2001-07-27: Webbsleuths Forum (http://www.webbsleuths.org)
"What is this thing?"

"What is this thing?"
Posted by LovelyPigeon on Jul-27-01 at 11:24 PM (EST)



What is the yellow and white object in the lower left corner?

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6 . "LovelyPigeon"
Posted by why_nut on Jul-28-01 at 07:51 AM (EST)

That is FAO Schwartz wrapping paper or a box. The yellow background sets off the white rocking horse logo. The angled portion is the front leg of the horse, and the white portion to the leg's left is the curved base of the rocking horse. You can see the logo in the Christmas morning picture of JonBenet and Burke, or in this link:


Cumulative evidence would tend to put Patsy in that room on Christmas day. In DOI (page 5), John describes Patsy as doing some last-minute gift wrapping of presents, including "a few things for the Charlevoix neighbor kids" that were to be taken to Charlevoix, and in the December 26th search warrant, "Partially wrapped FAO Schwartz" gifts (55KKY, 56KKY, 57KKY) were taken into evidence. With your observation, we can now, at least, place the partially-wrapped gifts in the room where JonBenet's body was found.

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10 . "Maikai"
Posted by why_nut on Jul-28-01 at 08:53 AM (EST)

"Assuming it was the partially wrapped gift---it doesn't make sense that Patsy would leave it in the storage room---or would bring it into the storage room. Why?"
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On the issue of not being able to make sense of the paper image, look at the link I provided again. Look at the medium blue rocking horse at the far edge of the package. Mentally turn it 180 degrees. You will see how the front leg of the horse and the tip of the rocking base match exactly the image as seen in the crime scene photo.

I find it completely understandable for Patsy to have hidden FAO Schwartz gifts in the windowless room. Consider the fact that she would have known her children were very clever. Every child, and I am certain that includes you and myself, would take advantage of the opportunity to find out what gifts were stored, if only for the chance to shake them before Christmas morning to see whether they were heavy and therefore probably worth getting. I am fairly certain that, with free run of the house, every closet and cubbyhole was examined by Burke and JonBenet in the weeks before Christmas. Where, in 755 15th Street, could you keep a six-year-old and nine-year-old from finding their Christmas gifts? The answer would be in the one room that was latched along the top of the door, making it therefore impossible to open unless the child dragged a chair over, which would require a chair to be in the basement in the first place. (This is an interesting question. Were there any chairs in the basement? If so, why would an intruder use a suitcase to exit the window?)

Then consider the fact that the presents for the Charlevoix children had to be hidden in the same room, because JonBenet was of a young enough age to not recognize the boundaries between gifts intended for her, and gifts intended only for other children. Put a six-year-old girl in a room with wrapped presents and no stern instruction to stay away from them, and I am sure they would not remain wrapped for long.

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23 . "DOI, page2:"
Posted by Shera on Jul-28-01 at 01:03 PM (EST)

"Patsy and I savored the night before Christmas, helping Santa Claus put everything in place". "We had made several trips to the basement, where Patsy kept the wrapped gifts stashed away".

DOI, page 5: "Patsy got busy preparing for our early morning departure the next day to Charlevoix, Michigan. She had some last minute gift wrapping to finish for John Andrew, and Melinda, the older children from my first marriage. There were a few things for the Charlevoix neighbor kids as well as a few special gifts for Stewart, Melinda's fiance, who would join us for this first ever family Christmas get together at our summer cottage in Charlevoix.

DOI, page 5: "In addition to those tasks, Patsy was packing summer clothes and bathing suits in suitcases laid out on the bed in John Andrew's bedroom".

DOI, page 6: "Patsy, Burke, JonBenet, and I, planned to meet Mike Archuleta, our pilot, at Jeffco in the morning for a 7:00 departure".

DOI, page 7: "I always loved hanging around airports, and Christmas Day was no different. I loaded some of the gifts that were going to Michigan and made sure the plane was ready to go".

Why_Nut great job coming through with the FAO Schwartz wrapping paper. (and may the "Schwartz be with you!)

The night before Christmas, gifts were brought upstairs and set up under the tree, gifts were still being wrapped Christmas Day, presents were being hauled for John Andrew, Melinda, Stewart, and some neighborhood kids. Their flight left at 7:00 am. Hardly the time to go to the basement to gather gifts, so John, in an obvious attempt to minimize the confusion and rush of getting a family out the door on the morning of a trip, brought some of these gifts to the plane Christmas Day, they still had to bring their luggage to the plane in the morning.