I don’t know.... a neighbor by the worksite, then BM’s employee (MG), both hearing a noise at night (machinery & his truck running) that suddenly stops or is gone when they go to look, sounds a bit unbelievable to me when I really think about it. IMO
Really? People are so highly adrenalized during a crime event, it sounds quite typical. In fact, I've been struck over the years by the number of perps who are caught within a couple of days of their crime who then proceed to fall asleep in the patrol car or in the jail cell or the interrogating room, having not slept at all since the crime.
This isn't just true of crimes. Women in labor, unable to sleep for 2-3 days, can be almost manic in their attempts to do things (although they usually demand someone else do the driving!)
My SiL has a job where he's often called out in the middle of the night and then works for up to 36 hours without sleep (and it's a safety related job, he's the safety manager for an industry that involves flammable liquids). He seems completely normal the whole time, and then goes right back to his usual 5 hours a night of sleep.
Doctors work 24 hour shifts and then do clinical hours before going home. Residents and interns work longer shifts than that. Nurses commute 1-2 hours, work 12, then commute 1-2 hours home here in SoCal.
For a really terrible story about crime, sleeplessness and long distance trucking, read that book on Jesperson. (Actually - probably don't read it, it's nightmare-inducing).
I think it’s possible the news of SM disappearance freaked them out and they started to overthink noises/events. Again, they suddenly stop when they go to look? IMO
I agree with your first sentence, for sure.
But, whether the machinery noise was crime-related or just...some careless construction worker trying to fiddle with machinery, a normal person would stop the noise if they saw a porch light go on or a house light go on - because noise complaints are real. And neighborly relations are important. If crime related, obviously the machine-user would try to evade detection.
Every once in a while, a loud car (either music or more often muffler) stops in front of our house and the instant I look out the window, they'll take off. At night, merely switching on the porch light makes them leave. I always assume they're up to no good.
I wish the guys with leaf blowers would shut them off when I go outside.