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Good question. Atkinson has told us that the crime occurred between 1 and 2 AM, yet the call to the police was not made until 4:01 AM, and by the time police arrived at the scene many other people were there. This time lapse has been generally attributed to Mary Catherine being terrified by the threats made to her. But now we find that no such threats were made to her, and the reason for her not telling her parents disappears. Why then the long delay until the police are called. The Smarts, who have daily called on the public to aid them, owe the public an explanation. What time did the parents find out that their daughter had been "kidnapped at gun point"? Did they know at 3:00AM? At 2:00AM?

As per the press conference with police just a bit ago, Mary Catherine, the 9 year old sister is still feeling threatened. No the abductor didn't talk to her, and she did overhear the conversation between the abductor and Elizabeth, he was threatening Elizabeth. Nine year kids (and younger, and probably a bit older) scare quite easily over a lot of things. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be threatened with a gun. And if Elizabeth is never found, imagine what the sister will live with the rest of her life.

The Smarts, who have daily called on the public to aid them, owe the public an explanation.

I don't think you meant that to sound quite like it did (and maybe I'm being a bit touchy), so this is not directed at you; it's just my opinion and something I wish people would remember.

The Smarts don't owe us diddly squat. Please remember that things may not be as they seem on the surface. The police are obviously keeping a lot of information to themselves, understandably. The other day, I saw where Poised Woman and some others astutely pointed out how this could be a ransom situation, something I hadn't really thought of before. It would certainly put a whole a new interpretation on things we're seeing if there's a complex game of cat & mouse going on among the participants. If this is the case, the Smarts and the SLC police should be saying whatever they deem necessary to get Elizabeth home alive. The opinions and comfort level of people like us are irrelevant. I know most here would probably agree.

If it turns out the Smarts and/or some extended family members are somehow complicit in the "kidnapping," there will be plenty of time for us to sit around and demand explanations for their behavior and throw a public crucifixion party. I mean, it's not like FReepers can sit here and solve the case or anything, and idle speculation serves no useful purpose, IMHO.

The main thing that's bugging me at this point is whether the SLC police are total bumbling idiots (Did they really wait a week to view the hospital tape?!), or whether they're very good at their jobs and fooling all of us.