The Ransom Note: a calling card?

[sissi]

Why would you want to remove #78? There's certainly something to consider here. Just what kind of person would remember lines from one movie, let alone so many? Would it be a middle aged woman who has a busy schedule, or would it be someone obessessed with these kinds of crimes and alone? My personal reading materials follow a theme, as it seems the author of the ransom note followed a theme with his viewing materials. Could we guess the author not only viewed these movies once or twice, but perhaps over and over...and over again. Would a person with a busy job and family have the time for this, or could we perhaps be looking at an anti-social , loner kinda guy? Unless, of course he's the clerk at the video store?
You don't suppose the BPD checked the video libraries of any of the suspects, do ya?

 

[bensmom98]

Why would you want to remove #78? There's certainly something to consider here. Just what kind of person would remember lines from one movie, let alone so many? Would it be a middle aged woman who has a busy schedule, or would it be someone obessessed with these kinds of crimes and alone? My personal reading materials follow a theme, as it seems the author of the ransom note followed a theme with his viewing materials. Could we guess the author not only viewed these movies once or twice, but perhaps over and over...and over again. Would a person with a busy job and family have the time for this, or could we perhaps be looking at an anti-social , loner kinda guy? Unless, of course he's the clerk at the video store?
You don't suppose the BPD checked the video libraries of any of the suspects, do ya?

Sissi-

I totally agree with you here. Being a busy Mom of 2 myself I usually don't have time to watch movies nevermind watching them over and over and memorizing the lines. Certainly, unless we are looking at someone with a photographic memory, the RN author would have to be somebody who did not have "alot on their plate". I do know somebody who used to be able to remember lines from movies, but this was back when we were in highschool. Now that she is a single Mom of two I betcha she can't.

 

[twilight]

Sissi-

I totally agree with you here. Being a busy Mom of 2 myself I usually don't have time to watch movies nevermind watching them over and over and memorizing the lines. Certainly, unless we are looking at someone with a photographic memory, the RN author would have to be somebody who did not have "alot on their plate". I do know somebody who used to be able to remember lines from movies, but this was back when we were in highschool. Now that she is a single Mom of two I betcha she can't.

Could you, or Sissi write a ransom note? If so where do the words come from? Real life experiences? I don't think so. {{that is not intended as sarcasm - I mean it...most average people can write ransom notes and they use a databank of language they learn at the movies. Right? If not, where do they get the language?}}

Sissi - I was asked to edit my post, but do not have an edit button on week old posts, so I was directing BeeBee to just delete it.

 

[Lacy Wood]

Let's remember that the Ramsey's had to think up a story to explain the absence of their fingerprints on the note...yes, they said they didn't pick it up to read it. If we accept that, we also have to accept that a potentially incriminating note had to be left by an intruder who knew the girl was dead and that a ransom was out of the question. One Occam's Razor issue is to determine if it's more likely that an intruder, or someone in the house had a greater interest in putting the blame on someone else. And if you are an intruder, how does it help to leave anything to make it look like an intruder? Wouldn't you be happy to let the family have to explain the body downstairs? Would a criminal believe that forensics could conclude that his disguised writing was actually Patsy's disguised writing? Not to mention that the note contents suggest not just any "intruder", but one with specific knowledge that would narrow the field of suspects.

The note did in fact narrow the field of suspects considerably.

 

[narlacat]

Sissi-

I totally agree with you here. Being a busy Mom of 2 myself I usually don't have time to watch movies nevermind watching them over and over and memorizing the lines. Certainly, unless we are looking at someone with a photographic memory, the RN author would have to be somebody who did not have "alot on their plate". I do know somebody who used to be able to remember lines from movies, but this was back when we were in highschool. Now that she is a single Mom of two I betcha she can't.

