The only thing I find "credible" about this whole new search is that I don't think the witness made up the men out of whole cloth. So...if it wasn't them...where are the 2 guys that she did see??? If you aren't guilty, you don't disappear into thin air. You continue on your way, whatever that "way" happens to be.
ETA - and if it wasn't them, wouldn't the 2 men who it was come forward and say "HEY GUYS! Sorry to send you on this wild goose chase, but it's just us!!"
But do they search this area for 10 days, at this same pace, like they did the original area? It isn't about the money (though that is no doubt very high, and I have no idea how that gets covered) but how long can they continue taxing these LEOs???