Was there a process, or did you simply cut loose the canine?).
I wondered about that English writing too, but your query was about the photo... : )
Also, why is he writing a note in January 79 about the dogs, if this was supposedly already being done in this photo from December?
And why call the SQ January 19 about the dogs, 2 1/2 months after she was reported missing?
anon
I believe these photos are what newspapers call "stock images" or "file photos". They were not necessarily taken specifically to accompany the article. I believe they were shots taken previously for another story and then pulled from their image bank to illustrate Theresa's story since they didn't have any actual shots of the area. The caption doesn't describe the image of the man and his dog. It's more of a generic caption that says "the director of S.M. Lennoxville would like to use the services of a trained canine." If it were an actual photo taken on the day the story was written, the caption would identify the person and location. The same can be said of the Austin street scene. It's merely a generic image.
As for the handwritten notes, it may not have been Leo who wrote them. Maybe he got somebody else on the force to follow up. The time and date are written in typical French style (24-hr clock and d/m/y). Or maybe he just transcribed his appt. book in English since he knew Theresa's family spoke English.
That being said...it does seem strange that he waited nearly two months to follow up on the story.
yes, it does say that they 'would like to use the services of a dog-handler', but why wait until the middle of January to make such enquiries in order to search for a girl missing since November 3rd, who apparently wasn't really missing because she had taken off on her own accord for any number of reasons....and weren't they just going to wait for the spring thaw anyway?
Photo / Allo Police were notorious for NOT using stock photos (I'll send you what they did on Dube and Camirand - unbelievable).
I don't think these are stock... frankly, I don't know what they are...
But I believe it paints a different picture. The original NP articles painted a picture that the search in Austin was an after thought, barely considered.
I think it's worth relooking at that: there obviously was a considered investigation in that area if the press new about it. So why did it get dropped? And why never a mention of Camirand who was found there less than 17 months earlier?
I'm pretty certain Leo will eventually read this. I hope he will have the courage to comment. I would like to know his thoughts; he is a smart man, and one of the last left with knowledge of that time.
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