Just want to say that at times I've found myself convinced that a certain POI is guilty (first CR, then JR/DB, then all three plus MB, etc.) Each time I have to remind myself that I don't actually know the truth, and my view is based on various media accounts combined with impressions I have of each POI. (For example, the look on CR's face in his mug shot. I mean, I have to say that for a while I just thought: that guy looks like a frat boy predator.) The reality is that I can be biased based on my impressions and own experiences, and to be objective, I have to return to square one - see things from another point of view, and lose my admittedly somewhat emotional attachments to certain theoretical outcomes.
For all the reasons, I think it's a good idea also to consider JW, with fresh perspective, if only on the search for something new we all may have missed.
One of my main motivators in interest in the case is the innocence of some of the POIs. Whichever ones (and hopefully there must be a few out of 10 or so POIs) are innocent, they sure have been put through a hell of time over this. Just last night on the FB "we want the truth" page a link to CR's employer was posted, and then group members were encouraged to leave reviews (that can't be deleted) on the employer's FB page. Now, it's personally hard for me to have any sympathy for CR, but let's just imagine that his story is true and he's innocent. I have to say that suspecting someone based on just believing so hard it must be true (as it seems some of the more outspoken members of the FB group do) is a dangerous and murky road that I consciously try to avoid.
Anyway, all that to say that I try for neutrality because the reality is that I simply don't know. I think stepping back and considering other possibilities is a great idea, and I've actually enjoyed stretching myself to see things from a different perspective. It's a great reminder that I sometimes discount things I should pay attention to. </tangent.>
I agree with this.
I feel a lot for some people who have been brought into the case and perhaps have offered all they can, yet are often scrutinized - HT, ZO, ZC, AB, DR, etc.
As for the POIs, I really have very little sympathy for CR and MB. Silence on JR and JW's part is more understandable given their status: the last person to admittedly see LS and LS' boyfriend, respectively, but silence from CR and MB bothers me because they get to point the finger at someone else.
The problem for 5N, IMO, is that I have a hard time believing they would all cover for each other for so long unless they are all responsible, which goes to your point that some, if not all of them, might be innocent (of her death, at least). I have heard of people dying from an OD at parties because people argued about whether they should call or not and failed to call until it was too late, and maybe that's what happened here, but even in that situation, why not call anyway and say they found her that way? They didn't realize what was happening? IMO, I think an OD alone is possible, but if they are responsible, it makes me wonder if there was some kind of physical element, like a sexual assault, that played into any decision on their part not to get help. Although, in that case, I still seriously question if all 3 were in it together or whether it was a different combination, like JR or JR and guest(s) or LS circled back to CR's.
I've already listed my issues with JW getting there undetected, especially because his sleeping-at-home-alibi would be so easy to prove wrong (all it would take is one person/camera or maybe even his phone records!), but even if he did find her somehow and she died suddenly, I am still skeptical he wouldn't call 911 for the reasons I've already stated: intoxicated, heart condition, bruised face, etc. etc. Maybe he thought he would be blamed for her bruised face? Even so, he knew he wasn't responsible for that, and IMO, he would probably hope that calling 911 might result in LS being revived? JMO, but I really think if he found her and she died with him, it would be the result of a confrontation + him physically harming her. Again JMO!
If she did leave and/or was kicked out at 5N, there's always the possibility that some stranger grabbed her and/or someone who knew her and hasn't been publicly named. JMO, but I think this is the most likely scenario if she did, in fact, actually leave 5N. It's the suckiest to speculate on because it could literally be anyone, but I just find it more likely than JW getting to her at that hour and without being detected. JMO though! I am a little hopeful that if there is a strong possibility of a stranger abduction, that whoever it is, IS on surveillance in the area around that hour and/or was seen by someone and just happened to be out of view when they grabbed LS. The KT guy who commented about recognizing LS because he had seen her around really makes me wonder if others had noticed her around and decided to prey on her when the opportunity presented itself.