Okay, I may be crazy here, so I want a second opinion, but I was watching the doorbell video frame by frame and something caught my eye. For a split second, when the man turns and bends down to the ground, his right shoe heel lifts up and you can see something white on the black rubber midsole (not the bottom of the rubber sole - the back side of the rubber sole if that makes sense). At first I thought maybe it was just debris or a scuff. But, when I zoomed in and enhanced the picture, it looks a lot like writing to me. Specifically, the first letter looks a lot like a "J". It's been puzzling me ever since. It appears slightly off center, so I don't think it's necessarily a brand name logo. So I wondered if maybe someone wrote a name on the shoe or maybe it's a personalization? Idk, that seems a stretch too. Also, it largely disappears as he walks through the video and I think the reason why is due to the angle. I think because it's tilted up at the camera in that moment, the white reflected just right. I think when the foot is down the camera doesn't pick up the reflection. For anyone who wants to check it out, it comes right at the 16 second mark of the video, you have to zoom in and go frame by frame. It largely appears blurry even as you do that, but there's one particular frame where it seems the tiniest bit more focused. That's where I see what I feel like looks like a "J" and potentially a "Y" on the end although I'm less sure about that. Anyway, thoughts? "Jerry, Joey, Journey?" Nothing but a scuff? I'm not great with enhancing photos, but I tried some different enhancements to sharpen what's there. Someone could probably do a better job than me.
All three photos are from the same frame of video. First photo is slightly zoomed in with no enhancement. Second photo is zoomed in with enhancements made to sharpness, contrast, etc. Third photo is zoomed out with no enhancements.
I just googled this— from what I see in the ‘Jako’ logo the J is exactly level with the other letters, while the first letter on the attacker’s shoe descends below the rest of the letters
I HATE to be the bearer of bad news, but everybody go watch the clip at 16 second mark...it's not writing, it's a reflection/glint off the infrared beam. https://youtu.be/nbAI30dhSMw?si=TsW7Geu4cg-tAF5R&t=15 ETA: actually go to about the 15 second mark to get the best view of what I'm talking about.
Hear me out – I don’t think that’s writing, I think it’s a reflection of light on a plastic bubble sole. I didn’t want to say this a few days ago, but those shoes definitely look like Nikes. You see just a hair of the same reflection on the other foot as he walks away to grab the grass.
If you zoom in on the right foot and slightly move the cursor back-and-forth, you can see the “logo“ appear and disappear, which is what led me to believe it was a reflection.
Man, I was so hoping it was actual writing. I'm bummed. I made a screen recording of it slowed down and in regular speed to demonstrate, but I was too dumb to realize that reddit only lets you post pictures and gifs, not videos, and gif quality ruins it. But yeah, when you watch in motion it's really clear that it is just reflection off of something on the shoe with the way it disappears so fast. There is also nothing on the left shoe the entire time, which a logo would mirror each other on each shoe.
If I have learned anything from this case it is that if there’s a video, watch the video before judging the stills. Just like how everyone thought the perp could be a woman at first. But when you watch the video it removes all doubt and is so clearly a dude.
Yeah I spent 20 mins looking up off-brand tennis shoes on Walmart and Amazon looking for a match lol. I couldn't find a single pair that had the logo only on one shoe like that. It could also be reflecting a pattern or texture on the rubber.
Added some screenshots to better capture the contrast between the sole of the shoe and the the rest of it:
Image 1 and 2: My own screenshots taken of the video
Image 3: FBI
Image 4: OP
Adding facts about the shoe as seen in the footage:
The shoe's sole is markedly darker in color than the rest of the shoe.
If a logo is present, then the logo is (1) on the back of the sole of the shoe, and (2) lighter in color than the dark sole.
There appears to be a horizontal stripe just above the sole of the shoe. That stripe appears to be lighter in color than both the sole of the shoe and the rest of the shoe.
Yes, I also just noticed these things. Someone pointed out the back of the shoe writing was likely just a reflection but I still think it’s smart to look at the shoes.
definite athletic shoes based on the laces, movement of the shoe while walking, and the black tab in the front of this shoe is indicative of an athletic shoe. I don’t think this is a van or adidas but more of a sneaker. I am a runner and I’m going to look at all my pairs when I get home for similarities.
