Cords, Knots, and Strangulation Devices

Consider also the possibility that it may have been a shoelace from a high top basketball shoe. They are very similar in weave.http://www.footasylum.com/images/products/large/000026.jpg

The difference between the shoelace and the cord used in the crime is that the shoelace has no woven center. While it is braided on the outside similarly to the Stansport Utility Cord, without the center it is too flat. Also, I don't know this, but I would guess that the shoelace is cotton, whereas the Stansport was nylon.

MurriFlower, I will tell you this: The flat braided utility cord we've seen the pictures of is very hard to find. I have, in trying to recreate the look of the knots, used my own shoelaces. Stansport brand is sold over internet, but I haven't been able to find the exact kind as was used on JonBenet. If someone else can find it, I think they could sell a lot of it to us JBR fanatics.
.
 
Murder was included as possibly on the agenda:

"You are not the only fat cat around, so dont think that killing will be difficult."

I've tried to sort this sentence out but its not easy. Killing who? Who are the other fat cats? Is the author saying he's a fat cat too? Or does the author believe that fat cats are bad and are to be killed?

Also the author threatens to kill JBR several times.

However when you consider the wrist ligature, tape over the mouth, and blanket it suggests a scenario whereby JBR was to be moved as a living captive. Note to RDI: please spare the 'staging' stuff as I've heard it n times. The rectangular hole thru JBR's skull doesn't look anything like staging to me, OK? Neither does the deep furrow around her neck with petechial hemorrhaging. Its the real deal.

Yes, BUT the killing was a threat that was ONLY to be carried out in the event of John disobeying the explicit instructions!! This is reiterated many times, in fact, seems to be the main theme of the RN.

I've look at the fat cat remark from every which way and the only way I can make some sense of it is in the WarCraft scenario.
 
Yes, BUT the killing was a threat that was ONLY to be carried out in the event of John disobeying the explicit instructions!! This is reiterated many times, in fact, seems to be the main theme of the RN.

I've look at the fat cat remark from every which way and the only way I can make some sense of it is in the WarCraft scenario.

BBM

Why is it hard to consider the "Fat Cat" remark about John as referring to his friends in Atlanta? WarCraft might be a suitable theory if it were not for the fact that John Ramsey was an Atlanta Fat Cat and that is an indisputable fact.
 
[/B]
BBM

Why is it hard to consider the "Fat Cat" remark about John as referring to his friends in Atlanta? WarCraft might be a suitable theory if it were not for the fact that John Ramsey was an Atlanta Fat Cat and that is an indisputable fact.

No Beck, you misunderstand me. I am talking about the actual quote from the RN "you are not the only fat cat around so don't think that killing will be difficult".

Think about JR being a fat cat and what that has to do with ease or difficulty of killing. HOTYH was saying he cannot see how that makes sense.
 
No Beck, you misunderstand me. I am talking about the actual quote from the RN "you are not the only fat cat around so don't think that killing will be difficult".

Think about JR being a fat cat and what that has to do with ease or difficulty of killing. HOTYH was saying he cannot see how that makes sense.


Yeah its like that sentence is having some issues. Its as if it was written by a foreigner or something!
 
[/b]
BBM

Why is it hard to consider the "Fat Cat" remark about John as referring to his friends in Atlanta? WarCraft might be a suitable theory if it were not for the fact that John Ramsey was an Atlanta Fat Cat and that is an indisputable fact.

How does adding Atlanta to the sentence provide any clarification?

If JR is an Atlanta Fat Cat then the sentence is still unintelligible. 'you're not the only [atlanta] fat cat so dont think that killing will be difficult'.

Are we threatening other Atlanta Fat Cats? Is the ransom note author an Atlanta fat cat too, and that fact somehow facilitates killing? Where's the rhyme and reason here? Is it asking too much? Why do I feel like I need an interpreter, someone to explain this sentence to me?

In reality, this sentence is improperly forumlated. The author therefore failed to convey a message. A breakdown in the communication. Not an uncommon mistake for a foreigner.
 
I can see that the sentence has issues. I have always took it to mean that John Ramsey shouldn't think he was the only man around with power, that others did too.
Maybe I'm wrong, probably am. Sure won't be the first or last time. But, honestly, using the term "fat cat" when talking to John Ramsey cannot be just a lucky coincidence. He was very proud of his fat cat status, so were the Paughs.
 
[/b]
BBM

Why is it hard to consider the "Fat Cat" remark about John as referring to his friends in Atlanta? WarCraft might be a suitable theory if it were not for the fact that John Ramsey was an Atlanta Fat Cat and that is an indisputable fact.
You’re right, Becky. The reference to “fat cats” is simply another instance of PR weaving together references that she heard into her little ransom “story.”

