Awesome Reddit post/recap
The mystery of this season is so compelling that I've decided to play detective for True Detective. Below is a collection of the information we know so far about the case based on watching the two released episodes (I'm not including information taken from trailers and previews). Note that the below info is what has been revealed to us as viewers, rather than what has been revealed to any character in particular. The below information deals almost exclusively with what I've deemed relevant to the case. Other things (like Woodrugh's sexuality, or Ani's fascination with knifes, or Ray's personal problems) have been left out as they are, as of now, not directly relevant to Caspere's murder. Speculation, symbolism, and theory will be at a minimum, and left only until the end as questions. I plan to update this weekly. Please feel free to add, subtract, correct, interpret, and speculate as you see fit in the comments below. Recommendations for formatting also welcome. Enjoy!
ACTIVE INVESTIGATORS:
Detective Raymond "Ray" Velcoro, Vinci Police Department
Detective Antigone "Ani" Bezzerides, Ventura County Sheriff's Department, Criminal Investigations Division
Special Investigator (formerly Patrolman) Paul Woodrugh, California Highway Patrol
/r/TrueDetective, Reddit.com
FACTS: On the night of Oct. 26th, Highway Patrolman Paul Woodrugh discovered the body of Benjamin Caspere, City Manager for the City of Vinci in LA County. Woodrugh was riding his motorcycle when he spotted the body of Mr. Caspere seated upright on a picnic table on the side of California's West Coast Highway (Highway 1), an indeterminate distance north of the city of Los Angeles, in the county of Ventura. The body was identified via a California Driver's License card found in a wallet on the body. The body was stiff, and there appeared to be blood stains in the pelvic region. Upon removing a pair of sunglasses, it was determined that the victim's eyes were missing/damaged.
MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT: Judging from the rigor mortis, Mr. Caspere died between 4-9 AM on the 26th of Oct. Lividity indicates that his body was propped up in a sitting position for several hours after death. The eyes and orbital sockets appear burnt out by hydrochloric acid, applied slowly and with precision, possibly using an eye-dropper. This was done prior to death, indicating torture. Severe pelvic wound was the result of a 12 gauge shotgun blast, possibly using Heavy Game Load SuperX ammunition. Abrasion marks around the wrists and ankles as well as tape residue indicate that the victim was bound, possibly upside-down, for a period of time. Cause of death was heart failure due to trauma. No fingerprints were found. Tox Screen: Xanax and Alcohol. Mr. Caspere aslo had Gonorrhea.
Two days prior to the discovery of the victim's body, a missing persons case was opened by Vinci PD due to Mr. Caspere failing to show up for work. Lead detective on the case: Ray Velcoro.
Mr. Caspere's home in Vinci was searched by Vinci PD and found to have been ransacked and burgled. Mr. Caspere's computer is missing. Kidnapping was suspected.
A second home belonging to Mr. Caspere (located in Hollywood) has been searched by Det. Velcoro, revealing signs of violence. Blood was found on the floor of the home. A camcorder connected to a laptop and wireless router was also found in a hidden room with a two-way mirror. A swing typically used for sexual behavior was also found. Five mounts for decorative masks were found at the crime scene. Four of the mounts were occupied by masks (a bear, a lion, a panther, and a donkey). A fifth mount was found empty.
Upon entering the second home of Mr. Caspere, Det. Velcoro was ambushed and shot by a suspect fitting the description below. The suspect used a shotgun. Det. Velcoro's status is as of yet unconfirmed.
SUSPECT: The suspect has a slim build and is approximately 5'10"-6'2" tall. He/she was last seen dressed in all black/dark colors, wearing gloves, long pants, and an overcoat possibly made of wool. The suspect has also been seen wearing a decorative mask in the shape of a bird's head, possibly a crow or a raven. The suspect wears a silver watch or bracelet on his/her left hand. The suspect was last seen wielding a 12 Gauge Shotgun. Considered Armed and Extremely Dangerous!
SUSPECT VEHICLE: On the morning of the 26th, an unidentified person (fitting the description above) was seen transporting the body of Mr. Caspere from Mr. Caspere's Hollywood home to Ventura County in a late 1970's Cadillac Sedan of maroon color with black vinyl top. License Plate #: 2PCE109. This vehicle was also spotted outside the Hollywood home of Mr. Caspere minutes before the shooting of Mr. Velcoro.
PERSONS OF INTEREST:
Frank Semyon: Local business owner and entrepreneur located in the town of Vinci, LA County. Suspected ties to organized crime and corruption.
Known Working Relationships: Det. Ray Velcoro (criminal accomplice), Mayor Austin Chassani (business), Osep Agronov (business), City Manager Benjamin Caspere (business), Jacob McCandless (business), Blake Churchman (employee/accomplice)
Personal Relationships: Jordan Semyon (Wife)
Undetermined Relationships: N/A
Dr. Pitlor: Served as Ben Caspere's psychiatrist for 3 years. Claims that Mr. Caspere struggled with various sexual perversions and was known to frequent prostitutes. Described Mr. Caspere as 'passive'.
Known Working Relationships: City Manager Benjamin Caspere (client)
Personal Relationships: N/A
Undetermined Relationships: Elliot Bezzerides (acquaintance)
Elliot Bezzerides: Owner/Leader of Panticapaeum Institute
Known Working Relationships: N/A
Personal Relationships: Antigone Bezzerides (daughter), Athena Bezzerides (daughter)
Undetermined Relationships: Dr. Piltor (acquaintance)
Jacob McCandless: CEO (or other high office) of the Catalyst Group (chemical and construction company active in the city of Vinci)
Known Working Relationships: Frank Semyon (business partner)
Personal Relationships: N/A
Undetermined Relationships: Mayor Chassani
Austin Chessani: Mayor of the City of Vinci. Suspected ties to organized crime and corruption.
