It is ageism, which is as offensive as any other prejudice, to underestimate RL, IMO.
His choice to disregard, repeatedly, his parole agreement says more about his character, his feeling of entitlement, than anything else.
He has livestock that he presumably handles daily and has for most of his life. That takes an authoritative tone and manner not to mention strength and stability.
Im not saying he is the perp but I dont think his age has anything to do with ability to use a weapon [or use their elder status as an authority figure] to threaten young girls to walk on their own to somewhere and kill them on the spot they walked to. Where is any evidence of any great physical feats?
[I dont consider crossing the bridge any feat for someone as careless in his past actions and current violations as that all seems the behavior of the fearless]
MOO, IMO