Eric Tamiyasu

[Mastermind]

Did Dixon and the sheriff have any interaction prior to this murder?

Probably, it's a small town, whether it's a significant enough connection is the question.

I have always championed the theory that Don Dixon paid sheriffs deputies to kill Eric and that the Sheriff either was part of the arrangement or wanted to protect his deputies.

I find it interesting that the two top suspects in this case were the only parties privy to burning of the bed. And both of them had no problem or objections in doing so.

I could easily see a situation where the Sheriff shook down Don Dixon at the murder scene and told him that he knew he had Eric killed and told him to pay him or he would be convicted. Don Dixon agreeing to this arrangement helped out by burning the bed with the trace evidence.

I just don;t see Don Dixon as having the guts or the guile to pull off a crime like this. He's the type of person that would have paid someone else to do it.

The fact that they killer waited for Eric's girlfriend to leave the house before killing him tells me it was a professional hit.


I don;t buy the Sheriff's wife theory, because there is no trail of suspicion to that. There was no suspicious car stops on Eric. No angry telephone calls or anything like that. There's no sign of harassment prior to the murder.

[Mastermind]

I watched thi segment again.

I noticed that during Sheriff Wamplers interview, he slips and says "I had nothing to do with the "deaths.." Then he corrects himself and says the "death of Eric Tamiyasu, ..no" He seems to smile somewhat nervously and shake his head.

It probably is nothing, but I found that interesting that he thought of "deaths" in the plural rather than in the singular.

Makes me wonder if this was a slip?

[Zlatko]

Originally Posted by Mastermind

I watched thi segment again.

I noticed that during Sheriff Wamplers interview, he slips and says "I had nothing to do with the "deaths.." Then he corrects himself and says the "death of Eric Tamiyasu, ..no" He seems to smile somewhat nervously and shake his head.

It probably is nothing, but I found that interesting that he thought of "deaths" in the plural rather than in the singular.

Makes me wonder if this was a slip?

I noticed that as well. Maybe it's some sort of cover up?

Tamiyasu's friend Eric Smith was the only one who seemed normal out of the three suspects. IMO, the strangest comment was by Dixon about how "everyone one is suspect, but my wife, and I."

One interesting thing I noticed is how Don Dixon tries to come off as being Tamiyasu's best friend. I'd like to hear what Tamiyasu's other friends, and sister have to say about how close Dixon was to Tamiyasu. Smith already said that Dixon was some guy who sold gas to Tamiyasu, hardly a 'friend.'

[TracyLynnS]

I finally had the chance to watch this segment recently.

Don Dixon is guilty as hell. I don't know if the sheriff is involved, too, or if he's just that stupid, to burn the best evidence in the whole crime scene.

But Don did it, with or without help.

[Mastermind]

But Don did it, with or without help

I tend to lean toward it being a professional hit, with Don Dixon being the beneficiary.

This is based on the concept that the killers waited until Eric;s girlfriend left before attacking.

Three shots to the head is also standard hitman practice as well.

[Zlatko]

There's more clues that convinces me that Don Dixon killed Tamiyasu. Let us assume Eric Tamiyasu would probably be uneasy since there was a prowler around his house. What would be the logical thing to do if you think someone could break in? You would lock all the doors in the house. However, UM mentioned that Tamiyasu gave Dixon a key to the backdoor. In other words, Dixon could have entered the house with ease, and killed Tamiyasu.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

I finally had the chance to watch this segment recently.

Don Dixon is guilty as hell. I don't know if the sheriff is involved, too, or if he's just that stupid, to burn the best evidence in the whole crime scene.

But Don did it, with or without help.

I completely and totally agree. That man is the guiltiest individual in the history of UM.

I've said it multiple times and I'll say it again: There's no reason for you to "hope" an odor is coming from the garbage, unless you A) are able to recognize, distinctly, the smell of a decaying body from direct experience, or B) you killed your friend and made up some BS story. I never liked the way he worded that and it's suspicious as hell.

And how could a man who allegedly "said a prayer" over his dead friend's body suddenly lose the overwhelming calm and control it would take to do so, and become screaming and hysterical on the phone with the deceased's sister?

"It wasn't a suicide"?!? Give it up, Dixon.

