Reflections - RIP

During the past couple of weeks, I have been recovering from major surgery, and during this down time I've been able to review a number of notes, old police reports and other information related to the Robison murders. It is amazing when one reviews previous information how one could have missed important statements made by prime suspects or persons of interest. In some cases, detectives continued on with their interviews, having missed an important answer or statement given by the person sitting in front of them, oblivious to what had just been said. It certainly gives credence to the fact that many of us concentrate on what we are going to say as opposed to listening to the answers being given. It is certainly is true for me, and unfortunately more importantly, what may have been missed during the initial phase of the Robison investigation.

My comments are certainly not an inquisition to police work that was done during that time because, as we all know, every roadblock imagined in this mass murder case seems to have come together after the discovery of the bodies. However, even after 40years, I feel that much of the evidence that could have been obtained was not, mainly because the lead investigators created for themselves what is now a known fact among law enforcement agencies. That many times investigators develop "tunnel vision" as to who they believe the main suspect is. Consequently, they concentrate on that one particular individual to the expense of the entire investigation. I believe that is what happened in this case.

For example, in an August 7,1968 interview by lead investigators with Joe Scolaro, exactly three weeks after the bodies had been discovered, Mr. Scolaro said, in a matter of fact way: "Robison hated his step-mother, you know." The detectives continued on with their questioning, basically overlooking a revelation to them that Robison was not the natural-born child of Mr.& Mrs. Ross Robison. A fact much later revealed by a family member that sent the detectives scurrying to see if they could find out who the real parents were and if that might have led to some conflict between Richard Robison and his natural mother and father because of his abandonment. Also, it might have been an opportunity for the detectives to pull back the covers as to why Robison "hated his step-mother" and how did Scolaro know this?
Of course none of this was done and now we are left many years later trying to evaluate what it all means. What a shame! More to come, so stay tuned!