Credit where credit is due. I wish it had been my theory.
But the person who first thought that and suggested it was the BK volunteer who converted the raw data into readable format. She has posted directly now in the discussion on BK.
Besides trial participants, it is very safe to say she has the most knowledge of anyone anywhere about those text exchanges.
!
I was finally able to get logged in on BK's site, and poke around a bit (thanks for all the encouragement here!). Of course by the time I got the subscription fixed, I didn't have time to read it all, and had to run out - but I'm way down the rabbit hole now, and will post if I can add to the existing theories.
I did get a peek at the discussion you mention above - and of course you're right that the person that converted the raw data would have the best knowledge - I was they shared a bit.
FWIW - I've used gmail for a long time (and I know TA and CMJA used it) - there was a time (I think around 2008) when Google would give you a phone number for free, and I believe they began charging for that later (I had one). I beleive you could text from that number.
I also know that (with verizon, at least) you could text to and from an email adddress - my son's phone broke, and he would text me that way for a while.
Also, FWIW - and I apologize if this was already discussed, but want to get it out before I forget - the Helio Ocean phone (or phones) that CMJA had were their own service - Helio was it's own cell carrier (so if she had another phone, she probably had another number (especially if GS was paying),. I thnk they were bought out by someone, or went out of business, but I'm positive they had their own service in2008.
Just saying, it's very likely that CMJA had more than one number - and maybe more than one.....food for thought, is all ... IMO, JMO, MOO.
Will post more when I have more time, and can read up on this!