When I puzzled over whether it was possible for my sister’s body to have lain for two weeks near the abandoned party-place where her body was discovered and remain unseen and not attract scavengers, this is one email response I received from someone who had lived near the scene:

“About Cindy being hidden there for two weeks…in my opinion, that is 99-100% impossible. That was the busiest intersection in Richmond at the time, tons of cars and people passing through at all hours, dogwalkers and kids cutting through the area on a shortcut to the mall. You could pretty well see right into there from the 7-11 across the street and the landscape, like most of Richmond, was basically just flat and not far from a major road. Plus, you’re right, the abandoned house was used for partying by older kids and you would often see beer cans and cigarette butts lying about on the grounds and even in back of the house, so it seems extremely unlikely that someone wouldn’t have noticed her body there in that amount of time. I’ve never understood how police could seriously entertain the idea that no one would have noticed her from the sidewalk, where there would have been a very clear view in. The only thing that makes sense to me is that her body must have been dropped off later, or someone would surely have seen her sooner.

“… I’m so glad that you’re writing a newer book about Cindy’s story, and how wonderful to have the perspective of one of her relatives. Best of luck of with the rest of your writing!”

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
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TV Shows and Clips about the Death of Cindy James