Does photo found in cell show children's grave?

Graftenberg · 07-05-09, 12:56 PM

By Ann O'Neill
CNN

(CNN) -- Police wonder whether a photograph found in a prison cell a decade ago might lead to the bodies of two children who disappeared and are believed to have been murdered.

A former high school English teacher was convicted in the murders of Susan Reinert and her children. But the children have never been found.

The photo turned up in the prison cell of William S. Bradfield Jr., who died of heart failure in 1998 while serving three life sentences for the Reinert murders, according to investigators.

The photograph, which police say was developed in 1986, depicts a stone marker that resembles a hooded figure. The stone is surrounded by fallen leaves, with woods in the background.

Although dozens of tips came in when the photo was released a decade ago, investigators have been unable to locate the marker, said Trooper Brian Krause of the Pennsylvania State Police. He made the photo available again in response to media inquiries on the 30th anniversary of the Reinert murders.

Krause, who works out of the state police barracks in Harrisburg, is the lone investigator on a case that once occupied a task force of more than a dozen state police detectives and FBI agents. He described the investigation as open but "inactive."

Krause said he still receives occasional tips and follows up on them.

Susan Reinert's body was found early June 25, 1979, in the hatchback of her car. The vehicle was parked in the lot of a hotel in Harrisburg, miles from Reinert's home in Philadelphia's Main Line suburbs.

Reinert and Bradfield were English teachers at Upper Merion High School in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

The school's former principal, Jay C. Smith, also was convicted in the case in 1986, but the conviction was overturned on appeal in 1992. The appeals court cited improper hearsay testimony and said prosecutors withheld evidence from Smith's defense. Smith remained free until his death in May.

Prosecutors have long said that Bradfield and Smith plotted the murders together, with the motive of money. Reinert had named Bradfield as beneficiary of her estate and life insurance policies worth $730,000. She thought she was going to marry him.

At the time of the slaying, Smith was in trouble with the law. He was sentenced in Harrisburg on theft and weapons convictions on the same day Reinert's body was found there.

Until they died, Smith and Bradfield both denied that they had killed Susan Reinert and their children. At their trials, each man pointed the finger at the other.

The photograph was found among dozens of boxes of Bradfield's belongings. They also include some writings that appear to be in code.

Krause said that at least one person who was never charged in the case may have intimate knowledge of the Reinert slayings. That person may know what happened to the children, he said.

"I would certainly say that there is a possibility of a third person out there -- a probability," Krause said.

Krause asks anyone with information about what happened to Karen and Michael Reinert to call 717-671-7537.

dtcarson · 07-05-09, 10:24 PM

Holy crap that's creepy. And f*cked up.

I hope they are able to find something to give some closure to any family members.

Heat · 07-06-09, 12:05 AM

One of those kids would have been in the same grade of school as me.

Here's more of the picture:

Basically their mother was killed for insurance money, the kids were killed because they were in the way but their bodies have never been found.

Drexl · 07-06-09, 12:30 AM

I can't be the only one who thought this was going to be a digital photo stored on a cell phone.

Mikael79 · 07-06-09, 12:50 AM

Hopefully getting this into the media again, someone out there will recognize the stone and report it to the authorities.

TomOpus · 07-06-09, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drexl

I can't be the only one who thought this was going to be a digital photo stored on a cell phone.

Rockmjd23 · 07-06-09, 01:02 AM

That's one creepy looking picture.

D.Pham00 · 07-06-09, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drexl

I can't be the only one who thought this was going to be a digital photo stored on a cell phone.

i thought the same thing!

Living Dead · 07-06-09, 02:59 AM

What exactly makes them think that this marker has something to do with the location of the kid's bodies? is there a significance that I'm missing?

By the look of it it's not a fresh grave, so they would have to be theorizing that he returned to the gravesite at some point and snapped a picture. Plus... would you really MARK the spot where you buried two murder victims?

It doesn't make sense to me...

DonnachaOne · 07-06-09, 04:56 AM

To be honest, I think he'd have that photo just 'cause it looks creepy.

GoVegan · 07-06-09, 07:33 AM

I would think that releasing the coded messages would be more fruitful than this.

greg9x · 07-06-09, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonnachaOne

To be honest, I think he'd have that photo just 'cause it looks creepy.

Exactly. Probably just 'liked' the picture. If the guy was into the occult or a serial killer, then maybe the picture would have meaning to him...but for an insurance scam, think wouldn't want any 'evidence' around. Do they know the picture was taken by him ? Guess still have to investigate if they find the rock in the picture.

Quatermass · 07-06-09, 11:20 AM

On TV, they could just zoom & enhance, then zoom & enhance again and they could see the rare spotted antelope aphid that's only found in a one-acre section of land down by the old rock quarry.

