I can't help but think the now ex-wife has something to do with the focus on BE. Perhaps that relationship fulfilled BE's needs, so maybe as with the BTK he was able to go without killing for many years. I'm always sceptical of friend of a friend stories but <modsnip>. I'm also curious as to why the stepdaughter would be staying with BE instead of her biological mother.
[emoji888] i'm glad you asked this Q because I had already given quite some thought to that situation.
Research has proven that a perpetrator's presentation of theirself is typically most charming, friendly, trustworthy, nice in general, etc. They are known to continually groom as a way of winning confidence eg by befriending, by gifting etc. too good to be true - and it is.
It allows them into positions of trust where they can then obtain whatever it is they need to gain, and from that position they do most harm.
When the proverbial hits the fan, often no one believes their victim ... and i'm speculating in this instance, that victim is his wife with the restraining order).
I feel it is highly likely that she has probably not been too well as a consequence of her relationship with him, its termination, and further, her daughter's choice to stay put with the stepfather has very likely come as an extra huge slap in the face to mum - and this would suit him down to the ground. I mean, the wife was HIS "front", so how DARE she even try to remove the facade of a relationship he had come to masquerade behind.
Our children for the most don't like any change in what has become their comfort zone. The stepdaughter is early 20's and of mature enough age to decide for herself. It is also possible she has not been witness to her mother's reasons for leaving, as perps are also extremely calculated. The daughter may not believe the mother even if she had made known her reasons for leaving. At a family level the mother is likely being blamed for ALL of this because HE is a GREAT guy, always has been ...and his stepdaughter knows it!
Early after the arrest, there was media mention that BE and his stepdaughter intend to fight these charges against him!
There was some early thread mention of ladies clothing being purchased from his PC/account, and I dare say BE has bent over backwards to win his stepdaughter's confidence because he NEEDS the facade to continue and will now also need to maintain all the moral support he can.
(on the subject of clothing there has also been mention of unidentified clothing at disposal sites and i have another theory which i'll elaborate on ...soonish)
D.