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Question 15 - June 28, 2001 - Meauxjax from Jacksonville, FL asked, “Why weren’t the police contacted after the attack on Lance? It sounded pretty brutal. Couldn’t he have been charged with assault and battery since it was witnessed by a room full of people.”

Response 15: That is a very good question . . . for Lance. Personally, had it been me, I would have pressed charges. After Kyle left with Raychel, I asked Lance if he wanted me to call the police, but he refused. I would have thought that he was afraid of Kyle, but he showed no fear of him when Lance broke into Kyle’s apartment shortly after that.

Question 16 - June 29, 2001 - Jodi from Olympia, WA asked, “In your response to question 8 you stated that the last time you had seen Ray was about a month before she was murdered. Then in your response to question 12 you stated that you last spoke with her at a Bleeders meeting on August 12, 2000. This insinuates that you spoke face to face, not on the phone or through a third party. Which is true? Did you last see her a month before her murder, or 5 days before her murder? Please clarify this inconsistency.”

Response 16: This is not an inconsistency! You misunderstood my answer in question 8. At that time, I was responding to questions from the police regarding Raychel’s living with me. For that occasion, I limited my responses to them to that subject. Therefore, I told them that the last time that I had seen her (under the condition of living with me) was a month prior to her murder. This is true. Question 12, on the other hand, was a question to the last occasion of my meeting and speaking with Raychel (with no boundaries or conditions). Therefore, I answered August 12th, which was correct. I understand how you might accidentally come to that conclusion; however, I have told the truth and not lied during this or any other previous occasion and I resent being presented as a liar!

Question 17 - September 10, 2001 - Christina from Evansville, IN asked, "Sharon claims to have followed the trail of the check(s) that were paid to her and found out that the account was opened under an assumed name, and with cash. I would like to know what the name is, how she knows it is an assumed name, whether it was a man or a woman, and if she was able to secure a copy of the picture id used to open the account. If what she claims is true, she should have most of that information. I posed these questions to her in an e-mail, but have received no reply. Maybe she's busy. Or perhaps there is another reason she is less than forth coming?..."

Response 17:  Knowing Sharon, she’s probably peeping in someone’s window right now. I’ll look out mine just in case. Please check you own.  Otherwise, I don’t know where she is. I don’t like to get too close to her.

Question 18 - September 26, 2001 - Julie from IL asked, "I am surprised you haven't written anything to discredit your critics.  They say you had a big part in keeping Raychel in drugs and helped with her addiction so she would stay at Safehaven.  I have to say now that Kyle looks like an angel and you look like the Devil with Lance as your servant demon trying to find ways to hook Raychel to staying with you at Safehaven.  Why would you do that?  And are you or Lance into unlawful substances?  Do you think by you being mad at your plan involving Ken Kincaid telling Lance how Raychel had affairs with Geoffrey, Ken etc. (and that she wasn't coming back to Safehaven) made him mad enough to go and kill Raychel because if he couldn’t have her again then no one else would?  Ken was going to make her more famous than Safehaven ever could and that meant Laura and Safehaven being forgotten and left as it always was until Lance had spruced it up a bit and then well the livelihood Raychel brought to the place (well, she took that with her) and when Kyle saved her and got her off the drugs that has been said you kept her in to keep her coming back to you and Safehaven well she didn't need you as much, and then when Ken got her the deal which I believe you set up sort of ...I don't think you planned on him falling for her.  Did you and Lance, out of anger and obsession, decide to kill Raychel together?  Or did you hire a hit on Raychel because you and Safehaven or even Lance couldn't get what you wanted out of Raychel to help you become famous?  Being jealous of all the talent she had and the attention her art got, and even though you knew Ken (he never looked at your art or you the way he looked at Raychel and her arts); did you put a hit out on Raychel and have her killed by someone we all know or did you do it yourself?  I would hate to believe these things but I believe they have to be aired.  This also includes what was said in my questions to Lance."

Response 18:  I haven’t responded with any Memories recently because I frontloaded my time on the web site to help build Raychel’s legacy.  Unfortunately, Kyle McAllister has wasted his time by tearing down others who loved Raychel and replacing it with his own perverse take on Raychel’s life.  I thought it might happen, but Raychel’s legacy was more important than my public perception.  It’s a trade I would make a hundred times over, and I will.

