These dichotomies trouble me greatly and to me, make no sense.
Mentally deranged enough to kill 2 people with extreme violence VS controlled enough to keep quiet about it for 7 years
Out of control murders VS careful concealment of remains
Crazed killing VS long-running, well planned financial fraud
These don't align at all.
Yet we know the facts to the right are correct.
So we have to question the facts on the left.
I think we are looking at a group, not an individual; planned executions not rage; prosaic motive, not emotionally complex motive.
I don't know any more than anyone else here about Holdom, but if the reports of his personality are true and he is really just an overgrown child, while he may well be involved, I can't see him being either the main protagonist of the murders or the person who has covered them up and mislead/misdirected people for 7 years.
Of course, it is always possible he is a criminal mastermind who has cunningly hidden behind the facade of a simpleton for 40 years, but I doubt it based on what we know of his lifestyle.
For those of us who study human nature, and I think a lot of us do cause that's why were here - trying to make some bloody sense of the evil in the world - we can look at the things we DO know about DH, that indicate IMO you may be right Jane.
1. He's itinerant, never stays in one place too long.
2. He lives in caravans, motels, at the houses of friends or family, both before and after his relationship with HP.
3. He hooks up with either very young women, or women with young kids. The relationships don't last.
4. He uses drugs.(IMO)
5. He appears nice and friendly to people.(neighbours)
6. He can charm women.
7. Was said to be psychologically messed up by the car accident in 2008.
7. He and HP fight a lot.
8. When arrested, does not want to appear on camera.
9. Works at odd jobs - labouring, landscaping, car detailing.
10. Has been on and off Centrelink benefits.
11. Had the card of a (dead) ex girlfriend in his wallet.
12. Was in Belanglo forest 14/15 December doing something - according to phone pings.
*i could put other things here, that the 'ex friend' has said but they may not be a truthful representation. I have tried to put things here that we know to be the truth,
or as close to the truth as we observers are allowed to get.
I too, am not thinking criminal mastermind. I am thinking disorganised, a bit of a no hoper ( NOT rich or POWERFUL) poor attachments, hides from things rather than faces them. Lies. Not very well educated, opportunistic, impulsive.
Is is it possible that such a person can be a killer? Yes indeed.
Given the right motivation and loss of control, perhaps.
But, to murder an innocent child, presumably, in cold blood. Thats evil.