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Quick info about the Duct tape
#1
  • The duct tape was black, a point John Ramsey makes repeatedly. At one point he states "it was like black. It wasn't electrical tape. It was kind of white, black, unusual tape, I thought." It appears that "wide" may have been incorrectly transcribed as "white" in this statement since there are repeated other instances in which he refers to the tape as black. Crime scene photos make the tape appear gray, but this may be due to a reflection of light off the black tape  John  also several times notes the smooth edges of the tape, asserting that it has been cut with a knife and NOT torn by hand as one might normally do with duct tape. Note the Carnes opinion below indicates both ends were torn.John  reported the tape adhered all the way to JonBenet's mouth, i.e., it was not just loose on her lips. The tape is described as wider than electrical tape but not as wide as duct tape; JR appears quite certain on this point. He had previously used tape of a similar size that was white for sailing, but had never seen that type of tape in black previously. Note the Carnes opinion below indicates it was duct tape despite John's insistence it was not that wide (in the interviews, John is surprised by how wide the tape appears in crime-scene photos since it does not square his recollection).
Carnes Opinion
  • ******Lip Prints on Tape. Plaintiff also notes that the strip of duct tape found on JonBenet's mouth had a bloody mucous on it and a "perfect set of child's lip prints, which did not indicate a tongue impression or resistance." (PSDMF 53.)(Carnes 2003:15).*******Both Ends Torn. "Both ends of the duct tape found on her were torn, indicating that it came from a roll of tape that had been used before. (SMF P 171; PSMF P 171.) (Carnes 2003:18).*******Animal Hair. "Animal hair, alleged to be from a beaver, was found on the duct tape. (SMF 183; PSMF 183.) Yet, nothing in defendants' home matches the hair (SMF 183; PSMF 183.), thereby suggesting either that the duct tape had been obtained from outside the home or that it had been carried outside the home at some point." (Carnes 2003:71).
 
FBI Findings
  • Date Manufactured. "The FBI had determined that the tape .... had first been manufactured in November 1996 under the brand name Suretape. The tape had a 40 percent calcium filler in the adhesive, and its yarn/scrim count of 20/10 helped pinpoint that Bron was the tape’s distributor" (Schiller).
Source of Tape
  • Not Sourced to Ramseys. "The black duct tape used on JonBenet's  mouth has also not been sourced to defendants. (SMF P 170; PSMF P 170.)...No similar duct tape was found in the house, nor is there evidence that defendants ever used or owned such duct tape. (SMF P 172; PSMF P 172.)" (Carnes 2003:18).Not From Picture Frame. "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" (Schiller)
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#2
From Steve Thomas' deposition

Q. Was there any test done on the duct tape that would establish the imprint of JonBenet's lip prints
on that tape?
A. Was there any test that would establish that?
Q. Did you all to your knowledge, did the Boulder Police Department conduct any test that would
establish that the duct tape that was pulled off of her mouth by John Ramsey that was then picked up
by Fleet White was found somehow to contain a perfect set of JonBenet's lip prints, was any test
performed that made that finding?
A. There was an examination apparently done at some point which was reported back to a detective
briefing at which I was present and I believe that was Wickman or Trujillo that shared that information.
Q. Who conducted that examination?
A. I don't know.
Q. Was it an expert of some type?
A. I don't know that there is such a thing as an expert examination and there is no testing that I'm
aware of. I think that's more common sense observation.
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#3
Thomas depo


Q. Did you ever find the roll of duct tape because the duct tape was torn on both ends, wasn't it?
A. We never found the roll of duct tape to source to the duct tape that was covering the victim's
mouth.
Q. And you didn't find any prior application of this type of duct tape in the house, did you?
A. Similar, but I don't know that we ever found a match.
Q. Actually what you said was similar was just one piece that was found on a painting, right, and it
was found not to be in fact from the same --
A. Roll, that's right.
Q. -- from the roll; is that right?
A. Right.
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#4
Braveheart posted this years ago - might be good to add here

