Missing Lambertville Woman Sarah Majoras Linked To Unsolved 2000 Death Of Friend (UPDATED BODY FOUND)
Updated: The body of Sarah Majoras was recovered from the Delaware/Raritan Canal today and is awaiting autopsy with the Medical Examiner
Sarah Majoras was a well known and well liked bartender at the New Hope leather-clad watering hole John & Peters.
While she was not working her barista shift Friday evening into early Saturday morning, Majoras was enjoying a night out with friends there and left her party on foot at about 2AM.
Majoras was last seen crossing the bridge connecting New Hope to Lambertville, presumably headed to her N. Union St apartment. Surveillance video of Sarah crossing the E. Bridge St walkway over the Delaware River to Lambert Lane has confirmed Majoras made it to the other side at approximately 2:30 am Saturday morning.
Adam Baker, Sarah’s live-in boyfriend, called police at 2PM Saturday to report her missing. Baker is a moving and relocation business owner with a registered address located 300 feet from John and Peter’s Bar.
Baker is no stranger to missing person’s cases. In October 2000, a friend of Baker’s on his way to visit with him ended up missing after crossing the very same canal. David Anderson was recovered 4 days later in the Delaware Canal spillway. An autopsy of Anderson was inconclusive and the details of the circumstances surrounding his death are scarce.
Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony Kearns:
“It’s still an active investigation,” said Kearns. “We’re treating the case like a missing person case at this point.”
Majoras was last seen wearing a green camouflage army jacket, white knit cap, and glasses. She is 5 foot 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds.
Anyone with Information about Sarah Majoras is asked to contact the New Hope Police Department or the Lambertville Police.
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Does anyone remember this 2009 news article, about woman attacked while walking alone between Arnett Ave and Elm St in Lambertville:
October 2009
Case #09-2204:
A young woman was assaulted by an unknown male while walking alone on Thursday October 22.
The 22 year-old female victim was walking to a local residence and had taken a short cut through a warehouse parking lot, between Arnett Avenue and Elm Street, at around 8:15 PM, when a Hispanic male grabbed her around the neck. The victim successfully fought off the attacker by punching him in the face before running for help. The suspect was last seen fleeing towards Arnett Avenue.
The attacker was described as being a Hispanic male, early twenties, approximately 5’ 6” tall with a heavy build, wearing a white t-shirt and white hat. Anyone who may have witnessed the assault or may have seen the suspect are encouraged to contact the Lambertville City Police Department at 609-397-3132
Rivergull, I’m from the Left Coast and I don’t know the 2009 or 2010 cases. I read that a woman allegedly fabricated an attack to cover her domestic violence wounds. She apparently reconsidered. Fishy, fishy.
I’m just wondering if a local knows the gym scene very well? Or do any of the bikers observe some ‘toughs’ (aka arrogant asshats) walking about your towns? Usually bikers have a finger on the pulse.
I hearken back to the strength needed to toss or dump a body (without falling in, I might add!) I could lift and cradle a 140 lb. woman but I couldn’t throw her–more like let her tumble forward is about the extent of my prowess.
Sarah, I’m sorry to talk like this. We must find your justice.
Accidentally posted this at Travis Alexander’s place. Re-posting here due to Blink’s comments.
From one Word Girl to Another:
Here’s a fitting, succinct tribute to Sarah Majoras. I can only add, “Rock On, Sister.”
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2013/02/sarah_majoras_kind-hearted_wor.html
“Sarah Charlotte Majoras lived by the Good Book… the O.E.D. (the Oxford English Dictionary). Sarah had a love of words and yet words are too feeble to describe who she was and what she meant to the people who had the good fortune to know her. Only descriptors working in tandem stand a chance. Sarah was a quick-witted, well-read, free-thinking spreader of mirth. She was a whip-smart, kind-hearted, strong-willed and open-minded master of puzzles. Her absence leaves us broken-hearted. While these sentiments may sound cliché, Sarah was certainly not. She was all too rare.
A native of Cleveland, Sarah came to call Lambertville her home. Sarah earned a varsity letter for her volleyball prowess at Cleveland Central Catholic High School and was valedictorian of her class at South Hunterdon Regional High School.
