Video surveillance shows Tommy Booth, 24, and his friends arriving at Bootleggers nightclub in Woodlyn the night of January 19, 2008. No one ever saw him leave. Two weeks later, after a warm spell melted the ice, he was found in the creek behind the bar. Tommy had epilepsy and was taking medication.Search and Recovery
Police initially searched the area in the vicinity of the bar with no success. Tommy's mother and stepfather also organized search parties. There had been no activity on Tommy's cell phone or bank account since his disappearance.
On Sunday, February 3, 2008 about 30 volunteers from the Greater Philadelphia Search and Rescue Team organized a search with about seven K-9s and searched the wooded area behind the bar and creek and the ramps to I-95. After about two hours, they found Booth lying face down in the Ridley Creek about 200 yards downstream from the bar. According to Detective Sgt. Scott Willoughby, the rear of the bar is about 10 yards from the creek.
It was just he was in the club, and then he was in the creek, said Tommy's step-father, Tim Bush. "It never made any sense how he got there."
Portions of the creek had been frozen, but heavy rains and warmer temperatures the week prior to the search had melted sections.
A Puzzling Case
The coroner ruled Tommy's death an accidental drowning. There were no signs of trauma, not even a bump on the head. "This case always puzzled me," said Detective Sgt. Scott Willoughby. Tommy was a healthy, robust young man and hadn't had enough to drink to become disoriented. Booth, was still in possession of his wallet, cell phone and medication.“There’s no obvious sign of foul play,” said Detective Sgt. Scott Willoughby. “We don’t know what happened. I can’t figure out why he would have been back there. He doesn’t know this area, doesn’t know the bar.”
Sources:
ABC Action 6 News, Philadelphia: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/index
16 comments:
I heard that the theory on the Smiley Face killer is actually not one serial killer, but rather a band of killers-- a gang of ex-military 20-somethings that are taking revenge against men of the same age who went to college instead of serving their country in Iraq as they did. Another clue I heard about the gang is that the seem to strike in the beginning of the month-- within the first week of each month. Have any other information on this? I find it an interesting theory.
The latin gang connection .
The three pointed crown of the smiley face killers .
A Smiley Face is found
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/indexRidley Township Det. Scott Willoughby worked the Booth case. Something clicked after watching the 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS’ investigation about the Smiley Face Killer Theory on Good Morning America. On a hunch, Willoughby asked his detectives to take another look behind Bootleggers. "When they went down into the area where we thought he went into the water, they noticed the graffiti and they noticed this smiley face painted on the wall," said Willoughby.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> The smiley face, which had slash marks for eyes and a 3-pointed crown on it's head,<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
was on the wall of the bar under the party deck, just 30 feet from the creek. Police said they had never seen this kind of graffiti in Ridley Township before. Detective Willoughby has sent photos of the Ridley Creek graffiti to retired detectives Gannon and Duarte (who discovered the smiley face link). He also contacted the FBI, even though they've looked at the other cases and dismissed the possibility of a link.
Some gang names: Bloods, Kings, Counts, Vice Lords, TMV’s, TMC’s.
They dress to the right.
Symbol: Pitchfork turned down, also, a 5 point star which stands for love, truth, peace, freedom and justice.
Predominant colors: red, black and white.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Latin Kings use a 3 point crown which is usually black and gold, or just black. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
They are called Slobs by Folk.
When tagging they always cross out the “C’s” (for “crip”) and X out the “O’s” (for rolling).
The structure of the beads are as follows:
They are red, white and black.
All red beads mean simply: gangster.
Multicolor beads alternating six of each means your moving up in rank.
Multicolor beads means that you have killed someone.
Red and black beads mean your a Vice Chief.
Black and white beads mean your a Chief or retired.
The Vice Lords use the colors of black and white.
Counts and Kings are from the same sect, but they are rivals. This is unusual since they are from the same sect.
Dealing with gang members; this is taken from the website listed below. It is at the bottom of the webpage and quoted as written.
How to treat a gangster? Treat them with kindness and respect and they will treat you the same way. It is all about respect. If you have a problem with them, you will accomplish more by talking nice to them and trying to get them to see your position than by being rude, disrespectful, or intimidating.
Remember that the “Real Gangsters” do have standards they live by. Their code of ethics are: Never mess with small children, old people, religious people, or innocent people. It is the “scavengers or wannabes” that act without remorse or guidelines in most cases. I have found that for that reason, the hardcore gangsters are willing to work with people like myself to get these scavengers out of the gang life. They have a tendency to cause more trouble and attention than they are worth.
Gang activity is more rampant in cities that have highway access; thus making it easier to escape from the police after committing a crime; etc.
no gangs
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http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message590159/pg6#9021017
Anonymous:
You are absolutely correct about the three-pointed crown.
However, I'm quite sure if you realized that the implication is the graffiti has NOTHING to do with the death.
When Gangster kill, it's about the violance. They don't drown people.
Sgt. Willoughby, who is now Captain is a FUKN moron. This kid was murdered period. Evidence is obvious.
Is it just me? Or has anyone else thought it odd that they would drive such a distance to go to a bar? If you are going to drink at the bar and then have to drive all that way back home after drinking just doesn't make any sense to me??? Shouldn't you be going to a bar that is closer to home with the whole drinking and driving thing?
