Sunday, February 16, 2014

Hindsight in the Case of Leanne Bearden

Here is the article that introduced Statement Analysis readers to the case of 33 year old Leanne Bearden.  
I have kept it the same, but have added, in blue, updated commentary on the analysis.  

Family members said the 33-year-old went missing after she left a relative’s house to go for a walk.
The report says that police do not suspect foul play.  They called off the search for her.  

This is our first indication that the family told police she was despondent and likely suicidal.  Searches are called off for things like critical weather conditions or extended time periods.  

“Her husband, Josh, has been cooperative with all investigations and is not a person of interest,” Garden Ridge Police Chief Donna O’Conner said in a statement. “Our heart goes out to the Hecht and Bearden families as they search for their loved one.”
This now sounds like condolences, in hindsight.  
The following is her husband, Josh Bearden's statements.  The video is broken up, which makes it difficult to analyze since we do not know what questions were posed to him.  

"Uh she said that she was going to go for a walk and then I said how long are you going to be gone
and then she said about an hour then I said ok Babe take your time.  Thats the last that thing I said to her."

We note the inclusion of the term of endearment, "Babe."  We find this in statements where one may feel the need to portray oneself as loving; not a good sign.  Here, however, he appears to be quoting himself.  Nonetheless, we take note of it just the same.  A term of endearment within a statement is often viewed as a negative and problematic because it shows the subject's need to portray himself in the positive, the necessity of such being a red flag.  

Note that it is the last thing he "said" to her.  Was it the last he saw of her?  Would it be more expected to hear, "That's the last I saw her"?

He only reports that this was the last thing he said to her, but not the last that he saw her.  

The analysis focused on "Babe" which, in Statement Analysis, is flagged as all terms of endearment.  Why do we flags terms of endearment?

They are often indicators that there is something wrong in the relationship.  

I use them all the time.

The difference is that in a public statement, especially given the circumstances, Josh Bearden shows two things:
1.  The need to portray the relationship in a favorable way
2.  Avoidance of the pronoun "I" indicating guilt of some form. 

If Leanne did, in fact, commit suicide, guilt is expected.  It is likely that he, and family, convinced police that this was not a domestic homicide, and that she was despondent, deeply, and that this was her wish to do so. 

Texas Equasearch, and other search organizations  would also be aware of the situation:  they often cannot afford to search for someone who does not want to be found.  This is likely how it was portrayed to police. 

 "I have no idea what happened "

It is very difficult to believe anyone who says that they have no idea, since we all have plenty of ideas about everything in life.  In fact, Josh Bearden goes on to give an idea claiming that there are lots of places not covered.  

Mark McClish uses the exploration of the moon to highlight this saying that he is not a rocket scientist and doesn't know how to get to the moon but has an idea that a rocket will be needed.  It's a humorous way to point out that it is difficult to believe someone who says this.  Sometimes it is just a lazy mind that needs prompts, but in a missing person's case, we do not expect to encounter a lazy mind from the husband, but one of a very highly in tune mind, seeking answers. 

In Analytical Interviewing, we remind the interviewer not to accept "I have no idea" as a "stop sign" for the flow of information.  Prompt the subject.  

"I have no idea" is not truthful.  He could have said that he wanted to keep his views private, but "I have no idea" only prompts more questions.  Next, look at the pronoun change: 
We have no clues  but theres still a lot of area 
that needs to be covered and that I feel Leanne could have walked.

Note the video breaks. 

 I would like to know what caused him to change his pronoun to "we" at this point.  
Note next that he does have an idea:  that there are places she could have walked to.  This makes his statement of having "no idea" not truthful.  

The change to "we" is distancing language.  This is often done when someone wishes to spread around guilt or responsibility, and another indicator that he and Leanne had some pretty difficult words in the moments before she left.  


That he had suicide on his mind is found in the strange wording here:   The second that I lose my hope Leanne is gone .

Why is Leanne's life tied to his hope?  Since others are searching and the family is fund raising to hire a private investigator, how is it that "Leanne is gone" at that "second"?

This is very strange, but in light of suicide, she was only alive, that is "hope", in his mind.  He likely feared suicide.  
and my biggest fear is that I’ll lose my hope.

The Expected versus the Unexpected.

We put ourselves in the shoes of the subject and presume innocence. We ask,
"What would I say?  What would you say?"

