After all these years of following the case it is so surreal to watch the video. I wish parts of it had been released at the beginning. I think the 2 seconds of non zoomed in/enhanced video of RA in real speed does a better job of showing his height, body frame, and true way of walking. Same with his voice.
When I first listened I thought Libby was nervously laughing in a " yes...omg this is crazy" way to Abby asking if he is right behind her on the bridge, but she makes similar exhale sounds later in the video. I think she is just mouth breathing and it's emphasized due to her breathing hard out of nerves.
The way Abby runs off the bridge is so sad. She is terrified.
It actually sounds to me more like Libby is the one saying "hi" or making a scared sound when RA says "guys."
I knew the girls were young, but hearing Libby's childlike voice is so so sad. I have a strong feeling all the path talk was her being polite and trying to be casual like their plan all along was to not recross the bridge....like she didn't want to embarrass him or herself if he wasn't following them with malicious intent.
This.
Many of us women have situations where our instinct was fear... hold your breath, make eye contact, AVOID eye contact, pretend you're on the phone.
Consider: Libby's dialogue was to neutralize danger, don't mind us, we're just waiting to crosls back over, we don't think you're dangerous (while being very afraid that he is)...
She
could havepretended to be on her phone... I've done that, I'll never know if it was effective or if my danger assessment was off... but if Libby had, it may or may not have deterred Richard Allen but would have cost her the phone and the recording with it. Pitched right into the river.
Scared as they were, they didn't KNOW how evil that man was going to be. Maybe he was going to be angry they'd crossed the bridge, angry if they trespassed
Who kidnaps TWO teenagers in broad daylight? They were afraid but IMO didn't necessarily know HOW afraid they needed to be. There was always the possibility they he wasn't after them at all (keeping in mind I don't know what he said or did when they passed by him earlier.
I think where adults really error, when saying how they would have reacted or how the girls should have reacted, is in applying hindsight, statistics/life experience.
There girls needed time TO react. To assess whether he was a real threat or just felt like one. Certain actions/reactions escalate.
...
In that period of understandable indecision, he overtook them.
Run? And your BFF is killed?
Not fair to second guess the impossible situation Richard Allen put them in.
JMO