I honestly wouldn't read too much into the difference of time. You're talking about various family members and such. When you don't realize you are going to be asked the course of your day, it's difficult to be that specific. Then when someone else is trying to explain the same event and they weren't there at the time, their timing might vary a bit. Now that so long has elapsed, memories fade.
I just say this because I once had to answer LE questions and specific times. Seriously, at the time I was distraught and couldn't recall. I know it sounds dumb now, but all I could think of was the lighting, 'sun down, but not dark' and I looked at the clock trying to figure out how long I'd been gone. Of course, I did have proof, I realize now, a number of receipts and phone records, but it was never necessary for them to check. It's been three years since I was in that position and I still can't remember specific times and it was a day that changed my life.
Although the family has had time to reflect and go over everything in their mind, this has also been a stressful time for them as well. I'm sure they're very frustrated and it seems NOTHING is being resolved. I honestly have empathy for them, I do.
I do not think it's necessarily unusual that the sil left before Mr. Harrod returned. He may have been frustrated and just wanted to get home. He could have thought his fil was being forgetful or just onry. I don't mean that in a disrespectful way, LOL, I just know older people can get set in their ways and do things like that. They also get forgetful and he may have assumed Mr. Herrod FORGOT he'd made arrangements for the cleaning lady.
I know my late fil, after my mil passed away, he was angry and hurt and he took it out on us by not wanting to see us, especially on holidays. Thankfully it only lasted for about a year, but we lived only a few blocks away, so we watched over him from a distance.
Anyway, the sil had a long distance to go home and in that traffic, it could be a grueling drive.
OTOH, not pointing towards anyone specifically, but there are a LOT of areas close to Placentia where someone could dispose of a body and it would be hard to find. When a victim from Anaheim went missing, her family thought she might be in an area where she and her husband used to camp. That's where they looked. But she was found on a lonely, desolate area of South OC, a year or two or three(?) later.
![Frown :( :(](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
So, at first there was no proof she was dead and by the time they found her, her, ehhhh hubby had split and her case is still unsolved.
I don't know what happened to this gentleman, but I'm frustrated by his case and I don't even know anyone involved. It's like all roads lead to nowhere. But we still have a man missing without a trace and a family at odds with each other.
JMHO
fran
PS.....IF it were any of my relatives, I'd be out looking for them!