Sorry for this post, working a gimpy keyboard.
1) Petty crimes, yes, but count me among those stunned this was his first serious crime.
2) The "how did he interact with her" -- definitely the million dollar question. Does seem like SM dropping in percentages. Just very odd.
3) Tying to other crimes. Groene was essentially a fully mature sociopath killer and I don't think this was spontaneous. The Petit case maybe closer but again more mature perp, very spontaneous, very psychotic. Short? Maybe closest but I'm not sure there's an analogue out there.
4) I would guess the planning was more than a week but this case is full of surprises.
5) If there is a SM angle it'll be indirect -- say via a friend showing something to him.
6) A lot of focus on JC's dancing -- what about the XCountry running?
7) Is there a book popular amongst his age group or apparent mindset with a kidnapping scenario like this?
When you mentioned books it made me think of the murderer Scott Dyleski.
It will be interesting to see if he had any books in his home or on some type of electronic device etc. and the subject matter he desired to read most.
When 16 year old Scott Dyleski murdered Pam Vitale by bludgeoning her 39 times murdering her in cold blood they found several books about serial killers which he thought of as heroes and role models.
He had never even met or talked with Pamela before her brutal murder. His goal was to murder someone and she became his target. She lived high up on a hill in a lovely home and he lived down in the valley.
Yet out of the blue he stealthily made his way to her home. He had been watching their home by hiding in the woods and knew her husband had left for work.
His murder was brutal of a woman he had never known yet he was popular in his high school and quite intelligent.
It just shows no one really knows what is in the mind of others or what they may be plotting and planning and then carrying it out without any warning. In fact it was learned Pam's husband had been gracious enough to do free pro bono work for Dyleski's..mother. yet this is how he repaid the kindness shown to his family.
Some of the most brutal murders/rapes.. even gang rapes against their abducted victims I've read about have been carried out by young people. Some weren't even in their teens yet.
What has stuck with me the most is their flat affect when caught and most all showed no remorse and some have been interviewed years later and they still have no remorse or regret for the horrible violence they have inflicted on totally innocent victims.
I wouldnt be surprised if JP exhibits no emotions and has a flat affect tomorrow for many of these kind of young criminals never do show remorse for they arent remorseful.
The only emotions they may show will only be for themselves knowing they have been caught and their violence will not be able to continue.
The books I've read about young killers and other violent acts they have done and what they were/are capable of doing to others haunts me to this day.
Imo