BBM. I was one of those people admittedly. There just seemed something off about them. However, I was 14 at the time. Now that I am older I try and take everything as it comes because there really is no way to predict these situations. I could give dozens of explanations for the things people find weird in this case, and they could all still be wrong. We just have to hope the police investigate every single possible angle.
You are right. I think culture plays a part in how we process what we see as well.
Ed Smart is a bit stiff and maybe nerdy. He came across as fake to a lot of people around the country and so it makes sense that some would suspect him, whether 14 or 40! But to some in Utah, he did not seem odd at all.
I don't understand the 'men's voices' thing. If 2 perps were stealing a child at dawn, would they be talking loud enough for the neighbors to hear them? Especially with the father and 2 brothers and 2 dogs inside the home at the time.
Maybe she only thought they were normal voices, but maybe they were arguing or giving each other instructions. Also, they could have been on something and not aware how loud they were. They knew to not talk in the house, but out of it, they felt more relaxed?
I don't know. But I have been thinking about what I saw some poster write in comments at the end of an article about this case. If you have kids at home, buy those $5.00 window and door alarms. Make sure the batteries are always good and that they function. Turn them on every night. I use them and they work!