Ransom Note and Calls to the Boss

[Clue Hopper]

Are there any images of the ransom note? I have read a few articles about it. Some leave things out and add things in. I'm just curious as to how the note was actually written and where placement of things were.

For some reason I am starting to think that the note itself was not involved in this particular part of things that happened. Basically that the note was left by accident. Something else had gone on previously, or it was going to be done at a later time. Like it was just a rough draft that somehow got lost and moved to the dashboard by accident.


I'm wondering if EB confessed to it by accident, and realized what she did the second she said it. Therefore she stopped talking and asked for an attorney.

 

[tehcloser]

Then how does AB using the ransom note in the 911 call fit in? If it were not involved, and then what was the story going to be about her being missing going to be it not for the note? Even if you go with the AB not knowing, they had to have talked about the note before the 911 call. Gas in the vehicle made sure they would find the note, I don't think it was an accident it was found.

 

[Clue Hopper]

Then how does AB using the ransom note in the 911 call fit in? If it were not involved, and then what was the story going to be about her being missing going to be it not for the note? Even if you go with the AB not knowing, they had to have talked about the note before the 911 call. Gas in the vehicle made sure they would find the note, I don't think it was an accident it was found.

Because the ransom note was discovered in the fire.

 

[Mountain_Kat]

Then how does AB using the ransom note in the 911 call fit in? If it were not involved, and then what was the story going to be about her being missing going to be it not for the note? Even if you go with the AB not knowing, they had to have talked about the note before the 911 call. Gas in the vehicle made sure they would find the note, I don't think it was an accident it was found.

I don't believe the ransom note left on the "company vehicle" was an accident. But I am starting to wonder exactly WHO put it there. :waitasec:

 

[Mountain_Kat]

Are there any images of the ransom note? I have read a few articles about it. Some leave things out and add things in. I'm just curious as to how the note was actually written and where placement of things were.

For some reason I am starting to think that the note itself was not involved in this particular part of things that happened. Basically that the note was left by accident. Something else had gone on previously, or it was going to be done at a later time. Like it was just a rough draft that somehow got lost and moved to the dashboard by accident.


I'm wondering if EB confessed to it by accident, and realized what she did the second she said it. Therefore she stopped talking and asked for an attorney.

BBM

I think this is a very good possibility. Writing a ransom note, that you intend to actually use, wouldn't be written on your power bill envelope, imo. But a rough draft might.

I'm not saying that's what happened, but it's worth considering.

 

[tehcloser]

Because the ransom note was discovered in the fire.

But it seems to me the whole story is based on the ransom note. The fire was set so the note would be found. Without the note, there is no story. No plausible explanation of why Zahra is missing nothing. Without that note all you have is a fire that was set and then a few hours later, ""Oh, our daughter is missing"........that note, in their minds, ties it all together. If not for the note, you would not have needed a fire, KWIM?

 

[Clue Hopper]

I don't believe the ransom note left on the "company vehicle" was an accident. But I am starting to wonder exactly WHO put it there. :waitasec:

I also wonder why a utility bill would be in a company vehicle?

I have to go back and look at the search warrant and see if it was said where the envelope that coincided with the bill was found. If I am not mistaken I think it was in the personal vehicle. I could be wrong though.

 

[Belinda]

I wasn't aware that the ransom note was written on their power bill. Why would they do that? It leads straight to them. That makes no sense at all. Unless, as has been mentioned, it was some kind of a rough draft, but then why was it used?

 

[Clue Hopper]

But it seems to me the whole story is based on the ransom note. The fire was set so the note would be found. Without the note, there is no story. No plausible explanation of why Zahra is missing nothing. Without that note all you have is a fire that was set and then a few hours later, ""Oh, our daughter is missing"........that note, in their minds, ties it all together. If not for the note, you would not have needed a fire, KWIM?

