Terri (parents) hired a stellar, highly regarded, winning defense attorney who intimidated the decision makers. This was something like three-and-a-half weeks after the disappearance. Name was Houze or House or something like that.
IMO this highly influenced the prosecutor in regard to arrests.
The parents got their money's worth, moo.
ETA:
Stephen Houze page.
Take a look at his representative cases.
Review representative criminal defense cases handled by Houze Law Firm in Oregon’s most serious and high-profile matters.
www.shouze.com