Stalkers tend to fixate on one victim and are often only dangerous to one victim at a time.
In any event, we've seen suspects bonded out on cases previously. More typically, we've also seen obviously guilty parties remain free for months or years before arrested for murder. But I do agree that if they can, LE and the DA will try to keep a suspect jailed and discuss their suspect status while bond is being set.
But sometimes a suspect is more valuable to an investigation free than behind bars. SS talks A LOT. He posts a ton of info and statements. That can be valuable if they're looking at him to fill in some blanks.
Is he the one who did this? Oh I can't say 100%. I almost never can or do on any case because there are always exceptions to rules. But I can certainly state that it is logical for him to be the number one suspect. And here's some of what we know that makes that the case, IMO:
1. He is the only person that Natalie, in her own words, and via confirmation by LE, sought protection from, for stalking, in the days leading up to her disappearance.
2. There are no reports from Natalie or LE of anyone else threatening her, harming her or attempting to harm her in the days or weeks leading up to her disappearance.
3. This is being investigated as a homicide, not suicide and it does not seem to be associated with a drug overdose as some have tried to suggest. How do we know? Well, it is true that sometimes dealers or people witnessing an overdose are arrested for homicides associated with drug overdoses. That is rare and typically happens when the connection between the deceased and drugs purchased by a specific dealer, is clear, like the person died in their home with them present.
4. SS has not been "cleared" as he and a buddy of his have insisted. If that were true, he would not be listed in a current police report as a "POI". That never seemed logical anyhow so early in the investigation, unless he was actually incarcerated or something at the time of the disappearance and death.
5. SS is listed as a POI in a recent police report, as noted above. LE have stated he is a part of their investigation.
6. SS was uncharacteristically silent on social media for the first 9 hours of the "critical 26 hour time period" after Natalie went silent (1:00 p.m. on, on 12-18-16). Then he posted a subdued announcement that the police had contacted him to say she was missing. Why was he suddenly so quiet and gone from social media during that time period? It was from 1:00 p.m. to almost 10:00 p.m. Where was he? What was he doing? After posting successive rants the night before until 2:26 a.m. when he probably fell asleep, he posted nothing during the daytime, afternoon or evening hours. Why? And why isn't this troubling for those who are sure he couldn't be connected to Natalie's death?
7. SS is certainly not too frail at all to have overcome or harmed a tiny, 4'11" young woman, as the police report indicates he took two officers down to the floor.
8. On 12/30/17 at 1:15 p.m., it was reported that a body had been found in a wooded area and was being investigated in connection with Natalie's disappearance. From that time until 5:40 p.m. he posts nothing except a post about someone else's memorial. He remains uncharacteristically silent on social media posting only three posts - two on 12/31 ranting about HIS stress and two on 1/1, including one share about a homeless man dying and another ranting post in which he curses and again blames the world for his problems,as is typical for him.
9. On 1/2/18 at 3:19 p.m., the coroner confirmed the body was Natalie's. SS posted no memorials, no crying over Natalie, nothing expressing grief over her death. Nothing expressing sadness abut the girl he was so "protective" over and "loved" so much, after it was confirmed that the body found in a wooded area was hers. Instead, he posted the following, from that time on:
1/2/18 9:36 a.m., angrily denying his involvement, responding to accusers and cursing at people.
1/2/18 at 10:00 a.m., posts a note about the lack of communication and respect in relationships equaling no love.
1/2/18 at 12:18 p.m. he seems to accuse some other person and tried to get people to post photos of that person.
1/2/18 12:49 p.m. he rants and curses at people and accuses them of only caring because Natalie was pretty.
1/2/18 at 3:02 a.m. he posts a note about how love doesn't isolate.
1/2/18 at 3:35 p.,. he posts a post suggesting several additional people who might have harmed her.
1/2/18 at 4:12 p.m. he posts a meme about homelessness.
1/3/18 at 2:43 a.m. he rants and curses and seems to suggest several people in Natalie's life who were bad guys.
1/3/18 11:38 a.m. he again rants about being a victim and how he is always punished.
1/3/18 at 3:55 p.m.he posts an Amber Alert.
1/3/18 at 7:54 p.m. and 9:24 p.m, he posts two photos of a tile in a floor about how the departed return no more.
There is nothing else for the next 30 hours until he posts lecture about how to treat people on January 5th.Not once is this guy crying or upset or posting his sorrow for Natalie after her death was confirmed.
The only crying that occurred was on 12/29/17 at 1:23 a.m., before a body was reported as found, in a video I found to be quite self-serving, in which he talks about how little money he has and how the small amount he has received is for his disability, but it appears he is offering it to Natalie if she needs a "safe place to stay". No tears after that. Just a lot of silence and gaps and non sequiturs and after a time, a lot of blaming others and ranting lectures against people he seems to consider are harassing him.
Why is that? If he supposedly loved this girl and was so obsessed with her and considered her his only true friend, why no grief for her? And why isn't this troubling to those who feel he could not have done this?
Why? Why isn't this troubling as well?