The 911 call of ZB missing was after the fire. So AB could have been baffled about the note. (I'm going to even include here.) EB saying AB kept pushing that note. It's all his fault. Nothing went as planned. Like I say it's just a speculation but if you remove the ransom note. Then begin to look maybe something will fit better. The ransom note makes nothing fit.

 

[Mountain_Kat]

I wasn't aware that the ransom note was written on their power bill. Why would they do that? It leads straight to them. That makes no sense at all. Unless, as has been mentioned, it was some kind of a rough draft, but then why was it used?

Power bill envelope. Not the bill itself.

If it was a rough draft, why might it be used? Depends on who made the decision to use it. If it was AB, and not EB, makes ALOT of sense to use a rough draft of a ransom note in your wife's handwritting. Points at her, and away from you.

 

[tehcloser]

Zahra was dead and disposed of way before that note. They knew their days were numbered as far as having to produce Zahra. They came up with what they thought was a believable plan. Set a fire, write a note, oh look they took the wrong kid. The only thing that did not go as planned was that for whatever reason, they chickened out of saying she was missing when the fire was going on.

 

[Mountain_Kat]

(More thinking out loud...feel free to skip over)

Somehow Zahra dies in her bedroom. AB and EB panic. Have to get rid of the body. AB comes up with the dismemberment idea, and probably handles that. Now he's up to his eyeballs in this thing. They both, using their own vehicles, get rid of body parts and mattress. They both clean up evidence in the home, paint, whatever. But now, they realize they have a bigger problem. How do they explain why Zahra has just magically disappeared? They come up with the kidnapping plan. EB writes the note. But then disagreement between the two sets in. Eb says, "No way! This isn't gonna work!" AB says, "We don't have anything else! There's no other way to explain this!" EB tells him to give her a little time to come up with another plan. But there's a "home inspection" looming, and AB panics. Maybe he no longer trusts EB and wonders if her new plan will be to set him up to take the fall for everything. Afterall, she's the smarter of the two. He's not going to take the fall for whatever happened to Zahra. And he certainly does not want it discovered that he dismembered her body. So, while Elisa is sleeping, he decides to bail on her. What to do? He goes out on the back porch, sits down, maybe has a cigarette, thinking. He goes in, gets the ransom note EB had written earlier and attaches it to the company vehicle (as earlier planned). But then, how will he say he found the note? Aha! Say someone set a fire in the yard to distract you and slip in and steal Zahra from her bedroom. He sets the mulch fire...but wait! The stupid note is on the vehicle HE drives to work, and there's probably evidence in there! Okay fine, get the gas can and torch the company vehicle. AB leans inside the company vehicle, pours the gas and lights a match. CRAP! That doesn't work! Burn the vehicle, you burn the note. So he puts the vehicle fire out, leaving the door open to rid the vehicle of smoke. Nothing else to do at this point, just gotta hope it's enough. So he goes into the house, wakes Elisa and says, "Call the fire department."

(But does that theory work? Or am I forgetting something?)

 

[tehcloser]

The 911 call of ZB missing was after the fire. So AB could have been baffled about the note. (I'm going to even include here.) EB saying AB kept pushing that note. It's all his fault. Nothing went as planned. Like I say it's just a speculation but if you remove the ransom note. Then begin to look maybe something will fit better. The ransom note makes nothing fit.

I know the 911 call of Zahra missing was AFTER the fire. :snooty: Their story is based around the ransom note.

 

[tlcya]

(More thinking out loud...feel free to skip over)

