Soul, I have to believe that is the case...from what SM would have been able to testify to directly, combined with the circumstantial evidence of the tarps and trash bags purchased, combined with the blood in the home and the fact that there had been no bank or cell phone activity or any sightings of the missing, I think even without the bodies there may have been enough for a successful prosecution. Given what SM's testimony likely will be/would have been I can't imagine a plausible defense theory as to someone else being responsible. The only possible defense would be one of insanity, but given the amount of thought and effort that went into the moving of vehicles, and the hiding of the bodies, I don't think it would have held up anyway. Even if he is clinically mentally ill, it sounds like from a legal perspective he was aware of what he was doing, that it was wrong, and that he went to great lengths to conceal his crimes.