I think what makes the most sense is the attack started before dad got home, and he interrupted. IMO.
Jayme’s grandfather, 72-year-old Robert Naiberg, said nothing seemed amiss at the family gathering that Jayme and her mother attended Sunday afternoon. He said Jayme’s father was at work at the time. James and Denise Closs were longtime employees at the Jennie-O Turkey Store in Barron, which has a hatchery and processing plant.
Wisconsin town on edge with search for missing teen, parents found shot to death
I can’t find any reliable news source for the timeline of James Closs’ shifts at the Jennie-O factory, but if he did get off late, and got home near the time of the murders and abduction, it might help understand the motive of the perpetrator better, since the perp may have thought there was just a mom and daughter at home.
If dad did walk up to the busted down door, the perp may have gone into a panic.
To explain the perp’s car, he might have parked away from the house and was stalking. IMO.