Lezah--I definitely think your general theory is on the right track. The guesthouse may have played a much bigger role. I can't really figure out exactly what might have happened to get her there (lots of options as to how it started, etc.), but we've got the guesthouse that Adam is well familiar with. There's the unmade bed in the second bedroom, women's clothes, makeup wipes, underwear in the trash can, an admission to masterbation (you'll find my sperm here), and the failure to view it as a crime scene, etc. Add to that the "Freudian slip?" in the 911 call, the existence of the storage room as you've described, and the apparent "hog tie," it does make sense. Repots of the loud music were said to be coming "from the compound" not necessarily the main house.
In listening to his testimony regarding the guesthouse, I didn't really pick up on it being this big hesitation or stumble before he wrapped it up, then again it can take me awhile sometimes. I'm sure it was different being in the courtroom. But, his utter inability to describe seeing her hanging definitely would suggest she may never have been hanging from the balcony. I'm really happy the judge mentioned the 911 "hanging in the guesthouse..." That's amazing!
Wait, *bloody* table? How'd I miss that it was bloody???
And what about motive...?
I believe your observation re the findings in the guest house are very significant, as is your theory on mentioning the masturbation. It all fits...I think you have shown another piece of the puzzle...
I also feel that we should take another look at motive...and I think we should look at the relationship between AS - and his father.
The emotionless presentation on the stand was only fractured momentarily, and that IMO was when AS spoke of the call he received from his father ( on direct from MrGreer) about Maxies accident.
The testimony became much more real for me at this point - his description of his fathers heartbreak, devastation.....but he self corrected himself half way through, as if realizing it didnt fit with the he was going to be ok narrative. He said words to the effect of ...but, but he said there is hope, there was hope.... he would be ok..
Hum, that devastation, that honest account of his fathers distress at the beginning of the testimony, it just did it work for me with the caveat of him having hope.
AS also testified ( in summary and in the main) that he never married because his GF (and those he had previously) were Christian, and it was of great importance to his parents that he married into his faith.
This was expressed IMO with love and consideration of his parents wishes. I believe he has cared very deeply about his parents and he probably lived his life in a way that he wants to please them, however he can. After all, he admitted sacrificing marriage with someone he says he loves, for them...I think he was telling the truth.
I believe he has probably lived in the shadow of his brothers success all his life.
He testified he rang RZ immediately after letting the conversation with his father sink in... he didnt ring his brother. Why would you ring RZ and not your brother, when he had testified they each always have each others back and were very close, looking out for each other always
IMO, AS father would be understandably devastated about his young grandchild, and he probably told AS he was seriously injured enough for him to be brain damaged for life, if not going to die. ...I have never never heard...my father has never spoken like that, been so devastated...he was...it was, I never in my life heard him like that.....
Its also highly likely he told him the circumstances, and that he was in Rebeccas care at the time.
I believe his father probably/likely blamed RZ for not watching Max properly, maybe he was upset at JS, maybe he was angry with JS as JS was defending RZ to his dad maybe JS said she saved him Dad, she did CPR...
If JS didnt support RZ perhaps he thought he would have to admit to his father he should also share the responsibility of Maxies accident?
Adam Stasi he didnt ring his brother, he rang RZ. He said RZ told him he had follow his heart, he repeated this several times In his testimony.
He said RZ encouraged me to come, but said I had to follow my heart some things not fitting for me here...I would ask someone to follow their heart if they were not taking my advice...not if they were...
What came across to me after the testimony was that AS is the son who is not the billionaire. He is the son who never married, and never produced grandchildren for his parents to love. AS is the son who never met a girl who he felt would meet his parents expectations. Maybe this time, he would show his devastated father he would be the son to find out what happened - and hold them responsible.
Maybe the message on the door was related to his father in some way ...and his brother?
( edited to add... just my opinion and speculation....Ive paraphrazed statements from my recollection)