Agree that the bodies were transported (a short distance) to the discovery site. I think the shoelaces were cut with Stevie's pocket knife and were used not for restraint but to ease transportation over two trips. That would explain the slightly different knots as well as Michael Moore being placed a little further away (2nd trip)
The knots would have never held for CB in transportation. He was tied with two half-hitches -- not strong knots. Also, this method would have actually made transporting the bodies harder. Why not just throw two boys over your shoulder, as opposed to simply relying on forearm strength? Plus the bindings were too long and the bodies would have most likely made contact with the ground.
With the exception of perhaps CB, the abrasions on the boys also suggest they were still alive when the bindings were applied. If they were still alive when the bindings were applied, the main goal was restraint instead of transportation. CB's abrasions were yellow, but the other two boys' were darker, more purple/red etc.
JM went to the police because he was going to provide a tip about someone who he thought may have been involved. fast forward to later that day and he's under arrest and considered a suspect. always found that interesting
JMB was rightfully looked at first because he was a parent of one of the victims. and with crimes like this involving kids, the parents are where you look first. which is why it's still puzzling they didn't even bat an eyelash at hobbs. JMB also had a shady past so another reason to look into him. DE had a troubled past and a reputation as well, but he had zero connection to the victims. jerry driver is the one who got the WMPD completely focused on echols because he had had it out for him for a long time and the murders finally gave him a reason to do whatever he could to put him away
You were fine (I was in relative agreement) until the line "Jerry Driver is the one who got WMPD completely focused on echols." I don't buy that. In all honesty, you're just regurgitating what the PL docs told you. Again, the WMPD thoroughly investigated many people way before they arrested the WM3. Driver was a guy who was trying to play police officer, sure, but there is zero evidence that he somehow had such pull with the police department that they took him seriously to such an extent, if at all. I'm sure other people (Driver included) offered knee-jerk guesses of who they personally thought could have done it early in the investigation, that doesn't prove conspiracy.