“The investigation into Etter's last six days, however, continues, Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith said Friday morning.
"You need to work it to a conclusion," Goldsmith said, noting that if there's a civil lawsuit, the investigation needs to be completed.
"We were talking about this. Is somebody helping him?" Goldsmith said”
“Investigators want to know where Etter was during his last six days, and they want to know if anyone supplied him with food, water, money, clothing or transportation or helped him in any way, Goldsmith said.”
If the investigation indicates Etter received help from people, the case will be sent to the prosecutor for review and possible charges, Goldsmith said.
Etter clearly got out of the police perimeter at some point during the week, and he might have slipped back into his house for food and supplies, Goldsmith said, clarifying that they don't know where he was or whether Etter actually stayed in the thick woods all the time that police were searching for him.
Etter had been a Boy Scout in his youth, and he felt comfortable in the woods.
"They said he loves the woods. He grew up out there," Goldsmith said. "He was in his comfort zone."