Anybody quallified to provide expert testimony?

Unusual request, but then again this is an unusually diverse group. Does anybody know someone who would be considered an expert that could examine a rock sample and identify it as coming from another piece of evidence? Despite the fact that I saw my neighbor taking flagstone out of my driveway, and despite the fact that there's quite a few pieces now in her backyard, it seems the DA needs more "proof".::Censor::

One piece in particular was a big piece of soft white chalk that I wasn't going to use, since it was crumbling. A bunch of that had flaked off and was left behind. I'm looking for someone who can identify and match it with a piece which is now part of her new flagstone path. The fact that I can see it, and the police can see it, apparently isn't enough.

Any one or suggestions?

This sounds like a good project for a local college kid who studies rocks. Try the local schools.

Oh my the trials and tribulations of life on Tara Plantation. ;-)

Why is the lady taking you flagstones??

Tell her you licked one of them. That will stop her from taking more. ;)

Or you could "mark" them every time you need to recycle some coffee or beer...

::turd:: make an excellent mortar for keeping flagstones in place!

Make a template and paint 'MINE' on the underside of each one.

I dunno that I'd pursue this, but I'd turn in to 'that' neighbor. Group Seafoam day when the wind is right kind of thing.

Just start throwing your unused rocks through her window. Saves her the trouble of stealing them from you.

Murder her.

Well... if it's really THAT hard to determine who owns a rock... go over there and steal 'em back!

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Oh my the trials and tribulations of life on Tara Plantation. ;-)

Why is the lady taking you flagstones??

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She's making a stone path in her backyard and it was easier to go over to my driveway and take them off the pallet than to go somewhere and, say, buy them. She's a lovely piece of work, according to neighborhood stories she's a shoplifter and also likes to go to garage sales and lift things there as well. She also poisoned my daughter's kitten 3 years ago but couldn't prove it. THAT is why I'm pressing charges on this.

Man, she sounds like a piece o' work. Do we need to have an MME beat dow... I mean "tech day" over at your place? ::EvilBana

What's annoying about the DA needing more evidence is that, in addition to the white piece that stood out like a sore thumb, there was a very distinct triangular shaped piece, about 16 inches each side with a perfect right angle where it looked like someone took a bite out of the corner. There was also a notch taken out of one of the side, so it was unique like a snowflake, not another one like it. This pallet of flagstone has been out in the weather for some time, so when it was Attachment 5141removed, it left a perfect "footprint", a shadow on the stone below. And she had placed it just two feet on the other side of the fence! But not enough "proof" for the DA.

Attachment 5140

Man, Colleyville has really gone downhill since POS Racing left. You'd have thought things would get better. ::Banana::

Hmmm. New thought. Roll over there with a hammer and turn all the stolen stuff into gravel and dust.

Why not just go over and retrieve the rocks?? Seems a lot easier than bothering Colleyville's finest.

She thinks she can get away with this & you need to prove her wrong!

^^^
This.

They are asking for more evidence because they don't want to pursue it.

I was a Geology undergraduate, so I can tell you two things:

1) Yes, you can definitively identify two peices of the same rock as being from the same formation.
2) The defense can easily claim that the rock is so common as to be easily sourced from the same formation coincidentally.

Where did you get your flagstone? If it is from a specific source that can be identified? (A local landscape company might buy from a certain quarry, HD will buy in massive bulk) A formation of limestone (or anything else) will have a unique combination of fossils and mineral, diagenetic iron, etc. This can be analyzed and confirmed as a match. Problem is, you'd need a chemistry or geology lab to do this, which will cost $$ even at a university, and the DA ain't paying. You probably can't pay for it yourself, as you are the compliantant. Maybe you could ask a geology grad student from UNT or UTA to come take a look, but I think you've got a dud here without support from the DA.

I'd call the local news; they always have some reporter who likes to shame people into good behavior.

I could have easily retrieved all the rocks already but that's not the point, I would have given those pieces away. The point is, she's a loathesome excuse of a person, did I mention she poisoned my daughter's kitten? She has been getting away with behavior like this for years. Every time someone happens to park in front of her house, she calls the police, which have been outstanding in the handling of this matter. They know she stole it and are as frustrated with the DA's office as I am. I have two detectives working with me and they have offered a lot of support and suggestions. She was served with a notice of criminal trespass and will be automatically arrested if she ever comes on my property again, something she has done repeatedly for over ten years, insisting that my driveway is a public easement she can use anytime she wants (zoning officer was also on the scene and explained to her it isn't). Guess what she was doing at 10 AM Mother's Day morning? Standing in my driveway, cutting my crepe myrtles in her pajamas and leaving the branches wherever they fell.

This has been simmering a long time, in fact the detectives asked how I was so patient for so long. You know, you got to try to get along with your neighbors, especially the ones next door.

Ozmdd had some helpful suggestions. It is from a stone company, not HD. I had thought about contacting the news, but how can you shame someone who has no conscience? Did I mention she poisoned my daughter's kitten?

So you just have a vendetta towards her and the rocks put you over the edge. Got it! Good luck with your battle!

Seems to me we have a moderator who is both a pre-law student AND works in the local TV-news business. In for his response. ;-)

At the recommendation of the police, I picked this up because having a dated, time stamped video of a crime taking place is the only way the DA will take on a case these days. for the next time.

Next time she's on your property, just shoot her... :rolleyes:

Give the lady a break It's not like she poisoned a kitten. Jeesh! ;)

Actually, install a video surveillance system. Then take back your property. If the skanky bitch decides to retrieve her ill-gotten gains you will have all the proof you need for the DA.

Also, document everything in a journal, make notes of dates, times, events, everything, leave nothing out and write down your entries on the day they happen.

Once the camera is installed, don't forget to add some bait.

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Originally Posted by Titus

Once the camera is installed, don't forget to add some bait.

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That will require the sacrifice of a virgin.

You've got OZMDD's very good input on the geological side of things. The suggestion of talking to Bean, assuming he is, in fact, still alive, is a pretty decent one, as well.

Any idea on just how many of these stones were snagged? 1? 3? All of the ones for her path? ...and pardon me for being ignorant, but what would that quantity/weight of stones actually cost, were said skanky neighbor to actually purchase the things?

As to expert testimony, tricky and I had an interesting science teacher in middle and high school who was also a Geologist educated at Stanford, UT-D and, as I understand it, School of Mines. Not sure where he might be these days (and that might be for the best considering some of his...quirks), but he'd be the only person I could point you toward.

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Originally Posted by juxt3r

As to expert testimony, tricky and I had an interesting science teacher in middle and high school who was also a Geologist educated at Stanford, UT-D and, as I understand it, School of Mines. Not sure where he might be these days (and that might be for the best considering some of his...quirks), but he'd be the only person I could point you toward.

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Man, I almost forgot about him! I believe he's still at the ol' Alma Mater. Dave might still have contact with him through his fencing stuff. I can check around...

:)

be warned that there are some new laws out that make it illegal to film someone with out their permission ,and second it has always been illegal to record someones voice with out their permission. This may not be a problem if being done for legal reasons.
If you notice all places have a sign that video cameras are installed ,yet none of them have voice or sound
At one time a drive way was viewed as public property . Dad had a dispute with a car dealership and they were trying to repo the car Dad kept it in the yard
When it went to coiurt the judge rulled as long as it was in the yard then it could not be touched if however, he ever parked it in the driveway or street both were public property and they could grab and go
You never know till you get in a court room two lawyers walk in and one of them looses so one is always wrong.
I feel for you but be careful what you do and cover your basses before doing and do not believe everything the detectives are telling you