I believe this young man had an unhealthy attachment to JPW, kept it hidden from others, possibly even led her to believe it was a relationship of some sort, possibly over some period of time. I believe he lured her out consensually, and the violence occurred when she was no longer compliant and he panicked. A pattern is beginning to emerge (two incidents is a pattern, is it not?) of age-inappropriate relationships, and this might have been his dark secret. Perhaps he had trouble relating to peers his own age, and found himself drawn to the younger ones.
I also believe that his reactions at the home and during interrogation were symptoms of the same disorder, i.e., not an act. I believe they were the result of knowing that the people looking him in the eye knew or suspected his deep dark secret, and he felt extreme shame and remorse and could not face them.
I don't believe there was any planning whatsoever to this. I believe this was impulsive, something that started out as one thing and somehow crossed a line and he saw no other way out. I think everything from that point until the time of his apprehension and interrogation, including walking around at the vigil with a candle in his hand, was pure panic mode, with his mind racing trying to figure out what to do next and being unable to find a solution. Meanwhile the results of the sloppy panicked disposal catch up to him. Panic at the quick and heavy response to the MHP, panic at the quick visit to the home, panic at the quick roundup of DNA swabs. Even an adult, having watched decades of Law and Order, would not be accustomed to things moving as quickly as they did. Cops aren't THAT smart, right? Wrong. Nothing motivates cops faster than a missing child and a small, isolated PLS (place last seen).
****** GRAPHIC POST WARNING---SCROLL + ROLL IF NOT INTERESTED **************
I agee with some of what you indicated. Especially the impulsive part.
IMO, I think some of us are giving this kid way too much credit as far as planning, grooming the child for years,
being a previous victim of child abuse, elaborate coverup, etc. etc.
I dont think he planned on killing her at all.
I think this punk just finally acted out a sick fantasy he had for a long time about having sex with her. I do think his meds probably contributed to his sick thoughts as we know the types of medicines he was taking can alter thinking.
But I think since this kid knew the girl for so long that he probably had fleeting thoughts at times about being deviant with her and this 1 day, he just was being a bully punk and he may have even thought he could talk her into not telling anyone.
Once he got her to whereever he was going to force himself on her, things took a much more horrible turn because he probably didnt realize at first how bad he was hurting her internally because he probably just ignored her crying and blocked it out. The poor girl was horrified and in shock and that maybe she didnt scream out as loud as we would think she would or the punk just blocked it out.
Its even possible that he killed her during the sexual attack because she would not cooperate. Im not convinced it was after sex because the poor girl was most likely fighting and struggling. In any event, once he tried to kill her by strangulation, she would not die. Its not like in the movies with strangulation and I have heard on documentaries that it is much more difficult than anyone realizes. So he switched methods and just bashed her head in. He truly became a monster during this.
Then he just hides her body in the swampy area that he knew was there. I am thinking the rape/murder could have either been right there in swampy area or in the van and he waited till dark to take her there.
He then comes home and tries to do some minimal hiding of the clothes and other amateur coverup attempt.
He goes to the candle light service because he was paranoid.
Anyway, just so glad LE caught him and I am praying for the girls family. I hope this boy gets the proper punishment as far as prison time because this crime deserves nothing less than the maximum punishment.