In this place, my biggest fear would be that my wife was dead, injured by injury or by foul play.  


It would be my biggest fear:  something terrible happened to her. 

He did not express fear that most of us would have.  
Would your biggest fear be that your wife has been killed, or died in an accident, or that you would lose hope?


I will never, ever going to stop looking for you. Ever.

Another strong indicator that he knew how serious she was about suicide and tells us a possible reason for guilt:  he was unable or unwilling to stop her.  How do we know this?  Simply because he did not stop her.  

All families of suicide victims go through this guilt.  "What could have been done?  What could have been said?  What should I have done?", and so on.   There is an element of fatalism in this statement, which tells us that he did not hope. 

Why did he have no hope of success?  In this case, it may prove to be that he knew she was serious about suicide.  People will know that suicidal ideation is real if there are attempts.  Attempts often increase in intensity over time, as the person 'tests the waters', even in a cry for help, while still uncertain if they wish to live. 

IF this was a suicide, it is clear that her husband knew, and police felt comfortable ending the search early.  

Yet why the nonsense with the sightings?  Why not come out with it which would have meant a concentrated search?  What about dogs?  Search and rescue dogs would have found her very quickly. 

Everything about this case is strange, which will lead some to believe homicide.  
Similar to a statement made by OJ Simpson about looking for his wife's killer, saying he would never stop searching for the "real" killer.  

Note that his search will never end, showing no hope for success.  He does not tell her that he will search for her until she is found, but that he will "never, ever" and "ever" stop looking. 

What has caused him to have no hope for success?  She has been missing for 8 days at the time of this statement.  

Has the passage of time caused this?
Have police told him something privately that has led him to believe she will never be found?
Or...

is this similar to Josh Powell in searching for Susan?

Stay tuned as we need more statement.  

233 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 233 of 233
Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Interested 3rd Party - A well known medium feels he strangled her with a white cloth or white t-shirt. This wouldn't leave any marks and then as you said when left in the elements for so long...
February 25, 2014 at 8:00 AM


I don't know if I'd put all my money on that, but it wouldn't surprise me. I actually think it might have been something a little more "passionate".

And to Anonymous at 12:07 pm, yes, I am trying to let it go, too, but I had to do a little more research

After reading far too much about decomposition times of a body and how it can vary depending upon conditions, I checked out the weather for Garden Ridge.
Given the range of temperatures for January/February (http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/garden-ridge-tx/78266/january-weather/2225056 ) and the high temperatures during the times Leanne's body was hanging in the tree, the natural process of death combined with the heat (sometimes into the 80s), the bugs, the predators (birds of prey, other animals naturally found in the area, might have totally obliterated any kind of ligature marks. In fact, I have to commend the Comal County Coroner's office for being able to determine suicide so easily and pinpointing the time of death given the range of temperatures. One has to wonder if it was even possible to check her hands for evidence of rope tying. I hope the guys at Comal County have excellent skills and experience in these types of incidents.

Of course, I am naturally skeptical so I did go to the Comal County website to determine crime rates, and unfortunately, the link for number of crimes and types wasn't enabled. Here's the link, maybe someone here will have better luck:

http://www.co.comal.tx.us/cda/Duties_and_Statistics.htm

But I did find that in 2004 and 2005 there were NO murders in Comal County, and the current website states approx 500 felonies a year are handled thru the office, so it's not likely that Comal County has become a hotbed of murder and mayhem, so that, combined with the family influence, combined with the physical state of Leanne's body, combined with the shared email and phone access (doesn't take a rocket scientist to send an email from one account and then answer it with another) that would allow someone to cover their nefarious deeds and present evidence of a losing battle with depression, and if those "investigating" were already convinced of a specific outcome, it would be possible for someone to get away with murder. All just my opinion and imagination.

As hard as it will be to read, I do want to read the autopsy report when it is made available to see just how much damage was done to her body. It's just a real shame she wasn't found sooner. -- Interested 3rd Party

Anonymous said...

Maybe this has been discussed, but I was curious to know why there are two memorial services for Leanne? Maybe her in laws would rather not travel to GA or there are so many people in TX that helped out that there would be a service there as well? I understood the GA service, since that's where she's from, but didn't know if two services meant the Beardens weren't traveling to GA for that second service

JCastille said...

