You may very well be right. But a person can hide for a long time with a couple thousand dollars in cash on their person and a meddling girlfriend helping to keep them hidden. Last I checked, cash transactions aren't that easily tracked. None of us have any way of knowing who she may know that could be aiding her. I agree it seems unlikely, but as messy as all of this is sounding, I could see her running off for awhile just to get away from the shame of it all.
I agree that a good chunk of cash can help you disappear for a while but where would she get the cash? She didn't have a job. Most very young married couple don't have a lot of savings but, let's assume they are very frugal and have a few thousand set aside. I think LE would have looked into that possibility as soon as the affair came up, if not before. A quick look at their personal accounts and JC would know immediately if any money was missing. If there were, I don't think we would have seen this massive search effort in the desert.
But, let's assume LE never thought of that. She left her car behind, so the only way to travel is to get a ride or call a cab. That sort of limits her movement. A hotel in the area would cost her at least $70 a night. Three weeks later, just the hotel would have cost her almost $1500. So, unless she's staying with a friend, or took off with a really noticeable wad of money, she should be out of cash.
We don't know if she has her ID or not. I don't think a decent hotel would let her check in without one. Also, I believe most decent hotels want a card even if you pay cash, in case you damage the room.
I suppose she could be hiding with a friend but, surely by now, any friend close enough to be willing to hid her for three weeks would also be on LE's radar and would be scared witless of hiding her at this point.
Please everyone feel free to shoot holes in my reasoning.
I slept in this morning and have not yet had my full dose of caffeine LOL.