As we know, every case if different. Sometimes the perp is caught immediately, sometimes it takes weeks, months, years, and sometimes they are never caught. Many times it comes down to one good tip and thorough and diligent police work. I know there is a lot of effort and I hope that happens in Abby's and Libby's case, but it just may take some time.
Take the case of Karina Vetrano, 30, who went jogging near her home in Howard Beach, NY last August at about 5pm and was found beaten and strangled to death in a park. Detectives believe she fought her attacker hard. They recovered DNA evidence of the alleged killer from beneath her fingernails, her neck and her phone, but the DNA didnt match anything in the database.
The reward money raised was over $200,000 and the police had checked 1,700 investigative reports and followed 250 leads. They had also released a profile developed with help from the FBI that included among other things: In the hours following the assault on Karina, anyone encountering him may have observed him to be disheveled in appearance with possible scratches or cuts to his hands, arms, neck, or face. It could have appeared that he was in some type of fight or accident. He may have given any of a variety of excuses for his appearance.
Six months later police arrested Chanel Lewis, 20, for Karinas murder. He was caught because a lieutenant remembered a previous complaint filed about Lewis lurking around parked cars in the area 3 months before Karina was murdered. This led cops to question Lewis, who voluntarily gave his DNA, which was a match.
Lewis had a few summonses dating back to 2013, but had never done anything like this before. Lewis allegedly told police the attack was impulsive, sparked by problems at home. He said as he got near Karina, he yanked off his ear buds, attacked her and dragged her to the spot where she died, according to the source. Lewis reportedly told cops, "I was angry. I had some issues at home. I just lost it. When I saw her, I just hit her and kept hitting her. I hit her and choked her." Its also alleged Lewis expressed a hatred for women to police.
The day after Karina was killed, Lewis went to the emergency room, saying he had been attached by a group of muggers. The hospital papers showed Lewis suffered a hand injury.
http://gothamist.com/2016/12/15/karina_vetrano_killer_profile.php
http://www.amny.com/news/karina-vet...e-queens-jogger-s-death-stands-now-1.12190915
http://abc7ny.com/news/what-we-know-about-karina-vetranos-suspected-killer/1740602/
