In 1992 the Fairfield Calif PD was investigating the abduction of 4 year old Amanda Campbell. The investigation focused on Timothy Bindner, an Oakland sewer worker who had a history of "inappropriate" contact with young girls. His name had come up in the investigation of other missing girls due to his calling attention to himself during planned searches for those missing girls. There was a known link between Bindner and Amanda's neighborhood. There was no physical evidence or any witnesses linking Bindner to any of the girls and he had been interrogated by many Law Enforcement agencies including the FBI and he held up very well.
The lead detective decided with so much smoke there had to be fire and decided to do a full court press on Bindner. He got a warrant to search Bindner's home and notified the local news media. The search was broadcast on the evening news and everyone in the Bay Area knew Bindner's name and face and most assumed he was a child killer.
The search turned up nothing and the case went cold. Bindner continued to talk with Law Enforcement and denied everything.
Eventually Bindner filed a law suite against the City of Fairfield and was awarded close to $1,000,000. The basis of the suite was Defamation of Character due to the publicity that was generated during the search.
Later, a convicted serial killer confessed to the murder Amber Garcia-Swartz. It was during the search for Amber that Bindner aroused suspicion by attempting to get close to the investigation. He was never the "prime suspect" but he was looked at seriously when two other girls disappeared under similar circumstances. It was this "connection" to three missing girls that led Fairfield PD to Bindner.
The case of Amanda's disappearance has not been solved and Bindner has not officially been cleared. Last I heard he had retired from the Oakland Sewer Dept and was still living in the house he bought with his settlement money.
I mention this case because the tactics that the Fairfield PD used on Bindner were pretty much the same as those used against DR and if Bindner had a legal claim, I would think DR would as well. I if he has not already sought counsel, he should seriously consider it.