Im a single mum too and some say a over protective mum as well...so i dont go out to the movies all that often either. This is just personal choice though, i prefer to stay at home with my child than going out all the time. I like the routine of staying at home at night and knowing my child is in bed and safe. Im not the sort of mum to trapse my child around at night for my benefit.
If i want to see a movie ,ill grab a dvd and watch it after my child is in bed.
I dont watch dvds all the time and wouldnt say im right up on all the new releases but i watch a few...and i think its easy to remember lines from movies. If ive enjoyed a movie, i could most probably remember some of the lines that i liked. I dont think the RN implies that the person who wrote it watched tons and tons of movies and had nothing else to do.

 

[azwriter]

Isn't it amazing! One of the longest ransom notes in the history of kidnapping, handwritten, and nobody can figure out who wrote it!

Some say it's a little masterpiece; others the war and peace of ransom notes. Some say it was obviously written by a genteel, educated adult; others say it was the work of a youngster. Some say it's author was intelligent and clever. Others say it's goofy and awkward. Some say it displays hatred and ruthlessness; others say it's Hollywoodized nonsense. Some say it's an obvious fake; others say it's genuine. Some say it was written in a panic after her death; others say it was carefully and deliberately crafted prior to her death. Some say it shows familiarity with John and might have been written by Patsy. Others say neither of the Ramseys would use self-incriminatory phrases and information. Some say the writer was inexperienced (as a kidnapper) and insecure. Others say he was clever enough to not use language that could be attributed to him. Whom are we to believe?

Is there anything about the ransom note that more than one or two of us can agree on?

How about this for starters: many of the lines were from movies, and there was little in the way of novelty or original thinking as regards the particulars--get the money, put it in a bag, stand by for a call, don't alert the authorities, blah, blah, blah, or she dies; it was about kidnapping through and through and contained a lot of threats. The language was mostly borrowed, which helped to disguise the authorship; but, there were a few exceptions, and maybe it is these exceptions that will prove to be important clues.

My impression was that the author was paraphrasing quite a lot--remembering the scripts from the movies and putting them into his own words, for the most part; exceptions to this too. He thought that to be convincing (got this from movies=GTFM) you had to specify a container for the money to take with you to the bank. But, he hadn't done the math and been as specific as brand name and model number, so he did the next best thing--he specified "an adequate size attache". Does this show careful planning, or suggest naievete? Do you think John would show up at the bank with a coin purse? He thought you had to instruct that the money be transferred to yet another container for transporting to the drop site GTFM, so he hit upon the "brown paper bag". Wow, real professional, and he didn't bother to specify the size, nor to doubt that there was such a bag in the Ramsey home. You'll need an adequate size attache but any old bag'll do. "I will call you..." GTFM "The delivery will be exhausting...." GTFM. "...I advise you to be rested." GTFM I, we, I, we. "Any deviation...execution" GTFM "Stray dog..." GTFM "..money is in any way marked.." GTFM "...law enforcement countermeasures.." GTFM "Speaking to anyone...Police or FBI" GTFM "...scanned for electronic devices..." GTFM "..under constant scrutiny.." GTFM "..grow a brain..." GTFM "...killing will be difficult." GTFM Get the picture?

What this author didn't realize, owing to his youth and inexperience, is that a truly convincing ransom note is short and to the point; shall we say, terse.

There are a few lines in the note that depart from movie script; they are superfluous to the nth degree: "We respect your business..." Huh? "..see 1997..." "..withdraw...from your account." "If we monitor you getting the money early....and hence.....of your daughter." "...deviation OF...instructions..." "... denied her remains..." "The two gentlemen watching over your daughter do not particularly like you so I advise you not to provoke them." Huh? "...alert bank authorities..." "You can try to deceive us...be warned..." "....stand a 99% chance....stand a 100% chance.." "...fat cat..." "Use that good Southern common sense of yours." "It is up to you now John." "Victory" "SBTC"

And then there is the exact, unrounded and paltry amount of $118,000 that is in some account.

Thoughts: Author seemed to respect Patsy; abandoned a note which included her as an addressee. Seemed to fear John (be in awe of him); consider him a tough customer; someone hard to convince. Seemed to have a fairly good command of English; maybe a college student or a bright teenager (an overachiever?). Note was fairly business-like. Author had no problem conceiving of a group who could respect John's business on the one hand and threaten to kill his daughter on the other. I can see young people at work here; discussing this note; going over it; editing it; pefecting it. I can't see an adult writing this; composing this, unless someone extremely NAIVE! And look what happened--not only were they unable to extract the girl from the residence, they ended up killing her.

