2J

Do you think Buchan Stewart was connected with the original murder? Does his death clear Jonathan Oloko of Smythe's murder?

There probably is a connection but right now it just looks like a jealous homosexual killing. I never thought that Jonathan Oloko was the murderer of Smythe.

Another killing in the exact same manner while Oloko is in prison? I would think that would pretty much clear him.

>3 Carol420: I think Okolo is dead, Carol, he slit his own throat.

I think Stewart's is a copy-cat killing. He had not been eviscerated, so not the same MO.
I don't think his neighbour/partner is guilty of this murder.

>4 Sergeirocks:
Stewart did have his private organs cut off and stuffed in his mouth. Sounds like the same MO to me!

>3 Carol420: >4 Sergeirocks: Okolo is dead.

>4 Sergeirocks: >5 EadieB: This is what I love about the Group Reads, it challenges your thinking! Have had to give this some renewed thought given both of your responses. I thought it was the same killer, as the penis and testicles were in the mouth (like the spleen). However thinking on it again you may be right Sergei, obviously there was no penis or testicle in a jar at the murder scene(be very difficult seeing as the victim was female) whereas the spleen was. Also cutting off the penis could well be a sign of someone who was disgusted by the homosexual act. Also there was no cutting out of the intestines like the first murder and this made it different. The question would be were the intestines out of the body because the killer wanted to get to the spleen. So whereas at first I was going with the same killer I am not so certain of this anymore and think it could have been caused as a response to a homosexual act.

My head hurts....😫

>6 Andrew-theQM:
It resonated with me as the same MO because the spleen was in Symthe's mouth and Stewart had the male organs in his mouth.

>7 EadieB: The question for me now would be why the penis was in his mouth, if it was the same killer why not use the organs that were in the jars and that we think (or at least I do) relate to a particular person. Of course I could be way off the mark!

>8 Andrew-theQM:
I think the Stewart murder is definitely connected to the Smythe murder. The homosexuality angle is just a ruse.

I think his death is also related to the first murder. I don't believe his partner was capable of it and never would have gelded him.

>6 Andrew-theQM: I think the killings are related. My explanation for the penis would be that it's a substitute for the womb and ovaries that where found at the girl's murder scene. Just an other set of reproductive organs.

I think Garner is a setup. He may have written the note and killed himself due to guilt over Stewart and the fight they had but I don't think he was capable of killing him.

>4 Sergeirocks: >6 Andrew-theQM: Being dead would diffidently clear him...unless the supernatural twist is put into play:)

>11 bhabeck: I don't think Garner killed Stewart either and he more than likely didn't kill himself either. How did the killer get in with a guard on the door? Twilight Zone music plays...

>11 bhabeck: I was also thinking about the womb and ovaries as the equivalent of the penis. It has the same feel as the other murder and seems to follow the same kind of pattern, with an obvious scapegoat appearing fairly quickly. I think in both cases there is at least a guiding hand.

>13 sushicat: Exactly what I'm thinking. I do think it's the same mastermind, but they're getting others to do the actually killing. I don't know if Garner was physically capable of the murder, but it was his partner so he'd be easy to subdue and then it would be fairly quick to slit his throat and do the rest after he bled out. So, I guess it is possible and Tony made mention of having to help Garner out of his trance like state, which could mean he's been hypnotised or something like that. It also seems like part of the hypnotic state is at some trigger point they are to kill themselves.

I agree the murders are connected and tied to the girl's murder.

>14 Jen_Bartels: I hadn't considered that Garner was put under a spell or hypnotized or voodoo'd but that is a more plausible answer than any scenario I came up with to explain his actions. I figured the killer was our mystery man in Ch 23. However Garner could have been a partner in the crime.