Sarah is survived by her mother, Judy; her life partner, Adam; her dog, Jezza Underfoot; her extended family and friends in Maryland and Ohio; and the scores of friends she made through the verity of her smile.
Sarah’s family is appreciative of the love and support that the Lambertville and New Hope communities have demonstrated during this difficult time. …”
~~~~~~~~~
from Blink:
While I agree Sarah is worthy of a tribute, I have to ask- who wrote this? It would seem to me that it is written prior to any obituary or death announcement. But by someone who clearly knows her well, or gives the impression of same.
Arm’s length please- it is in order.
B
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good questions, Blink. I immediately tried to find who wrote the article. That wouldn’t be too hard if I lived in the town, but I haven’t too much of a clue. In my experience, newspapers don’t allow just anyone to submit an opinion piece without attribution. It must be a staff writer or even a stringer, if they have such things these days.
The Hunterdon County Democrat is a weekly newspaper with an online version published at nj.com. Lambertville is on the edge of Hunterdon County.
While I don’t know who wrote that Memoriam, I thank him because of the words he used, that he chose those tandem words to represent a blithe spirit.
He writes well and he has had discussions with Sarah about words, about the OED (did she have the magnifying glass?!); the writer had some insight, for sure, but no, Blink, no foresight.
The person who wrote this is a writer who practices often. It doesn’t take much (just a little love for words) to conjure up grafs on the computer. Sadness lubricates, sadly.
Columnist Al Warr appears to be quite the word merchant or word player, either one, as I read his work at the County Democrat. I can’t say with certainty that he wrote the tribute. Call him, Blink.
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2013/02/warr_some_hunterdon_businesses.html
Al Warr at 610-253-0432 or AlWarr16@gmail.com
Maybe James T. Peeples knows the writer. He tweeted it. Or maybe Guitarist and Friend Joe Ujj of New Hope knows. Getting the full picture is tough in this case, mostly due to misguided protectors, but we can still try for as much context as possible, to eliminate the innocent and, need I say, to implicate the guilty.
Hi Lamb1, we are working on elaborating on that information based on my requests via FOIA and Public records requests. I am hopeful to update this next week, thanks for your patience.
B
Blink,
I haven’t thought to ask if Adam Baker hires people to work for him; have any of them been disgruntled? (Going way back, too, before Anderson).
What about employees of J and P’s and/or Terminator?
Helpful video:
http://www.chathousenews.com/2013/02/how-did-sarah-majoras-fall-into-canal.html
Any update on Sarah’s case? I was hoping to hear today…
Court Holiday, I am hopeful for this week for her tox to come back.
B
Thanks for letting me know you’re digging re the 2006 case. I’m patient. I’m actually not that comfortable being on these sites, but I’m freaked out, so here I am.
Also, no need to post this through me, but, if you choose to repost: There were a few attacks in the past few years. The Diamond Silver building parking lot attack was NOT THE SAME as the canal attack that later turned out to be a fabrication. There were also some attacks in homes in the mid-2000s during a rash of break-ins along the canal.
Thanks again.
Thank you bearly. I am sincerely hopeful that angle is investigated thoroughly.
I do not yet know how this is going to go and I won’t until I get a look at the autopsy, but I can tell you it has been my experience LE does not chase outcomes they cannot prove.
B
Lamb, it’s the wee morning hours here but I will take your words with me today. It’s not comfortable trying to find out what happened in these cases, but your advocacy touches my heart. Thanks for taking the time and the risk. You are safe here, as I’ve found from the beginning of Blink’s blog. Stay with us.
I was wondering if anyone has read The Case of the Drowning Men. There are several pages in the book describing some of the characteristics of a drowning victim’s body when it is pulled from the water (as opposed to having died somewhere prior and placed in the water). I can get you the text if you are interested – there are some very specific points.
I think it would be helpful when we know for certain Sarah died via drowning.
B
Word Girl — It’s clear you’re not a local (since you didn’t know the difference between the canal and the river) so I’m curious about your, um, rather ghoulish interest in this sad case.