Leanne's family and friends have verified she was suffering from depression. I know that to some of you, looking at pictures of a smiling Leanne give you the impression that you know her better than her lifelong family and friends, but it's probably safe to say that you don't. When you read the posts of people here pretending that they knew Leanne, notice that their information all comes from the news and speculation. Her siblings - who post openly under their real names on facebook, not "cloak and dagger style" excitedly claiming that there is some danger to them if they reveal their name - are a far better source of information. And they are united.

No one wants to think a beautiful, smiling woman would have wanted to kill herself. But the very fact that so many are in denial, and have such unrealistic beliefs about suicide, are exactly the reasons that there needs to be more suicide and depression awareness.

Depressed people often appear happy and "normal", especially in pictures, especially if that's all you can see of them. Family and close friends are often the only ones who have a clue about their true state. And sometimes family and friends don't even know the real scope of it.

People who are about to commit suicide often do not leave signs. They don't choose the most beautiful, happy-memory packed places of significance they can find. Often family members will describe their behavior directly before their suicide as perfectly normal, even upbeat. This is completely normal.

For the reason above, if the suicide does not take place in the home and the family members don't immediately know where the loved one is, suicide is often not the FIRST place their mind goes. "I know he'd been upset, but that afternoon he was totally normal" and "She'd been in a bad place, but this morning she actually seemed to be pulling out of it" - these are normal statements for family members to make.

If people don't understand how a beautiful, smiling woman could ALSO be depressed and suicidal, then it's very clear why we need more depression and suicide awareness. If Josh Bearden wants to deal with his grief by investing his time gathering donations for an awareness foundation, then he's doing something positive and doing something that family members of those who died before their time do all the time. It's clear the need exists for public education about this.

Statement Analysis Blog said...

People suffering from depression will often smile, a forced smile, concealing the inner pain. There are pictures of Jews about to be put to death who smile for the cameras, only to be ridiculed by the Nazis. It is often a quick reaction.

The type of severe depression that led to suicide was likely, as the family has said, long term.

There is so much more suffering behind the scenes, not only for the victim, but for every person who loves the victim.

I hope speculation will cease.

I agree that the behavior was strange, and that this information should have been made public from the beginning, to focus the search. We all have a distaste for money issues because of the scams we have seen of recent years.

Yet, go back to the original statement made by the police chief in which the statement is very much like offering of condolences.

Peter

Anonymous said...

Two comments from JCastille = “Leanne's family and friends have verified she was suffering from depression.” “And they are united.”
Since the time that Leanne went missing and was subsequently found, I have been following every interview and written word. I do not recall at any time that her mother, father, sister or brothers commenting on any depression issues. Quite the opposite from what I recall. Additionally, most of her friends have not commented on her suffering from depression. The only “family” commenting on her depression are her husband and his family. Quite frankly, how well would his family have known her since they probably have not spent no more that 2-3 months with her over the 4.5 years they were married.

I think everyone would feel differently if her biological family and long-term friends said they suspected this outcome. Until then, most everyone will be questioning comments from Josh.

Another anonymous JRSB from VA

Statement Analysis Blog said...

Anonymous said...
And Peter, don't you always say that in a list of things, order matters? This from the 5K website:

Please email us with any questions and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!

donations@leannebearden5k.com
rsvp@leannebearden5k.com
questions@leannebearden5k.com
February 24, 2014 at 11:08 PM


I find the fundraising distasteful, but not indicative of murder or conspiracy or anything else.

As to pet names, terms of endearment, actually, must be placed in context.

This is a memorial. It is expected that he would use terms of endearment or pet names for her.

In a police statement in which a crime is suspected, the term of endearment is red flagged.

Please exercise caution in applying principle.

It has a feel that Anonymous has a theory, "murder", and that everything Josh Bearden says is being shoved into the theory.

In Statement Analysis, we do not begin with a theory, but allow the words to guide us.

This is an erroneous application of principle.

Peter

andrize said...

After reading all of the posts from Josh & Leanne's travel blog without having a better sense of how/why Leanne could take her life, I am very appreciative to hear insight from those who knew her and for this forum being open to share this (after every other place has seemingly been silenced).

I was especially touched/troubled by the account of Anonymous @11:49am (feb 23) pertaining to Leanne's Facebook account...so disturbing.

Thank you and I hope to learn more,
Alisa

Anonymous said...

