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If you pay careful attention, you can see that Ed is going through a wide variety of emotions. He goes almost directly from nervous laughter to frustration at the reporters at one point. Is it strange? I don't personally think so. The strain must be unbearable at this point. He recieves a letter that's "a little different" claiming that someone out there actually does still have Elizabeth, which would mean she is alive as they've always hoped. There has to be some relief in there mixed with the frustration that even if she is alive, she still isn't home. At first, I found his behavior a bit odd, but upon closer look, I've rethought my stance.

He did make a couple rather large mistakes, though. He gave a plea that the abductor contact them for negotiations about Liz's release, saying that's all that mattered to him. He then went on to say that he hopes whoever did this is brought up on charges as soon as they are discovered. Big no-no. He wants his daughter back, I can understand. The way to make sure she's alright and stays that way, though, is by pleading with the perpetrator, not verbally hoping for his prosecution. That would tend, in my opinion at least, to lead to a much less favorable and tragic outcome of the case.

The other mistake he made was in being vague about the proof that whoever, if anyone, contacts them actually has her. I'm not going to say what I would or would not have said if I were in his shoes, but specifying something like that seems to me to be important. It doesn't have to be precise, just along the lines of "Tell us something only we and Elizabeth would know." A child abductor's mind is obviously not stable. I won't go into detail because I don't want to even think about it, but proof has many forms.

One last thing. Ed Smart stated that he actually has the original copy and that the police never asked for it. To me, that suggests they either find it less than credible or the Smarts have been recieving these types of letters constantly and this one is coming out now to keep media attention.

Just my opinions on the matter from what I saw on the press conference.

I totally agree with you, I also caught his slip up about he wants to the contact from the perp, but also wants him charged right away when he is discovered.

Some people have a tough time put themselves into this family's shoes to understand what is going on with this family and to understand the nervous laughs and things being said out context. I also noticed that Ed Smart looks to be loosing some weight... so what they are going through must be a living hell that some of use can understand to some degree, even though we have never been there ourselves.

I just listened to the KSL update. They said the SLPD was unaware that Ed Smart would be discussing the letter, and in fact, the police turned on the news conference after they heard he was discussing this particular ransom letter. And apparently a couple of police did show up at/or after the conference, because they talked to Ed Smart "behind closed doors." (Don't they always???) And as the police were driving off, they were asked if the came about the letter. "No" was the response.

I really thought Ricci was involved in the abduction in some way. Now, it seems as if he is not, or he is not forthcoming. The Smarts are getting desperate, and I think the realization is sinking in that perhaps it may just be a long wait to find her body, and an unsolved mystery. Prayers for Elizabeth and her family today.