[Ken H]

The killer(s) also had to get past a couple of pitbulls that the family kept as pets. Cops would have shot them.

It had to be someone known to both the family and the dogs.

[eastforker]

Maybe not. I am thinking along the lines of LE wanting a bigger share of the profits under the threat of being busted for the drugs. Rhodens tell them they won’t and if they go down than LE is going down with them. To me it looks like all witnesses had to be eliminated or they were going to be exposed. This could have been easily planned by a couple of dishonest deputies.