A. Which I learned later, right.

Q. And was that ever sourced, to your knowledge?

A. No. My recollection of that is terribly vague because I don't know when we talked about those
thousand-plus pieces of evidence collected, those were potential pieces of evidence, I think that the
pocket knife may have been collected, but I don't know. There was the suggestion that I overheard
that that belonged to Burke.

Q. Was that ever sourced to Burke?

A. Not prior to me leaving.

The BPD didn't share much with the Ramseys - - that is a myth - - one of several blown away by this deposition.

Would he have needed a pocket knife?
No. Tape was torn, not cut...though we know its easier if you 'start' it with a little nick. Cord was cut, but we assume it was cut earlier from a spool.

Would anything be gained by leaving a pocket knife lying around, so as to implicate anyone?
No.

I think it was just: you have a murder and even though the victim does not appear to have been stabbed you seize weapons that are nearby the corpse simply because that is the thing to do.

Many people - without even thinking - will use their teeth to start that "little nick" in the tape. DNAX?????

I had considered that and rejected it for two reasons: mainly, this perpetrator just doesn't seem to be that stupid as to put saliva on the tape, thats like licking the postage stamp and then mailing the threatening letter. The other reason was that by the time that tape had been on the carpet, in Fleet's hands and in the cop's hands, it was probably not worth much as 'evidence' anyway but whatever it was worth as evidence would not have taken so long to be developed.

True, indeed, DB, but .. we're talking about the BPD. Didn't Beckner give the impression (in his depo) that the DNAX was from something they already had in evidence. Perhaps it had not occurred to them to check the piece of duct tape - beyond the fiber evidence - prior to 1999.

But, OTH, your point about multiple handling of that piece of duct tape is worth noting as well as the perp didn't seem to be stupid enough to (mindlessly) put that tape to mouth to help initiate the tear. BUT ... you just never know.

(PS - I've wondered if the "DNAX thing" was just a new/improved form of testing on something that might have been previously tested.)

I think you are right about having to remember that this was the BPD. Competence and dedication are not likely, but since this evidence could have helped their case against the parents they would have been likely to proceed promptly.

Needs to be done - - probably has been already.