M. William Phelps

Shock and disbelief, denial, anger, fear.

Some relatives demand information.

Others need psychological support.

And many more will have a visceral reaction.

Cops have to gauge their response and decide from there how far to take questioning them.

There it is.

That visceral reaction I had mentioned.

Perhaps to the shock of three cops and the school psychologist showing up at your door.

It was all she could manage to get out.

Here was a young woman, just 20 years old, shell-shocked, blindsided by the worst news imaginable.

After the news settled, they asked if she knew where her sister Michelle was.

They could not find her and needed to inform her as well.

By home, the detective was referring to Michelle's apartment just on the outskirts of James Madison's campus.

So we drove on over there.

DiBenedetto and Locke made a mental note of Michelle knowing before they had even told her.

It was kind of strange.

How could she know?

Maybe Clara had sent her a message.

After Dr. Schwartz's oldest daughter collected herself, they asked if they could have a more private chat.

First thing they noted was how different the two sisters came across.