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BraveHeart
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Oct-24-01, 01:29 PM (GMT)
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"The Black Tape"
 
  
A strip of black “duct” tape, estimated to be about 5” in length, was found covering the child’s mouth by the father when he discovered JonBenet’s body in the windowless room. In the ensuing frantic moments, he removed the tape and laid it aside on top of the white blanket. Shortly thereafter, Fleet White returned to the windowless room, where he also picked up the tape, felt the adhesive side noting that it felt sticky, and laid it back down on the white blanket (PMPT, p.18, 21, PB, Schiller).

Detectives Thomas and Trujillo later traveled to the Shurtape manufacturing plant in Hickory, North Carolina, where the tape was made. Based on fiber content and type of adhesive they were able to place the date of manufacture sometime in late November, 1996, which meant the tape traveled from plant to crime scene in 4-5 weeks.

Allowing approximately 2-3 weeks transit time, by truck, placed the tape on retail shelves in the Denver-Boulder area 1-2 weeks prior to the murder. It was determined by the same detectives that similar tape, possibly even from the same “batch", was available at McGuckin’s Hardware store at that time. No mention has been made as to the availability of the same type of tape in any other area outlet or through direct shipment. This is possibly due to the fact that the Ramseys had purchased items in that same period of time in the same amounts of the tape and cording, also available at McGuckin’s. The BPD detectives reasoned, therefore, that the Ramseys had purchased the tape and cording for other projects and purposes and then used them in an effort to disguise the murder of their own daughter. It was pointed out that the amounts of money involved were typical of dozens of items found in McGuckin’s, not just the tape and nylon cord. No one could say that they saw either of them purchasing these items there or anywhere else. The BPD was satisfied with showing that it was possible if not provable.

BPD detective Byfield had located two paintings in the home, one of which was hung in JonBenet’s bedroom, that had black tape attached to the rear of the frames. There was no match with the strip of tape found in the windowless room, however. It was later determined that Better Light Photography Studio had placed these pieces of tape on the frames in 1993 (PMPT, p.106, PB, Schiller).

The relatively short transit time of the tape causes some people to doubt that it actually made it as far as Boulder/Denver, perhaps indicating that the tape had been purchased somewhere closer to the factory and brought to the crime. It also might mean that the tape was part of a relatively small shipment, say a case or two, that was “drop” shipped direct to the purchaser. Such a potential customer might have been a contractor, probably an HVAC contractor, someone in theatre productions, a photo frame shop, the college theater group or a small variety/hardware store expecting a brisk demand for black tape to be used in outdoor Christmas decorations.

There are numerous unanswered questions concerning the black tape that beg resolution: Was the color of the tape significant? If so, what was the significance? Where was it purchased? Was the tape even purchased by the killer or was it just available to him where he worked? What happened to the remainder of the roll. How was it transported to or from the crime? Asking “What if?” to these questions may lead to some areas of investigation that might be fruitful.

I. Why was black tape used and not silver-gray, the default duct tape color?

A. Black is less visible at night.
Yes, but why would the perp be wearing duct tape at night going to or
from the crime scene? Would black normally be worn at night for other reasons, as in hunter? A bow might be taped, as well as other items for camouflage, and therefore at hand when the crime was underway.

B. The color may not be significant. The perp may have found the black rolls of
tape smaller and cheaper than the silver-gray type or purchased it for some
equally unrelated reason. It may have been stolen or taken off a job site.

1. The tape may be related to the type of job or environment that the perp
was in at the time of the murder.

a) Air Conditioning contractors sometimes use black duct tape for sealing duct work.
b) Theater staging uses black tape primarily by specialty electricians who wire the sets for tying and insulating the various wiring.
c) Black tape was used by the framer who framed two of the Ramsey paintings.

C. May have been selected for symbolic reasons as yet undetermined.


D. A combination of B & C above

II. Purpose

A. If the purpose of the tape was to control or subdue then you would expect for
it to have been wrapped around the child’s head one or more times as is typical.

B. To make a statement:

a) Moralistic
Black = evil?
b) Political
On mouth = to silence?

C. To elicit a desired response from media, police or Ramseys.

a) As part of a “staging”, drawing attention to parents as suspects.
1. To match black tape at the house- someone knowing of tape
at the home but not realizing it could be compared as to type of
fibers and adhesive.
2. To appear obviously “out of place”, odd.

b) To portray himself as something he was not in the eyes of
profilers.

III. Why wasn’t the remainder of the tape roll left at the scene as was the tablet
and pen?

A. The tape and cord were two things not originally from the house, like the
tablet, pen, nightgown, and paint brush “handle”. Was the perp afraid that the
roll of tape and balance of cord could be traceable to him? It could have been
left in a corner of the crawl space for example making it appear that someone
in the home had tried to hide it. Or would this seem more obviously a frame?

B. Or was the remainder of the tape used for something else?

1. To wrap the murder weapon to soften the edges so as not to make the
head blow obvious. If this was a spur of the moment reaction by the perp,
as in trying to silence a screaming child, wouldn’t the scalp have been
more lacerated? An accidental or reactionary blow to the head would
have been more obvious. The head wound was deliberate. It was meant
to be hidden? Did the remainder of the tape roll leave with the “club”, one of the murder weapons?

2. Used for some other as yet unknown reason?



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jamesonadmin
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May-26-02, 08:20 PM (GMT)
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1. "No match"
In response to message #0
 
   The tape did not match anything inthe Ramsey house and no one could link Patsy or join to the purchase of any black duct tape.

I think the killer bought it just before the murder knowing full well what he wanted to do with it.

The first piece of tape off the roll - the one with the factory cut - has never been located but if it WAS found, it could be very important - the tear might match one end to the tape found on JonBenét's body.

The roll of tape has never been found - - but that too could be important.

The tape had a certain combination of fabric and adhesive that wasn't produced except for a short time. The roll of tape could be very important evidence.

If someone believes they know who did this - if they believe they have the roll of tape, PLEASE - - take the roll, put it in a plastic bag, seal it and get it to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Send it to the director - or the head of the lab - or the head of investigations. They will have to pass it to the Boulder Police Department - but it will help insure that the BD will NOT ignore it.


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