"I think she needed the challenge that a music career could provide.  It definitely would have been better for her to be a singer/songwriter vs. being a poet.  When’s the last time you hear about a poet’s latest world tour grossing a million a night?"

Since you’re using Kyle’s words to ask your question about Raychel’s alleged drug use, I think you already believe that he is telling the truth.  Then I can’t help you if your mind is closed.  And since admitting to knowledge of any drug use (either mine or Raychel’s) on this web site might open me up to a search warrant of my home for drugs, I choose to sidestep your drug question.  However, I would like to point out – theoretically – that if Raychel did use unlawful substances, she was capable of making her own decisions.  As her friend, if she told me she needed help kicking a drug habit, I would have helped her without hesitation.  I also wouldn’t kidnap her against her will and force her to bend to my will.  But, hey, that’s just me.

I think you have my intentions about introducing Ken to Raychel mixed up a little.  I did introduce them to get Raychel her recording contract, but I could care less if she left The Bleeders to pursue a music career.  I just didn’t want Kyle McAllister to benefit from it and it seemed the best way to accomplish it at the time.  In the three months between Raychel’s abduction and their resurfacing, Kyle re-created Raychel.  Because it wasn’t really Raychel it didn’t work for me.  That being said, I think she needed the challenge that a music career could provide.  It definitely would have been better for her to be a singer/songwriter vs. being a poet.  When’s the last time you hear about a poet’s latest world tour grossing a million a night?  I wanted Ken and Raychel to hit it off, run off Kyle, and have them pursue a music career that was Raychel’s, not Raychel’s abductor.

Like poets, painters don’t get the credit they deserve until they’re dead.  So, no, I was not jealous of Raychel’s career furthering before mine.  Raychel was the most talented person I had the privilege of knowing.  I will miss her for however long I am lucky to live.  She made me appreciate each day I knew her.  There is a dream I didn’t get because of her murder.  Like I said, I wanted Raychel’s music career to succeed without Kyle.  I wish that Raychel’s career went way over the top.  Had that happened, The Bleeders and Safehaven would have been part of Raychel’s legend. Safehaven could have been Raychel’s bar.  And whatever you think, that would have been enough for me.  To know one star and to have a forum for artists that grew because of it.  I never wanted personal fame, I just wanted that.  Is that too much for you to understand?  Or would you prefer to bash me some more?

Question 19 - November 27, 2001 - Christina from Evansville, IN asked, “At first I didn't understand what Lance meant when he said he was cutting all ties with you. After all, your article practically absolves him as you point an accusing finger at the woman who you claim snuck out that night, and has lied about it repeatedly (although, if your story is correct, she's not the only one, is she?...). But, to not tell the police the entire truth about something as important as being at the house that night...just because you didn't want to be inconvenienced with questions. I don't know. It doesn't seem right. That being said, I tend to believe your story. But I have a question. After you found out what the suspected murder weapon is, did you ask your bartender if Geoffrey or Sharon had purchased a full bottle of Cuervo that night? What has prompted you to come forward at this time? It's too bad you didn't do it right away, when you could have almost been proven innocent with a little investigative work. I am also a bit confused on your logic here. Are you implying Kyle and Sharon were in on this together? If so, why?... Why do you sound so sure that Kyle was the one who did this? Do you think he just went into some sort of rage, and killed her before he knew what he was doing? Or is there another motive we should be aware of? Thanks for your time.”

