What about this possible scenario? The stalker entered the house sometime during the day or evening before Morgan died, and waiting in a hiding place inside where he knew he'd not be detected. Perhaps both the parents and Morgan were all out of the house at some point that day or evening? December 1, 2011 was a Thursday.
The pet thing is a head-scratcher for me, too. Having never had dogs or cats as pets, I don't know how they'd behave. If the perp was known to the animals and entered the house at some point during the day before Morgan died while Morgan and her parents were out, would they not react if he started moving through the house, very quietly, in the middle of the night? Or might they be so used to the perp by that point that if they saw him, all they'd do is wag their tail and resume sleeping? The latest post on the blog shows Morgan's kitty, who was in her bedroom at the time of her death, with the caption that reads something along the lines of "he's been trying to tell us all something."
Lastly: you know how when you haven't slept well for days you finally just reach a point of exhaustion where all the lights could be on in the house, the TV could be on or your loved ones could be talking loudly in the same room, but you just finally wipe out and sleep as though comatose? Is it possible that the family didn't hear the perp-intruder that night because they were all so dead tired?
I agree with the possibility of entering the house, perhaps even staying her closet or shower.
A dog would alert you to anyone in the home in several ways. If this was a known person and the dog liked them, the dog would first greet you as usual. Then the dog would bark, and try to take you to the place the person was at. Tail could be wagging. Dog would stand at that place and wag tail and sniff, paw, perhaps bark until you looked where the dog was showing you to look.
If a dog did not know the intruder, it would have to be sedated to not bark, run, sniff, paw vigorously, no tail wagging, tail down or up depending on the dog. A lot of loud barking. Fur standing up along spine.
(Cats, I dunno'. Sometimes they try to communicate, sometimes they just don't care to be bothered. I haven't had a cat since I was a child, so someone else can describe that one.)
If all of the family coming home action was not paid attention too, the dog would still stand right where the intruder was and not move unless you had steak or hotdogs, lol. If this got no attention, intruder did whatever intruder did, then went to leave, dog would follow, perhaps bark, and want to go outside with the intruder.
This all includes puppies, especially the going outside as they always have to pee. But puppies would alert as it is more fun and play for them, so they would try to show you where the extra play person is. They would be hyper, running around, and barking more than usual too. A puppy will sit and whine and paw at a door anytime you open it and do not let it out. You will hear it no matter how tired you are.
All dogs will want to go outside at anytime day or night. Not just for potty time, but b/c being inside is not always fun. No squirrel smells, bird smells, deer good grief they would go nuts to go out for that, and just to be outside wandering around.
Whatever I left out someone else can add.
