ABro
Verified Expert
My memory is that her parents did make a missing persons report, but somewhat later than SL. I doubt it would have made a difference - plus you have to wonder how far they would have got if they had interviewed DM at that time. Would they have had enough evidence even to get search warrants?
Well, if it was enough to make Shawn Lerner suspicious, one would hope it would make trained professional detectives suspicious. And if they didn't have enough for a warrant to get the cell towers Millard's phone had pinged after talking to him, they could have actually talked to Laura's friends. It seems like Karoline, who was happy to talk, would have given them some evidence which would have sealed the deal on a warrant.
What's the deal with making excuses for bad police?
FWIW the police did investigate David Austerweil for Laura's disappearance but he had an alibi and then they appear to have dropped the ball.