Ritchie-
What is ghoulish in my opinion is coming on a site simply to insult someone who is advocating for a recently deceased person. She is not a local, but I am, and let me tell you very succinctly that the community is very interested in insuring a full investigation is conducted into Sarah’s death. That would include research and developments outside of that weeks old link you posted.
B
http://nj1015.com/sarah-majoras-death-ruled-not-suspicious-audio/
I was just wondering if maybe someone could give a brief updated summary of what is going on in this case. I try to follow as carefully as I can, but am finding it a little difficult at this point to keep facts vs rumor separated from one another.
The article that Ritchie links to states that all her personal belongings were found with her. I thought there was an issue with Sarah’s cellphone.
If LE is leaning towards this not being a suspicious death..then would that mean the autopsy showed that she drowned? Do they believe that a person/persons in the community know something and are not telling or have people tried coming forward and have been discouraged by the response LE has given them?
Do any of her friends/family members have any theories? What does the town believe happened? I get the impression that most people are not satisfied with the conclusion that this is not a suspicious death.
I am not familiar with the area but am wondering that if it is a tourist town..are the autorities downplaying this so that the tourist business is not negatively affected?
One more thing…has a copy of her autospy/tox screen been shown to anyone outside of Le? Do her family/friends/town’s people have a theory about what they really believed happened? Finally, does this LE have much experience in investigations of this sort? Have outside agencies been brought in to consult?..FBI, state troopers etc.
tiberious- no official determinations yet.
B
Hi,Ritchie.
You’re right about my not understanding the canal vs. the river. Even though I had looked at maps, I still didn’t get what I was looking at in the b/w and color photos I was seeing in the media. Finally it made sense when I plowed through all of the information about the locks, defunct, etc. and one of the locals from your area gave current, depth, width, and other objective data to help me ‘see’ the topography.
So, why am I here? It takes a bit of work to understand what might be termed “victimology” if indeed something criminal did happen to one of our missing persons.
When I say “our missing persons,” that is the meaning of my interest, from such a distance, as my heart is touched when I hear that a loved one is not where he or she is expected to be. They are missing. I want to help find them. And I want to know why they are missing.
Hundreds go missing every day, but there isn’t a place where we can write about it, discuss the issues attached, or understand any criminal aspect of their “missingness,” should there be one.
Here, at blinkoncrime.com, you’ll see the names of many victims listed in the left-hand column. I know many of those cases very well because I have taken the time and effort to read and understand the levels of vulnerability and the levels of criminality surrounding those cases. Many of these victims have not yet been found.
Ritchie, that’s what breaks my heart: the victims who are missing and have left innocent family and friends and neighbors and communities grieving. For me, that’s just not right. I feel some responsibility in this world to do onto others as I’d have them do unto me.
My interest isn’t macabre, morbid, grisly, or appalling any more than my work at debriding black eschar from a wound to understand its depth. It’s not easy to look at, nor easy to ask the questions about how it got that way. For healing, for resolution, it must be done.
I hope I’ve cleared up my intentions concerning the death of Sarah Majoras, here in your lovely towns of New Hope and Lambertville. Also, I hope you will join us and advocate for those who can’t do so for themselves.
Discussion about guardrails along the towpath/canal. Many aspects to consider.
snip<
State Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-15th District, on Tuesday asked state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin to consider installing guardrails along the canal’s towpath, which is used as a walkway and cycling path by residents and tourists. …
“I do respect the notion that this towpath is part of the D&R Canal State Park, which hours of operation end at sunset, but the reality of the situation is that the towpath remains accessible at all times of day and night and an accident can strike at any point.”
Friends of Majoras started a Facebook page — http://www.facebook.com/lightthetowpath — urging officials to install lights along the 19th century canal’s towpath, which passes behind homes and is lit only by ambient neighborhood light or the moon.
Officials say slip-and-falls into the canal are rare. In 2000, local musician David Anderson was found dead in the canal after going missing. Investigators also ruled out foul play in that case.
DEP spokesman Larry Ragonese said Friday that there “there is no plan to change the nature of the canal.”
