Absolutely - I don't think the LL mixed up the dates. But LE has never confirmed that the LL was there or the date of the encounter with Lucas; the neighbor Q&A was never given a date either. We don't even know if this was 1 person or 2.
We're trying to grasp what happened with 2 different timelines now. Either way, EG knew it was better to admit to leaving Lucas at home on 2/16 while she went to OG; she knew it was better to fess up to smoking "cannabis."
If we're working off the theory that Lucas died earlier in the week than 2/16, my belief is that Lucas died shortly before the couple was outside the house but after the LL/neighbor saw him alone. However, when EG was arrested on CE, she claimed the LL had been by on 2/16. EG was arrested on 2/21 -- tons of info was coming in. Perhaps the LL came forward or was contacted after the arrest -- what if the truth is that the LL saw Lucas not on the 16th but days or even a week prior? Same with neighbor (if we're talking about 2 different people).
BUT EG tells LE that all of it happened on the 16th -- she wants to cop to leaving Lucas home alone only once, because he was sick and asleep. She wants JH to believe it was the exception, not the rule. She was spotted at OG or her phone puts her out of the home--no one sees Lucas with her out & about. She has to say he was alone and recalls the LL/neighbor even talked to Lucas when she was gone.
LE lets it go and doesn't push -- EG already admitted to enough to get arrested for MH. Maybe they questioned her about the dates after the arrest, maybe not. EG needs JH and the world to believe Lucas was seen on the 16th, but was he? We don't really know when anything happened.
i totally agree its possible EG tried to condense all of this (pot smoking, driving while high, kids left home alone) to the 16th/one day to so it seemed the exception, not the rule.
i wonder if EG is the one who said to LE the LL saw Lucas on the 16th in order to strengthen her story Lucas was alive through Saturday afternoon when he was "kidnapped" (meaning he'd be alive when the smoking strangers lurked outside, when JO picked him up for valentines day allegedly and when CR sleeps over).
its definitely risky for her to say he was there if he wasnt but maybe LE is asking her a lot of questions/her story is unraveling so its worth the risk - maybe the LL did call twice on the 16th afternoon which is in her favor (ik she said the LL called twice, i cant remember if we had that confirmed). either way, she took similar odds with JO hopefully not being able to verify her whereabouts on the 14th, so it wouldnt be entirely out of character for her to gamble on saying the LL stopped by and saw Lucas.
we've talked about how people like EG will confess to lesser crimes to gain the trust of LE/create a facade they are overall an honest person and maybe her questioning with LE reached a point where she thought it'd be better to say "yeah i left him alone bc he was sick but someone saw him, he was alive" than "yeah i killed him". and who can prove this story wrong? unfortunately, lucas cant. and if the LL cant verify his whereabouts, itll be his word against hers.
so LE looks into this story not bc the LL is a suspect, but to verify Lucas' timeline. then maybe they talk to the LL and he says "well no, i only called on friday the 16th but the friday before i did see Lucas". and if the LL couldnt 100% verify his whereabouts on the 16th (again not as a suspect but if hes like at home alone or driving alone from tenant to tenant) maybe LE gives it some consideration thinking "did the LL mix up his dates, is the LL sure he didnt even pull in their driveway for 10 mins to see if she was home etc".
from there, it becomes a he said-she said between EG and the LL. and while maybe EGs goal of making it crystal clear Lucas was alive until he was kidnapped isnt fully successful in that the LL pushes back/LE cant verify this, it certainly created a lot of confusion and wasted a lot of LEs time, which are both good things for EG.
(and who knows - maybe EG thought she could also paint the LL as a potential suspect. she'd prob consider that bonus points).