I agree, and have thought about this case long and hard.
From the beginning, I have tried to figure out Noema. Some of the contradictions in this case could be explained by a language barrier, utter naivety and immaturity, low intelligence, an initial feeling of guilt for her negligence, fear, or evasiveness. Her flat emotional demeanor could be usual for her, an emotional block due to Dulce's fate on her watch, or from being medically sedated. Without knowing anything relevant about her, or what she was like before the day Dulce went missing, I can't form an opinion based on her words or actions. Therefore, I have found it difficult to analyze or judge her either way.
When I consider what her stated thought process was when she discovered Dulce missing, it could encompass naivety, low intelligence or evasiveness. For example, her first thought was that Dulce ran off (with her ice cream, or carrying the empty container) to play hide and seek, expecting her little 3 year old brother, who was enjoying his ice cream to come look for her. My thoughts were a 5 year old may play hide and seek at home with a 3 year old, but not under these circumstances. Why would she think that? She spent critical time searching for Dulce (she said 10-15 minutes).
Then, when she couldn't find Dulce, people at the park suggested that she might have been taken (abducted). That seems like a logical deduction, without them ever seeing a suspect, and is one I would have considered immediately if my child went missing. It seems that Noema never considered that possibility, although she later told Dr. Phil that she did, but didn't want to face it at the time.
I think most people would call 911 at that point, but Noema called her brother who lives nearby. "Because we have a dog and I told him to come from the house to the park, walking with the dog, and if he sees my daughter, to tell them, 'Why are they taking her.' After that (her bro and dog searched the park for 30 minutes) I called the police," Alavez-Perez said".
This statement, which I have never heard absolutely floored me. It made me re-visit the language barrier for sure, and naivety, immaturity and possible intellectual impairment. Her actions in calling her brother, instead of LE, could also denote delay tactics, but I did wonder at the time why her brother didn't tell her to call 911 before he set out with the dog.
On relection, I believe that Noema (and her brother) had a fear of involving the police, a fear which had been ingrained since childhood, and that may explain why she didn't call LE until it was a desperate situation which they couldn't solve on their own. The same fear of police, which has kept their community afraid and silent. Obviously, ICE hauling in Noema's boyfriend immediately sealed many lips that might have spoken up with leads.
I don't think Noema would go on Dr. Phil's national TV show if she had any knowledge, or anything to do with Dulce's disappearance. She showed incredible courage to be there and I think she did it for Dulce. jmo
Where is Dulce Alavez? Investigators still pursuing 'solid leads' as anniversary approaches in case of missing N.J. girl