Agreed. Until I'd become more involved with WS since this case started, I was unaware of the fact that abductions of multiple victims, by one perp, is more commonplace than many might think. Another case is the Colonial Parkway Murders, where it's believed there was one perp, but in each killing there were two victims. The perp most likely posed as a LEO, and the Parkway killings could be related to others in Virginia and down the coast.
Israel Keyes (a SK I didn't have a clue about until recently, thanks to WS) abducted a couple in Vermont, woke them up in their bedroom, then drove them in their own vehicle to an abandoned house, where he sexually assaulted the wife, and killed both. It's the 'surprise' aspect which I think is a big factor in abduction cases, and ends up spooking LE, as it reveals premeditation on the part of the perp, well thought out plans, if you will.
This killer has to have had some experience, before Feb. 13th. It seems like they are messy or sloppy at first, then get more efficient and whatnot with each murder. .
Agreed, and the killer would not have wanted to go back to try to find it, despite the short distance involved (SE end of the bridge to the CS). It's one more bit of info we'll get at some point. I hold that the incident was over in a matter of minutes, and that the killer would have wanted to get out of there.
I've spent a lot of time in wooded areas at night. A typical incandescent flashlight throws a fairly narrow beam. What I would call a 'search flashlight', like someone might have on a boat, firefighters use, etc., is less common but they may have used them that night. MOO is the "search" in the vicinity of RL's property and behind the cemetery could have been a quick one, they may not have walked down to the creek area. .
I still maintain that the search didn't have much of a sense of urgency because LE and the searchers believed the girls were not in danger.