Somehow Zahra dies in her bedroom. AB and EB panic. Have to get rid of the body. AB comes up with the dismemberment idea, and probably handles that. Now he's up to his eyeballs in this thing. They both, using their own vehicles, get rid of body parts and mattress. They both clean up evidence in the home, paint, whatever. But now, they realize they have a bigger problem. How do they explain why Zahra has just magically disappeared? They come up with the kidnapping plan. EB writes the note. But then disagreement between the two sets in. Eb says, "No way! This isn't gonna work!" AB says, "We don't have anything else! There's no other way to explain this!" EB tells him to give her a little time to come up with another plan. But there's a "home inspection" looming, and AB panics. Maybe he no longer trusts EB and wonders if her new plan will be to set him up to take the fall for everything. Afterall, she's the smarter of the two. He's not going to take the fall for whatever happened to Zahra. And he certainly does not want it discovered that he dismembered her body. So, while Elisa is sleeping, he decides to bail on her. What to do? He goes out on the back porch, sits down, maybe has a cigarette, thinking. He goes in, gets the ransom note EB had written earlier and attaches it to the company vehicle (as earlier planned). But then, how will he say he found the note? Aha! Say someone set a fire in the yard to distract you and slip in and steal Zahra from her bedroom. He sets the mulch fire...but wait! The stupid note is on the vehicle HE drives to work, and there's probably evidence in there! Okay fine, get the gas can and torch the company vehicle. AB leans inside the company vehicle, pours the gas and lights a match. CRAP! That doesn't work! Burn the vehicle, you burn the note. So he puts the vehicle fire out, leaving the door open to rid the vehicle of smoke. Nothing else to do at this point, just gotta hope it's enough. So he goes into the house, wakes Elisa and says, "Call the fire department."

(But does that theory work? Or am I forgetting something?)

The theory works on its face. Interestingly enough it could be exactly opposite as well. If you use your same basic theory only swap the roles as far as who went forward without whose approval on the night (early morning) of the fire /ransom note call, still works. If you remove AB and put him in bed and insert EB makes just as much sense to me.

Good theory. IT is entirely possible that while both were involved in the disposal/cleanup, only one acted in the morning of the fire without the other's involvement, hence the big mess was made of it.

 

[Clue Hopper]

Correction here.

The ransom note was written on the Duke Power envelope. A Duke Power bill was found in the Camry.

[/IMG]

 

[Mountain_Kat]

Correction here.

The ransom note was written on the Duke Power envelope. A Duke Power bill was found in the Camry.

[/IMG]

The bill was found in Elisa Bakers camry. The envelope for the power bill had the ransom note written on it, and was found on AB's "company vehicle". The one that had gasoline poured in it, and "burnt remnants".

Interesting.

 

[Mountain_Kat]

The theory works on its face. Interestingly enough it could be exactly opposite as well. If you use your same basic theory only swap the roles as far as who went forward without whose approval on the night (early morning) of the fire /ransom note call, still works. If you remove AB and put him in bed and insert EB makes just as much sense to me.

Good theory. IT is entirely possible that while both were involved in the disposal/cleanup, only one acted in the morning of the fire without the other's involvement, hence the big mess was made of it.

But then, we would have EB leaving a ransom note, in her handwriting, right out there in the open to lead LE straight to her door. If it was only a rough draft, she wouldn't need to disguise her writing, since it was just a rough draft, you know?

We also have AB, in the 911 call saying, "We woke up. My dog woke me up." He doesn't say that EB woke him up. In fact, he starts to say they both woke up, and then reverses himself. Changes it to "my dog woke ME up". So who woke up first that morning? AB or EB? If I listen to AB's 911 call, I'm gonna say it was AB.

JMO

ETA: I do think the theory that one of them did the fire on his or her own works, though. It's possible the reason the employee nearby only saw one person sitting on the porch is because the other person was in the shadows. But I'm really starting to think it much MORE likely that the reason said employee only saw one person on the porch was because, there WAS only one person.

 

[Belinda]

What if EB was already up and setting things up? However, leaving the note in her own handwriting is an epic fail and she seems more street smart than that.

 

[tehcloser]

How do we know it was "in her handwriting"? We know she said she wrote it, but do we know that she didn't try to disguise her hand writing? What I'm trying to say is, do we know for a fact that they knew it was her handwriting and confronted her with that, or did she just own up to writing the note?

 

[Belinda]

How do we know it was "in her handwriting"? We know she said she wrote it, but do we know that she didn't try to disguise her hand writing?

Good point.