Regarding the Greone case, wasn't the whole family aware of Duncan in the house? (maybe I'm wrong)...their dogs barking wouldn't have mattered if they were all aware of the intruder in the house and everyone was murdered. (not up on specifics of that crime)
I've not heard if the Celis' dogs were for protection or just as fun loving pets. Personally my 3 dogs are for both...the protection is more of an alerting, not as an attack, but most of all as fun loving loyal family members (aka pets!). (My beagle can smell a stranger a mile away and my boxers would back up with the brute…. actually my boxers might just pick up their squeeker toys and greet them with a wagging nub tail!)
Speaking for myself, my dogs have different barks for different situations…I know the barks that my dogs have when there is a person/car they aren't familiar with…but that is just my own experience.
Regarding daylight barking neighbor and the perps not wanting to bring attention to themselves…if it was an inside job (not saying it is…just an "if") and a quick decision to make it look like a kidnapping needed to be done, maybe that conversation was in the Cs yard near the window manipulation. (many different scenarios come to mind for that one)
Lastly, the neighbor could have looked out the window but she didn't. She said she was tired and went back to sleep. Hind sight is 20-20.
This will remain a puzzle piece that I'll keep trying to fit in!
MOO as always!