Response 19: I came clean now because I believe that Sharon Wolfe has lied long enough about her activities that night. I bet Sharon doesn’t have the guts to explain her complete whereabouts as I have. The reason she won’t is because she has something to hide. I can’t prove what it is, but I’ll bet you can guess. And I’ll bet Kyle knows. Why? Because I think that Kyle and Sharon worked together because Kyle was the person who hired Sharon. Moreover, I think she has known this and has intentionally hidden this fact. Had you met Kyle, you would never guess he came from money (certainly not from his apartment). Then all of a sudden I find out his family owns half of North Dakota. So do you think he could have afforded Sharon Wolfe? I think he used Sharon Wolfe to keep track of Raychel. I think he got jealous when he learned that Geoffrey MacIntyre was interested in her and hired Sharon to keep tabs on Raychel. Combine that with his abusive past, and you have Raychel stuck in Kyle’s web of power. And yes, I do think that Kyle did it, as I always did for one simple reason: He beat her regularly. I think we have chronicled this effectively enough by now, but I’m not above using my time to bring up more instances of his abusive past with Raychel. If you’re looking for a motive, I think her affair with Geoffrey was enough. I don’t think Kyle’s ego healed after that, and after the argument that night, I think it pushed him over the edge.

Finally, we get to the mysterious bottle of Cuervo. I don’t even think it is part of the equation. I think Kyle bought the bottle on the way home, if they were even out of tequila in the first place. Remember, there are only two people who could verify that statement of his to the police. One is on his payroll and the other is dead. Besides, it couldn’t possibly have come from Safehaven because we NEVER sell bottles. If I found out one of my bartenders sold a bottle to anyone, I would immediately fire him. No matter if it was a full bottle, a partial bottle, or an empty bottle. The reason: Safehaven is in a tough neighborhood and I wouldn’t want anyone getting hurt by a broken bottle sold by my bar.

Question 20 - November 30, 2001 - Michelle from Buffalo, NY asked, “Why has it taken you a year to decide to hire a private investigator?”

Response 20: Because I didn’t believe I had to buy justice for Raychel. I thought the police were capable of performing their duties, but they shoved her case aside. I guess she wasn’t high profile enough for L.A. police to take notice. Perhaps if Raychel’s recording had been finished and released, they would have done their job and found her killer. Instead, I have paid money out of my own pocket for Nick Graves to investigate Raychel’s murder. But if my money helps bring Raychel’s killer to justice, I will be satisfied with the result, if not the process.

"Sharon Wolfe IS a major suspect in the case. Being in the company of a drunk person was never a real alibi. I can’t believe the police ever considered it an actual alibi."

Question 21 - December 3, 2001- Julie from Illinois asked, "I know you said why you kept your secret about going to Raychel’s apartment at the time of Raychel’s murder, but since you seem to think that Sharon followed you maybe you should have come clean with this before Sharon came out with something on you. You said you let her use Geoffrey as her alibi. Why? It looks like she could’ve been a major suspect in this case. You left Safehaven and went to the apartment but you never made it into the apartment, right? So if you had nothing to do with the inside of the apartment then there would be evidence to verify that, right? And you didn’t say anything to anyone that night about something being odd at Raychel’s apartment or anything. Why didn’t you say something to Sharon about something odd going on at the apartment and she better go check on Raychel? It seems very odd. You could’ve kept an eye on Geoffrey while she went to check on Raychel or her apartment. I know that you think it is odd that she followed you after the events have occurred but why were you worried about her following you that night. Isn’t her main job to protect Raychel? She was doing a job for Raychel by keeping Geoffrey from Kyle (whom I will assume Raychel was with the night of her murder or was supposed to be with him) but when she talked to you about Raychel and then you left, wouldn’t you suspect that she would follow you? Something was odd. Why didn’t you call the police or try to call Raychel as soon as you got back to Safehaven and had Sharon go and make sure there was nothing going on? It sounds like maybe you and Sharon could be up to something together?"

Response 21:  When the police investigation was ongoing, I didn’t think I would have to throw that information out because Sharon Wolfe IS a major suspect in the case. Being in the company of a drunk person was never a real alibi. I can’t believe the police ever considered it an actual alibi. Had Sharon ever attacked me about leaving Safehaven, I had Stacy to back up my assertions about Sharon. If she spoke up, I was ready.

You are correct that I had not made it into the apartment on the night of Raychel’s murder. On the other hand, I had been in the apartment a number of times in the past so it was very likely that I would have some type of “evidence” there (Raychel and Kyle never were cleaners).

