Livejournal Entry / IP Address ?

[SpikeyMikey]

Allow me to start out by saying this is my first post and I’m not 100% sure if this subject has been brought up much in the past or not but on Sept 23rd there was an entry in Taylor's Livejournal account (http://www.livejournal.com/users/tiabliaj/13977.html?thread=36249#t36249) that stated:

“(...) i haven't been found is because i don't want to be... im happy now, im sick of living in fear, i've had my ups and downs but now im starting over, i'll visit after the new year comes in but untill then just stay calm, hold your head, you can keep praying for me if it makes you feel better but im alright now, it's all ok.... it's gonna be ok...”

Now from what I’ve read it seems that everyone has blown this off as someone posing has her. What I was wondering is – doesn’t Livejournal keep IP address logs? I always thought that while I was a member on there it was kept with each message/comment/entry. Whether the IP address belongs to a suspect or just some kid playing a prank – I’d like to know.

Any thoughts?

[guineaneck]

Good work! I'd forgotten about the LiveJournal, and no, no one has brought it up that I'm aware of. I would love to know what computer-savvy person hacked her account...

[SpikeyMikey]

Well from what I remember - the entry was left as "anonymous" which is a pretty basic deal that allows anyone to leave responses whether they are a member or not.

So I wouldnt say the account was hacked since anyone could leave an anonymous post. Now it would be dif if she had started a whole new topic - which I dont believe it was.

I'd still assume that there would be some sort of IP Address Log.

If it is a prank, which is highly possible, its a real shame. Some people just take a sick joy in toying with others emotions.

[guineaneck]

I went ahead and reported it to Livejournal abuse investigations...
"I am reporting this on behalf of a dead girl... who had been recently murdered at the time this entry was made, but whose body was just found (Taylor Behl, VCU student). We have also notified Richmond, VA Police. Please contact them with the identification of the user who posted this entry so that they can determine its significance to the homicide case."

[MaxwellSmart]

I remember this SpikeyMikey, just as you described. I would guess that LE was monitoring her LJ and others, and probably tracking everyone that left comments etc. I know zip nada about how LJ works, again just guessing that they surely tracked down that IP address if they could. What a rotten thing for someone anonymous to do.

I have a question for you -- I've never used LJ or a blog or any of those sorts of things -- though I did read a lot of Taylor's past entries and BF's as they were being deleted before my eyes. How accurate are the times / dates with each entry? Is this something logged by the LJ or is it something the user enters? For instance, say BF had an entry labelled 4-3-05 - is it set in stone that is when it was actually posted? Or could he make an entry on 8-12-05 and date it for April? (Random dates, just curious.)

[SpikeyMikey]

Maxwell: - Your post had me thinking so much that I had to reopen an old account of mine on there and check.

You may edit the dates/times to your own liking. If I wanted to set my post to a very old date all I would have to do is turn off the "backdate option" simple as that.

[Hey Paula]

Couldn't someone use Taylor's computer to make that journal entry?

[SpikeyMikey]

Yes someone could have used her computer but by that date, the 23rd, I would have guessed her computer was taken for evidence.

[MaxwellSmart]

Originally posted by SpikeyMikey
Maxwell: - Your post had me thinking so much that I had to reopen an old account of mine on there and check.

You may edit the dates/times to your own liking. If I wanted to set my post to a very old date all I would have to do is turn off the "backdate option" simple as that.

Thank you!
I had never been to LJ before reading about Taylor. It was enlightening to say the least, after randomly viewing some and looking at the "interests" on Skulz, yikes!

Hey Paula - the entry didn't have to come from Taylor's computer or her account -- it was a comment in response to a post of her's -- there were several comments by others too -- this one was signed "anonymous" as opposed to a username.

[MaxwellSmart]

Originally posted by SpikeyMikey
Yes someone could have used her computer but by that date, the 23rd, I would have guessed her computer was taken for evidence.

I don't remember the dates, but they took her computer from the dorm, as well as one from home.

[Hey Paula]

Originally posted by MaxwellSmart


Thank you!
I had never been to LJ before reading about Taylor. It was enlightening to say the least, after randomly viewing some and looking at the "interests" on Skulz, yikes!

Hey Paula - the entry didn't have to come from Taylor's computer or her account -- it was a comment in response to a post of her's -- there were several comments by others too -- this one was signed "anonymous" as opposed to a username.