FROM THEIR WEB SITE:
Shurtape Pressure Sensitive Tapes
1506 Highland Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601 USA
PO Box 1530, Hickory, NC 28603-1530
Phone (828) 322-2700
Toll Free (888) 442-TAPE
Fax (828) 322-4419
Customer Service Fax (828) 322-4029 or (800) 335-7651
Copyright © 2000 Shurtape Technologies, Inc.
http://www.shurtape.com/
http://www.shurtape.com/shurtape/shurtape_main_page.htm
"Shurtape Technologies, Inc. manufactures a wide range of quality paper masking, polypropylene, coated vinyl, metalized cloth and duct tapes. These products service a variety of adhesive tape applications in many markets, including: the automotive industry, the paint and sundries market, the HVAC and construction industries, the power and utility industry, as well as the military and aerospace industries."
**********************
THIS ISN'T GENERAL PURPOSE TAPE THAT HOMEBODIES BUY TO USE AT HOME. THESE ARE SPECIAL TAPES USED IN PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES OR FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES.
**************************
"Shurtape has integrated our manufacturing plants, distribution facilities and customer service department via powerful enterprise resource planning (ERP) software."
****************
SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE PRETTY ORGANIZED AT KEEPING TRACK OF SALES AND SHIPMENTS TO ME.
THIS IS A LARGE COMPANY WITH IT'S OWN DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSE. MAYBE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT BACK IN 1996 BUT IF YOU READ THE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY IN THEIR TIMELINE WE SEE THAT THE TAPE BUSINESS WAS BOOMING BACK THEN FOR THEM. THEY HAD BEEN IN THE DUCT TAPE BUSINESS FOR 24 YEARS BY THAT TIME...I SAY THEY PROBABLY DID HAVE THEIR OWN DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSE IN 1996.
TO ME THAT MEANS THEY PROBABLY DO KNOW WHO THEY SHIPPED WHAT TO AND WHEN, PARTICULARLY IF THEIR MINIMUM ORDERS ARE $500. THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW WHERE THAT CERTAIN BATCH WENT BUT THEY COULD STATE THAT IN THE TIME LEADING UP TO THE MURDER THE TAPE WOULD HAVE BEEN AT X, Y, Z, AND ABC COMPANIES' WAREHOUSES, OR ACME THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, AND BE ABLE TO TELL WHERE THOSE PLACES ARE LOCATED.
MY GUESS THEN, IS THAT NONE OF THESE LOCATIONS INCLUDE THE BOULDER AREA, AND DO NOT BOLSTER THE BPD IDEA THAT PATSY AND JOHN BOUGHT THE TAPE AT MCGUCHIES(sic) HARDWARE STORE, AND THUS WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING OF IT EXCEPT "ÏT WAS SOLD THERE AT THE SAME PRICE THAT THE RAMSEYS PAID FOR SOMETHING" ETC.
STILL, I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD PATH TO FOLLOW UP ON.
***********************
"1972:
converted a yarn manufacturing facility into a duct tape plant
1996:
Booming tape business leads to spinning off a separate tape company.
For over 50 years, Shurtape has been providing tape distributors around the world with incomparable product quality and service."
http://www.shurtape.com/shurtape/CompanyProf.htm

"Terms and Conditions of Sale
January 4, 2002
Dear Valued Customer:
Please keep this letter in your permanent files for future reference. The following is a copy of terms and conditions and our conditions of sale.
Minimum Order – The minimum order requirement is $500. Minimum orders can be assortments of any Shurtape® products shipped to the same destination."

