What stuck with me was they were not discussing arrests with the DA. Only discussing the info they have received. If they do not have an arrest in mind at this point, are they going to discuss removing people as POI with the DA? I would think if they had enough to make an arrest, they would have that done ASAP. They can always keep gathering more evidence to support the arrest before a trial. But, if they can't justify an arrest, what does that say?
I'm not as puzzled by today's press conference as most seem to be. Chief Burns' purpose was to reassure the community that we don't have a serial killer on the prowl. The text messages were just too much for him and I think the rumor-mill is the source of his frustration. I know Coroner Leon Jones tried to squelch the rumors on last night's news, but the Chief is probably right that some folks would believe Burns when they would not believe Jones.
The only new info I could glean was that Burns & investigators are meeting with Winters "first of next week." That will be when they collectively make a decision about whether to charge SMD with the homicide, in advance of the Aug. 4 bond hearing. No doubt, without new charges, SMD will be bonded out on the burglary charges (not a flight risk and no danger to the public on those charges), so Winters will have to make his decision whether to allow the bond hearing to go forward. We should know, sometime between Monday and Thursday, whether SMD will be charged with the homicide.
My guess is that the case against SMD is not (yet) air-tight. Because of that, Winters and Burns prefer to delay any official charge so long as SMD remains in custody.
If there is a charge by the MPD or an indictment (the Grand Jury IS in session), I expect Floyd Buford to renew his conflict of interest motion. But we don't know whether there are any additional factual grounds for the motion when applied to the homicide that occurred after SMD's internship. It's a different question than Judge Self decided earlier.