Thanks MS!

When I read "I haven't been found because I don't want to be", I took it for granted that it was supposed to be Taylor's entry, and thought that perhaps someone wanted it to be believed that Taylor had gone away of her own volition.

[SpikeyMikey]

I’m just so saddened by all of this. Yes I fully realize that it is not uncommon for cases such as this but I suppose this has had such an impact on me because I actually took the time to read her words.

As a member of myspace and past user of Livejournal – I knew that a lot of people would pour their emotions out on those sites so I was a bit nervous to even look her profiles. After doing so it took things to a whole other level for me and a big reason why I’m on this forum now and posting.

Yes this is a bit off topic since my thread was about the IP Address/ETC but I guess I just needed to really say it since there isn’t anyone around me that really wants to talk about it. So thank you all for my listening to my ramblings/thoughts.

[Hey Paula]

Originally posted by SpikeyMikey
I’m just so saddened by all of this. Yes I fully realize that it is not uncommon for cases such as this but I suppose this has had such an impact on me because I actually took the time to read her words.

As a member of myspace and past user of Livejournal – I knew that a lot of people would pour their emotions out on those sites so I was a bit nervous to even look her profiles. After doing so it took things to a whole other level for me and a big reason why I’m on this forum now and posting.

Yes this is a bit off topic since my thread was about the IP Address/ETC but I guess I just needed to really say it since there isn’t anyone around me that really wants to talk about it. So thank you all for my listening to my ramblings/thoughts.

Hi SM!

Please feel free to talk about anything you like with us on this board. I, for one, will listen and reply.

It must be incredibly difficult for you to read Taylor's thoughts, a young girl, who has been taken from this earth, and whose life was ended before it began. It sends a chill throughout my body when I read her entries too, and I can only imagine how much more you feel it, being able to relate even more closely as one who used LiveJournal yourself.

You are not alone. Someone on this board will always listen. We are all saddened, so you are not alone.

Take care,
Paula

[SpikeyMikey]

Paula,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. I wasn’t sure if anyone was going to since there had been 30+ views since I posted that but no responses ha. This case has just taken me for a real loop.

While I was in high school, a fellow student of mine was abducted from her front yard and later found murdered. The guy that was arrested actually lived right around the corner from where my friends and I would take many walks at night.

A short time later, two sisters that lived in my area were both abducted and murdered. In both cases it was long and drawn out.

Sure at the time I thought “wow this is awful” but it never really hit me as hard as it has with this case.

[Hey Paula]

Originally posted by SpikeyMikey
Paula,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. I wasn’t sure if anyone was going to since there had been 30+ views since I posted that but no responses ha. This case has just taken me for a real loop.

While I was in high school, a fellow student of mine was abducted from her front yard and later found murdered. The guy that was arrested actually lived right around the corner from where my friends and I would take many walks at night.

A short time later, two sisters that lived in my area were both abducted and murdered. In both cases it was long and drawn out.

Sure at the time I thought “wow this is awful” but it never really hit me as hard as it has with this case.



Why do you suppose Taylor's case had a greater impact on you, SM?

[SpikeyMikey]

Paula,

It could be a number of things including: I’m no longer living in the Northern VA/Richmond area so I feel as if I can no longer protect my close girl friends + family. Or maybe because sometime in the near future I may have a family of my own. Above all the dif between the three cases is that I was able to really read her thoughts, etc and I think that led to the biggest impact so far. There is just so much info at your fingertips its incredible.

Gosh this is totally gotten off topic here! I apologize for anyone reading this post, looking for info on live journal and IP addresses!! I promise if you read the beginning of the thread – you’ll find what you are looking for!

[MaxwellSmart]

SpikeyMikey -
I hear ya. I think many folks who post here feel this way -- I know for me - reading her own words --- as you said, takes this to a whole nother level. Taylor equates any girl one of us might know-- sister, niece, cousin, daughter, granddaughter. Then I start thinking about the girls like her that I do know, and it rips me up to know, this could be any one of them.

When I was 17, we were invincible! There was no fear, especially out with "friends"!!! I think Taylor had enough wits about her to judge people, she most certainly was not naive, nor sheltered, and I mean this as a positive --- she had travelled, she'd had a job, met lots of people on her own. She wasn't the first girl taken in by BF.

