My thoughts on Dorner's whereabouts (FWIW)...just my thoughts, I'm not educated in this in any way.

[lexw]

The delayed discovery of Dorner's manifesto threw him off. Nobody was going after him and it had been days since the killings. He began to relax and think maybe he had a second chance: no one would put the pieces together, and he could slip back to the life he had before he set out on his murderous rampage. But that all changed when he saw his face all over the news along with his vehicle description—he set into escape mode.

After his failed attempt to highjack a boat in San Diego, he fled to Big Bear where his mother had once owned a cabin. On the way to Big Bear he exited the freeway in Riverside (maybe heard police chatter on a radio, or maybe to get gas), as he drove through Riverside he saw a patrol car, and in fear of being caught he ambushed the officers.

He continued on his trip to Big Bear, now knowing he left a bloody trail behind him. Once in Big Bear, he headed for a secluded area. But after driving on snowy, bumpy terrains the axle on his vehicle broke. By this time the stress turned to paranoia. He didn't know if anyone recognized him, etc...so he decided he was going to take his own life, but he did not want his body to be found.

He took some guns and equipment with him, walked in two directions to throw off the search, set his truck on fire (to make it obvious that he wasn't hiding—adding mystery to his whereabouts). He then went deep into the mountains where he had plans to find a place to kill himself (a cave, a water source, a deep ravine, dig a hole) where he wouldn't be found for some time, thus getting revenge by making his enemies live in fear for some time, and "clearing his name."

[HooptieWagon]

1. Your guess is as good as anyone elses.

Probably better than LAPD's.

I think the boat/ID thing was to make authorities think he was headed to Mexico. He then planned to hide out in mountains but accidently broke axle. Realizing he couldn't carry enough supplies on foot, and the broken down vehicle would draw a manhunt in the mountains, he grabbed what gear he could, called a friend, and burned vehicle before leaving as an additional diversion. I think friend drove him east, probably I-10 toTexas. Along way, he resupplied, and is hiding out in W Texas desert now.

[lexw]

2. That's right. He did have a cell phone from the boat owner.

[HooptieWagon]

3. I didn't know that.

But assumed he had a pre-paid one, which is cheap and untraceable.

[JI7]

4. is it possible he could be dressed as a woman ?

[lexw]

5. :D

[newfie11]

6. Maybe this was all planned ahead

Maybe he had a vehicle at Big Bear waiting. He could be anywhere now.

[MrYikes]

7. I've been reading

a well written long story about this type of hiding in mountains. Found here:

http://freedomofthehills.proboards.com/index.cgi

This gives details about how it can continue.

[lexw]

8. I was close, but should have figured he'd try to survive.

When I first heard about Dorner's spree, I figured he would either be in a televised chase, or be cornered in some old shack and end up taking his own life—like most of these cases seem to end.

The police had it right: he was still on the mountain. But I believe they were beginning to give up, and figured he was in Mexico. He probably heard they were second guessing, and that's probably why he came out of the woodwork and highjacked the pickup: thinking he could slip out.

[HipChick]

9. One of the women he had held hostage escaped and called the police..

That's why he came out..

I don't know why he went there, there is only one narrow road up there and back

There are not many black folks there, he would have stood out like a sore thumb

[lexw]

10. Thx! ...probably desperation.

It'll be interesting to hear the stories from those he ran into.

[TeamPooka]

11. When I first heard about the car fire I told my wife "I think the cops are looking for....

the only African-American in Big Bear."

[JDPriestly]

12. If he had been capable of thinking realistically, he would not have killed anyone in the

first place.

It's not that he isn't/wasn't smart, it's that he is/was so consumed by anger that he can't/couldn't think straight.

He could not be calm. It's very sad. Very, very sad for everyone concerned especially those who lost loved ones due to the situation.