Peter, thanks for letting us know your thoughts. I will let it go.

and to J.Castille. by this: ""cloak and dagger style" excitedly claiming that there is some danger to them if they reveal their name", I wonder if you mean me since I said I didn't feel comfortable revealing the details about what I know.

Just so you know, I wasn't claiming it "excitedly", there is nothing exciting about this, it's awful, and what I do know is very specific, so it would out me to some, and i didn't say "danger", I said this:
To Anonymous above: I'm sorry, but I can't share that information this publicly. It is specific enough to me that a select few would then know who I am, and I prefer that not to be "out" there. If you need to disregard my posts as a result, I do understand. I'm just expressing my opinions based on what I know which, as I said, I wish I didn't know. You can take from that what you will."
And I stand by that. It is true.

--Interested Third Party

Anonymous said...

Peter, I hope that you'll allow me one last comment to counter J.Castillos. It involves no speculation whatsoever, and will be my last post here, I promise:

1. Not all of Leanne's family & friends believe suicide. Some do. Some are trying to believe. Others remain skeptical.

2. Many pieces of the story remain questionable.

3. Several illogical arguments are in play here, and I'm providing examples for those who aren't familiar:

bandwagon fallacy: concluding that an idea has merit simply because many people believe it or practice it. ... Simply because many people may believe something says nothing about the fact of that something. .

post hoc, ergo propter hoc: Latin for "It happened after, so it was caused by."

confirmation bias (similar to observational selection): This refers to a form of selective thinking that focuses on evidence that supports what believers already believe while ignoring evidence that refutes their beliefs

confusion of correlation and causation: the invalid assumption that correlation implies cause

ad hominem: Latin for "to the man." An arguer who uses ad hominems attacks the person instead of the argument. Whenever an arguer cannot defend his position with evidence, facts or reason, he or she may resort to attacking an opponent

In summary, let me say that I hope for Leanne's own sake, she did commit suicide because if she didn't, we'll never know. -- Interested Third Party

Anonymous said...

The most recent statement suggests another 180 turn on site. Peter you want us all to look like conspiracy theorists. Even though many of us were contacted by the husband and asked why we were on pages and attacking anyone on fb regardless of what they posted and individually communicating with all from the day of discovery forward. You say he is different...well I would guess so WHO does that when a family member has been found deceased. Who continues to defend himself over and over. Protesting Too much puts one in the spotlight. Actions they say, speak louder than words. I believe in a just world with a just God and "right" will trump "wrong" in the end. Thank you for providing a blog.

Statement Analysis Blog said...

If there is reason to think something other than suicide, it is fine to discuss, but please do not use Statement Analysis to fit a theory. This is what distresses me: making Statement Analysis responsible for that which is not in the statements.

Josh Bearden did not show deception, nor guilty knowledge in the death of his wife.

This is a scientific process.

It doesn't mean he didn't do it, it means that there is no linguistic evidence.

Discussing other evidences, or even raising good arguments, is one thing, but it is a discredit to the scientific process to take the principles and try to force a conclusion.

As to the family and friends who do not believe suicide:

Please state reasons why they do not believe it. I am curious as to the reasons.

thanks,

Peter

Anonymous said...

This case is one of the most hinky I've read in a while, I find it odd that this is also the one case that it was said to take theories and posting elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

We would all love to know if they believed this was suicidei. then we could all let this woman rest in peace but I am still uneasy about this. There is depression( which we all suffer from at times and then there is serious depression! If josh knew her to be suicidal why did he let her go on a walk alone.? Has she made attempts before? Was there a handwritten note?

Anonymous said...

Please accept my apologies if this isn't allowed, my intent isn't to be disrespectful to you Peter or Leanne's loved ones.

JCastille, are you a family friend of Leanne's immediate family, or Josh's family? I ask because it would help clear up many questions I previously had, which I will no longer post.

I'm new here and I apologize for any comment made that may have been offensive. I still believe something other than the report of suicide, but again will move forward and keep my opinions to myself.

Respectfully,

Leanne Bearden's admirer of life and adventure!

GeekRad said...

