Matt Palmgren Arrested

I haven't kept up with Websleuths so I didn't know until today that they had closed Gail's threads again. Seems like a silly decision, since I have a feeling we'll be hearing about Matt Palmgren and friends for quite some time. Either the Facebook page is also closed down, or Facebook has changed their permissions, because I can't read it anymore.

Anyway, Matt got his fool ass arrested for trespassing today. I'm curious to know, does the date for this trespassing allegation coincide with the date Matt's brother was on Facebook bragging about videotaping Arlene Durham's property to "prove" she was breaking local animal ordinances?

WRCBtv coverage

Times Free Press coverage

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UPDATED: Six Months Later News

These links were already posted yesterday, but I thought a more in-depth post was in order.

Callie Starnes' report on WRCBtv runs at nearly 7 minutes. It's a good summary with a very even tone. A few new things are included in the report: Footage of Matt and one of his lawyers at the news conference refusing to answer Callie's question, a photo of Tammy Helton, and news that Arlene Durham has given the video (I believe the lake house security video) to the FBI.

Here's my attempt to embed the WRCBtv video, but it's being persnickety and if it doesn't work, you'll need to click here and watch it on their webpage directly. Here's the WRCBtv video transcript.










News Channel 9 WTVC also did a brief report, where Clive got a good comment in about wanting Matt Palmgren to speak to police. I was also very amused that while the reporter was discussing Matt filing a police report complaining that Arlene harassed him by taking photos of the Ridgerock house, they showed their own new footage of the very same Ridgerock house. I eagerly await Matt filing a harassment report against WTVC and WRCB, too. OH WAIT.






News Channel 9 report transcript.

News Channel 9's Facebook page with discussion about Gail's case.



Callie Starnes tweeted during the WRCBtv show. You can find all her tweets here in my previous post. We learned through her tweets that Matt took Diane Nichols to court to try to get the $17,000 Gail gave her for safe keeping back, but the money is still with Diane. We also learned through both tweets and the report that the media didn't even know about Gail until her sister Diane Nichols arrived in town a week after Gail disappeared and went to Channel 3's offices with missing persons fliers.


I think the news coverage lately has been terrific, very much needed and hopefully will have some positive results. In the meantime, if you're reading this and have information, any information about Gail, please contact:

* The FBI Chattanooga office at 423-756-8914
* The Hamilton County Tennessee Sheriff's Office at 423-209-8940
* C.U.E. (Community United Effort) who has joined in the search for Gail. All tips and leads are confidential: (910) 343-1131 or (910) 232-1687


Gail will be found.

NEWS: Callie Starnes tweets about Gail's case.

There's a lot of stuff to report today, but one of the more interesting things are the tweets from Callie Starnes about Gail's case, tweeted earlier during the broadcast of the 6:00 news. You can see all the tweets using the #GailPalmgren hashtag here.

The most interesting one to me is that Matt took Gail's sister Diane Nichols to court to try to get that $17,000.00 back! Gee, what a nice guy he is.

I've put these in chronological order so you can read them top to bottom.

calliestarnes Callie Starnes
#GailPalmgren The flyer I just held up is the original. I remember the weekend we heard Gail's name for the first time.


calliestarnes Callie Starnes
This is the first time we are showing Tammy Helton on tv. Friends say Gail suspected she and Matthew were having an affair. #GailPalmgren


calliestarnes Callie Starnes
Our policy is to report missing person cases only if police ask. We had to contact SPD to confirm Gail was missing. #GailPalmgren


calliestarnes Callie Starnes
@internalex the money is still with her sister. Matthew took Diane to court to try to get it back.


calliestarnes Callie Starnes
Carol Coppinger is the woman who alleges seeing Gail on the trails. Police say no way to know for sure. #GailPalmgren


calliestarnes Callie Starnes
@internalex Authorities won't release ANY details in case. Friends have given us the VIN number. No hits that we know of.


calliestarnes Callie Starnes
We don't have access to #GailPalmgren's medical records but friends and family say she was not depressed.


calliestarnes Callie Starnes
@_Sofonias_ No, #GailPalmgren's children have not been questioned by police. They could know why she decided to go home that day.


calliestarnes Callie Starnes
The real estate agent who listed the Palmgren home says she's treating it like any other sale, though #GailPalmgren's name is on deed.


calliestarnes Callie Starnes
@_Sofonias_ the TBI is now reviewing the case and offering suggestions. #GailPalmgren

Six Months Later News

Two news articles have gone live online in the last hour that I wanted to post links to:

Gail Palmgren disappearance: Six months later

Search For Gail Palmgren: 6 Months Later

More later tonight...

WRCBtv To Have In-Depth Story on Gail This Monday

Just a reminder as we head into the weekend: WRCB is doing a story on Gail for Monday, the 31st. They already have a promo video up on Facebook, with comments of course.

I'm not local so I will have to wait until the video goes on WRCB's website, but anyone who watches it live at 6:00 PM is more than welcome to comment here, and on BGHN too.