“Our hearts go out to the family, but this has not been identified as an area that has been a safety problem.”
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130222/NJCARING/302220031/Sarah-Majoras-death-prompts-calls-rails-lights-along-D-R-Canal
Does anyone know the brand of boot Sarah was wearing? We don’t get much snow in my area but snow boots are sold in stores for mountain-going.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/gallery?section=news/local&id=8972071&photo=1
The laces are untied. Does the boot lace all the way up?
Are they a Timberland
http://www.zappos.com/timberland-authentics-teddy-fleece-fold-down-dark-olive
Or a Sorel?
http://www.zappos.com/sorel-joan-of-arctic-premium-cappuccino-oxford-tan
The boot could have come off as–or before–Saran entered the canal. As her body began to rise, the water-logged boot could have come off. It also could have come untied in the water.
Bodies under fierce impact (pedestrians hit) forces the shoes off nearly every time. This is a much heavier sort of entrance into the icy water, however, and I think Sarah would have had her boots comfortably tight to walk home, possibly tightening the laces a bit before the walk home.
Of course, the untied boot could have been a result of arriving home and beginning to untie the boot to take it off.
Blink, I see that I’m the only one posting here right now, so I’ll keep it down a bit! Dull roar and all that.
I appreciate you, but you knew that.
B
Im here feeling bad for blink’s technical issues
For the past 2 days
Wanted to check in to see if her tox was back
Yet?
Sigh. Thank you, the pain of change and I have become acquainted and for now, back up.
I have not been able to get an answer on her final autopsy results yet.
B
Hi Wordgirl:
The boot appears to be a Keen Alaska model based on a comparison of the media photo and
boot images on Amazon.
Word Girl
I am thinking the same as you regarding the boot. I think she made it home and something happened there.
I suppose the NJ LE are in control since the canal is on that side of the river. Lambertville is not a large town, so LE will need to have help from state resources. I just hope we don’t have an ego problem regarding LE.
Thanks, Rosalie. Keen are popular in my area, but I wouldn’t have guessed it, so thanks.
ATG, I can never tell with LE how they’re doing and I suppose that is their preference. Yet, there is a sort of antiquated belief that the public is only a hindrance and that none of us is discreet.
I have the sense from the townspeople that they have this very much on their minds and are turning and turning it over. They might even be trying to chat with some of the principals…I just hope they get a solid lead soon.
Blink, has the body been released yet?
Not to my knowledge but I am not hearing back, ya know?
B
Keen Alaska
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_rn=4&gs_ri=psy-ab&cp=9&gs_id=y&xhr=t&q=keen+alaska&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42965579,d.cGE&biw=1220&bih=671&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=XWQtUaXSBof2igKE8IGIDA
Here is a pic of the sole, appears to be them.
Let me point out the tie has a lock mechanism as opposed to tying your own shoelaces. Would be interesting to know the status of the left one that was located on her person- provided it was actually found on her person.
B
Good point about the slider lock on the boot.
Here’s a closer view of it.
http://tinyurl.com/crp6gjz
Wow, B — I posted a simple question and got a very well thought-out response from the person to whom I asked the question (Thank you Word Girl). You, however, were totally obnoxious in your post. I have every right to ask a simple question – I live on the canal in Lambertville.
Yes, that is the kind of readership and participation I have enjoyed since my blog’s inception. You were offensive, period. You should expect to be treated the same way you treat others. You would think since you live on the canal you would be even more gracious to advocates concerned with learning about the safety and terrain of the area you live in.
That said, guilty as charged, Word Girl is absolutely more tolerant and polite than I. So there’s that.
B
Perhaps your efforts would be better spent reminding people to never let their friend leave bars alone. Why anyone there left her leave alone is beyond me. I predict the toxicology report will show a lot of alcohol…and then she walked home alone on an icy path and slipped. Very sad.
Perhaps I have been doing nothing but that for several years. Do your research before you think yourself in a position to offer less than avuncular advice.
Lastly, why do you suppose her toxicology report has not been released yet, as well as her COD and MOD? This is an exceptionally long time for that information.