Where these friends the "bad" group that he was hanging out again with that night? Could this location have been picked with the intention to abduct and kill him before they even started to drive to Bootleggers? Picked because it had a creek behind it? Because it was far enough away where no one would recognize them? It had an affiliation with "gang" activity? Easy access to the basement from the bar to abduct and carry out their plan? Where some or all of these friends a part of the abduction plan? Two of them coax him ... hey, come here we want to show you something back here??? Let's explore what is back here and where this leads to??? If you had two guys one left one right it wouldn't be that hard to overpower him, gag him and lock him away in a closet or a room somewhere until closing and everything getting quiet.
The mom lives in a very big house, a nice house. He had a stepdad so somewhere along the line there was a divorce or something ... single mom raising her son until Mr. Right came along. Was Tommy financing mom with this gun activity for some time already? They said that Tommy had a good job that paid really well. I'm not sure his full time job paid that well. It was a contracting job ... blue collar. Don't get me wrong. It was a job that paid. But did it pay well??? How would a single mom or a divorced mom be able to afford a house like that on regular pay? Tommy may have been doing this kind of work for a while. Maybe it was time for him to be promoted to that next phase within the organization??? A job within that organization that he did not feel comfortable doing. He voiced his opinion. He talked about it with some of his friends who spread the word of his unwillingness to take it to the next level. Then they knew that they had a weak link and needed to do something about it ...
Get him drunk or under the influence. Make him feel comfortable in his surroundings by his friends. Catch him off guard when he would never suspect anything to happen while he is in his "happy" state of mind.
Did they starve him to death? Did they dehydrate him? A slow and painful death which occurs naturally and therefore cannot be attributed to any sort of foul play. He seems to have died relatively quickly compared to others. Probably because of his medical condition of epilepsy. Without the medicine a seizure would have killed him. Not sure if they would have let him take his medicine and some liquid because that would only have prolonged everything.
The first comment is all I want to reply to.....Delaware is not a state for going to bars! They close early! Reason why most go to PA, NJ even MD to enjoy bar hopping. The rest of your comment makes no sense since you are not aware of the environment, homes, cost of living etc. This is sad enough for his mom....doesn't need more nonsense said. My condolences to his family and prayers that the investigation is finally reopened and properly done.
Lisa, you engage in illegal activity like selling guns underground and this is what happens to you. This is a fact. They know that he did this. Are you disputing this? Or are you so naive that you don't know about the drug world and gun world. Todd had a hand in his ... when he decided to join this gang! Maybe he would still be alive today if he wasn't involved in illegal activity!!!
Tommy wasn't involved in illegal activity. That is what he refused to do. He knew somwthing he wasnt supposed to know. He worked as a drywaller in the union. And I've been married to my 2nd husband since 1995 so I was not a single mom when Tommy was killed. You talk about people you dont even know and your "facts" are totally wrong. Tommy was a good kid and he didnt want to get involved in the drugs or guns. SMH.
Tommy wasnt in a gang!
Well here goes. No I don't think he was in a gang either. People have friends and if you hang out with them once in awhile other people make accusations and think that you were up to no good too. Very intelligent young man and that is a good MOTIVE. Very bright. Very good future..good motive..had relative that was a teacher...alot of jealous people out there that would keep someone from getting ahead...I would bet on that one.
Sincerely,
From the outside looking in.
..
My daughter was missing for 2 weeks. She left a abusive situation. Luckily the state police found her in good condition..then she was kidnapped by her boyfriend by gun point....and that's all they wrote...she could of ended up....gone no telling...she was just lucky.
It really bothers me about these people that go missing..hope and pray she stays away from the situation..but I know she feels threatened by that family and I fear someone could really hurt her..but I keep thinking there is something I can do to prevent it. Worried mother. These lids young adults look at each other cross eyed and are ready to kill one another...its terrible.
Give a serious look at these forum posts (link below.. it's frozen in time since 2008). I'm sure there are tons of pictures. This case never made sense to me. Did anyone ever investigate the bouncers at the bar? Or the even the cops? The Ridley cops always hide in their cars in the area where his body was found. Funny how the footprints next to his body were never mentioned in the news paper.. neither were the 3 sticks that were deliberately lodged into the ground within a foot or less of his body (in a way that couldn't occur in nature). They also need to look inside of that abandoned building that used to be the Delco gym. Maybe he was hiding there? Maybe held captive? All angles need to be looked at on this case, and independently. The 777 area code last dialed from his phone is also curious. Anyway look at that forum post (both pages..) get ahold of the pictures from that night. Bachelorette party and band photos. Everyone there that night should be able to be identified.
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/the-bars-the-bands-the-photos.64751/
Note the Deja Vu band members shirt with the smiley face?
I hope Gannon sees this.. I'd love to know how to contact him. (He's the one who has been investigating this and other smile face killer cases.. the show on oxygen on this case was interesting but too short IMO)
Also the abandoned Delco gym building has a sign that says "under video surveillance" or something to that effect.. It may be true or just a deterrent, but worth looking into.
Also from 2008ish.. note the one smile face with slant eyes matches the band singers shirt.. someone related to that band was in that back alley. Doesn't confirm much but still interesting.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33915135@N07/albums
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