JR got his authority from his money and connections.
Mason tried to scare up some detectives to assist Detective Arndt, but the crew on duty the morning after Christmas was already spread thin on other assignments related to the case. For two hours and twenty-seven minutes, Arndt was the only officer in the Ramsey house.
At first Mason couldnt understand why the officers on the scene hadnt secured the house earlier, separated the Ramseys, and questioned them individually. Then he learned that Commander Eller had ordered that the Ramseys be treated as victims, not suspects.
The Ramseys were an influential family, Eller told Mason, who realized that this message must have affected the behavior of all the officers at the scene.
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, Lawrence Schiller, Page 15
However, if true, Masons involvement began after 8 oclock in the morning which would have been nearly an hour after Burke was taken from the home.
Perhaps the officers didnt need to be told, they were already influenced by their surroundings
Hearing reports about the kidnapping ended Commander Ellers vacation. He wasnt happy about it; he had a house full of family and friends from back home in Florida. He was also annoyed to find out that nobody of substantial rank was on duty. In his irritation, the commander completely forgot he had approved Detective Mason to be on call at home.
Judging by what Eller heard from officers at the scene, the Ramseys appeared to be part of Boulders elite. Credible millionaires was a phrase one officer used. Obviously, Eller felt, these were people you had to treat with respect, not people you wanted to offend.
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, Lawrence Schiller, Page 10
Of course, none of this excuses the numerous mistakes that were made, in only serves to provide insight.
Difficult to say what the thought process was involving the decision to relocate Burke, and your comment presupposes that John knew all the details of what had happened during the wee hours of the morning. Im not sure because the evidence doesn't paint a clear picture, IMO.
Its possible that Fleet may have thought BR may be returning, although Fleet may have simply been keeping busy, perhaps as a means of dealing with nervous energy.
cynic,
Hearing reports about the kidnapping ended Commander Ellers vacation. He wasnt happy about it;
...
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, Lawrence Schiller, Page 10
We know Schiller's sources were tainted, anyway I reckon the R's had phoned for advice early in the morning and were told to create a staged crime-scene, which would be
investigated later, why? No phone records are available despite the fact that the US Government never deletes phone records they are stored indefinitely!
Difficult to say what the thought process was involving the decision to relocate Burke, and your comment presupposes that John knew all the details of what had happened during the wee hours of the morning. Im not sure because the evidence doesn't paint a clear picture, IMO.
mmm, well we can infer JR is thinking about the
staging process, why because he already has a version events wrt BR. Also he then decides to relocate BR overriding Rick French's request! Its a legal move, JR is moving BR out, hopefully to be beyond LEA inspection, his rationale must be: they can interview PR or JR comprehensively, but one of the prime suspects is beyond immediate legal inspection?
There are four options:
1. Only JR knows what took place.
2. Only PR knows what took place.
3. Both JR and PR know what took place.
4. Neither JR or PR know what took place.
Which of those you think is valid will depend on your current RDI theory? I'm of the opinion that neither parent knew all the details, but enough to attempt a staged crime-scene, why: because of all the holes in their version of events, the stuff they
never staged i.e. the breakfast bar, etc.
Looks like PR staged the first crime-scene which JR later vetoed, and out of necessity dumped most of the forensic evidence in the wine-cellar, e.g. pink barbie nightgown, partially opened christmas gifts,
barbie doll, how much of this was part of PR's staging is open to debate?
Then there is the suitcase which JR says he relocated down to the basement, this I seriously doubt, it was never part of his paygrade to do housework. Again more evidence he was thinking ahead, not mention the chair in front of the door that the intruder exited, patently JR has out-thought himself here?
.