Some random thoughts:
1) There are new rapid DNA testing technologies available to LE. I would not be surprised if the FBI or a vendor has made this available in this case if needed
2) Some LE have been using comprehensive, but targeted, court-ordered cell phone location record dumps from Google to ID specific phones in an area at a given time. You still need a suspect, though, generally, to tie the phone information to. If this is being used in this case I'd think they'd keep it very quiet.
(
To find suspects, police quietly turn to Google)
3) As mentioned by others, commercial vendors allow comparison of DNA samples to commercial DNA databases which has proved effective in various recent cold case breaks
4) Scaling down the investigation team is both a practical (fewer new tips) and financial (the OT costs are enormous)
5) Meth is a significant problem in this part of the country
What happened?
1A) <modsnip: No MSM to substantiate>
1B) What I like nearly as well is someone known to the family was discovered showing an unhealthy interest in Jayme and acted to stop from being exposed.
2) Various stalker scenarios
3) Some kind of personal money/dispute/other issue toward the parents
After that we drop off in the odds of other scenarios(IMHO).
Random? Why would dad open the door to a stranger? Could have been rushing to investigate I suppose makes the most sense in this scenario. I don't like it much.
The B&E panty snatcher is an odd event. Even though he was cleared, I would have kept him under surveillance for several days after in case he was a lackey.
The truck parking question? Likely not unusual, but what if he parked there because a known vehicle was already in the driveway so that person could easily leave?
My "novel" scenario is that someone who's done similar crimes in the past has been triggered to act again (the similarities to the Short case, for example, are intriguing). A far-fetched, fantastic scenario to be sure.
I do think the person(s) who did this will have a record of at least armed robbery if not murder.
I wish the timeline was more clear. I'm still not 100% sure of when the shots were heard or if they were near the beginning or end of the event.
As far as the wrong house thoughts, maps and addressing is kind of my gig. Hitting the wrong house due to a mapping error is possible and the road naming in that area (and much of Wisconsin and rural USA, tbh) can be confusing. But, in the most likely scenarios, there would be no mistake on the location of the house.
All submitted as IMHO and hope I didn't step on any toes - not my intention, just so many posts.
What a case. I sure hope Jayme is found soon.