The desk had likely been sold because the house where Connie Macpherson lived had caught fire. After this incident, many burnt and damaged items, including the desk, would have been sold. The timing of the sale would have been sometime after the fire and when Connie was taken to a nursing home. The desk itself showed signs of damage such as scorch marks and broken parts, indicating it was no longer in good condition and hence sold or disposed of around that time. This period corresponded to the aftermath of the fire incident in Connie's house.