B
Average time for toxicology reports is, on average, 6-8 weeks, but often longer says a lawyer-friend I just called who deals with toxicology reports all the time. Her body was found 5 weeks ago.
urine= 24 hours
BAL/BAC conversion if taken from different areas and/or tissue= 4 weeks
vitreous= 3 weeks unless glucose levels indicate further testing
If ordered:
Path on gastric contents
” on sectioning for histology study. If this is indeed a drowning, it is likely a pulmonary study.
I am in private practice criminal investigative analysis, a very large percentage of my work involves autopsy protocol analysis and reporting.
I do not disagree this MAY have been an accident, and alcohol MAY have played a factor, HOWEVER, it may have been something else.
That may or may not be cleared up by the autopsy itself, or the surrounding medico legal investigative efforts. I think Kearns office is dealing with this responsibly.
B
Ritchie, I live in Lambertville also and I know many people who knew Sarah and Dave and NONE of them believe it was an accident. Sorry pal but if you think it was an accident you have a learning disability. Only three people have EVER drowned in the Lambertville canal and all of them are connected in some way and were all found within several dozen yards of each other. So here is my question, what is your motivation? Why are you trolling crime discussion websites and injected your absolutist opinion about Sarah’s death. Did you know her or her family/friends? Are you somehow offended that people are discussing this case and not unthinkingly accepting the accident narrative? I did not know Sarah but if one of my friends or relatives met the same fate I would spend all of my time trying to get to the bottom of it instead of being a coward and automatically accepting the “drowned by accident” story because you’re too weak minded to accept that foul play was involved. Here’s some advice, go do some research on drownings. The fact is almost all accidental drownings are recreational in nature (boating, swimming, etc.) People falling into fresh water bodies of water and drowning simply does not happen. When people do fall in they call for help and people come and help them, period. Good luck with your disinformation campaign.
Brian, I appreciate you stating what I did not feel appropriate for me to comment on at this time, as I am aware of a few things in this case that is not fit for public consumption. By that I mean that I have been working to verify a few items I have been told by insiders as well.
I will update Sarah’s case when the protocol comes back, with that information.
I understand how someone living on the canal would not wish to consider a safety breach that was not accidental, however-
I do not understand as a compassionate human being how given the commonalities here, one would not champion a full and exhaustive inquiry to insure it was one or the other. Sarah had a flashlight in her pocket, I am not at all sure how lighting the towpath is now a good idea if one thinks her death was accidental in the first place.
There is yet another link. Sarah’s mom Judy worked for the DEP- they would be required to approve.
B
Blink, Brian, Ritchie, and all Blinksters out there! I am feeling more confused than ever with the latest comments, but I am glad that Blink’s Buddy System has been underscored now for the countless time. This goes for Men and Women, folks, as we’ve seen so many tragedies just here on these pages. (I quietly recite some of those names–even though some of the circumstances differ…Jennifer, Kelli, Megan, Natalie, Morgan…so many more that it is painful to think of how things could have been different for them>)
We’ve got to use those satellites and the wealth of knowledge around us to make good decisions for our own protection and for the lives of our friends! Let’s not get complacent, rather, look for opportunities to help and serve.
Here here. Thanks for being you Word Girl
B
aw, shucks, Blink. You know I am only a student here, passing through this vast and dangerous universe. It only serves me well to hold a branch up for others to pass, to tell my story, and listen to others tell theirs. When we share pain, confusion, and grief, we can share love, peace, and justice.
Besides, what kind of student would I be if I didn’t give credit to my teacher?
