One thing I've considered is whether the Santa visit might be a red herring, in a manner of speaking..........JBR didn't say exactly when Santa was coming, just "after Christmas," right?..................
Instead, this becomes another "amazing" thing, like all the dishes that weren't theirs, and the footprint that wasn't BR's despite his having a pair of those boots...........
and the fact that the intruder evidently replaced everything in their house with an almost, but not quite, exact replica, ......and left it all out of place, besides. (Sarcasm off.)
You had some good ideas there about the secret visit, and the intruder replacing nearly everything, which I took the liberty of separating a little for emphasis.
However, there's the torn up Christmas Card in JonBenet's waste basket, we're so far assuming was from Santa, as far as I know.
Having learned a lot more about pagans at another forum, I need to share a small sample.
Someone speculated that Santa may have molested JBR , having excused himself from the party to allegedly go to the bathroom and she may have followed him, or, didn't one of the books state that she took him on a tour of the basement?) and that she no longer liked him after such a rude surprise, and later tore up the card.
The post was pretty graphic. I can't remember if we're allowed to mention other forums so you'll all have to find it if interested. Actually, maybe that would explain Janet McReynolds going to the back hallways and allegedly finding JonBenet sitting alone on the steps crying that she didn't feel pretty. (We have no proof whatsoever that ONLY the R's were in the house, and
PR was heavily sedated, not in any shape to go creative with alibi's, when she told Pam (Griffin?) "THEY've killed my baby." At that other forum it's also being pointed out that the McSantas belonged to a "Unity" church in which they do rituals as Comparative Religions education. Jesse McReynolds' wife wrote one. (Which reminds me, whoever said all religions are equal, contrary to what was taught by the one she was raised in, was Loyalty to Christ, the only one who died for us, the issue? Naturally the remaining other religions would want us to think all are equal, as always, since Christianity began, but that's only under the present human law, right?)
To be fair, taking a bird's eye view of this whole case after learning a lot more about Boulder's pagans elsewhere, it seems the R's were just way too easy-going, with their beliefs, friends, children, and the housekeeper who was so presumptuous to criticize them when the house was such a mess. They simply trusted too much and would go along with whatever.
I doubt they were really asleep while a party or ritual was being held in their house, probably were somehow involved, and one side of the bed didn't look slept in, but we have no absolute proof either way. Obviously they felt guilty about allowing as much as they did, if not about their having a more active part in it.
At the party on the 23rd they were also distracted and it was Janet McReynolds who noted JonBenet wasn't in the room. Maybe because McSanta wasn't either?
Not accusing him, just exercising a right to think and raise questions, what we're here for. I know, I have at one time said he wouldn't likely climb stairs, with his heart problem, temporarily forgot that a basement tour was mentioned, in one of the books? Some had been speculating that JonBenet was killed elsewhere. Another thing, some of them living 25 mi away wouldn't necessarily prevent their being at the Rs', as they could have stayed in Boulder that night at a hotel or with some friend, having been so determined to get PR to have a party on the 23rd, and SOMEONE having told JBR to expect another visit from Santa after Christmas. There's also all the OTHER dead children he knew on the harp. Still not accusing him, just would like explanations. At this other forum someone even mentioned a couple of names that could have been the children or trees in the forest in one of Santa's stories. It was found that at least one was definitely murdered, but not the names of any of the 12-15 (?) children.
Bottom line is, we have no proof others were in the house, and no proof they were NOT. "No evidence" either way. Remember I'm an FS, not desperate to prove either way.