Yes, I've also said that among "big" names, DeBardeleben comes to my mind.
A few things have made me back off him a bit as a theory, BUT I have not ruled him out, for sure.
Most of what I am about to say is based on reading Michaud's Lethal Shadow/Beyond Cruel account -- I think it is the only book-length account of DeBardeleben...? (And dogperson -- did you ever get your copy?) But I don't have the book right at my side, so this is from recall -- but remember, I read it specifically with Carlene's case in mind:
So, some things to consider, when thinking about him and Carlene's case:
(1) Right around the time of Carlene's disappearance, DeB had just opened a shop in New York, called The Naked Eye, I believe. It was basically a place where you could go in and photograph nude models...and maybe other activities, who knows. It did not succeed and did not last beyond a few months, IIRC, but he apparently was pretty busy with it at the time Carlene disappeared. Not to say he could not have been on the road at times and down to GA -- but this time window is really questionable to me now.
(2) DeB had been apprehended once for counterfeiting (I'm not real clear on the details from memory) and his equipment confiscated, etc. It looks like he did not get another operation set up and begin his infamous "mall passing" until around, I think, 1976*. Once again, this does not mean he was not traveling, but -- it makes the mall angle a little less intriguing, to me. *EDITED LATER TO SAY: Whoops, I should have checked those dates and not relied on memory -- so glad my editing time window is still open! It was IN 1976 that DeB was first caught counterfeiting (passing phony $100s) -- served some time, I guess -- then I think it was around 1979 that he was back out and set up to print again, this time specializing in $20s, and embarked on his "mall-passing". So -- I don't know if his first counterfeiting involved passing his "goods" at malls, as the better-known one did -- possibly!
(3)DeB was never tried for murder, though he was firmly linked, IMO, to at least two (and likely more). The two murders were of real estate agents and, IIRC, although the bodies were posed in positions with strong sexual overtones, there was no evidence of actual sexual assault. Also, he did not really attempt to conceal these bodies. It baffles me that Carlene has never been found so, if he was following this particular pattern, he does not seem as likely a suspect...but read on.
(4)DeB is perhaps better known (since there were likely many more instances and since there were convictions) for abduction and sexual assault. Interestingly, though, he apparently freed a good number of these victims.
HOWEVER -- back more to things that do mesh with Carlene's disappearance:
(1) Real estate agents -- There was for a long time a real estate office at Westgate. I've said before, DeB could have been trying to work one of his real-estate agent abductions, something went wrong, and he took Carlene instead.
(2) DeB was known to impersonate LE in his abductions (though it does seem that many of these occurred at night). He had lights rigged on his vehicle, etc. I think Carlene, young as she was and as a fairly new driver, sadly might have been very vulnerable to such a ruse.
(3) Some of DeB's offenses did involve abducting victims in their own vehicles.
(4)Though DeB did sometimes sexually assault and release, there is evidence, apparently, that he sometimes assaulted and then killed. He left behind many photos of women being held and assaulted by him. The book relates how the investigators surmised that, in photographs where he had edited himself out in the developing, he let the victims go; in ones in which parts of him were visible, they think he may have killed the victim. (Odd, to me -- but I think he did threaten victims, ones that he released, with showing the photos, so maybe that's why...maybe he was serious and halfway intended to follow through?) Investigators found his negatives, too, though, so they were able to reprint the photos where he'd been edited out and match his "parts" to what appeared in the reprinted photos.
A few more thoughts:
DeB was a super-organized offender and kept "records" of all kinds: journals, receipts, photos, audiotapes, and on and on.
After he was caught and these things sorted, IF he was investigated for a particular incident, chances were high, IMO, that investigators likely would be able to at least ascertain whether he may have been in a particular area at a particular time. I wonder if a lot of cases may not have been "quietly closed" after finding such evidence. (I believe probably there were cases of assault, etc., in which the time limitation for prosecuting may already have passed by the time...?)
What I REALLY wish: With his horrible photos: If only they could make public the photos of the unidentified women -- through discreet editing, of course -- sort of like has been done with Alcala's photos. (And maybe also photos of any likely-recognizable "souvenirs" -- clothing, jewelry, etc.)