When I saw his pic, saw he was 38, saw his history, yup I thought he was a creep, but he's befriending the teens/20s, maybe they thought - cool, he's legal, weird, probably harmless, but dude he can buy beer, or get us...

I'm right PO'd because I don't see a way to teach this at a younger age, everyone learns as they go. How do you teach a girl to recognize the monster that may lurk behind a baby faced front like this?
jmo

[Bluprint]

In one of Ben's blogs, he says the following:
Journal Entry: Fri Sep 23, 2005, 10:40 AM

As a friend read her story to me I was shooting some of my older work. I am missing some projects or I have just missplaced them. I have been cleaning house as my roommate moved out. I now have bits and pices of two who have left this apartment (I'm sure he's referring to their personal belongings and memories). But I do like the one who has kept me company the past two weeks or so. ~ Also want to tank the others who came buy to hang out. Just a side note, I have more leather jackets if needed.

Gee, me a skulls, what's the deal? ...I guess every red-neck with a deer skull is a closet killer? They play with guns, kill things for sport, and have skulls around.

Also, I wanted to pose a few questions:
1. Isn't it possible Taylor gave Jesse a ride home late that evening, putting his scent in her car?
2. Could Jesse have been doing drugs in the car with Taylor (highly illegal stuff for a 17 y/o), again putting his scent in her car? He'd deny that of course. No child admits to drug use. I didn't!
3. Of course you'd find some of Taylor's stuff at Ben's! She was there earlier that night... they were reportedly intimate. Okay that's not a question.
4. If Erin was involved, how would she just "happen" to know Taylor wasn't at home in bed?
5. If Ben had kept her alive for a few days, it would make sense why they suddenly found her car returned to her neighborhood. Ben had wireless web and he was strangely off topic between Sept 8-19, 2005. As if he was purposely avoiding something. Another reason I think this is because Ben is VERY vague with numbers in general throughout all 5 of his online blogs. He even said he hated math. However he unconciously says "the past two weeks or so"... illustrating a period of time that's been on his mind.
6. I'm a myspace member and around the 12th of Sept a bulletin went around seeking assistance in finding Taylor. A link to her page was put up and I added her to my "favorites." If you notice how many of her closest friends plead for her to come home. It's funny how Ben, someone she knew quite well didn't say anything. He didn't show the slightest concern for her HOWEVER he did manage to delete one of his prior (Aug) comments. I remembered seeing it there. And she has 127 comments but if you count them, there are only 125 showing. If a comment is deleted, the comment count DOES NOT RE-ADJUST! Ben deleted his comments from ALL of his friend's pages. ALL OF THEM! But he did not delete his account. Why? Because around the 19th of September, MySpace was having log-in problems and we were unable to make account changes. That was the last time Ben logged on.

Everything is way too convenient for anyone besides Ben to be involved. I was kidnapped when I was 5 and I can tell you the captor doesn't always think. Mines grabbed me and threw me into his car but he didn't lock the doors (back in the day when you had to manually push down those stick-like locks near the window). We'd gotten no more than a block away when he OBEYED traffic and stopped at a stop sign. I looked at him, and thought, "this is silly, I'm not going with you," and jumped out. He grabbed my hand... and my lunchpail but I squirmed away. I ran to the postwoman delivering mail and the rest is history.

Now I work with mentally ill patients and so many of them are "functioning" to the point that they check themselves out of hospitals. Reading Ben's entries throughout Sept show A LOT of signs of stress. BEFORE his name was mentioned in the press.

Also, regarding Erin: Ben had recently switched to using a digital camera and was re-shooting his "older work." A lot of his "older work" involved Erin. I think this threw salt on his wounds because I noticed he started using the "skull emoticon" to buffer his entries. He was angry. And his anger manifested itself thru his hurried language and the thought patterns. Sadly my ex husband suffers from Bi-polar disorder and I see the exact same behavioral patterns in Ben. The slight violence, emotional outbursts, the victim mentality, the constant need for affirmation (pre-kidnapping he goes on and on about the number of visitors his site gets, like anyone cares!) and most importantly, the ADDICTIVE personality (ie., his obsession with photos). Ben didn't have to want to kill her. Accidents do happen. Life happens!

Anyways, we see this all the time. I'm sure VA has qualified doctors and psychiatrists that can aid this investigation.

I think the DA is going to be extra careful with this case considering how Halloway's case has gone.

