Photos Stored Outside iPhoto Library

I have some photos stored in the Pictures folder that were imported into iPhoto. So now they are stored in the iPhoto Library Originals folder and in the Pictures folder. I'd like to reclaim some disk space and delete them from the Pictures folder. I tried it by moving one photo from the Pictures folder to the trash. The result was that I could see the photo image in iPhoto but when I clicked on it to change it or modify it, I just got gray box with an exclamation mark in it. Is there any way to remove what appear to be the duplicates in the Pictures folder? I know I don't want to do anything to the iPhoto Library folder inside the Pictures folder. Thanks!

Oh dear! indeed.
I honestly think your best bet here is to start over with a new library. I don't think you've much chance of returning the existing one to a working order.
1. Put that "someone in the household" in their room and lecture them for 30 minutes on the importance of not touching anything in the iPhoto Library. You'll know you're getting through when they get glassy eyed and start to whimper.
2. You need to recover all your pics into a folder. So, all the ones outside the iPhoto Library (in your Pictures Folder, trash, where ever, get them into a single folder on your desktop.
3. To create and populate a new library:
Note this will give you a working library however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
Now start to add the Photos from the other folder, making sure to not accept duplicates.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.
4. Repeat step one.
Regards
TD

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