Beyond 90 Seconds

Check out this June 2, 2008 story: Photos offer closer look at condo rented by Redding

related article: Santa Monica’s third homicide of 2008 ( May 21, 2008 )

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Well, it’s been suggested that I include a disclaimer in this post, so I’ll begin by doing so.

DISCLAIMER: I had nothing to do with the posters/flyers found on a popular street in Venice, California on Sunday, May 4, 2008.

Okay, got that out of the way. But I can certainly see why some might have had any conspiracy theory tendencies twitching today. And in the event that you have that inclination, you might want to read this story before you pull the trigger.

Let me explain. The posters not only show a picture of the late Juliana Redding, they also ask the question, “Who killed Juliana Redding?”

It’s the same question that appeared in a March 17, 2008 headline on this blog. In fact–as of this moment–if you were to Google “Juliana Redding,” that post is likely to rank #1 or #2 out nearly 29,000 results.

A Los Angeles woman did just that. We spoke on the phone this morning. She does not wish to be identified.

I contacted the woman after learning she had photographed the posters. And she’s kindly agreed to share her photographs here.

The story of the “mystery posters” unfolded not far from Santa Monica (where Redding had been found murdered in her apartment March 16).

The posters recently turned-up in neighboring Venice on Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

“Abbot Kinney” features high-end shops popular with tourists. It’s also a short distance from the beach.

At about 10am yesterday, the woman approached the café where she’d planned to meet a friend for coffee.

“I was walking down the street and there were just all of these pieces of paper all over the pavement,” the woman told me.

She initially wondered if the posters were aimed at promoting a movie; a somewhat common tact taken by folks marketing films in the area.

The posters simply said, “Who killed Juliana Redding?” The woman had never heard of such a movie. Nor was she familiar with the person’s name within the question.

(Fact is there is no such film. But Juliana Redding was once very much alive.)

“So, I walked over to my friend who was sitting outside of this café, and I just said, ‘What are these posters?’ And she said, ‘I don’t know, but it’s really annoying because it’s all over the pavement.’”

The woman, who has her own blog, felt compelled to take a brief stroll down the block and document the scene.

“They (posters) were just all over the ground. Sprinkled on the ground.”

She tells it so well, let’s give her the next few paragraphs:

”So, I just walked up and down the pavement and I took some photos. And there were probably at least 15 that I saw within a two block radius on Abbot Kinney. And it seemed like they’d either been put there Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

“Some of them were stuffed underneath doorways or wedged into windows at the retail stores. But it was clear someone had just gone and thrown them all over the sidewalk.

“And I guess it was just surprising because there was no contact information. And it seemed odd that if someone was trying to help solve this mystery, why wouldn’t they put some kind of contact (information)?

“I mean, the only thing it seemed to do was make people want to go look at it and then go Google (the name) Juliana Redding to see what this was about. So, it’s just kind of an odd campaign.

“You might want to do a disclaimer and say (the posters) have nothing to do with you. Because it’s odd.”

Point noted. Whew!

But the posters remain interesting.

Why not any contact information? Even a number to call police?

And why strew them along a trendy Venice street?

According to at least one media report, Redding “was working to make ends meet as a hostess at a tapas restaurant and wine bar in Venice.”

Perhaps the flyers are aimed at pressuring law enforcement to step-up its investigation. Miffed shop owners get the attention of local leaders.

Yikes, now I’m posing a conspiracy theory. I’ll slow down

And who’s to say police aren’t working their tails off? They’ve kept a lot of information between themselves and the killer(s).

Including the findings of the autopsy report.

As always, your comments are welcome here.