To put your fears to rest, I don’t even know what a ‘troll’ is. I’m simply a resident and towpath dweller who, perhaps naively, perhaps un-paranoidly (depends who’s reading I guess) wants to know what happened, but also doesn’t jump right to the worst-case scenario. I sincerely had no idea that sites like these existed, where people discussed all sorts of crime scenarios – I came upon it while googling to find out what the update was on Sarah. So my apologies, truly, that I didn’t understand the purpose and protocol. I’ve raised my kids on the canal and nothing has ever happened to any of us. I’ve walked the towpaths at night for nearly 20 years. And I don’t use a flashlight. So when I came upon this site after googling Sarah’s name, and saw mentions of all sorts of grim true-crime scenarios, and by people who didn’t live here, i have to say it freaked me out. And yes, some of the ideas frustrated me because, living on the towpath I see it every day, and know what it’s like when it floods, or is icy etc etc. I also know first hand how many thousands of people walk that path, with no consequences. It was on my block that poor Tim drowned – he was the sweetest guy – but no, I didn’t know Dave Anderson or Sarah. As for Tim, we were flooded in our part of town, and I believe he was found in the water, below the bridge on our street. And yes, many eye witnesses said he was very drunk. sweetly drunk, but drunk, when he left the Hawke alone. He could have easily, as many people did, try to take a look at how high the water was in the Swan Creek – people were coming from miles away to look at it – and fallen in. As for people saying ‘why didn’t anyone hear them’ – i think, though I could be wrong, that where Dave was found doesn’t have houses nearby. As for Tim, The Hawke was open, yes, but many of us had had to evacuate our homes, so again, no one to hear him – plus, the sound of the nearby spillway/waterfall is like a giant White Noise machine in our neighborhood – it wipes out a lot of noise. And for Sarah, it was a very cold night and very late – people would have had windows closed and been asleep, right?. Or if they were awake, windows closed and TV on. But yes, I agree your scenarios could have happened instead. But just because someone doesn’t go to worst case immediately, it doesn’t mean they have a ‘learning disability.’ And it doesn’t mean they lack compassion. But I do have a sincere, curious question to ask all of you — IF the toxicology and COD reports comes back and no foul play is found and/or they find high alcohol in her bloodstream, what will you think? Would you accept that it was an accident?
Appreciate the apology Ritchie. Just as an fyi, I am a local, taught our son to ride his bike along the lambertville side of the canal, logged a few hundred jogging miles along it and I was one of those nitwits that drove down there to watch the floods you mentioned, I have an extensive library of those pics and can tell you by the day what was flooded where, and when it crested. Mr. Blink and I are frequent patrons of lambertville, and as a matter of fact through business and personal endeavors have contributed to it’s economy with pride. I also had a panic attack on it when the bridge to Wash Crossing was closed to fix it as a result and I was stuck on it for 15 minutes. Call me a spaz, but I literally went out and bought one of those 3 in 1 window breaker/seatbelt slicer/tire gauge with light thingies right after.
I have two original works from the Haas Gallery of it.
I love Lambertville and anything like this happening so close to home for a person who has covered National cases publicly and privately, I take what I write about it very seriously.
Where exactly are you saying Tim was recovered to your knowledge?
I am trained to review and analyze autopsy protocol and all related medico legal investigative reports, you have my word I will do so with Sarah’s when it is released. Based on the length of time we are looking at, I have to believe there are some interpretable findings therein that may have required further investigation or testing OR there is finding inconsistent with the confirmed accounts investigators are looking to shear up. She may have had a great deal of alcohol in her system, I don’t know, but I can tell you that there was no less than 10 minutes of her walking across an icy metal bridge and she was steady enough to not grab the railing and tested the ice on a few spots.
I could buy her walking the towpath if she lived to the right of Bridge St. Her phone last pinged at Coryell, and she was seen USING THE CROSSWALK onto Lambert Lane. For me, that does not reconcile her deciding to take the ice and snow (brand new) towpath instead of the well lit street to her house in under 20 degree weather with her flashlight in her pocket yet missing her phone.
I EXPECT to find ETOH in her urine, her blood, and in her vitreous samples, she was seen drinking. In fact, if I did not, that would be a whole different conversation. If a person can slip and fall sober, I am not sure what the alcohol levels “prove” outside of commisurate impairments associated with same regardless of where one is.
What I also expect to see is a blunt force injury from a fall, possibly multiple items to include possible fractures that will relate to how she fell, how far, onto what, and how does that match what is found on the pulmonary exam. If she fell from the towpath Coryell or North as you know that is a limited stretch of unobstructed access and we know for a fact that the canal was frozen several inches deep several FEET from the banks toward the middle, it is simply a pshysics equation for me sans any other findings inconsistent with the alleged theory.
