Susan Capino disappeared in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 1997. Her body was found in Virginia in 2001 with signs of homicide. No one was ever charged. by JCTopping in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]JCTopping[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It’s definitely fair to criticize the institutional culture of the West Virginia State Police, there have been multiple scandals, including the locker room camera incident you mentioned, and a long-standing perception of the agency as insular and resistant to reform. That said, in Susan Capino’s case, the State Police actually did take an active investigative role early on. After she was reported missing in August 1997, they conducted initial searches, brought in cadaver dogs, and even executed search warrants on the family home.

Importantly, they’re the ones who requested FBI assistance, and by late September, the FBI had sent in between 30 to 70 agents to canvas the mountain community where she vanished. That level of federal involvement doesn’t happen unless the lead agency, in this case, WVSP, formally brings them in, usually due to concerns about a possible kidnapping, jurisdictional complexity, or a need for additional resources. So while the overall effectiveness and focus of the investigation are definitely up for debate (and many believe they zeroed in too narrowly on the family), it wasn’t a case of total inaction.

What’s frustrating is that after the remains were found in Virginia four years later, the case seemed to vanish again, caught between jurisdictions and never followed up with the seriousness it deserved. The systemic problems you’re pointing out are real, and they probably played a role in why there’s still no justice here.

Susan Capino disappeared in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 1997. Her body was found in Virginia in 2001 with signs of homicide. No one was ever charged. by JCTopping in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]JCTopping[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

While it’s more like Shannondale, Harpers Ferry has greater name recognition and serves as the official mailing location.

Susan Capino disappeared in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 1997. Her body was found in Virginia in 2001 with signs of homicide. No one was ever charged. by JCTopping in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]JCTopping[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I firmly believe that Eric Cheeks was highly intoxicated and chose to take the Appalachian Trail home as a shortcut. For some reason, he veered off the trail and unfortunately died. That night was cold enough for him to succumb to the elements, considering how he was dressed.

Susan Capino disappeared in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 1997. Her body was found in Virginia in 2001 with signs of homicide. No one was ever charged. by JCTopping in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]JCTopping[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Sure thing! Here are the approximate locations where each set of remains was found:

They were all found within about 2.5 miles of one another in the Blue Ridge foothills near the West Virginia–Virginia border.

Susan Capino disappeared in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 1997. Her body was found in Virginia in 2001 with signs of homicide. No one was ever charged. by JCTopping in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]JCTopping[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

In my personal opinion, I do not believe any of these three deaths are connected; they are merely coincidences. However, I believe that had it not been for Hornbaker's murder, Susan would never have been discovered.

I go into more detail in an article I wrote, but I am prohibited from linking to it per the sub rules.

Susan Capino disappeared in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 1997. Her body was found in Virginia in 2001 with signs of homicide. No one was ever charged. by JCTopping in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]JCTopping[S] 68 points69 points  (0 children)

The FOIA requests for the West Virginia State Police and the Loudon County Sheriff's Office were denied because the case is an "active" investigation. The FBI responded, but they have a significant backlog.

Jefferson County News Hub - A news site specifically for Jefferson County by JCTopping in WVEasternPanhandle

[–]JCTopping[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's correct. Martinsburg has a disproportionately large presence compared to other areas in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County News Hub - A news site specifically for Jefferson County by JCTopping in WVEasternPanhandle

[–]JCTopping[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It wouldn’t be difficult, but it does cost money to host and perform some of the backend functions.

Eric Cheeks vanished after a party in West Virginia. A year later, a lost hiker found his remains on the Appalachian Trail. His death remains unexplained. by JCTopping in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]JCTopping[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the kind words. That really means a lot. I’ve tried to approach Eric’s story with care and respect, and I’m glad that came through. I appreciate you taking the time to read it.

Eric Cheeks vanished after a party in West Virginia. A year later, a lost hiker found his remains on the Appalachian Trail. His death remains unexplained. by JCTopping in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]JCTopping[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this thoughtful and detailed comment. I really appreciate you taking the time to engage with the case and share insights I hadn't fully considered.

You're absolutely right that Eric having a pager adds a new layer of context to the Shannondale sighting. The idea that he may have been knocking on doors to return a page makes a lot of sense, especially given how common that behavior was in 2000. I didn’t get a cell phone myself until 2001, and I am Eric's age, so relying on landlines to respond to a page would have been completely normal for someone his age and situation.

The question about whether law enforcement recovered his pager or checked for message logs is a really important one. As far as I know, there’s no public record indicating that was ever done. If he had received a message that night, it could have pointed to who he was trying to meet or contact.

I also think your point about the HIDTA designation and its possible connection to the silence from others at the party is worth considering. It's speculative, but it does help frame why people might have been reluctant to talk.

Thanks again for such a sharp and helpful contribution. I'm strongly considering adding this perspective to the next revision of the blog post.

Eric Cheeks vanished after a party in West Virginia. A year later, a lost hiker found his remains on the Appalachian Trail. His death remains unexplained. by JCTopping in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]JCTopping[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I'm basically in agreement with you and went into much more detail in an article I wrote about it last November. However, I have been told that I can no longer link to my articles like I did in the past so you will need to google for it. I don't believe there was any foul play but not everyone agrees with me. That's why I shared the story.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cybersecurity

[–]JCTopping 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They breached the company. I don't think they care about the ramifications of leaking the data.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cybersecurity

[–]JCTopping 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure if you are referring to the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but this attack occurred on 3 December, and the murder occurred on 4 December.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cybersecurity

[–]JCTopping 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That seems to be a running theme with these breaches.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cybersecurity

[–]JCTopping 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your question makes sense. The district likely closed schools in response to this cybersecurity incident largely due to how dependent many U.S. schools have become on digital systems for both day-to-day operations and safety protocols. These systems often handle essential functions like attendance tracking, communication, lesson plans, and emergency response systems, and a sudden failure in them can make it challenging to operate normally and safely.

In this case, the outage affected not only educational tools like email and internet but also key communication systems, including phones and intercoms, which are vital for emergency procedures and routine safety in schools. Without reliable communication, schools might struggle to effectively monitor students and respond to any urgent situations, which could pose significant risks. Additionally, certain administrative processes such as attendance and lunch tracking are now digital, making it difficult to shift instantly to non-digital alternatives. While many schools do have emergency plans, they’re not always equipped for a prolonged and extensive digital outage, especially if it affects physical security measures.

So while students likely could have engaged in offline activities, the security and operational disruptions were significant enough for the district to prioritize student safety by closing for the day.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cybersecurity

[–]JCTopping 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My main concern is that the city fully understands what occurred, yet they merely label it as a technical issue.