Regarding the possibility they were taken far
Here's a wild thought:
What if DM is telling the 100% truth about everything?
If he is, then, IMO, it begs the question why his partner of 3 years left him with their toddler in tow & cut off all contact & hasn't said boo about anything since the first few days after her 2 older children went missing "under his watch".
IMO, he "bleats too bitter", makes it all about him & how he did everything he could for those kids & MBM (he's a saint) & was the only one who could control them & is all alone now & doesn't know why he can't "see everybody", and his crocodile tears and demeanor since Day 1, seem to ring hollow.
IF he is innocent, he seems oblivious to how he comes off with his showboating & dogged certainty & proclamations the kids will not be found on his property, and is a victim of the worst circumstances with the worst luck coming down on him within the space of a few short days....
Losing track of his partner's 2 children he was such a good stepfather to & his partner leaving him for good out of the blue with his toddler.
IIRC, he doesn't have visitation rights with his 2 older children either, has issues with drugs, alcohol and/or managing his anger, and must be some kind of clueless/hapless "family man", for all his ex partners to treat him like a pariah and keep him away from them and their/his children.
We're not talking about a pillar of the community here, a well thought of dad just trying to do his best for the 5 kids he is/was responsible for.
He has admitted to taking all kinds of trainings "for CPS" since 2 of his custodial kids vanished to try and address his issues, including good parenting and child safety.
IF he's innocent, maybe he will turn his life around with the trainings, and due to all HIS family member losses, will finally wake up and smell the coffee that he has a long way to go in truly becoming a "good family man".
Instead of a man who does what he wants to in order to control his family situations, with at least some degree of neglect (& potential abuse, IMO) a big enough of a concern by CPS to have to visit the home, and offer him a slew of trainings AFTER the fact of their disapoearance.
It could be an uphill lifelong battle for him to improve his behaviors IF he wants to continue to be in relationships with women and children.
MOO