I don't think is was a local - but I do think it was someone who knew the girls or was connected to the girls - indirectly - as in thru one of their siblings, Aunts, Uncles etc. I don't think the killer(s) are living currently within a 30 mile radius of the crime scene.
Literally thousands of tips - most from locals and they didn't find the POI (who I think was either the only killer or an innocent passer-by). I would think at this point even locals who suddenly left the area, would get attention - the locals want this solved. Even the local criminals, it's making life very hard on the low-lifes, parolees and druggies - constantly being watched and questioned.
If this
killer is local, then chances are good he is NOT the POI, but is already on the radar with local LE and as soon as a case can be made (or any excuse for an arrest arises) they will grab him. No reason to put their cards on the table until the game is over - especially if they can easily keep tabs on him and his activities. Heck, maybe he isn't a violent criminal, maybe he is an unhinged nutcase who hates kids and drank too much that Sunday and lost it??
There is little honor among criminals - especially in the violent murders of children. I think if this had been a "group" or even 2 people, one may have talked, confided in someone or perhaps flipped on his partner. If not by now, they will eventually - within months I suspect. Same with "kids" - one or a group. Someone has or will soon talk or brag or confide in someone - and if it's kids, then the POI has NO connection and is a red herring of sorts (unintentional), he was there, but he didn't do it and doesn't know who did. THAT might throw off LE for a while - but even with that, I think the truth will break.
I lean toward the theory it was one man, probably the POI, with 2 guns. A solitary, quiet man un-connected except by the thinnest of threads, to one of the families, probably Taylor's. He isn't local, but he has visited the area a few times...may have even been to the Placker home once (with someone else) as part of a group of people - like for a party. Peter and Vicky don't know him and their family doesn't know him - he was merely a guest of a guest - or a casual friend of a friend of a friend . Un-remarkable and unremembered. I have no strong feeling on motive - it could have been as simple as he was in a bad mood - maybe lost his job recently. Maybe he was in the area to try to steal something and was unsuccessful - and mad. I think he is now in the wind, somewhere they do not know him but he is not out-of-place and he is on a motorcycle or in a nondescript car. He either blends in (as in an area with many NA's) or he no longer resembles the sketch, at least at a glance - he is careful to avoid any close scrutiny or drawing suspicion...for now anyway. He can be caught and he can be linked to the family if enough people are questioned and enough leads are followed to their end - someone does know him - they just haven't connected him to this crime....yet. Eventually LE will find him or he will let down his guard and do something that will get him arrested for something else.
The worst alternative is that it was a completely random thrill kill done by one person who was driving aimlessly in the country - an unknown party who has no connection at all to either girl or her family OR the area. Unless the killer himself is caught (perhaps for another crime) and there is ballistic evidence or DNA to match, this will probably remain unsolved.
I am hoping (praying) for ANYTHING but the last option.
My Opinion
