Thinking he's come close to murder before, if he hasn't actually done the act. IMHO he's very possibly killed someone before and no DNA was left, or the person he killed was never found. Such as, sadly, someone who wouldn't be missed. Like a transient or a long-term teen runaway or an addict living on the streets. He may have disposed of that victim so efficiently the remains were not located.
In Rachel's murder, he was pressed for time, he knew he could be discovered. He was in a hurry. This leads me to think he's impulsive by nature. Extremely so.
Since we don't know what valuables, if any, she had on her person, we have no idea where her purse was. Or her car keys. Were items missing from her car? We haven't been privy to that information, and rightfully so.
All we know was her death was very violent, and she was left nude. I'm not going to speculate if he sexually assaulted her, because we don't know that. Humiliation could be one reason, especially if he had very little opportunity to do further.
Staging is also an element we don't know. We know he wanted to take
all of her he might carry with him in his mind and in his thoughts.
Yes I do hope the FBI profilers are hard at work trying to get a real sense of how this insult to humanity goes through his life. How he "sees" himself. What he thinks he's doing. Is he proud to have made the news? At least in Maryland, on the internet, on Youtube and at least a mention in LA. Odds are he is.
We know he is dangerous and as quoted above he's currently a danger to anyone everywhere between Maryland and California, and that covers uncounted vast areas.
I doubt he sees himself as a coward for what he did. Rather, he just has a total disregard for human life except for his.
What could RM have had on her for him to steal (except her life)? Why did he choose to strike at that point? I don't think he'd stalked her online. Or saw her in a gym. She was more than likely in the "wrong" place at the worst time. A place that had always brought her serenity and peace.
Her place, not his.
Suddenly out of nowhere, he's there. She fought hard for her life. Obviously. In the brief, though agonizingly to her, short amount of time she had. To respond, to try to steady herself for this. He overcame her, he tried to steal her dignity, but he d
id not succeed. It wasn't his to take.
He is a horrific monster for what he has done. Does he have a loving family somewhere? Doubting it right now. Some people are just born broken, and some go that path because of what they see around them. Not just in the streets, but in homes and in all levels of society.
Acquaintances around several places? Oh yes, I think so. Communicating by cell and perhaps a burner phone now that he knows he's being hunted by LE. Getting picked up, being sheltered by them, good chance. Whatever the case, he's moving, and staying, and moving again. That's what my thoughts are tonight. Where is he laughing it up over a meal and some TV with a friend right now? Holed-up and hidden from view until things seem to cool down. So he can travel on about his way. Who can say?
-I apologize in advance if he turns out to have a family that cares for him. They may not even live in the States.-
I read somewhere that if you are of Hispanic heritage, you are very unlikely to be identified by familial DNA because of the seemingly very low number of this group participating in these screenings in comparison with the US population as a whole. IOW the self-testing kits so many of us have taken at home and mailed in for the results. I won't name them, but you can find them in most drug stores.
[Also, in countries like Mexico, the Catholic Church is said to keep up with generations with very good record keeping. The local diocese keeps the registros parroquiales (parish ancestral records). Of course, these won't help, but it's understandable in those cultures and countries.]
All just speculation and reflective of my opinion.
To Rachel's family especially, peace be with you while you are going through this unbelievable loss. May this seeming phantom be captured and brought to pay the full price for his crime so that the passing of days becomes less of a living nightmare.
Chi