I have been on the record here- it COULD have been accidental. It REQUIRES appropriate investigation to conclude or exclude that.
B
ONe more thing about ‘not hearing ‘ -when Tim’s body, anyone who HAD stayed in their homes had generators running, and pumps pumping water out. So unless someone was walking by the bridge right at that moment, it’s unlikely anyone would hear anything. That’s all. I won’t bother you again, and I appreciate you letting me explain myself. — R
Hey, Ritchie. Glad to hear you understand what’s going on here. I really appreciate the extra information you’ve provided. My sympathies to you and your town on the losses you’ve experienced.
If you were walking from New Hope to Sarah’s that night, would you have crossed the bridge, turned left on Lambert Lane, right on Coryell, and left on Union?
It just seems a little strange to go up to the towpath to walk home when the streets were closer.
Also, I meant to tell you how much I’ve learned now that I’m using Google streetview–the car camera drove all along the towpath and left a bucolic setting of Life in Lambertville. I suppose it gets a little cloying when its packed with ice cream cone eating tourists?
With all your experience in town and along the towpaths, do you think they should be reinforced with guard rails?
Thanks, WG.
Brian or Ritchie, could you please link us to the spot where Tim was found? or where they think he went in? Also, the place Sarah was found?
I’m on the google street view map in Lambertville and can’t really decide where they are.
Blink – Do you know the reasons for the holdup in information?
Not specifically except to say that the protocol is “not yet available”
B
Blink, I found this map on another site and am wondering if this is where Dave’s body was found? We know where his soul is, I might add.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204150161293193815171.0004d44e34da5376ddf68&msa=0&ll=40.365119,-74.932423&spn=0.019881,0.104628
Close, not exactly, if you use the directional nav at the top and click ( I think 3 lefts) and look down, you can see the actual spillway pond.
As an identifier, if you see that big yellow arm, Sarah was found North of that, roughly 20 yards-ish on the bank side. The dam feeds the spillway pond. In theory , there are only 2 ways to get into the pond. You either fall in ( by whatever means) or you get there via the dam from the canal. No, I do not believe Anderson went through the dam, no way.
B
Anderson was actually in the pond, emerged, right? Past that buoy arm/yellow arm? and Sarah was submerged, before you get to that arm?
So Sarah was up-water (non-maritine word) from that yellow arm–On the bank side *the other side has a fence at that measurement, I believe*–
but the bank side has a convenient throwing pad right off the path. I believe Brian mentioned that but I hadn’t seen it yet. It’s only a few yards down from the tow path and parking areas. Would it be too much to ask for touch DNA testing there?
Maybe Ritchie can see how tricky all of this is? Do you see the heart that wants to know?
Yes on Sarah, no on Anderson.
If you follow the spillway, he was in the pond that it actually empties into to the left. His entry would likely have been in the area below and to the left.
B
http://nj1015.com/toxicology-results-released-in-sarah-majoras-death/
Thanks for posting Ritchie, I am expecting my copy of that this week.
B
So sad, the medical examiner ruled accidental drowning.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Missing-Bartender-Accidental-Death-197049471.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_PHBrand
An accident????
Come on, seriously…
Wasn’t Adam’s friend’s ruled the same way due to
lack of same???
This makes me ill.
Word Girl
Those yellow devices appear to be floats for a skimmer system to keep trash out of the area. These are the same devices used to control oil or gasoline in a spill on water.
The distance from Bridge street to this area is about 540 feet.
My Google street view is dated 8/20ll and the vegetation is in full development. This area is fenced fairly well. My view shows a little boy watching the water flow over the spillway.
I have followed the canal from this area all the way North to the 202 bridge North of town. Because of the vegetation it is difficult to see some of the bank areas East of Lambert Ln.
I find it difficult to believe that this young woman fell into the canal even though the ME report says it is accidental. I am thinking another Peterson event where Drew’s wife Kathy was first determined to have drowned in a bathtub.
