I'm not Abbey, but I do agree that a rush to judgment does lead to some convictions of innocent people and while I do think your comments are definitely worthwhile to consider, I think some of this is too dismissive of what is (publicly) known.
Again, I don't think people are saying that the 5N boys have not talked period. I think a lot of people think they have been misleading/haven't provided all the information; i.e., they have provided at least some information that is true and/or appears to check out, but it seems like they haven't provided all of the relevant information.
Lawsuits are generally the least favorable option and most people try to avoid them. From what I remember, the Spierers did not file until the last possible moment before it would have been barred because of timing. I really think this should be considered with equal weight to your own assumption that the 5N boys have cleared the "fog" with authorities: It doesn't seem like the Spierers would file a lawsuit unless they really thought there were holes in the story/things weren't adding up.
I also think it is a minority of people that are absolutely certain that the 5N boys are culpable. There may be many that think they are probably culpable, but I think the public's perception would change if more information came to light.
Whether anyone likes it or not, LS' disappearance made national headlines and continues to pop up in the news every once in awhile. The boys from 5N appear to be decently well off and educated. While they may have talked to authorities to clear up the "fog," I think that is an assumption in and of itself as well. I am not so sure that they have, but I respect the fact that you think this and acknowledge it is a distinct possibility. However, the 5N boys are not limited to what is best for LS and could take steps to put statements out themselves.
LS is missing. These boys are educated, sophisticated adults with resources available to them. If they wanted to, they could do things to try to sway public opinion. While innocent people are unfortunately wrongly convicted, these boys have only endured the judgment of a skeptical public and, unlike those who are convicted, they have the freedom to try to do something about it right now. No, not everyone would believe them if they did put out a story to clear it all up and some would condemn them for whatever story they put out, but they have decided not to put out a story publicly, whatever their reasons.
I don't think it is wrong of the public to form opinions based on what has been publicly reported. They are only that: opinions. I do not think forming opinions on what is publicly reported is anywhere near as terrible as someone who is in fact wrongfully convicted of a crime he or she did not commit, and opinions can be changed with more information. I think most of us understand the media can be unreliable and even sometimes wrong, which is why I don't understand why you think so many people are "certain" of the guilt of the 5N guys. I think this is even more true here on WS, where people are constantly questioning what the media has put out.
I think all of us have come to care about LS and the Spierers for our own reasons and hope they find peace sooner rather than later. I think regardless of our opinions currently, we want to see whoever is responsible for her disappearance found out and convicted, whether it is the 5N crew, JW, or someone else entirely. All of us here are certainly not entitled to the information that LE has, and not even the information that the Spierers have, but people are going to form opinions on what is making the news regardless. I think it is the responsibility of those involved to speak out if they choose to (or not to).
To be sure, all of this is meant respectfully. It is always good to remember that many things are not 100% certain.
all window dressing aside, neither you nor Abbey know for a fact they did it. All guesses after CR and LS emerged from that alley are just that: logical guesses. I don't say that to diminish what they caused to happen. As MB
said, she asked to go home. He should have called her a cab. No doubt that she was intoxicated on film. But there is a great doubt in my mind whether she was too incapacitated to leave. As I've said, I've been a bar manager here.
Both cops and cabbies will tell stories of the antics of blacked out drinkers.
They go on long after they should be completely passed out.
She could have left, and they still could very much be involved. Doubting the popular scenario does not make them innocent. Someone is lying about the time frame, and that's what leads me to believe she left, and the fact that the people she an d CR had the altercation with lived a minute's walk from JR's and directly in her path home raises my suspicions. To not follow that line of thinking and question the entire story, not just the beginning and middle, is
thinking with blinders on, IMO.
I totally agree with Akh that while they want to bring Lauren back, the main objective LE has is to get all of them convictied. That's what they do. To be satisfied with the 5N being convicted while the others that were probably involved go free would not be an option if they know, or are almost certain, there was another set of perps. .
There was another rumor that among these POIs, and I'm not talking just the 5N POIs, there was a confidential informant. Someone involved in the SW altercation. This case is way more complicated than just od and disposal.
Call me crazy but I think they will solve this case. They are working against the kind of people who can throw money at this thing 24/7 and the detectives are working within a bureaucratic system that only has so much money and
manpower.
Regardless of how smart they think they are, they could be trapped by their
clean up guy. No way they hid Lauren on their own, unless Lauren was hidden on the way back to MI, there HAS to be a local involved. When they catch this
local, that's when the dominoes will fall and everyone else will get caught.
If someone helped dispose of Lauren, and wasn't involved in her death, they will get immunity for telling. I would think this person does not have the money to get himself out of trouble and really didn't cause her death. But, I wonder if anyone moved to MI during this time and is receiving largesse
from anyone within their circle? Like this J person.