The ransom note would become public only in September 1997. Karen Howard, an employee of Access Graphics, said that she was struck by the words “you are not the only fat cat around.” Howard remembered that Patsy’s father, Don Paugh, used the word cats all the time; for example, “Those cats down in marketing.”
PMPT, page 294

Q. Had you ever heard any of those phrases used in relation to you before?
A. In relation to me?
Q. Uh-huh (affirmative).
A. No.
Q. Had you heard anybody that you knew ever use those as common phrases in their speech?
A. Yes.
Q. Would you identify them?
A. Priscilla White used the term "fat cat" in my presence.
…
Q. (By Mr. Hoffman) Mr. Ramsey, so youare certain that you don't remember anybody in your family using any of the phrases in the ransom note?
A. I am certain I don't remember ever hearing anyone in my family using any of those phrases.
John Ramsey Deposition Wolf v Ramsey


MIKE KANE: There are these phrases in here that seem to have some kind of Hollywood
connection? What did you think about that?
JOHN RAMSEY: It didn't dawn on me at the time, because we (INAUDIBLE) so much. But that came out later. There was a couple of phrases that came out later: "you must grow a brain"; and we can talk about the of the fat cat; and other fat cats here, or something like that.
MIKE KANE: You're not the only fat cat around.
JOHN RAMSEY: Right. Those are the phrases that we, you know, later we thought we had heard from people around us who have tried to reconstruct who, where.
MIKE KANE: When you say we thought?
JOHN RAMSEY: Patsy and I.
MIKE KANE: Okay. And how was it that you heard?
JOHN RAMSEY: Well, grow a brain, fat cats. We'd heard those before.
MIKE KANE: Were you ever able to --
JOHN RAMSEY: Well, we had some names we came up with. We passed on (INAUDIBLE) our
friends in Atlanta, "Atlanta fat cats" later in that week.
MIKE KANE: When was that specifically?
JOHN RAMSEY: That was when she was back; when we were back for the funeral.
MIKE KANE: (INAUDIBLE) friends saying that about?
JOHN RAMSEY: Well, when we went back, Ron Westmoreland had like a little reception after the funeral, and some of my friends were there, and he has a beautiful home in Atlanta. He makes a lot of money. It's not a stretch for him to have it. It's very nice. My friends were around me, consoling me and trying to give me advice. And to be a part of that group it's the Atlanta fat cats.
JR Interview, June 23rd , 1998
 
Failing to convey a message?

I will call you between 8 and 10 a.m. tomorrow to instruct you on delivery.

Does this mean Dec 26 or Dec 27? Hello?

You are not the only fat cat around so don't think that killing will be difficult.

Killing who? And what is it about fat cats that makes killing easier?


----------------------------------------------

Or just plain awkward?


We are a group of individuals that represent a small foreign faction.


Redundant. We would already know that if there is a group then it would be comprised of individuals.

We respect your business but not the country that it serves.

Businesses generally aren't thought of as 'serving' countries. In fact, businesses are mostly thought of as going around government regulations. The meaning is clear but its peculiar and that makes it awkward. I think it very clearly indicates a socialist ideology.​

If we monitor you getting the money early, we might call you early to arrange an earlier delivery of the money and hence a earlier pickup of your daughter.

Very awkward with grammatical errors. If this is a journalism major they failed. Of course they may have been dumbing down their journalistic ability but only sometimes, because RDI consistenly claims the note was obviously written by a journalism major. What a laugh.

Any deviation of my instructions will result in the immediate execution of your daughter.

Less awkward is "any deviation 'from' my instructions."





 
Failing to convey a message?

I will call you between 8 and 10 a.m. tomorrow to instruct you on delivery.

Does this mean Dec 26 or Dec 27? Hello?

You are not the only fat cat around so don't think that killing will be difficult.

Killing who? And what is it about fat cats that makes killing easier?


----------------------------------------------

Or just plain awkward?


We are a group of individuals that represent a small foreign faction.


Redundant. We would already know that if there is a group then it would be comprised of individuals.

We respect your business but not the country that it serves.

Businesses generally aren't thought of as 'serving' countries. In fact, businesses are mostly thought of as going around government regulations. The meaning is clear but its peculiar and that makes it awkward. I think it very clearly indicates a socialist ideology.​

If we monitor you getting the money early, we might call you early to arrange an earlier delivery of the money and hence a earlier pickup of your daughter.

Very awkward with grammatical errors. If this is a journalism major they failed. Of course they may have been dumbing down their journalistic ability but only sometimes, because RDI consistenly claims the note was obviously written by a journalism major. What a laugh.

Any deviation of my instructions will result in the immediate execution of your daughter.

Less awkward is "any deviation 'from' my instructions."


Certainly some of these are awkward in the written form. What about if it was spoken??
 
