Elizabeth Ennen, 15, Missing 1-5-11, Lubbock, TX (Arrest-BODY FOUND)

[Samarie]

NG is reporting that Elizabeth was strangled...so sad

http://nancygrace.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/26/just-in-missing-babysitter-15-was-strangled-what-was-the-motive/

[Angiex911dsptchr]

Saw this on NG last evening.. How sad. My heart goes out to the Ennen family. 

[klaasend]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/26/texas.girl/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

Body identified as Texas baby sitter, 15

(CNN) -- A body found near Lubbock, Texas, has been identified as a teenager who was baby-sitting at a local motel. A friend of her family is in custody, authorities said Wednesday.

The medical examiner identified the remains found Monday about seven miles outside of the city as belonging to Elizabeth Ennen, 15. She had been strangled, Capt. Greg Stevens told CNN.

Stevens told reporters that Humberto Salinas Jr., 45, was being held on a $250,000 bond on an aggravated kidnapping charge. Police are talking with the district attorney about taking a murder charge to the grand jury, he said.

Elizabeth was reported missing after baby-sitting at a motel for Salinas, who was a friend of the Ennen family and the father of her boyfriend, police said.

Stevens would not say whether Salinas was cooperating, but he indicated the remains were not found by chance or through a tip. Elizabeth was reported missing January 5, and Salinas was charged in the case on Friday.

A relative of Salinas declined comment when contacted by CNN Wednesday.

Stevens defended the time it took to conduct the investigation and arrest Salinas, saying the suspect was a family friend who deceived the family and police on the girl's whereabouts. But police believe Elizabeth was dead by the time they got a report that she was missing, Stevens said.

"They [the family] trusted this guy to speak ... to the officer," said the captain, who would not comment on a possible motive.

Police have a January 4 surveillance video of Elizabeth being taken from the Carriage House Inn, but did not know of it when they began their investigation, Stevens told CNN. According to an arrest affidavit, the video shows Salinas holding the teen's arm and leaving the motel, he said.

"We believe he killed her while he was gone with her," Stevens said.

Salinas went to Elizabeth's home and talked with her mother early January 5, police said. He helped her file an initial report, the captain said.

According to that report, Salinas said he brought Elizabeth home from the motel and went back to get her purse. When he showed up at the house, the mother asked about her daughter's whereabouts. The suspect indicated Elizabeth might have left the neighborhood with his son, believed to be 18 or 19, Stevens said.

"He began misdirecting the investigation, leading it in the opposite direction of the truth," the officer said.

Police initially classified the case as a runaway, but within days learned the son had a solid alibi. They began looking at the elder Salinas, who initially gave another location for the baby-sitting, said Stevens, adding police for much of the investigation believed Elizabeth had disappeared from her home.

"We came around 180 degrees," said Stevens, adding an investigator suggested they check with the Carriage House Inn on possible video. Officers saw the video on the same day they arrested the suspect, police said.

Stevens defended his department from criticism on the time it took to make an arrest and find the body.

"These (type of cases) can often take years," he said.

[cookie]

shows what an awful person this guy is that he would try to implicate his own son in Elizabeth's disappearance...

[starwynn]

I don't know if this has been linked yet:

http://www.khou.com/news/Officials-to-reveal-details-on-Texas-teens-death-114642789.html

Excerpt:

"LUBBOCK, Texas -- A 15-year-old girl whose body was found along a roadside in West Texas was strangled soon after her abduction from a motel where she had been babysitting the children of a man accused in her disappearance, authorities said Wednesday.

"Lubbock County Medical Examiner Sridhar Natarajan declined to elaborate on what was used to strangle Elizabeth Ennen Jan. 4, and would not comment on whether she had been sexually assaulted."

Absolutely dreadful.

[cookie]

that poor kid! she had to have been so scared..

[yuknomenot]

http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=13909023
video
Public reaction to LPD's investigation in Elizabeth Ennen case
January 25, 2011


Stevens said because they had no reason to believe Ennen was taken, she was classified as an endangered runaway. "In this particular case, there were no indications; at least none immediately apparent, that showed the officer that she was gone involuntarily right then," he said.

Her mother told police that kidnapping suspect Humberto Salinas Jr. was a family friend and they had no reason to suspect his involvement. In the beginning of their investigation police didn't have any other leads to go on. "The problem there is if the officer doesn't have any place to start looking, if there's no report that a person was dragged into a car or was dragged from the theater, was dragged from the park, or something like that, there's no place to start looking," Stevens.

Snipped for space and bolded by me because I find it difficult to believe they didn't check this sick freaks background when they first came across him.  Their own police reports should have been enough to make him suspect #1 right from the beginning!    It infuriates me that they can so blithely pass off their ineptitude and lack of concern so easily and expect anybody to believe it.  Heads on that department should roll over this.

[lexicoe]

It was the MOM (Virginia) that told LE that Elizabeth may have run off with her boyfriend.

