TV on? The blue light shining through the window would tell an intruder where someone was located in the house. Peeking in the windows, an intruder would know exactly where everyone was located.
Back door propped open to facilitate picking the lock. Precisely. Great point.
Why do they lock their doors, yet sleep in a tent? I don't think that is a fair question. They lock their house doors for the same reason we all lock our doors -so the kids can't get out of the house and so no one can get into the house.
The Father is adamant that he locked that door before he left to go to work and that it was difficult to lock, one needed to push hard on the door or the bolt would not slide closed. To me it sounds like he did this everyday before leaving work because it was too hard for GF to close.
I believe we are looking for a predator who has been in the house before and may have a set of keys. Former tenant? Friend of former tenant? Roomate of former tenant who is not listed on the lease? Landlord? Landlord's employees, if any? Neighbor of former tenant?
It is entirely possible that Haleigh (God Bring Her Home Alive. Amen) heard someone, saw the kitchen light on and went to see who she thought was Daddy, home from work. There is no reason to believe the child was actually taken from her bed in the room with the GF and Jr. We don't know.
I think what woke GF was the change in temperature of the house with the door wide open, although she does not realize it. The house got too cold or too hot, she started shedding bedcovers, or fumbling for more and it woke her enough to realize she needed to pee. Then, everything started falling in on her.
I have no reason whatsoever to suspect the father or the GF. I believe them both.
The bio-mom and her mother need to stop taking swipes at the father and GF. It serves no purpose.
The child did not leave the house by herself and wander away.
I was 17 once. I babysat kids and watched them like a hawk. They were in my care and never left my sight. 17 is not too young to be very responsible for the care of a 4 and 5 year old. This GF may be a very mature and responsible young lady, eager to take on the role of wife and mother. I am not all cheery that a 17 year old is shacked up with a grown man of 24, but since it is legal, I guess that is just my old fashioned opinion. Who knows she may have started out babysitting and it lead to other things.
As it stands now, I think this is an abduction.