I want to point this out because I think it is relevant to the questions popping up (including my own!) about why Lori & Chad can't be gone after for kidnapping or neglect at this state. (Or other people in similar cases.)
Here in America, parental rights trump children's rights, and you can argue that we don't even really have children's rights (we have not even ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, we're the only country in the world to not have done it yet despite helping draft it and sign it). Many people in this country, especially among certain groups (like the homeschooling community) are adamant that children's rights are either non-existent or extremely limited. There is a steep defense on thinking children are property of parents and they can be treated any way a parent sees fit without any government interference at all, and if there is interference, it is considered going against the constitution.
This thought process is what allows much child abuse to keep going on. Notice how Lori took JJ out of school to homeschool him. Did you know 47% of school-age child torture victims were removed from school to be homeschooled?!?!?! (<---Find this 2014 study on the site of the CRHE.) 47%!!!! In this country, you absolutely have the right as a parent to take your child out of school and away from their family, and isolate them and make them "disappear" if you want to. Because there are huge groups of people who want to keep it exactly that way without any regard for the kids like JJ who are vulnerable and are in danger. A popular name that comes to mind, Erica Parsons, was not noticed to be missing for nearly 2 years! Another one whose adoptive parents "sent her away to live with family" yet no such family existed and it was "none of anyone's business" where she "really was" (which of course ended up to be dead).
In essence, the laws and culture here allow people like Lori to "hide" her children for months and months (and possibly years), and tell LE, "No, of course they're not missing, only I know where they are and it's none of your business!" and it's totally legal.