Yes, it had to be someone familiar with the area.
I am confused on the reports of Nevaeh going into the woods and the report about visiting "Daddy George" plus her being poked or stabbed in the stomach from the children. Where did the report come from intially? (I heard it on HLN.)
ETA: The article cleared this up and raises many more questions about JB.:
Despite a search warrant that says he saw a man stab 5-year-old Nevaeh Buchanan in woods after she disappeared, her 8-year-old friend saw nothing, his mother said.
http://www.freep.com/article/20090605/NEWS05/90605036