I have no idea if this is a similar situation, but the law enforcement follow up with CW reminded me of something I had read in a book about the Lululemon murder in an upscale area of Bethesda, Maryland. It was a horrific murder where a sales associate had murdered her manager (over 331 separate, individual wounds) after the manager discovered the associate had stolen a pair of $98 yoga pants. The associate (Brittany) proceeded to (pathetically) stage the scene, give herself a few superficial scratches, and blame the attack on two mysterious masked men dressed in black who slipped into the store after closing. Well obviously that was all a lie and she was convicted of murder and given a life sentence.
Anyways. There is a very good book on the case, The Yoga Store Murder: The Shocking True Account of the Lululemon Athletica Killing by Dan Morse. The way the detectives questioned the murderer reminded me so much of the CW investigation. The detectives/LE became very invested in this case. It was such a brutal, senseless, horrific murder over such a small issue. And then this girl told so many lies in her attempt at a cover up. A lot of the book is devoted to what makes someone who seemingly had a pretty normal life with so many opportunities commit such an inhumane crime and lie so easily. ("Is my friend okay?") The book references research on sociopaths.
Also in the book, one of the detective stated that he rarely interviews suspects anymore, but before he retires he hopes to get one last chance - with this girl. But he remained pessimistic about what the interview will bring, even if he manages to see her. "Can anybody really figure out someone like Brittany?" he said.
One of the other detectives in that case also planned to pay Brittany a call in prison. He planned to wait a few years - until she had exhausted her legal appeals, until she felt like she had nothing to lose by being candid with him. "I think her mind has to get used to the fact that she's not getting out," the detective said.
(Her case was different in that she took her chances at trial and was convicted and given a life sentence without the possibility of parole. All of her subsequent appeals have been denied.) As far as I know, nothing further has ever come out on the "why," at least not publicly.
Anyways, I don't want to get off topic by bringing up another case, but I only mention because until I read that, I had no idea that detectives and law enforcement might stay interested in a case and go visit a convicted criminal to try to find out the "why" even though legally it does not matter anymore. So I wonder if it's something similar with CW - is it just personal interest? Since he doesn't have any chance at an appeal, did they just make an attempt now because there was nothing to lose?
