My question is why the perp has not yet been identified by his sketch, since it is supposed to be such a targeted match? Someone knows who the man is if he was local in such a small town. Good grief, the whole state and parts of the country know about this crime. I hope the PD is doing more than checking out RSOs and silver vans. I am amazed the "eyewitness" got such a good look at the driver in the dark.
It's been a week already! Prayers up for Jessica's safe return to her son and family. I can't imagine how the family and friends are coping. The immediate outpouring of support shows that the citizens are united in finding Jessica, and that she was not relegated to a little news article.
From early reports, the 'witnesses' were driving by the Exxon station and saw something 'out of the ordinary'.
This is what I think happened:
Husband and wife (Jessica's co-worker) are driving down the road.
Wife glances over at the Exxon station. (We all do this when we pass by our place of employment.)
She sees a silver van, with its back door open, and a man who's a 'regular' customer behind the station.
She thinks, 'that's weird.'
So, she tells her husband.
Hmmmm, they both agree that is weird.
Meanwhile they're still driving down the road- further from the station.
Husband/wife both say maybe they should go and check.
So, husband turns around and drives back to the station.
They pull in just in time to see the 'regular customer' get in his van and drive away (down the dark side road).
The station is empty.
The other customer (911 call guy) has arrived.
Later, the Wife (co-worker) can give a good description of the suspect because she has seen him at the store before.
I find the above scenario highly plausible.
I also find it very, very lucky that ANYONE saw anything that fateful night. If these two hadn't been driving past, then we wouldn't have the valuable clue about the van being parked behind the station. And we may not even have had the sketch.
Most people driving by a gas station aren't going to look at it twice. Even if there is a vehicle parked behind it.