What are your thoughts about a prepared "lair"? The thing that makes me hit a brick wall with that is the fording of the creek in Winter. Why would an inexperienced killer even include that in their plan? If the Delphi killer was experienced and not a first time offender, again why make a plan to cross that creek?
I think this killer knew that property. RL's property, including the entire trail and creek bottom. I think it likely this killer knew RL. I think this killer was on that property before, possibly years ago, as a child, or a teenager.
That location is one that kids would play around in, teenagers would go for a smoke, or to party. It's also a location that would be accessed by hunters, or trappers.
The teenagers, IMO, wouldn't necessarily care about knowing the property owner, but they might. Maybe it was someone who was friends with RL's kids.
The hunters/trappers would likely know RL, and would likely have had permission to access that bottom land.
I just looked at some video of the area, with RL and a reporter walking down the trail, on RL's property, toward the crime scene. The woods is wide open, the trail down is easy. RL walks with that reporter down the trail a short way, standing next to what I presume is the old quarry. Still atop the hill, he points out the CS (which has the yellow tape around it) and the bridge. He also mentions the distances, half mile from one point to another. He claims it's difficult to get from the bridge to the CS. I don't agree. I've spent LOTS of time traversing the woods. Thick woods. I've hiked up mountains. I'm not young. I could tramp around in those woods, quickly, and easily. I could huff it down that hill from the cemetery, all around those woods, and back up and out of there without issue.
Note, from the high ground, they have a view of the entire area. Crime Scene, bridge, etc. And RL knows where the trail passes through the woods, pointing a half mile or so away, through the trees. I think the killer too knew all this.
The killer knew where to cross that creek, and knew exactly where he was going.
If I recall, RL wasn't home that day. I still think, from what I've seen of the terrain, that cemetery would be a real easy access point to get in and out of the area.
MOO