Hi everyone,
Just wanted to give my input.
When I first came across this case I was 100% sure the SD was responsible, his story doesn't add up and as far as we know he was the last person to see her. However digging further I began to doubt this as some aspects of his story can be explained and don't seem that strange in hindsight. But having read through all the threads here, I think I've reverted back to my original thought that he is indeed responsible.
A few points:
- His cell phone pinging off a tower near his home when he sent the text to LS saying he had "just dropped [Katelin] off at the airport" isn't odd to me. If you think about it, it doesn't mean he literally just dropped her off the moment he sent that text. He could have dropped her off (though we know now he dropped her off at the mall, supposedly), decided to make the lengthy journey back and then send the text to LS saying he had "just" dropped her off. I can imagine doing this myself.
- Not being seen dropping her off by the cameras at the mall isn't that strange when you consider that there were only two (I think? Not many, anyway) covering the entire mall. What are the chances he'd happen to drop her off right in front of one of them? It doesn't mean he never did.
- If Katelin had decided during the car journey that, since she had so much time to spare before her flight, she'd hang around in the mall then make her way to the airport via the metro, then SD not telling LS this isn't all that strange either. Maybe Katelin just told him to say he had dropped her off at the airport to avoid the hassle of having to explain why she was at the mall instead. This also doesn't mean she intended to buy anything, it's just something to do to pass the time and, again, I could see myself doing this rather than hang around in an airport for x number of hours.
- Was this couple she had the threesome with (who had apparently forced themselves on her) looked into more? I think they may have some involvement. From what I've read, they were cleared simply because they were "very honest" and "cooperative" with LE. This doesn't mean anything and should not be enough to clear someone. Guilty parties tend to act this way to seem helpful and less suspicious, in addition to wanting to keep on top of where LE are with the case.
- Continuing from the last point, I have to wonder if Katelin had been in touch with them during the car journey and agreed to meet them at this mall to discuss what happened. Maybe things got out of hand and she was (accidentally?) killed, and this couple used her phone to text LS and AR, as well as dump her luggage by the side of the road on their way back. I am aware this is probably a loose theory and the SD is certainly more suspicious, but has anyone looked at the case from this angle before?
- Further points about the SD: not taking the polygraph isn't too suspect to me. After all polygraphs are not admissible in court for a reason and nowadays it is wise to avoid taking one. Not allowing access to his phone is a little strange but at the same time, it could be more for privacy reasons.
- SD didn't go to work that day but also never went back. Do we know if he actually quit himself or did the company fire him?
Don't get me wrong, I think SD is guilty but not everything about his version of events is suspicious, to me at least.