Wow. What a fascinating thread. I know I have not been as rigourous as I would like to be of late, in keeping up with all case related stuff. So apologies for arriving late! I will try to dig out links when I am feeling stronger, but for the moment I'll just make a few points!
At the very start wvn the wmpd were thinking they had found a dump site only. They also mentioned possible animal predation, including turtles, but then dissmissed the idea!
The luminol testing done did reveal a few patches that COULD be blood but no subsequent testing was done to confirm if it actually WAS BLOOD.
The checking of Veterans in the area was a direct result of FBI advice sought. The FBI were very firm in attempting to turn the wmpd away from the idea of a 'satanic' event. But the wmpd did make an effort to follow up on Vets in the area and they also took some of the ideas of questions for the door to door hunt for information.
8 year old boys do not have 'waists' in the way girls/women do. I cannot see any reason that jeans or trousers could NOT be taken off without unzipping and ending up inside out!
A skateboard was found. I seem to remember that it was thought not to be Chris' BUT that it was perfectly possible that another child, out skate-boarding, might have done a 'trade'. This child would most likely have been perfectly willing to swap back WITH Chris but unwilling and scared to come forward after the murders!
The description by a friend of Ryan's about Chris being punished and beaten originated in Mara Leveritt's book. It is also very likely that it has been discussed many a time on many forums over the years. What was very disquieting, considering it all these years later, is that Ms Leveritt made great efforts to dig up JMB's past history and yet little to none checking up on that of Terry Hobbs. As I have said before though, after the convictions most supporters felt the onus of the burdon of proof was on the convicted and their supporters, and that the only way was to create enough of an outrage that a killer had been left free. For that, a more believable scenario had to be presented that another specific person or persons were responsible. In so many ways we are still faced with the very same hurdle, however we now have much more evidence, circumstantial and hard, to draw on as well as the combined experience of the very many possible avenues explored.
Basular fractures of the skull can, and frequently do, cause a frothy accumulation of body fluids in the trachea and even the lungs. It could be argued that a person could 'drown' from this. Around 10% of 'drowning' cases are known as 'dry drowning' when the laryngeal spasm does not relax and no water enters the lungs, but neither does any air.
Binding each wrist to the ankle on the same side. This is a fact.
Using shoe laces to do it is also a fact.
As to purpose, we can only speculate and then decide for our selves which scenario makes the most sense...
Restraint or to discourage attempting to escape if consciousness regained?
Humiliation?
To facilitate the moving of the bodies, in his opinion, from 'A' to ditch?
Perp got bored and decided to practice knots to pass the time?
Can wounds 'bleed' after death and after rigor mortis has come and gone? Does death stop the blood clotting? I can understand wounds 'oozing', but bleeding, or was it just the water on the surface trickling away? Just like when washing a blood stain out of a piece of fabric?
There was something else, so memorable that I did not write it down!