Transportation charges are prepaid on an order of Shurtape® products to a single destination within the continental United States on all shipments of $1500 or more, shipped lowest cost routing by the carrier of our contract. Freight charges on invoices less than $1500 are charged to the purchaser.
All orders are subject to acceptance by Shurtape Technologies, Inc. We reserve the right to overship or undership by 10% on all orders and to adjust orders to the next full case. Special orders are subject to minimum case quantities and current stated lead times."
********************************
IN OTHER WORDS AN INDIVIDUAL DIDN'T BUY THIS TAPE FROM THE MFRG. COMPANY. WHOEVER BOUGHT $500 + OF BLACK DUCT TAPE MUST BE A FAIRLY LARGE RETAIL OUTLET OR CONTACTOR, AND THAT PROBABLY, THE KILLER GOT THE TAPE FROM A LARGE RETAIL STORE OR THE COMPANY WHERE HE WORKED- A LARGE CONTRACTOR OR......MOVIE STUDIO? WHERE THEY WORK WITH SETS, AND GAFFERS TAPE LARGE BUNDLES OF WIRES...THIS TAPE WASN'T PURCHASED FROM MCGUCKEN'S HARDWARE STORE. SOME OF THAT TAPE MIGHT BE BLACK BUT IT IS THE SAME GRADE OF TAPE WE WOULD CALL "GENERAL PURPOSE" JUST LIKE THE SILVER STUFF YOU USE TO HOLD YOUR CAR TOGETHER, IF YOU ARE RED-GREEN.
***************************
http://www.shurtape.com/
*******************************
UNDER THE SIDE BAR SUB HEADING "HVAC PRODUCTS" THERE ARE SEVERAL GRADES OF DUCT TAPE USED IN THAT TRADE. MY EXPERIENCE IN USING DUCT TAPE FOR SEALING MY OWN DUCT WORK IS THAT IT IS A VERY POOR USE OF THE KIND OF SILVER DUCT TAPE THAT ONE MAY ORDINARILY PURCHASE AT THE LOCAL HOME REPAIR WAREHOUSE/HARDWARE STORE. THE ADHESIVE FEELS STICKY BUT THE COLD AIR AT THE SEAM CAUSES CONDENSATION TO FORM ON THE TAPE WHILE THE ATTIC TEMPERATURES DEGRADE THE PLASTIC COATING PRETTY QUICKLY...WITHIN A YEAR AT MOST THE TAPE IS LOOSE AND THE DUCT IS LEAKING BADLY.
ALL OF WHICH IS TO SAY, THE TAPE DESCRIBED FOR USE IN HVAC WORK MUST BE PARTICULARLY TACKY (AS THEY DESCRIBE) TO WORK. I BELIEVE WHEN FLEET WHITE FELT THE TAPE IN THE WINDOWLESS ROOM HE NOTED IT DIDN'T FEEL TOO TACKY. THIS IS AT BEST A SUBJECTIVE OBSERVATION BUT IF IT IS TRUE IT INDICATES TO ME THAT THE BLACK TAPE USED IN THE MURDER WASN'T FROM THIS TYPE OF TAPE, THE HVAC KIND.
******************************
"PC-609 Polycoated, Economy Grade
All purpose duct tape. Excellent for sealing thermal insulation and metal duct seams. Ease of unwind and conformability make it especially useful for work in tight spots. Meets requirements of UL 723.
PC-618 Polycoated, General Purpose Grade
High tack, natural rubber adhesive with excellent handling characteristics. Provides air-tight, moisture-free seals.
PC-621 Polycoated Contractor Grade
High tack, natural rubber, gray adhesive offers superior performance on HVAC duct systems. No curl, excellent conformability. Use for these demanding HVAC applications: sheet metal, performed insulation and poly-backed flex duct systems. Meets requirements of UL 723 .
PC-622 Premium Grade
Polycoated cloth; high tack, natural rubber adhesive; provides superior performance, excellent tensile strength
and high adhesion for critical HVAC duct systems; used for seaming, sealing and holding to provide strong
air-tight and moisture-proof barriers; good conformability and easy unwind make it ideal for use in tight, hard-
to-work areas. meets requirements of UL 723 Flame spread index 10; Smoke Development Index 25
PC-657 Polycoated Master Craftsman Grade
High tack, natural rubber, gray adhesive. Designed to provide excellent seals and seams for air handling systems. Recommended for use as bottom board tape in the manufactured housing industry. Meets requirements of UL 723."