For those of you having a hard time accepting that Leanne comitted suicide it might be helpful for you to read up on suicide. As Hobnob said, when people decide to commit suicide they often feel that the burden is lifted and seem more content and happy as a result. This makes it especially diffucult for their loved ones to accept their suicide. This is the case with my neighbors. Their 16 year old daughter committed suicide last year. Her parents still have not accepted it because she was happier than she had been in weeks. They searched for answers, asked me what I saw that day, if her boyfriend was there. Her mother was, may still be, convinced that her boyfriend hung her. Her parents found her a around 5:00 PM and the mailman saw her playing basketball in the driveway at 3:00 and had a cheerful conversation with her. She did not leave a note. That is what the parents can't get past. 4 other young girls committed suicide that weekend. This was not reported by the media, I learned it because the police told my neighbor. Point being, LE and the media aren't likely to release details of suicide unless the media gets hold of a celebrity suicide.

GeekRad said...

I apoloioze if this posts a secind time. It didn't post so I am trying again.

For those of you having a hard time accepting that Leanne comitted suicide it might be helpful for you to read up on suicide. As Hobnob said, when people decide to commit suicide they often feel that the burden is lifted and seem more content and happy as a result. This makes it especially diffucult for their loved ones to accept their suicide. This is the case with my neighbors. Their 16 year old daughter committed suicide last year. Her parents still have not accepted it because she was happier than she had been in weeks. They searched for answers, asked me what I saw that day, if her boyfriend was there. Her mother was, may still be, convinced that her boyfriend hung her. Her parents found her a around 5:00 PM and the mailman saw her playing basketball in the driveway at 3:00 and had a cheerful conversation with her. She did not leave a note. That is what the parents can't get past. 4 other young girls committed suicide that weekend. This was not reported by the media, I learned it because the police told my neighbor. Point being, LE and the media aren't likely to release details of suicide unless the media gets hold of a celebrity suicide.

Anonymous said...

Why the heck has Leanne's family been so silent through all of this? So now Leanne is bipolar? This is all so freaking strange. Speak up Hecht family!!! It's your daughter, sister. Come on!!

Anonymous said...

I would seriously doubt that if you were depressed enough to take your own life that you would come home and start urgently looking for jobs. When contemplating the end of your life would you really have the energy to do this? Let's face it - job hunting is not fun and it's hard work. Is this how you would spend your last days if you weren't planning on living? I don't think so...

Anonymous said...

Just reposting bc I found this sincere, & a fair perspective from a person alleging to have known LB… -CM

Anonymous said...
As someone who knew Leanne personally, I have been contemplating writing something. I just don't know exactly how to word it.

The Leanne that I knew most certainly would have not taken her own life. She was vibrant, motivated, intelligent, and kind. She was a person that was so nice to others, that it was often hard to believe. She never appeared depressed, in fact the term "hyper" could most easily describe her. Had this changed? It is impossible to tell, as no one but Josh had constant contact with her for nearly two years. Correspondence was kept to emails, an occasional Skype, Facebook, and their blog to everyone else. Throughout my occasional correspondence with her throughout the two years of their trip there was no appearance that anything had changed. The last was just a few weeks before she was reported missing. She did admit that she was nervous about "coming back to reality," but appeared to be looking forward to the challenge, not attempting to avoid it. She loved a challenge.

The way that the case was handled I feel was highly questionable. Stories seemed to change, but the media could have had a lot to do with that. The police in Garden Ridge seemed in way over their head in my opinion. How can we ever trust if the witnesses they had were ever credible? Two of them as it turned out were not, leaving only the tree trimmers. The tree trimmers were reported to be witnesses discovered by LE not the family, but really, how credible are they? What was the initial interview with Josh like when he reported her missing? What was his demeanor? It is something that a LE officer with higher experience in violent crime might detect, but probably not in the case of a small town crime free police force. How can an area so close to the alleged disappearance sight be over looked by a professional search team, especially a highly wooded area? When did Leanne make actual voice contact with someone, not texts or emails? Why did Josh and his family's opinion on her disappearance change so swiftly upon the hiring of a PI? The interviews the PI gave seemed condescending to Leanne, almost as if were speaking about a child, not a grown successful woman. These are all valid questions that I doubt anyone will ever have an answer to.

I am not trying to make Josh out like some sort of monster. If something did occur I would doubt it was premeditated. You may ask if I have suspicions of him, and the answer is yes. The last couple of correspondences with Leanne stated that things had been rough for the last couple of months. It appears that I am not the only one she shared this with, and the police do have statements of the such. When this trip ended Josh had found himself with no job, limited finances, and now possibly his everything saying it was a time for a change. It could have pushed him over an edge and he lost control for a brief minute. Speculation, yes, but also motive.

