Hardy speculation? Umm, Shylock, if you would be kind enough to read what I posted a little more carefully, as John (and I) said, "they were friends", however, some postings on this thread have implied they were not. Obviously, they were. The Stines accommodated the Ramseys with a place to stay beginning in February '97. Sounds like pretty good friends to me. Maybe their socializing was limited due to the Ramseys' time spent with the Whites, having their daughters and sons and other interests in common. It doesn't sound like the Stine family matched up as well (no daughter JonBenét's age) for more family socializing. The Ramseys didn't strike up a NEW friendship with the Stines following the murder. They just enhanced it.