"PC-625 Lusterless Premium Grade
Indoor/outdoor tape; lusterless backing; high holding power. Economical gaffer's tape in A/V, TV, photography and in motion picture industries to hold wiring, lighting, stage props and to color code; masking silk screen frames; premium government waterproof packaging tape."
*********************************
THE TAPE HAD A DULL APPEARANCE, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THE TYPE DESCRIBED ABOVE. BUT I DON'T KNOW THE TYPE NUMBER FOR THE TAPE USED IN JONBENET'S MURDER, PERHAPS JAMESON KNOWS?
MY PARTICULAR PROFILE REVOLVES AROUND A PERSON WHO THINKS SYMBOLICALLY OR ARTISTICALLY THRU WORDS AND PICTURES AND HAS A THANG ABOUT MEDIA MESSAGES SO THIS USE OF A CERTAIN GRADE OF BLACK DUCT TAPE INTERESTS ME GREATLY. I THINK THEY WORK FOR, OR KNOW SOMEONE IN, THE THEATRE/PHOTO/MOVIE TRADE AS A SET HAND OR GAFFER/ELECTRICIAN (WHO MIGHT HAVE ALSO COINCIDENTALLY WORKED AT THE HOUSE FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR AT ONE TIME?)/PHOTOGRAPHER (AND WE KNOW SOME OF THOSE WERE INVOLVED WITH THE RAMSEYS).
FIND OUT THE COMPANIES THAT BOUGHT BLACK TAPE, INDUSTRIAL GRADE, BETWEEN MID-NOVEMBER 1996 AND MID-DECEMBER 1996 AND YOU PROBABLY WILL HAVE A L0T OF NAMES OF EMPLOYEES(AND IT MIGHT NOT BE THAT MANY, ACTUALLY), BUT SOMEWHERE IN THERE IS THE KILLER OR SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HIM.
***************************************
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#5
It was not narrower that I can tell. Just duck tape like I was given by someone who worked there.
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#6
https://www.findtape.com/Shurtape-PC-600...80/?tid=21

If you go to that link on Shurtape's site you will see you can get the duck tape in either 2 or 3 inch width. The gaffer's tape they offer in only 2 inch.

No one ever mentioned the possibility of it being gaffer's tape - and when we heard about the fabric and adhesive combination being a short run - - I would think it it had been gaffer's tape (more of a specialty) they would have said so.

People think Shurtape is just duck tape but it really is far more - - they make a LOT of different, very sophisticated, specialty tapes.
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#7
From PMPT - page 389 hard cover

"After the Quantico meetings, Detectives Thomas and Gosage visited Shurford (sic) Mills in Hickory, North Carolina, the country's largest manufacturer of adhesives. The FBI had determined that the tape allegedly removed from JonBenet's mouth had first been manufactured in November 1996 under the brand name Shurtape. The tape had a 40
percent calcium filler in the adhesive, and its yarn/scrim count of 20/10 helped pinpoint that Bron was the tape's distributor. The black duct tape Thomas purchased from McGuckin in May for the same price that appeared on Patsy Ramsey's sales slip carried the names Shurtape and Bron."


jameson notes: The proper name is Shuford Mills, they are a very prominent family in Hickory. The tape was manufactured just weeks before the murder.
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#8
From Steve Thomas' book:

pg 253 hard copy

The investigation of the black duct tape that covered the mouth of JonBenet gave every indication of being just another lost lead when it began shortly after the murder.

Originally we hoped to prove the tape was from the same roll as the pieces found on the back of several portraits in the house. By determining its manufacturer, we might be able to find where it was sold and then track it to the Ramsey house. We already thought that Patsy might have purchased a roll of such tape from McGuckin's.

The FBI lab said that both tape samples, from the mouth and the pictures, were a low grade and of low quality, possibly the Shufford (sic) Mills model PC-600, but they would not call it a match.

In September 1997 Detective Gosage and I visited the Shufford Mills factory in Hickory, North Carolina, and I learned the tape was made in small quantities. IN fact, it comprised only 0.4 percent of the company's product. We determined that it was sold at McGuckin's Hardware.

Shufford MIlls gave us various tapes for testing, the dates when changes were made in yarn and scrim counts, recipes for various adhesives, and the different production periods, all of which we sent back to the FBI. In November 1997 the lab said the pieces of tape came from different production runs and had different yarn counts. Same brand, same type, different production run, therefore different tape. Apparently the end of the road.

A detective also found the Boulder portrait framer, who confirmed that the duct tape on the picture was his and that he bought his tape at McGuckin's. Once again we had spent a year chasing something that led to a dead end. The tape on the picture and the tape on the victim came from two different rolls.
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#9
"Once again we had spent a year chasing something that led to a dead end. The tape on the picture and the tape on the victim came from two different rolls."

Maybe if Thomas had not decided ahead of time who was guilty of this crime, he would not have wasted an entire year on yet another piece of evidence that did not fit his theory.  

What an idiot.
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#10
There is more to the tape than has been forcefully followed. Thomas and Gosage missed something.
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