If there is a silver lining at all, it's that maybe the delay in finding Richard Allen led to the exhaustive search which led to wider investigations of the ugly underbelly of other predators.
Not only did Richard Allen hide in plain sight but so, in many ways, so did the tip, with the ACTION ITEM incorrectly filed. Find the group of girls. Once identified, IMO the tip got buried. "Lead cleared." Tragically burying the true lead -- the lone male on the bridge at the exact time Abby and Libby were abducted and then murdered.
Worst, time created a vacuum under which social media and eventually the defense -- and defense-adjacent social influencers -- constructed conspiracies without foundations, making a frenzied spectacle which FRANKSLY overshadowed the real victims in this case. Two precious, unrepeatable bright lights who provided the definitive clues to their own murders, having the incredible presence of mind to film their abduction, and as a team, keep the phone hidden from the captor, even as they were being slaughtered.
Looking forward to soon forgetting his name entirely.
But never theirs.
Forever Abby and Libby.
JMO