That's what is so confounding. NEITHER scenario makes any sense to me. I would think there is footage, or maybe even reliable witnesses somewhere a long the way. I hope so, for the sake of the investigation.
Who did she see in Helena and what did she do there? That's where to start. Nothing suspicious about it, but while I was trying to find her relatives in Helena I clicked on The Jesters site which is apparently a favorite bar in Helena and from a while back (maybe a few years) there was a photo and comments by her sisters and Rita celebrating what would have been their deceased Dad's birthday. The local Helena sister was there and the others were commenting from their respective homes. No idea if she may have visited there when she was in Helena recently. JMO