Probably won't be a popular sentiment, but I have a strong feeling that MRs only mistake was not realizing how badly Dylan wanted to go to his friend's house when he left him there alone. I still, and probably always have, feel that Dylan took off on foot or bike or hitchiking while MR was gone, left for his friend's house and something happened on the way. Are there bike trails that lead roughly from one to the other or something? I would think those would've all been checked before the snow came though. This feels like (I know I've said it before) Elizabeth and Lyric, where our amazing powers of deduction here at WS are aimed so strongly at relatives that we completely miss the real situation. What we know for SURE is that he wanted to go see his friends badly. Even if there was a fight, argument, whatever... no matter HOW he ended up NOT with MR I would presume that he'd head for his friends, if he had any ability to do so whatsoever.
IMHO of course.
bbm - respectfully I have to disagree, based on MR's own words and what we've heard from Dylan's friends about their plans. I think MR knew quite well that Dylan wanted to meet up with his friends and they were his priority, probably more so than spending time with MR was.
And the 2nd bbm - We do know for sure that Dylan wanted to see his friends and I'm pretty certain MR knew this as well. But I'm not so quick to assume Dylan would off and hitch a ride on his own without any attempt at contacting anyone by any means whatsoever and has never been heard from since 8pm Sunday.
Dylan was going to meet up with friends when he was to fly in on Saturday before his flight was pushed back to Sunday.
When he arrived in Durango on Sunday and was going to meet up with friends that night, it was MR who wouldn't let Dylan see R--- (per text exchange).
Dylan Redwine: Cant come srry ill hang tommarow
R: Ok
R: (time 7:09 p.m. Nov. 18) Why
D: idk
R: (time 7:45 p.m. Nov. 18) Did your dad say no
D: (time 8:01 p.m. Nov. 18) yea
R: Oh ok
In the uncut video store interview, it seems clear that MR knows Dylan really wants to spend time with his friends and has plans set up with them -- further, MR doesn't seem to have anything planned for him and Dylan that whole week, even for Thanksgiving. To me it's more than obvious that Dylan's only goal on his visit to Bayfield was to see his buddies and there's no way on earth MR was unaware.
MR also seemed to have his head in the sand... not knowing Dylan's friends phone #'s (couldn't contact them or their parents when he was unable to reach Dylan all afternoon Monday). If Dylan's phone was broken or had no service or something was wrong, no awareness or urgency when he comes home to find the house empty.
I know there's been talk that Dylan seems to have alot of freedom and that may be true, but I think it's different when he's at home with his mother -- she has a clue and knows where and how to find him. She's stated that he checks in with her, if he doesn't she will take his cell phone away from him, she is clearly the involved parent, she knows his friends, if he's late or unresponsive she knows who to contact, he's in THEIR environment .... but when Dylan is visiting his father, MR needs to be the responsible parent and take proper steps to ensure that Dylan is prepared and safe and will check in. I don't really care if they had a stressed relationship and MR was trying to be cool and give Dylan some space, he's his FATHER and there's too much that doesn't add up (at best).
Anyhow, that's all JMO, of course.