You did have it right! But from everything I've seen he was the one who put the bug in her ear about the daughter running off with his son. She didn't seem to think they had more than a friendship.

One thing I'm curious to see is why they came back to search an area near the hotel after finding the body. I would think a sicko like that might want to get his jollies one more time before killing her. So I'm wondering if he didn't take her somewhere nearby to assault her again, then killed her and stashed her there while he ran back to the hotel for some reason. (check on the kids?! obviously he wasn't too worried about them staying alone in that place!)

Then moved her when he left again or the next AM. The video also shows him pacing out in the hallway for a few minutes around 4AM, maybe he was trying then to think of a place to move her to.

[Northern Rose]

Police believe Ennen killed before they were called

http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=13912399

[lexicoe]

Yeah, it's odd that they're coming out on that so strongly (the fact she must have died right away) considering they kind of dodged the question at the press conference for the preliminary autopsy reports, saying a number of factors would have to be looked at. Seems if they were sure, the medical examiner would have said that.

Normally, I'd give police the benefit of the doubt. But these guys make me wonder if they're just concerned about protecting their butts from fallout on how they handled the case. For one, because the chief was too strident at the press conference about what a wonderful job they all did. I mean, seriously, how long could it have taken to get the son's alibi and watch him to make sure she wasn't with him? A day or two, maybe three? Then they should have started looking into the people who knew her and who saw her last. And, oh, interesting, the last person who saw her had a history of hurting women and babies.

They also keep saying that they didn't know she had been at the Carriage House Motel that night. At one point,they said Salinas had told them differently and it took to find that out. But a family friend with Virginia Ennen that night says he knows she told them she had been babysitting at the Carriage House Motel.

And really, what mother wouldn't have chimed in with the info of where her missing daughter had been earlier? After all, it could theoretically be someone who saw her there that followed them home and took her (given she was believing Salinas' story at the time) instead of running off with the son. Any detective who didn't ask where she'd been prior would be a freaking idiot...

Finally, I thought they're comment at the press conference that Colorado City only wishes they could have solved their case this fast was tasteless. The Lubbock police were lucky. Lucky that had such a blabbering idiot for a suspect that they could eventually realize 2+2 was not adding up to 4, REALLY lucky the motel still had those surveillance tapes after two weeks, and lucky he told them where the body was.

And on a related note, it ticks me off the police called the son her boyfriend (because it justifies their belief in the runaway theory) and the media runs with it because it's so salacious. It just seems to imply she was "wild" and maybe if she wasn't, this wouldn't have happened.

The family said he was not her boyfriend. And IMO, any 19yo boyfriend would have been over there the night she was babysitting his siblings--thrilled to have a few hours with her out from her mother's watchful eye. Show me proof they had a relationship, and fine, I'll shut up. But otherwise, respect the poor girl and her family and don't make her out to be something she wasn't. (Sorry for the rant there at the end!)

[cookie]

too bad that mom didn't have the kids over to her home for Elizabeth to babysit..instead of a motel room..that sounds creepy in itself to me...but this creep would have probably gotten to Elizabeth on another day if he was determined to do so..
Elizabeth must have been so scared..

where was the children's mother all of this time while he killed Elizabeth and left his children alone at the motel?
I know that she was with her sister but didn't they all go out together?

[SuzieQ]

Elizabeth Ennen Remembered: Candlelight vigil tonight, funeral Friday
January 28th, 2011 1:

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Elizabeth Marlene Ennen, whose life was taken far too soon, was remembered by friends, family, and her community honored her Thursday evening with a candlelight vigil.

Elizabeth is the 15-year-old Monterey High School student who was kidnapped and murdered by a long-time family friend.

She is so desaparetly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

People gathered Thursday evening while her fellow students shared their memories of Elizabeth. A beautiful arrangement of candles shined and illuminated posters that read:

snipped:




Edit to add link.  MB http://www.examiner.com/missing-persons-in-national/elizabeth-ennen-remembered-candlelight-vigil-tonight-funeral-friday

[SuzieQ]

I can not believe I forgot the link again.

http://www.examiner.com/missing-persons-in-national/elizabeth-ennen-remembered-candlelight-vigil-tonight-funeral-friday

[cookie]

thanks for the info Suzie

[SuzieQ]

February 11, 2011
Police Say Father of Kids Elizabeth Was Babysitting Is Responsible for Death

http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=12768898&sid=81

The body of Texas teen Elizabeth Ennen was found strangled on a Texas roadside this week, and police today said they believe her alleged kidnapper is a family friend who was identified chasing and grabbing the girl on a hotel surveillance tape as she was supposed to be babysitting his children.

Elizabeth, 15, was reported missing by her mother on Jan. 5, the day after babysitting Humberto Maldonado Salinas' two children at the Carriage House Motel in Lubbock, Texas, police said.