The prusik knot does not seem common, IME
Is it truly a specialty knot?
It is a specialty knot. It is far more common in climbing than any other area of use, IMO.
The “knot” on the brush handle is not a prusik knot.
It does not appear to be a “proper” knot, at all.
(I say this with the disclaimer that I could only be completely certain if I examined the knot rather than looking at a photo.)
It is in some respects similar to a prusik knot, and I have modified a prusik knot to resemble what is depicted in the crime scene photo. I also created a similar “knot” by essentially wrapping cord around a stick and doing some “freestyle.”
I was a fairly avid rock climber for a number of years, and, as such, have a fairly good “repertoire “of knots, including the prusik. (The prusik knot is a ridiculously easy knot to tie, btw.)
I am a stickler for detail when it comes to knots because my life and the life of my climbing partner often depended on the ones we regularly used.
I have the following observations with respect to the “knot” tied on the paintbrush handle:
Whoever tied it had little knowledge of knots.
Or
They forgot how, or were too stressed, to properly tie a knot that they were once proficient in tying.
Or
They tied a knot that they learned incorrectly or were taught incorrectly.
Or
They were knowledgeable with respect to knots, but tried to hide their expertise by “disguising” the knot.
 
Note to RDI: please spare the 'staging' stuff as I've heard it n times. The rectangular hole thru JBR's skull doesn't look anything like staging to me, OK? Neither does the deep furrow around her neck with petechial hemorrhaging. Its the real deal.

It doesn't look like staging to me, either.
NO one believes the skull fracture is staging, NO one. But the skull fracture is the REASON for the staging in most RDI theories.
 
It is a specialty knot. It is far more common in climbing than any other area of use, IMO.
The “knot” on the brush handle is not a prusik knot.
It does not appear to be a “proper” knot, at all.
(I say this with the disclaimer that I could only be completely certain if I examined the knot rather than looking at a photo.)
It is in some respects similar to a prusik knot, and I have modified a prusik knot to resemble what is depicted in the crime scene photo. I also created a similar “knot” by essentially wrapping cord around a stick and doing some “freestyle.”
I was a fairly avid rock climber for a number of years, and, as such, have a fairly good “repertoire “of knots, including the prusik. (The prusik knot is a ridiculously easy knot to tie, btw.)
I am a stickler for detail when it comes to knots because my life and the life of my climbing partner often depended on the ones we regularly used.
I have the following observations with respect to the “knot” tied on the paintbrush handle:
Whoever tied it had little knowledge of knots.
Or
They forgot how, or were too stressed, to properly tie a knot that they were once proficient in tying.
Or
They tied a knot that they learned incorrectly or were taught incorrectly.
Or
They were knowledgeable with respect to knots, but tried to hide their expertise by “disguising” the knot.

Heyya cynic,

ty for all the insightful info on the prusik knot.

The prusik knot is a ridiculously easy knot to tie, btw. - cynic

Ya, it was easy enough to make the right way the first time, the looped strands end up very neatly lined around the stick.

Reminded me of playing with a loop of rope and a stick when I was a kid.
Can make a similar knot, half hazardly.
 
The difference between the shoelace and the cord used in the crime is that the shoelace has no woven center. While it is braided on the outside similarly to the Stansport Utility Cord, without the center it is too flat. Also, I don't know this, but I would guess that the shoelace is cotton, whereas the Stansport was nylon.

MurriFlower, I will tell you this: The flat braided utility cord we've seen the pictures of is very hard to find. I have, in trying to recreate the look of the knots, used my own shoelaces. Stansport brand is sold over internet, but I haven't been able to find the exact kind as was used on JonBenet. If someone else can find it, I think they could sell a lot of it to us JBR fanatics.
.

Hi otg

I believe I have some of that exact cord, but it is only a short piece. Being my mother's daughter, it probably came from a parcel or some such and was 'saved' as one does!

I have to say it does not stretch.

I think there was a short period when nylon shoelaces were put on Chuck Taylor All Stars 2000 (which sold 1M pairs in 1996). These were later replaced with a different fiber/mix. I'm searching for an original pair.
 
The terms "fat cat" AND "good southern common sense" AND $118,000.00 do not suggest a foreign faction to me. It's the writings of a woman who is in a panic and is throwing everything but the kitchen sink into this letter.
 
The terms "fat cat" AND "good southern common sense" AND $118,000.00 do not suggest a foreign faction to me. It's the writings of a woman who is in a panic and is throwing everything but the kitchen sink into this letter.

Exactly. Throwing it all out there to see what sticks. Remember, the note really couldn't identify someone specific because when those "leads" were followed, they would turn up nothing. That's why the note was all over the place.
 
Hi otg

I believe I have some of that exact cord, but it is only a short piece. Being my mother's daughter, it probably came from a parcel or some such and was 'saved' as one does!

I have to say it does not stretch.

I think there was a short period when nylon shoelaces were put on Chuck Taylor All Stars 2000 (which sold 1M pairs in 1996). These were later replaced with a different fiber/mix. I'm searching for an original pair.

Hey MF.

That very interesting MF.
The rope I'm using from my knot kit has lots of give, maybe 1/4" stretch
per inch.
 
Hey MF.

That very interesting MF.
The rope I'm using from my knot kit has lots of give, maybe 1/4" stretch
per inch.

Playing here with the cord and a pen trying to get something similar. Ok, take the pen to about the length you want it to end up, wrap the cord over the pen and bring it back at an angle three times on one side of the cord, then do the same on the other side of the cord, tuck the loose end through the last loop and you have something similar to what we see there, edited to add, except I can't see where the tail of the cord is in the photo.
 

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