I recall Ron, in particular, did just that, Pondering. He spoke to the media many, many times (local newspapers, local TV reporters, Nancy Grace shows, attorney videos, etc.) and said specifically TO Haleigh something to the effect of "I love you, baby, and I won't stop looking for you."
It was only after he was constantly and unremittingly criticized for saying this over & over, saying the wrong things, not saying the right things, saying too much, saying too little, his wording, how he dressed, the way he spoke, the way he held his mouth, the way he held his eyes, etc, etc, that he finally just gave up. I think he realized that he would be dammed for everything he did, so he retreated from public view. It was causing all the attention to be on him and so wasn't helping Haleigh.
I recall Crystal saying these same words also, at least once. "I won't stop looking for you."