True, and I believe she's dead too, but do I know for sure? No.
I believe that LE believes she is dead too, but if they knew for sure that she was, and that he was responsible, he would be facing Murder charges, and not Felony Kidnapping charges.
Morning Rocky!
Maybe or maybe not.
I respectfully say no they wouldnt based on many prior abduction missing body murder cases in particular... although LE in cases where the victim is found LE is also using this same strategy to arrest the suspect on other charges first.
The same thing happened as in Linda's. LE at first arrested the suspect on other charges. Felony kidnapping is a very serious felony charge itself.
Meanwhile the suspect is held on those charges while the ongoing investigation continues, including trying to locate the victim's body.
Finding the body is their top priority now for two reasons. LE always strives to locate any missing victim's body because they sincerely do want the families to have some semblance of peace knowing they can be given a proper burial where they can rest in peace. Contrary to some beliefs LE does care deeply about the victims, and their shattered families.
Then of course the location of the remains is very important to the investigation itself because of what evidence the body itself may yield or what may be found in the area of the disposal site.
It's become pretty commonplace now for the murder suspect to be charged with other offenses first. Imo, it's actually a good strategy for it allows time for the murder investigation to continue whether it's trying to locate the remains or building a solid circumstantial evidence case to arrest them for murder.
Imo, they used the word 'harmed' out of respect for Linda's family plus they do not, and will not ever divulge the evidence they already have showing them this to be true, and to what degree of severity.
However its painfully obvious the evidence they already have is why they are searching areas that would be a recovery instead of rescue mission.
We've seen these same things play out sadly in other missing body murder cases.
Imo, they will charge him with first degree murder.
It's not a matter of IF it will happen, but WHEN. There is simply no need to do so at this time nor any need to rush since as you know murder charges have no statute of limitations.
LE will carefully continue to compile all of the powerful CE together to ensure a first degree murder charge can be proven BARD just like other LE jurisdictions have done in the past when they have had missing body murder cases.
Imo, So with or without finding Linda's body he will be charged with first degree murder.
In fact at the moment I can't recall one missing body murder case in the past 5 or 10 years or even longer where a DA wasn't sucessful in getting a conviction of first degree murder even when the victim's body was never located.
Times have changed. No longer do juries fall for the tired often used line that the victim is alive, and could walk through the door at any time.
CE is powerful evidence even more so at times than direct eye witness testimony which can be faulty. DE cases are successfully appealed more often than CE cases which are the least likely to be overturned on appeal.
Justice is coming for Linda, and her grieving family. The wheels of justice are turning. It just takes time, but it's coming, and the offender knows it too, imo.
Jmho