Tom Miller letter

[twilight]

Ya think, eh? You really couldn't be more wrong. I had a handwriting expert show me some of the differences in letter formations. It is really quite fascinating. There are many, many, many variations in the way people form letters. Then you have to look at how we combine our choices. Then there is how and where the letters are placed on the paper, etc. etc.

Oh, I should add, 'a' and 't' are the easiest to alter, because people commonly use either a single storey 'a', or a two storey 'a'. With 't' it's where you cross them that is the most commonly different feature. Then there is bottom up and top down differences in letter formation. Kids in North American schools do not necessarily learn the exact same letter formation. In addition, people alter their formation because of a lot of factors. That's why the courts accept 'handwriting analysis' in contested signature cases. Why there was a movie out about that not long ago - Tom Hanks - good movie, but the way.

 

[BlueCrab]

Ya think, eh? You really couldn't be more wrong. I had a handwriting expert show me some of the differences in letter formations. It is really quite fascinating. There are many, many, many variations in the way people form letters. Then you have to look at how we combine our choices. Then there is how and where the letters are placed on the paper, etc. etc.

Oh, I should add, 'a' and 't' are the easiest to alter, because people commonly use either a single storey 'a', or a two storey 'a'. With 't' it's where you cross them that is the most commonly different feature. Then there is bottom up and top down differences in letter formation. Kids in North American schools do not necessarily learn the exact same letter formation. In addition, people alter their formation because of a lot of factors. That's why the courts accept 'handwriting analysis' in contested signature cases. Why there was a movie out about that not long ago - Tom Hanks - good movie, but the way.

I agree there are minor differences in the way people individually write each of the 26 letters -- but an "a", is an "a", is an "a". And a "t", is a "t", is a "t".
Each individual letter can be recognized as being exactly what it was intended to be, such as an "a" looks like an "a" and a "t" looks like a "t" regardless of the numerous minor differences.

There's even a slight difference in every letter we individually print using freehand, but the letter can nevertheless be recognized. Thus, most of us likely fall in Steve Thomas' 24 out of 26 category. Moreover, if you print the ransom note with your opposite hand using a felt tip pen your note will look very close to the original Ramsey ransom note. Many of us would then probably fall in the 26 out of 26 category.

JMO

 

[Maxi]

What I find really interesting is that many of the letters appear to have had the ligatures and "hats" added on after the body of the letter was written. And some of the ligatures are oriented in the wrong direction. That looks to me like a clear attempt to disguise the handwriting or an attempt at very amateurish calligraphy.

 

[BlueCrab]

What I find really interesting is that many of the letters appear to have had the ligatures and "hats" added on after the body of the letter was written. And some of the ligatures are oriented in the wrong direction. That looks to me like a clear attempt to disguise the handwriting or an attempt at very amateurish calligraphy.

Maxi,

Patsy graduated with honors with a bachelor's degree in journalism and is a neat writer. Even writing with the opposite hand, I don't think she would have made the hatless "a's" and then come back to add the little hats on the "a's" as you pointed out. But a kid might do that, not thinking it would be noticable. The fake ransom note has male juvenile written all over it.

JMO

 

[Ivy]

BC, why would Burke or his friends want to disguise their writing to look like Patsy's?

Patsy wrote the note. After seeing the exemplars, there's not a single doubt in my mind that she did.

 

[Shylock]

BC, why would Burke or his friends want to disguise their writing to look like Patsy's?
Patsy wrote the note. After seeing the exemplars, there's not a single doubt in my mind that she did.

This is a good question, BlueCrab. While a lot of your BDI theory makes sense and is indeed possible, there is no need for Burke or one of his buddies to be the author of the note. If Burke was responsible for all or part of the injury to JonBenet, Patsy would simply have written the note to cover for him. My feeling is that John probably dictated the note and Patsy wrote it, trying to disguise her handwriting as much as possible.