Good luck SuperCyberSleuths... I've given way too much consideration to this tragedy. Taylor's not home with mama but she's definitely in all of our hearts. *Positive vibes and strength to her family*

[bkqueen]

well the person would not have needed taylors computer, nor would they even need to hack in.. just comment. Any one of us can do it, because her livejournal accepts anonymous posts..
http://www.livejournal.com/users/tiabliaj/13977.html?view=87193#t87193
the last comment.. i made..
i think you have to go to page 1 to find the one by the anony. that the OP is talking about...

*waves*

[guineaneck]

Livejournal support emailed me after I sent the request and said they were working with police and the family... in other words, they're on it already.... just one of the things we may never know.

[PMcOuntry]

Originally posted by SpikeyMikey
Allow me to start out by saying this is my first post and I’m not 100% sure if this subject has been brought up much in the past or not but on Sept 23rd there was an entry in Taylor's Livejournal account (http://www.livejournal.com/users/tiabliaj/13977.html?thread=36249#t36249) that stated:

“(...) i haven't been found is because i don't want to be... im happy now, im sick of living in fear, i've had my ups and downs but now im starting over, i'll visit after the new year comes in but untill then just stay calm, hold your head, you can keep praying for me if it makes you feel better but im alright now, it's all ok.... it's gonna be ok...”

Now from what I’ve read it seems that everyone has blown this off as someone posing has her. What I was wondering is – doesn’t Livejournal keep IP address logs? I always thought that while I was a member on there it was kept with each message/comment/entry. Whether the IP address belongs to a suspect or just some kid playing a prank – I’d like to know.

Any thoughts?

Was it left as a "comment" or an actual "entry". I doubt it's too hard to hack LiveJournal if you know how.

[bkqueen]

Originally posted by PMcOuntry


Was it left as a "comment" or an actual "entry". I doubt it's too hard to hack LiveJournal if you know how.

It was left as an ANONYMOUS comment.. basically ANYONE can write anything the want..

sick that the perosn who wrote it did, but no hacking,etc. was involved..

*waves*

[PMcOuntry]

Sounds kind of like a song or poem.

[BevAnn]

Bluprint - what a post! Very very good insight and thoughts! I specifically agree with your assessment of his bi-polar obsession - it was with photos AND license plates. I think you are 100% on with many of your observations!

What a horrible memory for you - the attempted abduction! I am very glad you were calm enough, to stop and think, and get yourself out of that situation! A very smart and intelligent child you were!

Bev Ann

[PMcOuntry]

Originally posted by Bluprint
In one of Ben's blogs, he says the following:
Journal Entry: Fri Sep 23, 2005, 10:40 AM

As a friend read her story to me I was shooting some of my older work. I am missing some projects or I have just missplaced them. I have been cleaning house as my roommate moved out. I now have bits and pices of two who have left this apartment (I'm sure he's referring to their personal belongings and memories). But I do like the one who has kept me company the past two weeks or so. ~ Also want to tank the others who came buy to hang out. Just a side note, I have more leather jackets if needed.

Gee, me a skulls, what's the deal? ...I guess every red-neck with a deer skull is a closet killer? They play with guns, kill things for sport, and have skulls around.

Also, I wanted to pose a few questions:
1. Isn't it possible Taylor gave Jesse a ride home late that evening, putting his scent in her car?
2. Could Jesse have been doing drugs in the car with Taylor (highly illegal stuff for a 17 y/o), again putting his scent in her car? He'd deny that of course. No child admits to drug use. I didn't!
3. Of course you'd find some of Taylor's stuff at Ben's! She was there earlier that night... they were reportedly intimate. Okay that's not a question.
4. If Erin was involved, how would she just "happen" to know Taylor wasn't at home in bed?
5. If Ben had kept her alive for a few days, it would make sense why they suddenly found her car returned to her neighborhood. Ben had wireless web and he was strangely off topic between Sept 8-19, 2005. As if he was purposely avoiding something. Another reason I think this is because Ben is VERY vague with numbers in general throughout all 5 of his online blogs. He even said he hated math. However he unconciously says "the past two weeks or so"... illustrating a period of time that's been on his mind.
6. I'm a myspace member and around the 12th of Sept a bulletin went around seeking assistance in finding Taylor. A link to her page was put up and I added her to my "favorites." If you notice how many of her closest friends plead for her to come home. It's funny how Ben, someone she knew quite well didn't say anything. He didn't show the slightest concern for her HOWEVER he did manage to delete one of his prior (Aug) comments. I remembered seeing it there. And she has 127 comments but if you count them, there are only 125 showing. If a comment is deleted, the comment count DOES NOT RE-ADJUST! Ben deleted his comments from ALL of his friend's pages. ALL OF THEM! But he did not delete his account. Why? Because around the 19th of September, MySpace was having log-in problems and we were unable to make account changes. That was the last time Ben logged on.

