It's possible AJ's phone and debit card were taken away as some type of punishment due to a family feud-disagreement type thing, then later the debit card cut up and thrown out as a distraction.
OR
Maybe as some type of punishment, AJ's debit card was cut up prior to her disappearance and placed back in its spot in her wallet or purse or whatever she carried, and then some heated discussion/argument took place and AJ left to blow off steam and after leaving the house and walking, possibly to convenience store or somewhere, she gets her debit card out as she's planning to use it and discovers it's been cut up and so she throws it down.
Just thinking out loud, this is all JMO/thoughts/possibilities/theories
OR
Maybe as some type of punishment, AJ's debit card was cut up prior to her disappearance and placed back in its spot in her wallet or purse or whatever she carried, and then some heated discussion/argument took place and AJ left to blow off steam and after leaving the house and walking, possibly to convenience store or somewhere, she gets her debit card out as she's planning to use it and discovers it's been cut up and so she throws it down.
Just thinking out loud, this is all JMO/thoughts/possibilities/theories