"If the wind was blowing from the northwest, why did the tree fall directly west?" asks forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht. "That is one magic wind."
WASHINGTON, DC - The sudden death and chipping of the National Christmas Tree, along with the announcement of a replacement tree just a few hours later, is fueling speculation that the tree did not merely fall, but was murdered.
February 19 was a windy day in the nation's capital, according to Bill Line, a spokesman for the National Park Service. "The tree fell at 10:55 am," he said, "and yes, it made a sound." Within hours, the Park Service had hauled in a chipper, reduced the Pennsylvanian-born spruce to mulch, and announced that a new tree had already been selected.
That quick action has created doubts. Forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht, an expert in the death of John F. Kennedy and Anna Nicole Smith, is among those with questions. "Why were they [the Park Service] so quick to get rid of the body? Why didn't they have an autopsy done by qualified arborists?"
Photos of the scene also trouble Wecht. "The wind was coming from the northwest, but the tree fell due west," he said. "How does that happen? It's like some magic wind came swirling and tumbling down."
On the Mall, several mourners thought there could be a conspiracy. "They say every President gets three free killings," said Jack Dammer, who was visiting from Ohio. "I don't know why Obama would want to have this tree killed, unless he's got something against Pennsylvania or blue spruces. Maybe he wants to install a tree from Hawaii, if that's where he's really from."
"Besides, when have you every heard of government being so efficient that they see a problem in the morning and have it all fixed up by early afternoon? It's just not logical. This thing was planned."
The Park Service has not commented on the speculation, but acknowledges that there may be a Congressional hearing. "I'll tell you what," Dammer said, "if there's an investigation into this, and Arlen Specter is on the committee, we'll know for sure that the fix is in."
