In an online Facebook post I came across this article where people are trying to get Matt Ortt and company removed from the Ocean Pines Yacht Club. In fact they’ll be people picketing Coastal Smokehouse tomorrow at 12:30 PM as well. Below is where I personally made a comment referencing their goals and I encourage you to voice your opinion. While I personally support the JusticeforGavin group, two wrongs don’t make a right. I believe the public needs to be more patient and await the final results from the state police investigation. In fact, if the state police cannot find a single witness as to who was driving they should simply say so and that includes the states attorneys office telling the public they don’t have enough evidence to prove who was driving, therefore they cannot file charges. https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/terminate-matt-ortt-co-contract-with-ocean-pines?fbclid=IwAR3b_3eWVnNBA7Jk2zdkWHoFu1f0rZUBkLNRtpZxROkLws1F0gdNQ6JOeXk
I posted: “I’m having a hard time understanding your goal. Matt Ortt had absolutely nothing to do with the incident. He is simply a business partner. These petitions are only hurting the STAFF, all very dedicated people. I have watched Coastal Smokehouse drop in business, (which seems to make so many of you happy) yet you are forgetting about the huge amount of staff that also had nothing to do with the incident at hand. While the majority of bars and restaurants have been closing at 8 or 9 pm even during the summer and now are closing for the winter, where will the staff go? Look, what has happened is horrendous, I get that. As a former bar owner myself, (Caribbean Joe’s) COVID kicked every one’s butt. Everyone struggled, especially staff. I believe Matt, (and many others) did a great job staying alive in the worst times we’ve ever seen in half a century or more. NONE of us would’ve survived if it wasn’t for our incredibly dedicated staff. Please stop punishing innocent people. May God Bless Gavin Knupp and his Family.”
Now let’s talk about Russell Kimball, the guy who struck and killed Terri Wattay. (above)
Russel is well known to be a very heavy drinker and substance abuse user to boot. I have personally experienced, (many times) his being under the influence of WHATEVER both at Trader Lee’s and Caribbean Joe’s.
There’s been a lot of talk about Terri’s substance abuse over the years as well but why is her life any less valued than anyone else. Russell claimed to police that he thought he had hit a dog. (please note: Russell was driving a large Suburban in which the passengers side mirror was ripped off the door and left at the scene. I highly doubt ANY DOG could’ve been that tall to take a mirror off the door) If I personally hit a dog I would’ve stopped to help the dog and or bring it to a veterinarian, not leave the scene like Russell did. In the end this poor woman laid in the road suffering for 45 minutes. Her boyfriend found the dog she was walking in their yard and started backtracking until he found Terri and called 911.
Since it has been days since the accident, Russell is now walking the streets without any charges as well. I share all of this because there is yet another case out there similar to Gavin’s that also has not been solved. This time they do know for a fact who was driving.
What’s your thoughts on these matters?
What man his age looks like that? Creepy Phil Spector comes to mind.
My opinion is : Have any of these people started or received a “go fund me” or accepted donations. Seems a well advertised protest is an excellent way to acquire large sums of money. Not to belittle the grief, just a thought…
Yes.. they have… and made $$
I think they are putting themselves in the way of a nasty lawsuit for interfering with a business for no good reason. Their “beef” is with the justice system, they have appointed themselves as Judge and jury, but act like vigilantes. We need the motorcycle club to oppose them. Why do the police allow this demonstration? Did they get a permit?
I know this is a sore subject. I’m not supporting anyone and I do believe the driver should not have fled. However, does anyone know what Gavin was doing on that dark road at night, crossing in front of an oncoming vehicle? Something doesn’t smell right to me. When my kids were that age, they knew how to cross a road. A lot of heartache on both sides could’ve been avoided if he had stayed in a vehicle.
OMG I can’t believe you are punishing a young boy and their parents because he had the nerve to cross the road in the dark. I am so happy for you that your children didn’t ever cross a dark road and get run over and left for dead. The boy got out to take a picture of a dear that someone had put on the pole. How can you put the blame on the dead boy for taking a picture and crossing the road. You are unbelievable. I haven’t seen anywhere where you are supposed to stay in your car at night. I am sorry you have been inconvenienced and your friends by the boy’s death!!!!
In Gavin’s case, don’t he police know who owned the car? Doesn’t that person know who was driving it?
They know who owns it.. but not necessarily WHO was driving… everyone thinks they know… but can the person be placed behind the wheel
Ask the owner of the car who was driving it. Solved.
I think we should publish the names of the “protesters” and their employers and boycott them. What’s good for the goose…….
There’s no law against a peaceful protest …. yet. Who knows the names of all the protestors and exactly what does protesting have to do with their jobs 9:41? Do you think their employers will fire them for protesting? I don’t
I was not aware that firing/cancelling, picketing and negatively affecting the lives and livelihood of over a dozen people will bring a life back and thus, justice is served! Interesting. So much for ‘Innocent until proven guilty’ in this country.
People first need to remember real life is not like some TV show…and case solved in 48 minutes including tests, DNA, interviews, crash reconstruction, obtaining medical records etc…Kimball will be charged, no doubt… But consider this possibility…if he refused to take a breath test and it took awhile to find the vehicle/ driver cops would have to get a warrant or something to get blood to check for alcohol level.. all the tests would take time to come back… they know who was driving this time… let the case be built… just like with poor Gavin… yes it’s incredibly frustrating and my heart aches for the families struggling to understand but let the cops and investigators do what they need to for a solid case, rather than risk any doubt for a jury.
I have to agree that this type of action will not have the desired affect. These people have far more money than the average person, and the only people that are hurt are those scraping to get by as it is. If for some reason a business or two gets shut down, they are able to shrug it off and keep on going, but it would be near catastrophic for those who work there.
As for the state police and the DA, if they had something they would have brought charges forward by now. Clearly, they do not have anything to work with. The alleged assailant and his mother will stay out of sight/ out of mind and nothing will ever be done. I would imagine that Mr. DeAngelus has an attorney / attorneys all over this and even this simplest thing will take forever. I’m afraid the family will never see justice in this world.
Another local HOT TOPIC that goes nowhere.
Charges should have already been brought against the car owner and or who ever was hiding it in their garage. Conspiracy to conceal evidence comes to mind, and hindering justice. You can bet authorities won’t wait months to bring charges against Kimball
NO FINGERPRINTS on steering wheel? NO FINGERPRINTS on door handle? no fingerprints on gear shift? NO fingerprints means they were wiped clean o poor investigative procedures. Arrest owner for interfering and destroying evidence , since the car was hidden in their garage. Pressure them and the truth will come out. Protest their business and the staff will tell something unless they were dealing.
PEOLE WANTS TO KNOW WHY the CRIMINAL JUSTICE and CRIME has increased here is one example of many.
How do you know there’s no fingerprints?? And do fingerprints prove a driver at that particular moment and time?? My spouse and children have all driven the car I usually drive… if there’s no visual identification putting one specific driver behind the wheel at a specific time, who will be charged? Not as easy as one would think…
Charge them all, as they do when one firearm is found during a vehicle search with two or more occupants. Someone might talk then.
Matt Ortt chose to let the public know that he has first hand knowledge of the crime. He also named the suspect. If the reason they cant press charges is not knowing for sure who was driving, then put pressure wherever you have to in order to get someone to talk. Matt Ortt should have given the information to the police and fully cooperated. The people responsible for both the crime and the cover up all need to be charged. They have collectively decided that without a confession or a witness, they cant be prosectued even though they all know what they did is morally and legally wrong. whatever happens to any of them at this point isnt as bad as what happened to Gavin and his family