While you keep saying that several things were “odd” that night, I disagree. I think you are looking at the night as if everyone knew a murder was happening. I didn’t know that! What I did know was that Kyle and Raychel had been involved in an argument with Geoffrey MacIntyre, and that they would turn on each other very soon. When I went there, no one opened the door. I did not see a pool of blood coming from under the door. There were no bullet holes in the door. There was no reason to suspect that Raychel had been murdered. If you called the police every time someone didn’t open the door for you, this would be a different world altogether. Besides, Sharon had shut me down earlier that night and I didn’t think I would get much cooperation from her after supposedly sneaking out behind her back. If she had followed me, she knew just as much as I did about the door not opening, and she didn’t do anything about it either. Or had she already? As I said previously, I have seen her following me since Raychel’s murder. I think she is trying to intimidate me to keep me from implicating her. It’s too late now. Maybe I should fear for my life, but that is no way to live. Besides, now that I have stated it here, she wouldn’t dare! And if you think we’re working together, I have to ask what planet you’re from. Sorry for the insult, but come on.

Question 22 - December 19, 2001 - Monica in New Albany, IN asked, "Did Raychel ever speak of her life as it may have been prior to meeting you in 1997? It seems there is no mention of anyone about where she may have been living, or with whom from 1980 until 1997. Do you think that someone from her past may have caught up to her?"

"I never told her that I knew about her real life. When she began telling me her seven-year tale, I shut up and listened. It was craft, not crap. She never recognized me, even though I had recognized her from the moment she walked into my bar."

Response 22:  Raychel spoke about that time continuously. It does seem like a “dead” period for her, though. It seems that no one is able to verify what Raychel did between her twentieth birthday (July 6, 1990) until the day she walked into The Bleeders on August 16, 1997. However, we do have two things to document Raychel’s life during that period. The first is her barrage of poetry from that time. If you ask Lance about this time I am sure he will respond with a ream of Raychel’s work from that time. It is very impressive work. It is different from the style she used to describe her family life. The poetry is rich in images, almost desperately so. The other records of Raychel’s missing period are the stories of her travels which she told everyone. It is an amazing story. She spent seven years traveling from Connecticut to Los Angeles, all the while working in low-profile jobs for little money and no long-term potential. She would talk about each city as if she knew every step. The jobs were equally detailed. It was a story of a steady drive to live another day in perfect monotony, punctuated by serendipity and epiphany.

Everyone bought into it except me. That was because I knew. Now that Raychel is no longer alive there’s no harm in saying it, either. It won’t damage her career now. And, as Lance Wagner has said so many times before, the site was intended to show Raychel in her truest form. Now it will be even truer than she allowed others to see her.

Raychel spoke extensively about this past because it wasn’t true. If there was anything true about Raychel it was this: If it was really about her, she was really quiet about it. Yes, her poetry gave way to her inner pain and strength, but that was her WRITTEN word. Her SPOKEN word could be something else entirely. That was why she wrote poetry in the first place, as a vent for the frustration in her life. I think she wrote those “on the road” poems to create a mythology that could bridge between her abusive father (which is confirmed by her brother) and her life in L.A. (which the rest of us can confirm). Personally, I understood it. She needed a cover. That was why I kept quiet about the truth I knew about her. I knew she was talented, and talented people need a public life for the public to consume.

In fact, I never told her that I knew about her real life. When she began telling me her seven-year tale, I shut up and listened. It was craft, not crap. She never recognized me, even though I had recognized her from the moment she walked into my bar. Hell, the neighborhood should have been the giveaway for anyone who knew her. Who else would just wander in off the streets in that part of town? Drug addicts? Yes, but at the time she was only into limited experimentation with drugs.

If you have read everything else about her life, you should already know it before I write it. Look at the past you already know. She had “affairs” with how many people? Lance Wagner, Kyle McAllister, Ken Kincaid, Geoffrey MacIntyre, and maybe even Sergei Brosovsky for all I know. What kind of person could look herself in a mirror after blowing through that many johns? Yes, a hooker. And that is what Raychel was before she joined The Bleeders. A hooker. She had worked the streets in the neighborhood for some time before she walked in. For all I know, she spent all seven years patrolling these streets. But it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t make her less talented or less deserving of justice (although the police may think so) for her unsolved murder. It only makes her more real. And now that she is never coming back, she can be as real as she actually was.