07-05-09, 12:56 PM	#1
Graftenberg DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: May 2004 Location: sector 2814 Posts: 1,430	Does photo found in cell show children's grave? By Ann O'Neill CNN (CNN) -- Police wonder whether a photograph found in a prison cell a decade ago might lead to the bodies of two children who disappeared and are believed to have been murdered. A former high school English teacher was convicted in the murders of Susan Reinert and her children. But the children have never been found. The photo turned up in the prison cell of William S. Bradfield Jr., who died of heart failure in 1998 while serving three life sentences for the Reinert murders, according to investigators. The photograph, which police say was developed in 1986, depicts a stone marker that resembles a hooded figure. The stone is surrounded by fallen leaves, with woods in the background. Although dozens of tips came in when the photo was released a decade ago, investigators have been unable to locate the marker, said Trooper Brian Krause of the Pennsylvania State Police. He made the photo available again in response to media inquiries on the 30th anniversary of the Reinert murders. Krause, who works out of the state police barracks in Harrisburg, is the lone investigator on a case that once occupied a task force of more than a dozen state police detectives and FBI agents. He described the investigation as open but "inactive." Krause said he still receives occasional tips and follows up on them. Susan Reinert's body was found early June 25, 1979, in the hatchback of her car. The vehicle was parked in the lot of a hotel in Harrisburg, miles from Reinert's home in Philadelphia's Main Line suburbs. Reinert and Bradfield were English teachers at Upper Merion High School in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The school's former principal, Jay C. Smith, also was convicted in the case in 1986, but the conviction was overturned on appeal in 1992. The appeals court cited improper hearsay testimony and said prosecutors withheld evidence from Smith's defense. Smith remained free until his death in May. Prosecutors have long said that Bradfield and Smith plotted the murders together, with the motive of money. Reinert had named Bradfield as beneficiary of her estate and life insurance policies worth $730,000. She thought she was going to marry him. At the time of the slaying, Smith was in trouble with the law. He was sentenced in Harrisburg on theft and weapons convictions on the same day Reinert's body was found there. Until they died, Smith and Bradfield both denied that they had killed Susan Reinert and their children. At their trials, each man pointed the finger at the other. The photograph was found among dozens of boxes of Bradfield's belongings. They also include some writings that appear to be in code. Krause said that at least one person who was never charged in the case may have intimate knowledge of the Reinert slayings. That person may know what happened to the children, he said. "I would certainly say that there is a possibility of a third person out there -- a probability," Krause said. Krause asks anyone with information about what happened to Karen and Michael Reinert to call 717-671-7537. __________________ No animals were harmed in the making of this post.

07-05-09, 10:24 PM	#2
dtcarson DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Triangle, NC, USA Posts: 7,306	Re: Does photo found in cell show children's grave? Holy crap that's creepy. And f*cked up. I hope they are able to find something to give some closure to any family members. __________________ Books I've read this year Books I've read last year Books I've read 2007 My dvds 360 Gamertag: dtcarson I don't blog, but my 360 does.

07-06-09, 12:05 AM	#3
Heat DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 13,562	Re: Does photo found in cell show children's grave? One of those kids would have been in the same grade of school as me. Here's more of the picture: Basically their mother was killed for insurance money, the kids were killed because they were in the way but their bodies have never been found.

07-06-09, 12:30 AM	#4
Drexl DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 10,363	Re: Does photo found in cell show children's grave? I can't be the only one who thought this was going to be a digital photo stored on a cell phone.

07-06-09, 12:50 AM	#5
Mikael79 DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: IA Now, From MN Posts: 2,549	Re: Does photo found in cell show children's grave? Hopefully getting this into the media again, someone out there will recognize the stone and report it to the authorities. __________________ This is where my DVD Spot link used to be. XBL: SirMikael79

07-06-09, 01:02 AM	#7
Rockmjd23 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: MA Posts: 14,348	Re: Does photo found in cell show children's grave? That's one creepy looking picture.

07-06-09, 02:59 AM	#9
Living Dead DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The Graveyard Posts: 1,617	Re: Does photo found in cell show children's grave? What exactly makes them think that this marker has something to do with the location of the kid's bodies? is there a significance that I'm missing? By the look of it it's not a fresh grave, so they would have to be theorizing that he returned to the gravesite at some point and snapped a picture. Plus... would you really MARK the spot where you buried two murder victims? It doesn't make sense to me... __________________ www.HAUNTEDPEN.com

07-06-09, 04:56 AM	#10
DonnachaOne DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: A place where they know how to pronounce "Donnacha" correctly Posts: 8,490	Re: Does photo found in cell show children's grave? To be honest, I think he'd have that photo just 'cause it looks creepy. __________________ -_--_-

07-06-09, 07:33 AM	#11
GoVegan DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 3,154	Re: Does photo found in cell show children's grave? I would think that releasing the coded messages would be more fruitful than this.

07-06-09, 11:20 AM	#13
Quatermass DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Upright, in a cool, dry place Posts: 2,574	Re: Does photo found in cell show children's grave? On TV, they could just zoom & enhance, then zoom & enhance again and they could see the rare spotted antelope aphid that's only found in a one-acre section of land down by the old rock quarry.