It's almost like they wanted it hijacked.
JMO
Agreeing with you WingsOverTX,
makes you wonder, right?
Another possible scenario:
1) VW attempts to spray paint the orange vehicle to a green color, prior to The Escape, but gives up for some reason unknown.
2) Within two hours of The Escape, VW parks vehicle in a
ridiculously conspicuous area of a Tennessee town. Unlocked. Their RV is around the corner, within walking distance. VW and CW drive off in their RV.
3)
Unsuspecting Car Thief, thinking its his lucky day, finds vehicle, jumps in, and rides happily away.
4) A short time later,
UCT hears about the alert, and the massive multi-state manhunt, ....and realizes that HE is in THE get-away vehicle of the NOTORIOUS prison escape in Alabama.
5)
UCT ....FREAKS OUT, and in panic-mode, abandons the vehicle in the middle of a local road, ..... of course, MAKING SURE TO LOCK THE DOOR, and then, runs home.
6) Vehicle impounded.
Everything else is so bizarre about this case, .... why not this wrinkle too?
LOL, MOO.