It also doesn't get solved by completely ignoring the time from the moment they were taken, to the time they were found. There is no getting away from the route they took. It's actually critical information, in this case, and in almost all cases.Whether the girls crossed the creek or not, did not make any difference in this horrid crime against them. The constant bickering now, and one or two persons trying to insist their pov is the only one is only causing dissension. Have your theory, I'll have mine and keep hoping that this sick is caught, he won't be caught crossing the freaking creek!
How can you even discuss any of what happened without considering the actual events of the day? If his pants were wet in the picture, that's pretty critical no? They are dry. That's very telling. No?
Someone put themselves into the perp's head, and described what it might be like walking through brush with no leaves on it. Yes, now take that a step further... it's too see through and doesn't cover sound. You need to go somewhere more remote.
Why would you risk losing them in the creek or crossing a cold creek in the winter? Because you have gone too far, and if you don't cross that creek, then you get caught.
That is called profiling. That is called sleuthing.