I agree.
I don't think the bicycles were staged; if they had been I think the perp would have left more evidence behind (fingerprints, touch DNA, shed hairs, maybe clothing or vehicle fibres, etc). The less the bicycles were handled by the perp, the less chance of leaving trace evidence behind. The least evidence would be left by the perp if he never touched the bicycles himself (maybe by luring the girls or threatening them with a weapon).
I think the perp was familiar enough with 7 Bridges to feel comfortable there, to know that there would be very little chance of seeing someone else there during business hours. And to realise that there would be little chance of the bodies being found soon.
I think this was a sort of organised disorganised crime. I think the perp was familiar with both locations and had a plan but did not specifically target Elizabeth and Lyric.
It used to be thought that serial killers had (by definition) a cooling off period after each crime but would commit another killing within a relatively short period of time (less than 3 years between crimes). If there was a longer period, it suggested the perp had been imprisoned on some other charge. Now it is known that some serial killers have voluntarily gone for a decade or more between crimes.
I think that the perp may well be quite young, just based on Elizabeth and Lyric's ages.
GrainneDhu, good post...I agree about the mixed organizational traits as well as a prolonged prison sentence being a common denominator for a predator's inactivity for a decade or more. Imo, the victim's ages may be dependant upon their ease of gaining compliance/control by the perp, before and during the abduction.
Seems, that there was a noticeable increase in Iowa's missing persons/female cold cases once MJK's was released from prison after two decades(18 years).
Imo, it would be less than acceptable to ignore this increase..
A few indicators as to MJK being responsible for L & L's abduction/murder, imo.
Found Deceased IA - Elizabeth Collins, 8, and Lyric Cook, 10, Evansdale, 13 July 2012 - #32 - Page 32 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community
Michael J. Klunder Timeline
http://globegazette.com/news/local/...cle_b448708a-db89-11e2-bf27-0019bb2963f4.html
Organized versus disorganized serial killers ... that not all killers fit into a neat pigeonhole and 'crossovers' or 'mixed' killers do happen..
Serial killer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
<sniped BM> read more
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Missing_children.aspx
Missing Children
Nonfamily Abductions
Although nonfamily abductions are relatively rare, they are the worst fear of most relatives of children. Long-term nonfamily abductions are typically motivated by sexual gratification, retribution, financial gain, desire to kill, and maternal desire. Sexually motivated abductions represent the most common type of nonfamily abduction and pose the highest risk of victim mortality.
Sex is the major reason for abduction, usually by a male perpetrator with a history of sexual misconduct, violence, and substance abuse. The abductor may be an acquaintance or a stranger but rarely a family member.
With middle-school children, the abductors are mostly likely to be strangers. Schoolyard access, physical maturity, and vulnerability help facilitate these abductions by strangers.
Unlike familial abductions, the bodies of these children are usually found unconcealed or only slightly covered.