Thanks needscoffee, LSL Guy and ASLv2.0 for letting me know re: balaclavas. Your replies made me think it could be an answer on a middle school aptitude test. All the other kids would know except for me. LOL
How convenient. Are you also missing a pair of gloves and an Ozark Trails backpack? 
if it is a guy with one glove, maybe they should be looking for Michael Jackson.
When I raced cars in the 1970s, balaclava was the name for the Nomex hood that covered your face. I thought it was neat, exotic name.
Balaclavas seemed to be very common in the UK based on novels I’ve read. Everybody seemed to have one.
Isn’t a British balaclava what Americans call a ski mask?
Traditionally yes, but within the last 5 years, I’ve heard more people in the US start calling them balaclavas.
And not to be confused with baklava.
Now you tell me, the greek shop attendant that I asked for a “Balaclava” must be still laughing at me now, 6 years later.
A new ransom note at TMZ. Maybe she’s in Mexico.
The use of the media as intermediators leads me to believe this crime is more about ego than money. This is someone bathing in all of the attention. (Assuming any of these contacts are actually from those responsible for the woman’s disappearance.)
That’s the problem. It was given to TMZ today, maybe from Mexico, but from whom?? Who knows. I’m doubting she’s alive at this point, so I’m leaning towards fake kidnappers.
Reward is up to 200k. That’s life-changing money for many people. Maybe someone will come forward.
Search expands to Mexico.
And many more Mexicans than Tucsonans. Although one heck of a lot of Tucsonans are Mexicans by heritage, if not by current economic situation.
Mexico makes some sense. They need medicine for the mom’s heart condition. More readily available in Mexico with perhaps fewer questions asked? It was common before the current unpleasantness for US citizens to cross over for exams and prescription medicine. Mexicans to pass the other way for day jobs. I played a bit of golf down in Naco, AZ on the border.
Just spitballing.
Usually I can sort these things on my own, but not this time. What the heck did autocorrect do here? I’m perplexed.
The murder weapon.
Sorry about that. It’s swyping, not autocorrect, so the number of letters can change. I’ll go back and edit that.
Significantly upgraded our security years ago. A disturbing encounter taught me that although rare, the monsters are out there. And we made substantial changes to insure they stay “out there”.
However, I am surprised at the apparent indifference shown by some public figures, when their work almost guarantees controversy and possible targeting by the violent or insane. The attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband about 4 years ago comes to mind. These goobers aren’t exactly Special Forces, and it’s fairly easy to hire contractors and experts to ensure they can’t get in.
Let see, I have a net worth of $40 million, and a salary of $8 million per year… I guess I can spring for a Nest Doorbell for dear old Mom.
My family are nobodies and my wealth is a minuscule fraction of this, but my parents have way stronger security than what I’ve seen in this story.
Disclaimers: I’m speculating of course: 1) Maybe her Mom didn’t want the security system, 2) Maybe there’s a state-of-the-art system and a confused 84 year old was fooled into opening the door somehow, 3) Unlikely, but maybe “Meal Team 6” that we saw stumbling around her front door was more resourceful than we realize.
My wife and I have friendly side bets on the outcome and who the perps are. I’m intensely curious about the details of all this.
Is it? Is it really? Seems to me like most security systems are more about alerting authorities after a break-in has already occurred, providing deterrence at best. Actually making it impossible or even very difficult for someone willing to use violence in a targeted attack—not just an opportunistic prowler—is a much taller order.
Maybe this has been covered but how would they get her into Mexico? She’d need to get through passport control.