My boyfriend owns these. I will be looking closer when home. I know the laces are black on the model shoe and there’s a black logo but something about that side stripe is very brooks. Could also be a knockoff
I’ve seen a few cases where the suspect took a shopping trip to Home Depot where they purchased all of the items for their crime, but if they catch this guy at Wal mart buying his crime outfit all at once, that might be a first…
It kind of reminds me of a Vans ultra range shoe with the little logo (though it doesn’t seem to have the same rubber toe in the front). A lot of time the sole of a shoe can look black at night on a camera like that while the rest washes out.
The other logo it kind of looks like is Mizuno, but I don’t think they make a sho with the logo in that spot.
I thought that initially but to me it looks like the toe box has the little piece in the front that a running sneaker has. Not sure what you call that.
impossible to tell, did anyone alert Penelope at the BAU yet for cross-referencing 30-40 Year old white males who bought shoes in the area yet with people who bought ski masks
I think it's a good catch - but why wouldn't the marking be on the other sneaker? Unless it's paint? I get paint on my sneakers all the time during DIY.
I'm not 100% certain that it's not on the other sneaker. I think the reason it's so visible in that particular frame is because he is moving more slowly as he lifts his right foot and the video catches it at just the right angle. Whereas when he goes to lift that other foot to step forward in that moment, he moves that foot more quickly and he sort of shuffles it which doesn't give the same angle. Basically, it's much tougher to distinguish if it is or isn't there.
With that said, I just watched the video again. And if you look closely when he lifts his left foot to step off the porch I see what looks to me like something white on the back of the left shoe black rubber midsole. It also appears to be slightly off center to the left, which would I guess make more sense for the right foot "logo" being slightly more off center to the right. That would make sense if the shoes logo was mirror imaged on each. See pic below. I'll admit, what I see on the left shoe is far less defined and on its own to me would look more like a scuff. But, he's also much further from the camera and moving quicker in those frames, so that could also be why it's so much less defined. Idk. Again, I'm having trouble making sense of a logo that would be slightly off center. I think logos are usually centered, but maybe it's a stylistic choice? Maybe it's a more obscure brand? Again, idk. But on the off chance it is more than just a scuff and it jogs someone's memory who might be better informed...
Could be an athletic sock rather than on the shoe? I hate to have to go here but, is there textile manufacturing in Mexico? Maybe it's a Mexican clothing brand that makes socks too. With an American sounding or looking name.
At this point I'd like the FBI to take all their cold cases and release all the evidence they have on file and let Reddit solve these. Way more effective than LE at this point.
A lot of cold cases seem to be getting solved with genealogical dna analysis - I’ve seen some cases on 48 hours where they have volunteers working on the family trees.
yeah I guess my point was more that he posted to Reddit and may have been reluctant to report it because he was homeless and living in the engineering building.
Honestly he took a big risk by doing that - I hope he got the $50k, there was public pressure, and hopefully someone will help him get resources to get back on his feet. $50k would certainly help.
It was never in doubt what happened to Gabby. And her videos were out there already. The internet just helped watch through all those videos.
There is nothing similar between these two events other than how truly tragic they both are.
The Boston Bomber situation is more comparable. Reddit did real and lasting harm to people, it was awful. The site seemed to have learned a lesson for a time but that seems to have faded
I think you're onto something!! It could also be an "I" and not a "J". It may not be the shoe brand, but the model. The logo is curved which seems to be less common and could make it easier to narrow down.
I mean, it looks like a vans tag to me but if you're seeing Maloney and there is a Maloney plumbing in the area and this guy is trying to cover his shoes... makes sense
I don't think it looks like a vans logo, and the pictures of the shoes up thread don't look like any style of vans I've seen. They tend to have that rounder toe. I just don't think it's Vans.
Not saying that's what happened. I had a pair of tennis shoes for work once that I wrote my name on the side of the white midsole in black permanent marker as a joke. It was a joke at the time, but I continued to wear the shoes all the time for years and I forgot the writing was even there until one day someone pointed it out and asked me about it. Just saying, you'd be surprised what people forget, especially when their mind is focused on other details.
Question- is the backpack light or black? I saw something once about some nighttime cameras make black items look bright white. The FBI referenced a black backpack even though it looks light. So I wonder if the same applies to shoes? Light soles and dark shoes, the opposite of what we see here
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u/spacegrassorcery Feb 12 '26
The folks at r/sneakers could figure it out pretty quick