Whoever did this, knew the area. There is a transcript from a recent Nancy Grace show which is available here:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1102/28/ng.01.html
"
CASAREZ: Now, the little boys were told to go face down into a ditch, right?
SANNER: That`s right.
CASAREZ: So without any lighting, my common sense tells me someone must have known where there was a ditch.
SANNER: Of course. Yes. That makes sense."
whoever did this was clearly local... if not DR then I would propose of the neighbors from one of the other homes along that dead end street (DR's street). Someone knew the area, and someone had a plan. Someone heard them or saw them coming, and carried out their plan. Were the other homes along that stretch searched at the time? In the article linked to above, there is another quote from Sanner, wherein he noted that the boys were interviewed along with other boys from around the
state wherein similar incidents occurred. He did not elaborate as to which situations, or which boys were interviewed, just stated that is how the composites were created.
Sanner also states that the boys were hypnotized, and neither remembered seeing or hearing a car during the abduction, before it or afterwards.
By the time the boys were able to get to JW's house, and tell Rochelle what had happened, how much time had passed? Jacob could be anywhere by then!! Then Rochelle, because she realizes she is in over her head, she calls her dad -- to tell him to come over. More time passes. How long before he was there? How long before 911 was even called and LE dispatched? Worse -- they CALLED OFF THE SEARCH around 2 or 3am until MORNING??! What the hell were they thinking??!
I'm sorry, but this was a planned, organized criminal. He knew what he was doing, and he knew who he was doing it to. He knew the area, and knew that the kids were coming back down that road way. If it wasn't DR, one of his friends or relatives, then I'm looking at whoever else lived along that stretch at the time, and their friends and relatives.
My last option is this: Patty and Jerry went to a party at the last minute. When they arrived, they called the house to tell the kids the number to where they were. Who else was at that party? Did anyone not show up who was supposed to show up? Maybe someone phoned a friend to tell them that the boys were alone? Maybe someone updated that person that the kids were off to Tom Thumb alone?
Someone knew the kids were going to come back that way, and had time to get their "abduction kit" assembled. They clearly already had it packed and ready to use at any opportunity!!