Surveillance video from that night shows Elizabeth walking quickly out of Room 113, holding her shoes and attempting to put her coat on, when a man police have identified as Salinas forcefully grabs her and forces her back into the room, according to Lubbock police. Minutes later, shortly after midnight on Jan. 5, the video shows the man grabbing Elizabeth, taking her to the parking lot of the motel, police said. That was the last time she was seen alive.

Salinas later went to the Elizabeth's home to deliver the girl's purse and told her mother, Virginia Ennen, that he had dropped her off earlier that morning. Panicked that she had not seen her daughter, Ennen called police. Salinas was still at the Ennen home when police arrived, and authorities say he offered misleading information, including implicating his own son.

"Humberto Salinas Jr. was present when that initial call was made," Capt. Greg Stevens said at a press conference today. "At that point, the person we believe is responsible for her death began the process of covering up a crime which we believe he had already committed."

Salinas is being held in Lubbock County, currently charged with aggravated kidnapping. Police believe he is responsible for Elizabeth's death. He has a previous criminal record that includes charges of domestic assault, felony theft and violence on a child, according to court records. Police say they are awaiting the complete results of Elizabeth's autopsy and want to continue working their investigation before charging Salinas with anything more.

Suspect Implicates His Son
After her disappearance, Elizabeth was initially labeled a runaway case because Salinas seemed credible to investigators and the family, police said.

"He [Salinas] had brought her home safely on numerous occasions. She had no reason to doubt the story he was providing," Stevens said. "She [Virginia Ennen] was quite distraught and she was relying on what a trusted friend was helping her with in making a report."

Elizabeth's cousin Chris Moss, who has been staying with Virginia Ennen since the teen disappeared, said Salinas blamed the girl's disappearance on his 19-year-old son.

"We were focusing on his son and it was because of him. He directed everybody towards his son," Moss said. "This Humberto Salinas...would make comments that his son is a worthless man."

Moss said local news reports that Salinas' son was Elizabeth's boyfriend are false and that the two were merely friends.

During the initial days of the investigation, Salinas stopped by Virginia Ennen's home to ask about the investigation, Moss said.

"He sat there and looked me in the eyes, he's the devil. That he had the audacity to show his face," Moss said.

Police say Salinas initially lied to investigators about where Elizabeth was babysitting. They believe he acted alone and are investigating several potential crime scenes, but would not comment on a possible motive.

 ::snipping2::


 

[cookie]

he is the devil

[SuzieQ]

http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2011-02-24/grand-jury-indicts-accused-killer-capital-murder-aggravated-kidnapping

Grand jury indicts accused killer on capital murder, aggravated kidnapping
Posted: February 24, 2011 - 2:21pm

A Lubbock County grand jury today indicted Humberto Salinas Jr. on charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping for the abduction and killing of a Lubbock teen.

Salinas, 45, is accused of strangling to death 15-year-old Elizabeth Ennen before her family even knew she was missing.

 ::snipping2::

Criminal District Attorney Matt Powell said he wanted to get as much information about the case as possible before deciding whether to seek the death penalty against Salinas.

"We'll try to make that decision within the next month or so," Powell said

[MuffyBee]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-man-gets-life-without-parole-in-2011-killing-of-teen-baby-sitter-dubbed-a-runaway/2012/04/06/gIQAMvTyzS_story.html
Texas man gets life without parole in 2011 killing of teen baby sitter dubbed a runaway
April 6, 2012

LUBBOCK, Texas — A West Texas man will spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole for killing a 15-year-old girl last year, according to the terms of a plea deal.

Humberto Maldonado Salinas Jr., pleaded guilty to capital murder Thursday.

Salinas also was charged with aggravated kidnapping but the charge was dropped as part of the plea.
 ::snipping2::
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported that at the hearing Thursday that finalized the plea deal some family members told Salinas they wanted him to suffer and would have preferred a trial with the death penalty as possible punishment.

“You can thank DA Matt Powell for your life because I voted to have you laid out on a gurney,” Lily Huckabee, Ennen’s aunt, told Salinas.

Powell, Lubbock County’s district attorney, said he struggled with the decision over whether to take the case to trial or offer Salinas a deal.

Ultimately, Powell told the newspaper, there were some details in the case that could have cast Ennen and her family in a negative light, and he wanted the family to have closure and still keep Salinas from ever leaving prison.

[MuffyBee]

http://lubbockonline.com/crime-and-courts/2012-04-05/salinas-pleads-guilty-ennen-murder-gets-life-sentence
Salinas pleads guilty to Ennen murder, gets life sentence
Prosecutors dropped the aggravated kidnapping charge against Salinas as a result of the plea.
Posted April 5, 2012, Updated April 6, 2012

[MuffyBee]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57410582/texas-man-gets-life-in-teen-baby-sitters-death/
Texas man gets life in teen baby sitter's death
April 6, 2012

 ::snipping2::
Court documents detailed motel surveillance video that police say showed Salinas chasing Ennen, then grabbing her by the arm and forcing her toward a parking lot where his vehicle was parked.