Who's protecting whom?

Great post Red Chief. But I can add something very familiar to me about the note/letter - the format.
After 22 years in journalism and public relations, I recognize the format, the style of certain phrases and words written, and even a proofreader's symbol to insert a word, this randsom letter appears how a press release would be written. Or how an article would be written for publication.
JMO

 

[Morag]

When I was a grade schooler, there was a fairly famous kidnap case in a nearby state. My friends and I decided to prepare ourselves in case the kidnapper got one of us. We wrote little notes that said help I have been kidnapped, and hid them in our pockets; presumably we would drop them as the kidnapper dragged us away. When that game became boring, we began to write ransom notes instead. When I read THE ransom note, all I could think was--kids (teenaged boys) wrote that note. What if the Boulder kidnap club wrote those notes, just having fun...And the note which was left was originally just one of those "fun" notes, which came in handy when trying to direct attention away from what had actually happened?

 

[dingo]

Was the note folded or creased in any way,my reason for asking is if the intruder wrote the note while waiting for the rams to return home where did he hide it,he wouldnt be sure what they would do,what rooms they would go into,couldnt just leave it lying around,makes more sense to fold it to fit in your pocket.Seems to me he wouldnt have time to write it after the murder.

 

[BlueCrab]

Was the note folded or creased in any way,my reason for asking is if the intruder wrote the note while waiting for the rams to return home where did he hide it,he wouldnt be sure what they would do,what rooms they would go into,couldnt just leave it lying around,makes more sense to fold it to fit in your pocket.Seems to me he wouldnt have time to write it after the murder.

dingo,

The note was unfolded and pristine.

However, IMO the fake ransom note was written AFTER JonBenet died. The thrust of the note and other staging was an attempt to hide the sexual aspects of the crime and re-direct suspicion away from house members by trying to make it appear to be a kidnapping.

There was no intruder. Why would an intruder try to hide the sexual aspects and divert attention away from the house and toward himself? It was a sexual crime, not a kidnapping. No note was needed.

 

[dingo]

bluecrab Im in the RDI camp which one im not sure, ive read thru alot of threads on most forums and im trying to come up with questions that i havent found posted anywhere,just the little things that dont add up,ill leave the big things to those that know more then me.Any thing to punch a few more holes in their web of lies

 

[GuruJosh]

And if you are an intruder, how does it help to leave anything to make it look like an intruder? Wouldn't you be happy to let the family have to explain the body downstairs?

i think this is an excellent point.

Since our mysterious "intruder" managed to enter and leave with immense skill (besides a "Hi-Tek boot print", which may or may not be evidence), why would this skilled ninja warrior paedophile (who favours American shoes on his sadistic missions) need to reveal anything about himself in a 3 page note?

Can you imagine the skill and concentration needed to conduct this night-time "mission" on a cold, silent Christmas Night?

So the note was written certainly without the precision ninja-like skills they used to enter and leave the Ramsey's home completely undetected!

And why was the note written? The ninja-warrior-paedophile would have been long gone by then. Could have been in Denver by then, hopping on the next flight to LA, en route to Ninjaland (where they respect companies but not the countries they are in... it's a widely known pillar of 20th Century political philiosophy you know! Companies are awesome, but man, sometimes the countries they are in just get on your nerves! Victory!)

I think the note is a wild, amateurish attempt to pin the blame on someone else. No one who pre-meditated the killing of JBR would have thought of leaving a note like that.

I keep reading that Patsy was this busy, busy woman who just wouldn't have time to watch movies and remember (roughly) some of the hook-lines.

I think this is missing the point that Patsy was very very ill, almost dying, and no doubt had TONS and TONS of time on her hands. If i remember correctly, she was involved in the school and in JBR's paegents etc. partly as an attempt to keep busy.