Why release make of car at all?
I think they had make of car very early and released details for public info as they knew list of owners was quite long.
Everything is very deliberate and well thought.
They only release info if they think it will help solve the case, not to satiate our curiousity.
I think it's just a mistake albeit potentially a bad one.
They probably had a somewhat blurry side view of car and were certain it was a 2011 to 2013 model although the differences were pretty negligible.
1. ...Why release make of car at all?
I think they had make of car very early and released details for public info as they knew list of owners was quite long.
Exactly. You have the answer right at the front of your eyes. The list was long and they needed tip-offs to shorten and as quick as possible that long list to more manageable one. They knew (from the crime scene) the time is viral as he may kill again.
2. Everything is very deliberate and well thought.
They only release info if they think it will help solve the case, not to satiate our curiousity.
It did not satiate mine, I knew they were onto something and waited to see where it goes. Around that time i stopped commenting here and was only reading the news.
Besides, their tactics obviously helped as they had the tip-off they needed to move with their strategical goal - arrest & conviction.
The moment, Chief Fry said they want not only arrest but a conviction, he sent a signal that they know Who Did It and are building stringer their case. That was the turning point.
3 I think it's just a mistake albeit potentially a bad one.
With all due respect, i tend to differ. LE and FBI are not here to please anyone, they have to catch killers. Their tactics, as long as they do not break the law, are entirely up to them.
If they had appealed for info on white Elantra 2015 and BK had disappeared because he would know that sooner than later LE will get him as he was driving same make of car , whose fault would that be? I know, for sure.
In this case, your curiosity would have been satisfied, but the killer of 4 people would have been out there, free to kill again. How about that scenario?
4. They probably had a somewhat blurry side view of car and were certain it was a 2011 to 2013 model although the differences were pretty negligible.
It is a speculation what they had and what they hadn't. I do not know, so I cannot comment.
I think, LE & FBI did brilliant job, so far. Brilliant! Well done!