Governor Haslam: Please Include Gail Palmgren In The Reward Fund

According to WRCBtv's recent article, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is still reviewing Gail Palmgren's case. A few other cases in Tennessee have rewards offered by the Governor's office for anything that leads to the apprehension, arrest, and conviction of the person or group that is criminally responsible. Haslam's office still has not made a decision on whether to offer the same for information about Gail.

Tonight, I am sending a letter to Governor Haslam asking that he please offer a reward for information regarding Gail Palmgren's case. I am posting Governor Haslam's address (which is public information easily available online) for those of you who want to join me.

Office of Governor Bill Haslam
1st Floor, State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243

Bring Gail Home Now also has a reward fund set up with a little over $1,700.00 as of right now.

Gail will be found.

NEWS: Matt Palmgren Calls Police on Arlene Durham

This just in from WRCBtv, as seen on Callie Starnes' Twitter a few minutes ago:

FIRST ON 3: Husband calls police to report missing wife's friend

Matt says Arlene has been harassing him and hugging his kids without permission. I'm not making that up, go read it for yourself. The entire article is worth a read, but I'd like to point out one specific quote from Lee Davis, Matt's lawyer:

"I frankly don't trust her, I've asked the police to investigate her," said Davis, "she was, by our investigations, the last person who was with Gail Palmgren before she dropped off the kids."

Well, now we know where the attempt to make Arlene look like a suspect comes from. It's an official theory from Matt's criminal defense attorneys, apparently, and it's interesting to go back and look at the people on various forums who have been pushing this particular theory for a few months. And isn't it odd that these lawyers say there has been no crime until they want to undermine Arlene Durham's credibility?

UPDATE: The Times Free Press has an article up as of about 11:15 PM Eastern:

Palmgren claims harassment

There is a little more info on this article, which basically says Palmgren thinks Arlene hugged his kid without permission, took photos of his car, and followed him one day. He has been videotaping this:

He gave a police officer a CD with video of Durham following him. The officer reviewed the video and saw what appears to be a gold van following him, according to the report, but the officer returned the CD to Palmgren because no charges are being filed.

It's too bad Matt didn't suggest to Gail that she video the car(s) she thought were following her, maybe we wouldn't all be praying for Gail to come home if he'd suggested that instead of just dismissing her as paranoid.

Unidentified Remains Found Tonight in Renaissance Park, Chattanooga

I just checked in on Twitter and Callie Starnes, reporter for WRCBtv, is reporting that human remains were found in Renaissance Park earlier today. UPDATE: As of about 10:55 PM Eastern time, Callie has tweeted that police believe the deceased is male.

These are her tweets, which I have put in chronological order so they're easier to read:


Callie Starnes
BREAKING: Human remains found in Renaissance Park. Kids found skull while playing. CPD says partially clothed body severely decomposed.
58 minutes ago


Callie Starnes
Headlights point to where body was discovered. twitpic.com/71xorp
57 minutes ago


Callie Starnes
Investigators can't tell if body is male or female. No items found w/body to suggest person was homeless. Taken to M.E.'s office.
50 minutes ago


Callie Starnes
@becauseofdavid at foot of Market Street Bridge near parking lot. Dozens of joggers probably pass this spot every morning.
29 minutes ago


Callie Starnes
Lots of tweets out there from people hoping for leads in Gail Palmgren case. CPD says clothing leads them to believe remains are male.
1 minute ago


Read Callie's Twitter here. If there are more tweets tonight, I will post them as well.

No News is No News

The promised Times Free Press update about the searches of the Alabama properties is here on their website, and it doesn't actually say anything new. It's basically the same article as yesterday.

I do have to chuckle at Matt's lawyers. In this article they are quoted as saying, "Matthew Palmgren continues to assist in this investigation and had done so since May."

The article ends with: "To date, neither Matthew Palmgren nor his children have given formal statements to investigators."

I'm trying to figure out how "no formal statement" equals "assisting in this investigation." It's a puzzler to be sure.

NEWS: Detectives (Finally) Searching Alabama Property

UPDATE 9:45 PM: This was mentioned in comments but I wanted to put it up here so you saw it first:

"I hear DIVE TEAMS are in the water searching for Gail and her Jeep (or related evidence). They are searching in the surrounding waters, with close proximity to the Easy Street home in Wetumpka, Alabama. This is "real time" information."

UPDATE: Per BGHN, there was no dive team search. They have updated the BGHN page and I am updating here as well. BGHN has reported that the investigators were at the Alabama site for a search for approximately two hours.

 
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UPDATE: The Times Free Press has an article with some good news:

Sheriff Jim Hammond said that, after the last of the property searches are completed, investigators may consider doing another aerial search.


“I’m still of the opinion when the leaves drop, we’ll be able to see more,” he said.

Times Free Press says they will have more details tomorrow.


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The Chattanoogan reported this in a very short article about 2 hours ago:

County detectives are in the process of searching property belonging to Matt and Gail Palmgren in Alabama as part of the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Ms. Palmgren.

And the last sentence:

"This has been done with the complete cooperation of Mr. Palmgren and his attorney, Lee Davis."

But we knew that already, didn't we?

Also, WCRBtv has news on the search in an article updated this evening.