I read an article where it said LE thought he had been there the whole time, and that the searching officer had made only a 'brief' search of the camper - later he swears to have looked into the compartment but still did not see Justin's body -- SyraKelly, do you think that's possible? I mean, could you lift the cover and not see a boy in that small space?
Another has current LE openly criticising the prior investigation, saying they'll look at it again "without rumour" playing a part.
I have to say it's very hard for me believe that any woman who cared about the welfare of that little boy would step into the shower right before he makes the walk alone down a long dirt road to the bus stop. She couldn't wait 10 minutes, to see him safely to his bus? Jeez!
But does neglect (and the way his dad never called LE regarding the case... ) equal insta-guilt for murder? I'm curious as to what other evidence the coroner's jury saw that had them believe the SM's guiilt.
One article has the mother's husband Russell Page saying that at at least he and Elaine never changed their names and moved away, suggesting therefore they are better people, and so on.
But let's say the step-mother and father --didn't-- kill Justin. Imagine what they would have had to cope with, from the people around them. Folk can be vicious to suspected child-killers, and if they really were grieving that would be the most awful thing to deal with on top of it. I can't see that as any solid indication of guilt, I'm afraid. The SM was the main focus of investigation and the only arrest made -- I'm not sure I wouldn't do the same, if that was me marked out by LE and the public as the sole, perpetual suspect of Justin's murder.
That said, of course there's every chance she did it. The shower thing says a lot. But for several reasons, I'm cautious about automatically assuming her guilt.
Why wasn't Justin with his mother, who called the police every single day? He was only five -- that seems strange to me, that her son wasn't with her, so very young. Not accusing, but it appears to me there was a lot more going on with that family than is said in the papers.