There will always be unanswered questions in this case, and if it was indeed a suicide the only one who holds the answers is gone. The case files may never be seen. Her body was out in the elements for weeks before an autopsy. There were a multitude of other occurrences that make the reported official outcome of this case hard to take. If there truly was a verified hand written letter, it would be nice to know about it. I'm sure it would make many sleep much easier.
February 18, 2014 at 1:36 AM

Anonymous said...

I think some people on here are confusing doubt about this case with a lack of understanding about suicide. That is not the case for many of us.

I very much understand depression and suicide. For posters to say that the family should have been able to prevent a suicide is preposterous, and to say that LB could not have committed suicide because she "seemed happy" or was "looking for a job" is absurd; that's not how depression works at all, and certainly many, many people have committed suicide unexpectedly.

However, there are those of us who both understand depression AND have doubts in this case, perhaps based on contradictions, perhaps based on gut feelings, perhaps based on lack of information, and perhaps completely incorrect.

It is not mutually exclusive to believe and understand that people commit suicide, and to have doubts whether that was the case here.

Anonymous said...

Actually, this may be all that is needed for people to finally let go of suspicions.
https://www.facebook.com/LeanneBearden5k

See the post about Leanne's depression, and the comment below by her sister-in-law (married to her brother).

With this, I will put my own doubts aside unless I hear something different. RIP Leanne.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Actually, this may be all that is needed for people to finally let go of suspicions.
https://www.facebook.com/LeanneBearden5k

See the post about Leanne's depression, and the comment below by her sister-in-law (married to her brother).

With this, I will put my own doubts aside unless I hear something different. RIP Leanne.
February 27, 2014 at 1:23 PM


Although I saw the open letter to Josh, I did not see a particular post about Leanne's depression. Now did I see the comment from her SIL. Please copy and paste to this blog so all of us know what you are talking about. I would like for my own thoughts to be cleared up.

It would be fantastic to see comments from her siblings or parents about her battle with depression as everything we have seen has come from him, his parents or his sister. The in laws have only known her vaguely for 4+ years. We have not see anything from her biological family other than the thank you from her father and how much they miss her.

Anonymous said...

It is easier to fool people, than to convince them they have been fooled.
-Mark Twain-

No, reading some letter someone wrote to josh, that her sister in law agrees with 110% won't make me forget what I saw, heard, read, in real time with this case.

I'd have a hard time explaining this case to someone who didn't know about it, if I didn't have videos & people's comments correlating with what I saw go down with lightning fast speed,
but that evidence is disappearing daily, hmmmmm...
They say what goes on the internet stays on the internet, but that was not what happened with this case. Things were deleted so fast I found myself cutting & pasting a lot as well as trying to retrieve things in the google cache, only to find those shots were inaccessible too.

People don't want to think too much about things, they like believing what they are told.
That's what I have seen, especially with this case.
It started out, "Oh she's just off on an adventure, nothing to see here," to "Oh she was so suicidal, it was just a matter of time, nothing to see here."
It can't be both ways.

There is a term used in psychology called, "Gas-lighting," where a person, often an abuser,
convinces another person or persons, that what they say they have seen and experienced, actually did not happen. Its a brainwashing technique, I've seen the most textbook, slight of hand examples with the Leanne Bearden case.

These are dangerous times, & there are many reasons people shy away from the truth,
usually it is after a threat has been made, and there were many active threats made before Leanne was even found.
I would say Leanne was cursed, as it is obvious resolution & further investigation has been annihilated...
I've seen more effort put into the mystery death of a prostitute, then beloved Leanne.

Only the universe knows, and for now, the bad guys win.

Jane

P.S. Thanks to those with insight and extraordinary verbal articulation, it was very refreshing to read.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Jane, it is amazing how everything has been shut down, deleted, and swept under the rug. I can't seem to wrap my head around it, and can't fathom what has been said or threatened to the blog posters, moderators, etc. Your term "brainwashing" is a good term to use. Unbelievable.

Anonymous said...

I don't want the bad guys to win! We need to keep the pressure on until either questions are answered to a reasonable certainty and inconsistencies are satisfied or someone is held responsible for this tragedy . This case bothers me!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Anonymous-Jane, on February 28, 2014 at 6:21 PM.

