NY NY - Steven N. Chait, 20, New York City, 13 March 1972

[marytoodles]

His mother saved his clothes until 2005? I believe. Some had disintegrated. The calls is what gets me. I agree it’s a long time for a prank. Please don’t attack me for saying this. I wonder if it was one of his siblings calling. Maybe to try and bring some form of comfort or hope to their mother because she was so heartbroken?

 

[JSolt1210]

His mother saved his clothes until 2005? I believe. Some had disintegrated. The calls is what gets me. I agree it’s a long time for a prank. Please don’t attack me for saying this. I wonder if it was one of his siblings calling. Maybe to try and bring some form of comfort or hope to their mother because she was so heartbroken?

You may be on to something there.

Grief can make us all do irrational things. I can see a scenario where someone thinks, "If I'm grieving Steven's loss this bad, I can't imagine what it's like for his mother!" and then makes the calls in order to lessen her pain. Maybe what started out as innocent comfort grew into a kind of reluctant duty when they found out how eagerly the mom waited for those calls.

I don't see one or both siblings knowingly giving false hope to their mom, though. But perhaps a close friend of Steven's, or his college roommate? I'd be interested to know if anyone in Steven's social circle passed away in late 1996 or early 1997, and that's why the calls suddenly stopped.