Known Working Relationships: Frank Semyon (business partner), Ray Velcoro
Personal Relationships: Veronica Chessani (wife)
Undetermined Relationships: Jacob McCandless
Osip Agronov: Organized Crime figure. Intended investor into land deal with Frank Semyon, however the money was never paid as the deal fell through when Mr. Caspere went missing.
Known Working Relationships: Frank Semyon (business partner), Mr. Bulgarin (lawyer/business relation?)
Personal Relationships: N/A
Undetermined Relationships: N/A
Blake Churchman: Employee/Accomplice of Frank Semyon.
Mr. Semyon claims that Blake had not been seen for an undetermined amount of time. He later appeared for work and was present at a club where Mr. Semyon received information about Mr. Caspere's second home.
POTENTIAL MOTIVES:
ROBBERY: California Central Corridor High Speed Rail Project Land Deal. Mr. Caspere was in possession of $5M belonging to Frank Semyon. The money was intended to be paid to the Catalyst Group in exchange for a parcel of land involved in the construction project. Since Mr. Caspere's murder, the money has disappeared, and Mr. Caspere's revelation of the location of the money could have been the reason for his torture and the ransacking of his home.
EXTORTION: Mr. Caspere frequently hired prostitutes. Ray Velcoro suggests that perhaps a pimp (upon hearing of Mr. Caspere's wealth) was attempting to shakedown the victim; perhaps things got out of hand? Ani Bezzerides dismisses this theory and suggests there is something deeper/more complicated happening.
PERSONAL: Mr. Caspere's secretary claims that he had no enemies, but that a lot of deals and money needed to go through him as City Manager. Dr. Pitlor and a prostitute describe Mr. Caspere as 'passive' and 'weak', however it appears that Mr. Caspere recorded some of his sexual exploits via the hidden camera in his Hollywood home. Perhaps he recorded the wrong person?
NOTES, QUESTIONS, SPECULATION:
Corruption Article Printed: Oct. 27, 2015
Foreclosure doc: Dated Oct. 10th or 18th, 2015? Hearing date for the actual foreclosure: Oct. 8th, 2015.
Medical Examiner Reports Caspere died: 4-9 AM, Oct. 26th 2015
Bank Statements of Mr. Caspere indicate that about once a month, he withdrew $4000 cash. The dates of these withdrawals coincide with blank dates in his personal Calendar.
Mr. Caspere's secretary claims that he tended to frequent locations up north, including Monterey and Russian River Valley.
Mr. Caspere's GPS indicates that he would often travel north to Monterrey County, Fresno, Gilroy. He was rented a car belonging to the Catalyst Group.
The Highway where the body was found was, incidentally, adopted by the Catalyst Group. Whether the killer chose this stretch of road on purpose is unclear.
Upon Mr. Caspere's death, Frank Semyon lost $5M that was intended to be part of an investment in a land deal involving the California Central Corridor High Speed Rail project. The $5M (along with another $5M to come from Osip Agronov) was intended to be payed to the Catalyst Group using Mr. Caspere as a semi-legitimate intermediary. Mr. Caspere never deposited the money, and it has disappeared since his murder.
Frank Semyon discovers from Jacob McCandless that the parcel of land he intended to purchase from Catalyst through Mr. Caspere was actually valued at $7M, rather than the $10M he was quoted. It would appear Mr. Caspere was overcharging Mr. Semyon significantly.
The second home of Mr. Caspere appears to have been used exclusively for sexual behavior with prostitutes. The sex swing may have been the device used to bind Mr. Caspere (as described in the medical examiner's report). Blood stains beneath the swing point to the possible location of Mr. Caspere's murder. Consider active crime scene for both the murder of Mr. Caspere and the shooting of Det. Velcoro.
The address for the second home of Mr. Caspere was discovered by Frank Semyon upon interviewing a prostitute who had previously been hired by Mr. Caspere and brought to this second home.
Mr. Semyon wonders where Blake has been. Where was Blake Churchman? His build is similar to that of the suspect, and he would have known that Ray Velcoro planned on visiting the second home of Mr. Caspere as he was present when the prostitute told Frank the address.
Why was Jacob McCandless present at the meeting between Mayor Chassani and Ray Velcoro (although he did not speak)? Perhaps he is more tied into the corruption of Vinci than he has lead us to believe? He appears to be a legitimate businessman and claims "We're not gangsters".
Is there a connection between Caspere's murder and the disappearance of Elizabeta "Beta" Del Vayo?
Ms. Del Vayo is reported to have disappeared 1-2 months before October, 2015. She is 24 years old.
She was last seen by her roommate. Her roommate claims that Ms. Del Vayo asked her if anyone had been looking for her. Was she scared? Worried about people who might find her? Kidnapping?
Last recorded phone call to Ms. Del Vayo originates from Guerneville, CA (located in the Russian River Valley).
Ms. Del Vayo previously worked at the Panticapaeum Institute as a maid. Coworkers claim that Ms. Del Vayo said she had found a new job working the club circuit up north. Sonoma was mentioned. Eliot Bezzerides denies knowing Ms. Del Vayo.
Unrelated: Sister of Ms. Del Vayo's farm is being foreclosed, yet she appears to own a large and expensive plasma TV.