[TracyLynnS]

Yeah, can you even imagine that whole "discovering of the body" scenario?

Here's poor Don, who's just discovered his best pal in the whole world, dead in bed, rotting for days, stinking, gooey, and probably more disgusting of a sight than any person outside a coronor's office has ever witnessed...

Yet calm, collected Don realized that this is a solemn and reverent time. And in that room of stench, blood, and dripping body fluids, he takes time to say a prayer over the horrifically decomposing body of his friend.

And only after that holy ritual does he call the family.

BS! Is that what YOU or I would do upon discovering the body of a dear friend in such nightmarish circumstances?

Heck no! First, we'd probably vomit. Then we'd run out of the house and call the cops at another location to get away from the stench of death and swarming flies that are remininding us that there's the dead rotting body of our friend upstairs.

[synthisislab]

Yes, Don Dixon is another one that I'd classify as guilty as sin. None of the stuff he supposedly did or the stuff he said in the UM interview made any sense. If the police had any skills at all, they would have turned the screws on that guy and he'd sing like a canary.

[Mastermind]

Yes, Don Dixon is another one that I'd classify as guilty as sin. None of the stuff he supposedly did or the stuff he said in the UM interview made any sense. If the police had any skills at all, they would have turned the screws on that guy and he'd sing like a canary.

Therein lies the problem. The police investigating this case is Sheriff Wamplers dept. If there was any evidence it was on that bed that he conveniently destroyed.

[Mastermind]

Yes, Don Dixon is another one that I'd classify as guilty as sin. None of the stuff he supposedly did or the stuff he said in the UM interview made any sense. If the police had any skills at all, they would have turned the screws on that guy and he'd sing like a canary.

Therein lies the problem. The police investigating this case is Sheriff Wamplers dept. If there was any evidence it was on that bed that he conveniently destroyed.

[Mastermind]

Yes, Don Dixon is another one that I'd classify as guilty as sin. None of the stuff he supposedly did or the stuff he said in the UM interview made any sense. If the police had any skills at all, they would have turned the screws on that guy and he'd sing like a canary.

Therein lies the problem. The police investigating this case is Sheriff Wamplers dept. If there was any evidence it was on that bed that he conveniently destroyed.

[synthisislab]

Yep, even if they had the smoking gun linking Dixon with the murder, they'd be torn to shreds by any attorney representing Dixon because of the tainting of the evidence. So it looks like the only way this one will be solved is if Wampler and his buddies in the department all retired and a noob (with no connection to Wampler or his buddies) came in and re-investigated.

[StackTime]

Each time I watch this segment, Don Dixon seems more and more like a weird, obsessed wannabe friend who committed the murder....he and Larry Gibson might compete for a UM "worst acting" award

[CityofEvil]

Originally Posted by Zlatko

One interesting thing I noticed is how Don Dixon tries to come off as being Tamiyasu's best friend. I'd like to hear what Tamiyasu's other friends, and sister have to say about how close Dixon was to Tamiyasu. Smith already said that Dixon was some guy who sold gas to Tamiyasu, hardly a 'friend.'

My cousin was one of his best friends. They grew up together and everytime he came up from Eugene he was with Eric. He had no clue who Dixon was until Eric was dead. Eric was always at our family dinners and even dated my cousin for a few years off and on.
I think our cops in this town are mentally retarded. Seriously who burns the evidence. Let alone not check the security alarm records or check the alarm for prints considering Dixon said besides Eric he was the only other one to know the alarm code. So many things he said at Eric's funeral alone makes you suspicious. The fact that he was the "last" person to see Eric alive and the one to find his body has killer written all over it.. because honestly if I hadn't heard from my best friend in 5 ****ing days you better believe I would know something is wrong.
To think if they didn't burn the evidence I wouldn't be sitting here thinking about what happened to Eric. He was a really great guy and hilarious he did not deserve what happened to him. Nor did his family. Sadly I don't think justice will ever be served. There is another guy they have had as a suspect for the past few years but they can't prove anything.. I still think it was Dixon though and always will.. I think Wampler is just a moron. How he got elected for another 4 years I do not know. Sadly it was by like a hundred votes. I just know I am glad he is retiring after this term.

***Edit... half awake when I wrote the end of this... so a part I just fixed made no sense haha***