cGorg,
There are several reasons I don't think a car was used but the best reason is you would have to ask yourself if DR is the person responsible...which I think he is...do you think he would've used a vehicle? Also the kids didn't remember seeing a vehicle and even though they were young and in a very stressful situation I believe they would've remembered seeing one when they looked back after running a 100 yards or so. It wouldn't have taken them that long to run that far and the abductor wouldn't have had enough time to get Jacob in the car and dealt with let alone driving away before the boys were looking back. So it's possible DR had a vehicle waiting in the driveway and he would've been able to drive without headlights up the rest of his driveway but anyone else would've turned them on to head down the road in either direction and the boys would've seen them in my opinion. Also the police believe no vehicle was used now and DR is their person of interest and we all know why DR looks like the prime suspect and the police have alot more info than we do. Sorry I know I'm rambling but just trying to answer your question.
Wisdom, thanks for the explanation. Not saying you're wrong...just looking for basis of thought.
1. DR and vehicle. Doesn't make sense for him to use a vehicle UNLESS there was an accomplice which would make for a very quick exit off the scene of the crime leaving DR alone at the farmhouse and very little trace of evidence.
2. DR as sole perp....no, I don't think he would have used a vehicle. He is strong enough and agile enough to carry Jacob to the farmstead. Plus, there are so many buildings there for a hideout.
3. Vehicle ruled out by LE. I don't know....the tire track evidence to me is strange....I've been through that whole thing of tracks on a gravel/dirt driveway....I have doubts about the certainty expressed by LE of: first it was definitely a vehicle, then in 2004 it became perp on foot. Nothing in between.
4. Vehicle headlights + sound: if a vehicle was used and the perp started the vehicle, turned on the headlights while the boys were running home...I think they would have seen that. As for the sound....under extreme stress, running full speed in a field it's possible the boys could not have heard anything. I played basketball in high school....I never heard a thing from the crowd while playing full speed....the mind tunes out the sound while concentrating.
5. Risk: there's 2 risky things about the abduction. (1) while the boys abandoned their bikes in the ditch and the perp made them lay in the ditch, another car could have come from the north upon them. (2) the same thing could have happened if a vehicle was used. Despite upon hindsight there being at minimum 20 minutes for the perp to exit the crime scene, the perp would not have known that, so the quickest exit would be on his mind.
6. Vehicle vs On Foot...you've mentioned the cards fell in the right place for DR. That could apply to a vehicular abduction as well. I have much difficulty with DR's words, demeanor, and overall behavior...very suspicious but I do hold that thought at bay while considering the vehicular abduction.
7. Footprints...I have only seen 1 still picture of Jacob's footprint. I wonder what if there was a trail of footprints and if so, what was the stride? Walking or running? I have wondered if a vehicle could have been parked on the WEST side of 16th in the trees...they are very close to the abduction spot. Which woods did the boys see the perp drag him to? It can't be to DR's woods as there is a fenceline there(unless he went over it) If the perp with Jacob began walking west then...could Jacob have gotten loose and ran down the driveway and the perp caught up to him and then dragged him WEST in the grass across the road to the treeline. Once in the vehicle, perp could drive up on the pavement.