I keep churning this case around in my head, trying to figure out some logical way this could happen... so far I haven't come up with much.
I think the grandmother's story of the house being clean and neat and the father being doting sets off my hinky meter. It makes me wonder if she dropped the baby off without telling anyone. If Ben was asleep and the roommate moved the sleeping baby to the crib, would it be possible neither parent knew he was home? Then the mom comes upon him and gives him a bottle but realizes something is wrong...causing her to walk around outside a lot without a coat for a few days before skipping town like the neighbors are saying?
I had a friend whose ex-girlfriend was dog-sitting for him and she didn't want to see him in the drop off, so she put the dog in the mud room at the far back end of the house on the day of his return. It was winter and he had no cause to go back there, and for two days he was calling the ex saying please bring me my dog... Finally on the third day she answered the phone and basically said "da**it, I brought your dog back 3 days ago!" and hung up. The dog was FINE, but it had been in the mud room, no doubt crying and whining, for THREE DAYS. There was water, but no food and no way to get out. The dog tore up the place but my friend never heard a thing. He was so devastated and kept trying to figure out how he hadn't heard anything.... I keep wondering if something like this could have happened, especially if the grandmother kept him a lot and for extended periods.
I don't know. I just find it hard to believe anyone could just ignore the baby. Surely they must not have realized he was there!
I know, I know.
I just keep praying there will be an explanation that I can stomach.