Like you, many of us followed this sad disappearance from the beginning. Listening to the continually fluctuating scenarios was disconcerting at best. And the pushiness displayed on some investigative websites by some posters was completely suspicious.

Unfortunately, Leanne is gone and any chance of knowing what actually happened to her is gone with her. With the narcissistic personality traits we have seen, there is little chance that we will know anything else other than blaming the victim Leanne.

Anonymous said...

Anon at 1:51

Strangely, I went to copy the line where the sister in law comments about depression, and it appears to be gone :/

Anonymous said...

Hi there,

I'm a friend of a friend of Leanne's. I didn't know her, but wish I had. I didn't know Josh either and have no idea what really happened the day Leanne disappeared. But I do know that this story has captivated so many people because, by all accounts, Leanne was a captivating human being. She seemed open and kind, with a zest for life that most people could only dream to have.

It's, of course, possible that this was just one side to her. How many of us share the darkest parts of ourselves with the people in our lives? Normally, we reserve those kinds of admissions for those that are closest to us. I have felt suicidal in the distant past, but had only admitted that to a select few. Most of the people in my life would probably be shocked to know this about me. I say this because I want people to know that I understand that it's quite possible that Leanne, a seemingly well put-together, charismatic and deeply loved woman might have hidden her despair from most in her life. She very well, as her obituary suggests, might have succumbed to her depression that afternoon. And perhaps the unwillingness on the parts of people to believe this is possible is, in part, because we just don't want to believe that someone who we grew to love and admire through blog posts, vacation videos, and a sea of fb messages from friends and family who clearly adored her, could have cut such an exciting and promising life so short. How could someone who summoned the will to complete not one or two, but NINE marathons, have ultimately ended her life just weeks after returning to the people she loved the most? It's almost unfathomable.

But with these acknowledgements comes the uneasiness, discomfort and dissatisfaction over how everything transpired that I still can't ignore - the same things that I think others are having a difficult time ignoring, as well. And I feel terrible for feeling this way because I would never want to add to Josh's pain, nor to the pain of Leanne's family. I have no right to demand any answers, and I know that if those who knew Leanne best are accepting that she committed suicide, then I, a perfect stranger, ought to, as well.

I guess I'm writing this as a plea to those who did know Leanne, and who do love Leanne, to make some kind of statement here, one way or another. This page has had close to 3 million views -- by people who only knew Leanne due to the events of the past many weeks, and I imagine others, who were close to her and loved her dearly. Leanne made her way into our hearts and although we didn't know her, we wish we did.

Anonymous said...

Things that I still wonder about...

I wonder if she was being treated for depression. I can't imagine she was on any anti-depressants if she was traveling for so long. You can't stockpile medication for such a trip and I think in many of the countries they visited, it would be difficult to access. I also can't imagine a clinically depressed person just forgoing all treatment for two years. I wonder if she'd struggled with depression her whole life. I haven't broached this with my friend yet, but I will one day.

It may just be his personality, but I think that many of Josh's statements were strange. They have already been highlighted on this page several times over, so no need to repeat them, but I wonder why on her online memorial page, he still says "we" miss you. He was the closest person to her and yet he was the only individual who wrote "we" while addressing her. I also say "we" miss you when I'm speaking to a former co-worker who I wasn't really close to. It's a way of distancing oneself, and it strikes me as odd when you are addressing the love of your life.

Leanne wasn't facebook friends with her parents. Neither are her siblings, yet Josh is.

One of Leanne's friends recently posted about how Leanne helped her get through her own serious bout of depression, convincing her of all the reasons why living was worthwhile.

I find it strangely coincidental that Leanne disappeared just hours before her in-laws returned home from their vacation. And that despite having an interview in an hour, Josh stated that he wasn't concerned until 3 hours had passed, despite the fact that she missed her interview, especially since by all accounts, finding a job was a top priority for her. And why, knowing that she had an interview in an hour, would he tell her "take your time, babe"? There were just certain things about Josh's statements and behaviors that were unexpected and, therefore, signaled a red flag for me, and, apparently, a lot of us.

And, of course, I have been troubled by things that others have already written about.

Despite these concerns, there is no obvious motive. If you can travel with someone for 22 months, you must get along pretty well. There have been no reports of a tumultuous or abusive relationship. They may have been a little mismatched from the perspective of outsiders, but this is the case for so many couples.

