I happened to see this thread and could not stop reading.
One question I wanted to ask is whose blood was on the porch? Even if it were dried, a presumptive swab would tell right away if it was blood rather than some sort of stain. A scrape of the blood would be taken to the lab and with the help of family DNA, it could be determined whether or not it belonged to Patricia.
Of course I do not know what signs of a struggle there was, but could someone have hit her over the head? Punched her in the face? Was there a lot of blood or just a little meaning small droplets?
As for the hat and the money clip, the only criminal that would not realize his ballcap was missing would be a drunk or drugged one - or just dumb beyond words. Was the money clip found close to the cap? If there was no money in the money clip, it is possible that it was a keepsake someone kept in their pocket, or put there to incriminate someone else. IDK, I can see one item being dropped near the home, but two is very unusual.
Was there much liquid left in the pop can? Was the computer turned off? If the computer was still on, a movement of the mouse would have shown what website Patricia was on. Also, the internet service provider would show what time she logged on that evening. If the computer was not on, then I think the attack would have come not too long after she got home and was about to settle into her place at the computer.
Could Patricia have run through her yard and run that 1/2 mile down the road only to be caught up with there? I know her scent stopped at the sidewalk as if she had gotten into a vehicle, but that scent may not have been left there that night; just in the last day or so. If she was in a vehicle, is it that she jumped out 1/2 mile down the road? If she were already injured, jumping out of the vehicle could have injured her further. Especially if it were a high off the ground truck.
What time does Patricia's mail come every day? Was she maybe going to her mailbox after getting home and someone ran over her? Then she gets back as far as her front door and that person comes back, panics, and realizes she is badly hurt? This person is maybe drinking and does not want to get blamed and so he takes her somewhere?
Does anyone living on the same road sell hay? When my late husband and myself lived in our house in the country, a lot of people drove past our house enroute to our neighbors half a mile down the road to buy hay. There would be every description and color of trucks - even duallys (sp.).
I have posed these questions because so much is unknown. There are more questions than answers.
Most often, it is someone close to a missing individual that is responsible for a disappearance, or at least someone that person knows. In this case, I'm sorry, but I believe this was either Patricia's ex-husband or someone he hired to do this.
Also, the cap and the money clip are suspicious. I can see there being one of these items left, but not two.
My prayers are with Patricia's family and friends. I simply cannot imagine the nightmare they are living daily. GB them all, and may there be a resolution soon.
