The presser had some very good psychological strategies.
First, the aunt not " asking" the perp. to " return Jayme" but for Jayme to know they're waiting on her to go shopping, and have some of her favorite things ready for her, the Starbucks drink and her sweet, well- behaved dog, named Molly.
What they did was NOT to give the abductor the POWER. Not to ASK for anything is a slightly neutral position but it's also a position of strength because of their bonds to her. If she should be alive at this point and see the presser, this should impart HOPE and STRENGTH to her personally.
Next, the DOG was there for EVERY ONE who will see the press conference.
There's a new " empathy' study going around. It asks: If you could only save one, which of these would you rescue: A young woman, an older woman, a child, or a dog.
Thankfully, the results are pretty well split right now but dogs are NOT on the bottom of the results.
Humans react strongly positively to sweet cuddly dogs, and the fact that this one belongs to a missing little girl has huge emotional appeal. Yeah, I cried too, without shame but with great grief. I love my dogs more than most people I've loved. The dogs never let me down, hurt me, or lied to me.
One last thing: The presence of the DOG makes Jayme more of a CHILD victim than an " almost adult' teen victim. This could have deep psychological ramifications for people around the abductor or abductors.. Could help get friends or family to turn on him or them.