In my mind it makes perfect sense that the women were allowed to collect their purses, cigarettes & lighters together because they were told that they would be allowed to return home later. That is also one of the reasons that the purses were never searched and the money never found. When it came time to go out the door the struggle began, the globe was broken and the purses were forgotten along with all of the other things left as they were. It makes logical sense and fits with the KISS principle.
I also find it hard to believe that Suzie was under the influence of any drugs that may have been given her at the parties by the perps, only to be seen driving the van a short time later by the porch lady. Feeling bad from drinking alcohol earlier in the evening perhaps, but not drugs.
Actually, I find nothing to disagree with. I have wondered the same thing. I've been thinking on two issues since I last posted and that is whether or not the perp(s) was/were there at the time the girls did or did not arrive (still and open question). I asked one of the reporters who worked this case if it were possible for two people to be in Sherrill's bedroom and the response I got was that the recollection was that it was quite small and only had enough room for the bed and dresser or chest of drawers. Of course that presents the problem of maintaining silence once the girls arrived; perhaps unexpectantly. If, in fact they arrived after the perp(s) were in the home it would have been crowded in Sherrill's bedroom. This seems to suggest that the perp(s) arrived after the girls arrived home since we have been led to believe they had prepared for bed and removed their make-up, etc. The two decade old question obviously remains unanswered. How did entry occur?
Where I am going with this is that it is altogether possible that Sherrill was in fact the intended target of a "sexual assault" by someone such as Cox. As to Cox, I've yet to come up with a good explanation of why he concocted a phony alibi although he had an alibi by his own parents if they actually knew him to be at home. But the truth of the matter is that he didn't even have to have an alibi at all since at that time he wasn't even on the police radar until the Zellers contacted the SPD some days after the women disappeared. As I recall, when he was finally contacted, he made an offhand comment that he expected they would be by to interrogate him which is an interesting comment since he had no reason to expect them if he had kept his nose clean after he was cut loose by the Florida Supremes.
From what we know of the published information no forensic evidence came to light in the residence that tied it to Cox but only the people known to be in the home that day. Of course if Cox had perfected his techniques it is possible that he had the foresight to wear head gear such as worn by hospital personnel and plastic coverings for his shoes, etc., to reduce the possibility of leaving DNA behind. Obviously he would know enough to remove any traces of fingerprints. In my opinion, this argues strongly in favor of the single perp theory and against multiple perp(s), all three of who had no business being in that house at any time, unless it turns out that one of the 20-30 or so people (accounts differ) were in fact the perp(s). Perfect strangers, such as Cox, could not possibly explain why his DNA would be there and such individuals as the others named in the grand jury wouldn't have had the good sense to know what to do about not leaving evidence behind.
In any event, since Cox has chosen to clam up for about 15 years (?) with another 15 to go before possible parole, I am inclined to think he singled out Sherrill Levitt because he had seen her in the neighborhood, stalked her and showed up intending only to take her. Had the girls not arrived it is altogether possible she would have been the only person taken and Suzie would not have known anything about Cox so it would have been safe to take only her with no concerns about Suzie. But since they did show up, it expanded into a triple abduction.
There are some unanswered questions which continue to puzzle me. Who was the person in the white van who canvassed the neighborhood just prior to the abductions and then disappeared? Was it merely a coincidence or deliberate? If the latter, it does not appear to be Cox. If deliberate then it might have been an entirely different sole perpetrator or a collaborator of Cox. And we have the matter of the "transient" seen in the neighborhood and out of place. As you know, I was aware of such a person fitting that description and that information was passed onto the SPD sometime into the investigation. Perhaps not coincidentally is that three reporters told me that there was some interest in such a person from the Neosho area although that may have been unimportant. I do know the FBI knew about that person as you do. He is now deceased as you discovered. It has occurred to me that it is altogether possible that this individual or someone like him may have been involved in other illegal activities which were unrelated to the abductions.
I do believe that the "Steve" mentioned in Cox's letters is intended only to refer to the "Steve" now incarcerated in Missouri's penal system. I know that can't be proven I am sufficiently satisfied it was him. This may be important for one other reason. That would be if "Steve" had ties to the Rogersville area which by most accounts/speculation is where the women were likely taken after they were taken.
The question which, if answered, would quickly solve this case is as I previously indicated if the Florida caller would come forward and reveal what "vital information" that the SPD believed (s)he held. I can speculate on who that was but it would not be productive speculation so I will not do so. I do, however, hope that (s)he will see fit to break silence so this case can quickly commence to a successful resolution. Perhaps (s)he will read this and do the right thing. One hopes so.
