> how would a random intruder know they were going to the
>Whites' for several hours? Are you implying maybe they were
>followed all the way there?

Nothing indicates SickPuppy knew where the Ramseys were. He just knew they weren't home - - easy to tell as the house had LOTS of windows - - lots.

> What if they were leaving to get on a plane that night?

SickPuppy would have left the house without murdering anyone. Maybe the Ramseys would never know he had been there - - or maybe he would have stolen something - - who knows. In Charlevoix, an intruder used the Ramsey house as a hotel - - no one knows who did that, but the maids saw his stuff in the house and thought it had to be someone the Ramseys invited to use the house. Strange.

> For whatever reason, the writer didnt want to bring Patsys name into it. (the ransom note)

I think the killer wanted to be "macho" instead of being a coward who would take a defenseless child, his fantasy while he wrote the note was to have power over a man.