The reporter is really bad, there is no way of telling if she is quoting or speculating. I feel that BM is repeating the answer to what the police has been asking her several times, in that case the police has not found any casings at the two murder scenes. I am not convinced this reporter would follow up on such a detail, the entire article is an emotional mess.
BJM not seeing any casings at the scenes doesn't necessarily indicate none were found.
I'm of the opinion that likely none were as the perp(s) would probably make it a point to not leave that kind of evidence behind, but the answer to that question remains in the air.
I think the interviewer probably did have a list of "nuts and bolts" questions on hand. Those types of questions are useful to pull out general information and to get an interview subject back on track if they stray too long rehashing their feelings or go off topic.
It is possible that BJM herself introduced that information into the interview. I doubt she volunteered that info to the investigators but was likely asked by them during questioning.
I suspect she is still in shock and her mind might seize on seemingly random, but literal answers in an effort not to totally breakdown from overwhelming emotion.
As far as the emotional tenor of the article, it is what I would expect from this writer and this interview subject.
I think a "heart wrenching" impact might have been some of the writer's intent coupled with an effort to get more information into the public realm.
A difficult blend.
The reporter is one of two that I'm aware of who was invited inside by the family to attend the big funeral service. Obviously she has developed a degree of trust from some of the family.
More clarity on a few issues would be my preference, but I was tickled to see an article than offered a good amount of information.
I figure the writer has more material from her interviews -- she interviewed BJM's sister-in-law separately -- that she may or may not be able to use in any subsequent articles or contribute to articles that may be written by her colleagues.
For me, the biggest emotional takeaway from the article is the quantitative degree of trauma BJM experienced. I could hear qualitative in her voice and demeanor in the 911 call.
She's nowhere near out of the woods regarding the trauma. I suspect she's probably experiencing recurring terror that can be triggered easily.
My thinking is that BJM does know more than what has been indicated and likely may not have disclosed all she observed and experienced to investigators.
I would be surprised if she isn't still terrfied.
