( this is an update to a post I made in thread one- now that I can see the back of the van)
The 2006 T & C Van is front wheel drive- she had a Touring or Limited model, it has traction control, and a 3.8L V6 which acts like a V8- and it is strong enough to tow.
Traction control "Traction control helps limit tire slip in acceleration on slippery surfaces."
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/28000-traction-control-explained.htm
Depending on where the mud is located, spray pattern, thickness, etc.- it would be possible to tell if this van got stuck, needed to be pushed or towed out, or was in more of a muddy puddle type situation. Of course, the type of soil this mud is made up of can be traced to particular areas.
ETA: The oxygen sensor in this van- every model- is extremely sensitive- if it got clogged with mud, or got wet, the van may bog ( like it's going to stall ) and have problems with acceleration. There may have been a delay in the ability to drive this van until the undercarriage dried out.
It has a 20 gallon fuel tank. It is supposed to get 19/24mpg, but in actuality, it is closer to 17/20mpg. So, it is possible to figure out about how much gas should have been used to get to where the van was found from her home.
** Off RoadRunner- do you know the speed limit on the roads between her home and where it was found? The mileage is on the google map- maybe you could figure out how much gallons should have been used ?