I'm one who believes it could have easily been Tammi & Jack in the park. Who's to say that Elizabeth is giving an accurate description of this mystery couple? I'm not so sure she is.
My reasoning behind the possibility of the couple being Jack and Tammi is quite simply Tammi's desperation for a baby and Jack's willingness to accommodate his wife's wishes. She desperately wanted a baby, they finally got one and fell head over heals in love with him...does anyone really think they were just going to let Gabriel go to another family...I think the real question we should be asking is, where are Jack & Tammi hiding Gabriel.
If there really was a mystery couple I think they handed Gabriel over to the Smith's within a few hours or a couple of days at most. Either way, I really believe Tammi & Jack know exactly where Gabriel is.
You were by no means the only poster who brought up this theory, MomT.
Personally, I believe Elizabeth's description, because I think Elizabeth came to realize what a terrible position she's in, and decided to tell the truth to try to reduce the consequences. I think she's smart enough to have realized, when she realized she was screwed, that the truth is the only thing that could possibly help her.
If I believe she lied, then I would have to believe she killed Gabe, because it's the only reason I can think of that she would lie at this point.
I also think that if Elizabeth gave away Gabe, it was done as in Ken's theory, and that Tammi knows exactly what happened to him, and where he is. I think LE knows that too.
Elizabeth and Tammi were a deadly combination for Gabe's safety and well-being. I will never forgive the Tempe detective and CPS worker who left him with Tammi on December 10. That was the turning point in Gabe's fate, no matter what happened to him.
But so far as whether Tammi was in disguise as the female (or male
) half of the couple, I don't think it's possible. Tammi has no self control over her mannerisms, facial expressions, mannerisms of speaking, etc. Elizabeth would have pegged her in a second, and would have shouted it to the rooftops when she began talking. Gabe would be home now.