Jane, you wrote above that you wondered about aspects of the " accidental murder".
I don't know if I am in the minority in my belief, but I do not think JonBenet's murder was accidental. I have reason to believe it was planned for a few months, probably when the suspicions of incest in the form of a male sexually fondling JonBenet, first entered Patsy's mind.
Several things point to a kidnapping hoax ( body removed from the home and dumped) being planned to cover up a parental murder by Patsy, plus IMO, there are other signs that things were NOT RIGHT in the Ramsey household concerning JonBenet.
I think the pre-Christmas gift choices for JonBenet, chosen by Patsy, even if given to JBR by other family members, are extremely odd for a 6 year old.
1) JBR received a doll for Christmas which was ordered specifically to look just like her. Patsy said later it looked like JBR in her coffin. JonBenet didn't like the doll.
Purpose of the doll: To immortalize Patsy's little beauty queen after her death. A perfect little doll.
2) The ID bracelet she received for Christmas. Kids didn't ask for this type of jewelry in the late 90's. But she got one. Want to know why? So her body could be more easily identified after it was disposed of. I believe this was a preparation to the murder.
3) Likewise, the cross pendant she got for Christmas that year. A symbol of eternal life for Christians. I am a Christian and never gave my children crosses as jewelry, and wouldn't have thought they would like it at the age of 6!! 10, 11 years old or so, maybe.
Things happened which we know a bit about, but not all.
For example, the frequent trips in the late fall to the pediatrician, Dr. Beuf, for treatment of " vaginitis". Patsy knew something was wrong, and JBR had probably told her as best as she could, because they were learning about " bad touches" and " good touches" in her kindergarten class.
The fact that JonBenet's medical records were said to be " stolen". There was also a conflicting report that Dr. Beuf put her records in his bank deposit box. Who knows? Something wasn't right about it all. I think he saw evidence of abuse or neglect or both and failed to report it. As did her school, apparently.
JBR took on an air of being unkempt. Her kindergarten nurse said she was often dirty, underfed, hair not brushed in the AM when she arrived at school. I don't believe it started out this way. I believe she was shunned by her mother for a month or so before she died. The autopsy report speaks of a child's fingernails which had days' worth of crud underneath them. This means she was NOT bathed nor were her hands washed.
She was dressed up and paraded around when she was performing in Patsy's steps as a little beauty queen, but her private life was no picnic. Bleached hair, contact lens, reports of the " flipper" teeth, hair extensions, wearing DIAPERS to the pageants because of toileting regression ( a primary sign of sexual abuse in her age group).
She didn't have her mother's help in the bathrooms at public places and would ask strangers to clean her little bottom. That's pathetic.
Then there are the mysterious and strange things which happened in the Ramsey home in December.
1) The party on the 23rd.. the 911 hang up call, Susan Stine's response when police showed up. JonBenet apparently saying she wasn't pretty. Reports that she cried that night.
2) Don Paugh, her grandfather, flying out of Boulder on Christmas Eve evening for Roswell, GA. Not a regular planned flight but a STANDBY FLIGHT. Who flies standby on Chrstmas Eve????
3) All of the calls and plans to John Achalutta ( ?sp), the Ramsey's private pilot. What was going on? There was a flurry of activity planned, but we do not know if anyone was flown out or in to the Ramsey house.
4) The fact that the Ramseys were going to Michigan, then to Disney World. The journey was to start the next day, the AM of the 26th, where JBR would compete in a well-known pageant, but their plans were sketchy at best. Little to no packing was done. Patsy said that she threw their clothes in black garbage bags.. WHY?
We know they owned luggage. What happened that she didn't have time to pack before Christmas Day??
She said the plastic garbage bags were used to save space in the plane. That's BS. First of all, the space allotted doesn't change. Garbage bags full of clothes? Did she think there was a dry cleaner's open in MI during their hurried meeting with Melinda and John Andrew? Why even go to MI in the first place? Melinda and John Andrew were in GA. So were the rest of their families.
Secondly, there is an absolute weight limit on what can be put into a small private plane. Patsy could not simply stuff clothing into bags and have someone haul them all on the airplane. The baggage had to be weighed. The pilot had to calculate his weight load and distribution.
5) Lastly, the conflicting things Patsy said in DOI about JonBenet at the time on Christmas Day. First, she could not play with her little friends because " She had a cold". She was " in her bedroom in bed".
But, later on that same day, we know that she dressed up and was taken to the White's house, where it is reported that she played with her friend Daphne that evening and ate her last full meal. ( the pineapple being the last food she consumed, contrary to what Patsy said).
I fully believe that the murder was planned by one parent for a period of weeks to perhaps months. Patsy was the tail that wagged the dog in that family. I think John was clueless until well after the fact, probably when he got separate lawyers for the two of them and was able to put 2 and 2 together.
JMO,
Maria