I just needed to share my thoughts about this case in a forum filled with people who, like me, have been troubled by it all. Regardless of what really happened, the loss of Leanne was obviously a terrible tragedy. My deepest condolences to everyone who loved her She was a remarkable woman.

Thank you, Peter, for allowing the people who knew her, as well as the people who have only recently come to know her, the opportunity to speak publicly.

-C

Anonymous said...

@ anonymous February 28, 2014 at 9:22 PM...Lovingly I ask how to,

Hold someone accountable, make someone pay... Do you have it in you to devote your life's blood to this case? Because that is what it will take, & beyond. It is obvious the need to bury this case, WHY, Will we ever know???

Murder cases like these can play out for decades, but there still is a chance for truth,
that is possible, even against the odds.

Next clues are as how Josh lives his new found financial freedom with his
"Cash Cow," Leanne.

Someone even wrote to Josh on "their," travel blog saying, "You will get over this soon, it won't take long for you to find love again!"

PUKE!
Think of all the Josh groupies waiting to help him make a come back!
SICK, but TRUE.

He's leaner & meaner NOW! Thanks to his inhibiting trip with Leanne,
WITHOUT it he would be a BLIMP, just look at his parents! LOL. Laugh/cry,
Is he enjoying himself & new found fame thanks to Leanne more than ever? Curious, seems like it.

This, disgusts me the most, about Lethal people, and it was mentioned earlier: Narcissism.

This is how it works, IT IS, what it is, and it works, in the short term & often for long term gains.

but, Karma, wins, IT just does. We may not hear it, see it, but it should be know,
the Universe makes right, in time.

Love, Jane

Anonymous said...

Are we going to quit questioning what are who caused Leanne's death.?

Anonymous said...

AnonymousMarch 3, 2014 at 4:18 PM
Thanks for sharing this blog and video.....just have to say am I the only person thinking there is no way what happened, happened? So sorry for your loss Josh. Never have I seen someone, or two people with such a joy for life....dont get it...

Reply
Replies

Leosh BeardenMarch 3, 2014 at 8:42 PM
It is absolutely devastating and has caused a tremendous amount of pain for the family. None of us get it but it was definitely suicide. No question about it. Depression is no joke and something that a lot of us feel is not properly addressed. We're going to start a foundation in her name for depression awareness. I'm not sure how much of a difference we can make but we'll try as hard as we can. If you know anybody who is having a hard time please make sure you get them the help they need. What happened after she came home was not her. This is the REAL Leanne. Her spirit shined for the world to see.

Anonymous said...

I have been following a "suicide" in which Leanne Hecht Bearden was found hanging from a tree in Garden Ridge, Texas. She went missing on Jan 17, 2014. Her body was found a little over 3 weeks later hanging from a bamboo tree.
The husband acts beyond uncaring in all interviews - Josh Bearden. Only him and his sister mentioned that she was depressed after their 22 month trip around the world. They stopped in Atlanta for a week after their trip, then to his parents. They were the only 2 at the house for a week. She went for a walk around 1:00 p.m. he filed a missing person's report around 5:30 p.m. There were at least 7 fundraisers to help with her search. There was a 5K walk that was on March 9th as a fundraiser, but since they found her body, her immediate family requested it be changed to a memorial and not a fundraiser. He agreed. Within a month he created UpFoundationforhope.org requesting people make generous donations, with Leanne's pictures on it. I read her backpack was attached to her, how would she get the rope out then attach her backpack back? She went hiking with $60 cash, credit cards, and no cellphone. He said he looked in that area so police didn't. Then in interviews tell's homeowners if they have 2000 acres of land to look on their property. She was found only 2 blocks away.
Something is seriously wrong. I do not believe it was a suicide, definitely seems like foul play. Maybe they got in a fight? All I've read online is that she was anxious to return to Denver to find a job and maybe even start a family? Josh supposedly had a job lined up, but where was he in April and May? El Salvador and Spain! The police in the place that's like Mayberry closed the case once they found Leanne's body. The day of her cremation he was on Facebook bullying friends and family from Leanne's account, not his own. He gets angry when anyone accuses him of being involved. I never once heard her immediate family say she suffered from depression. That is something anyone's family would be aware of. Why is it only him and to write that so tacky in her obituary as well! I hope JUSTICE is served and they give him a lie detector test and more investigations are done. Something is not right at all.

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