Your March 6 post hits it out of the park for me. We are all students and teachers learning from each other as we pass through this universe.
Blink,
Did you receive your copy of the autopsy and toxicology results this past week? I hope they didn’t put your request at the bottom of the pile!
Thanks for what you do for the victims.
Blink,
I am hopeful,and I know that many others are too, that you will be able to give us more specifics regarding the autopsy and/or toxicology report. Is this something that you can legally do?
We have been given so few actual facts throughout this whole event and I know so many of us still feel very uncertain and concerned about what really happened to poor Sarah that night.
Absolutely. Autopsy protocol is a public record in NJ. I am in the final stages of a class complete with a thesis through this week so if I receive it before next week I likely would be unable to look at it until the week after ( my analysis means everything else goes on hold) but I commit to doing one.
B
Hi Blink,
Have you looked into getting a copy of David Anderson’s autopsy/tox report also?
Put it on the list.
B
Many of you have inquired as to updates in Sarah’s case.
As I told you, I filed a request as a public record to receive her autopsy protocol to include tox results.
It has been denied as the investigation into the death of Sarah Majoras remains active and open.
Not just me, apparently:
http://www.trentonian.com/article/20130329/NEWS01/130329663/sarah-majoras-drowning-case-is-still-open
I am in favor of this investigation continuing based on case sensitive information that in my opinion must be excluded as relevant to the investigation before it can close.
I am not sure if the prosecutors office realized the level of public interest here, or it’s ability to analyze and scrutinize such events today.
I will provide any updates as I get them.
Peace and Prayers to Sarah’s loved ones today.
B
Blink,
Thank you for that information about your public records request denial being due to ongoing work in the Sarah Majoras investigation.
I’m not hopeful that anything else will be found, but it will be good to chase down some of those nagging questions.
It might just be me, but I still don’t believe Sarah drowned by slipping and falling into the canal.
Prayers and good thoughts to all those who knew and loved Sarah as well as to those working this case and those who live in the towns where secrets live.
Blink, thanks for the update. This is so interesting because I wonder why they were able to state the cause of death was drowning and accidental, a few wks ago, as if case was closed, and apparently it is not closed. Appreciate your feedback here as many of us are hoping for answers. Sounds as if “drowning by accident” doesn’t always necessarily mean they don’t think there may somewhere, somehow, be some other clue they have to find.
Thank you for the update..I am just a little confused…she drowned accidentally but maybe not..
How is this investigation being carried out? It is a small town, if they were questioning people others would notice who they are even if they didn’t know the conversation particulars.
Any sense, of what the word is “on the street?”
I think there are aspects of the investigation- events in the timeline that can’t be explained.
That’s about all I am comfortable saying at the moment.
B
thank you for the quick response blink..
I imagine there are “events in the timeline that can’t be explained”..seriously she is shown on tape going over the bridge to home and then she ends up in the water….
Blink,
Have you ever come across a situation like this before, where the public is told the MOD and COD prematurely before the autopsy is actually officially completed? And to state that the case was closed when in fact it is not ? I must say I feel quite lied too! This new info makes me question everything we have been told by the LE regarding this “tragic accident”! Do you think I am right to feel this way?
I believe they have extended the investigation under the auspice that subsequent information will be contributory to the medico legal death investigation to include the autopsy report.
Unfortunately, I have seen errors upon errors in autopsy protocols after release. I do not believe the autopsy was not considered complete and anyone who reported that should have requested a copy themselves as we did. It is the only way to report on it.
I especially do not like that anyone would report that she had elevated alcohol levels- there is a whole lot of data that goes with that forensically before it is a “finding”.
B
“events in the timeline that can’t be explained”
The 0430ish phone ping (if true) doesn’t fit the timeline if we are to believe Sarah fell in and was under water around 0230ish.
I suppose she could have slipped and fallen onto the solid part of the ice and spent 2 hours trying to get out before inadvertently going through the ice at around 0430. But, if that were the case, why not call for help on her cell? Why not get her flashlight out?
MOO: I believe her body went into the canal at around 0430. She was somewhere else very nearby for 2 hours before that time.
We may never know.