Everything is way too convenient for anyone besides Ben to be involved. I was kidnapped when I was 5 and I can tell you the captor doesn't always think. Mines grabbed me and threw me into his car but he didn't lock the doors (back in the day when you had to manually push down those stick-like locks near the window). We'd gotten no more than a block away when he OBEYED traffic and stopped at a stop sign. I looked at him, and thought, "this is silly, I'm not going with you," and jumped out. He grabbed my hand... and my lunchpail but I squirmed away. I ran to the postwoman delivering mail and the rest is history.

Now I work with mentally ill patients and so many of them are "functioning" to the point that they check themselves out of hospitals. Reading Ben's entries throughout Sept show A LOT of signs of stress. BEFORE his name was mentioned in the press.

Also, regarding Erin: Ben had recently switched to using a digital camera and was re-shooting his "older work." A lot of his "older work" involved Erin. I think this threw salt on his wounds because I noticed he started using the "skull emoticon" to buffer his entries. He was angry. And his anger manifested itself thru his hurried language and the thought patterns. Sadly my ex husband suffers from Bi-polar disorder and I see the exact same behavioral patterns in Ben. The slight violence, emotional outbursts, the victim mentality, the constant need for affirmation (pre-kidnapping he goes on and on about the number of visitors his site gets, like anyone cares!) and most importantly, the ADDICTIVE personality (ie., his obsession with photos). Ben didn't have to want to kill her. Accidents do happen. Life happens!

Anyways, we see this all the time. I'm sure VA has qualified doctors and psychiatrists that can aid this investigation.

I think the DA is going to be extra careful with this case considering how Halloway's case has gone.

Good luck SuperCyberSleuths... I've given way too much consideration to this tragedy. Taylor's not home with mama but she's definitely in all of our hearts. *Positive vibes and strength to her family*

I just noticed this post and wow, great insight, wish I had thought of it, LOL. Great points!

Sorry to hear about your ordeal as a child, but I find that children will not panic as fast as an adult, children have less worries in their world and more time to think things through... in your case, you were like, why should I go somewhere w/a complete stranger and you got out of the car when it stopped! That is wonderful!

I like your points on him not commenting every on her dissapearance, I kept looking for a note or post, but never saw one and breifly wondered about that myself. And his change in moods for those 2 weeks and his comments for ppl to keep it quiet. Why would he keep anything quiet, he blabbed about everything on the face of the earth!

On a side note, why when I have not posted in over 60 seconds, does it say I have?! Very annoying.

[BoneyMaroney]

Originally posted by SpikeyMikey
Allow me to start out by saying this is my first post and I’m not 100% sure if this subject has been brought up much in the past or not but on Sept 23rd there was an entry in Taylor's Livejournal account (http://www.livejournal.com/users/tiabliaj/13977.html?thread=36249#t36249) that stated:

“(...) i haven't been found is because i don't want to be... im happy now, im sick of living in fear, i've had my ups and downs but now im starting over, i'll visit after the new year comes in but untill then just stay calm, hold your head, you can keep praying for me if it makes you feel better but im alright now, it's all ok.... it's gonna be ok...”

Now from what I’ve read it seems that everyone has blown this off as someone posing has her. What I was wondering is – doesn’t Livejournal keep IP address logs? I always thought that while I was a member on there it was kept with each message/comment/entry. Whether the IP address belongs to a suspect or just some kid playing a prank – I’d like to know.

Any thoughts?


No matter who the prankster was that wrote that, it was a cruel thing to do to ther parents. I hope no one thought they were doing her parents a favor by taking that to them. IMO

[nibblet]

Originally posted by guineaneck
Livejournal support emailed me after I sent the request and said they were working with police and the family... in other words, they're on it already.... just one of the things we may never know.

thanks guineaneck!! What a disturbing thing for someone to do to a victim.

:seeya: