Go back & listen to their comments to the kidnapper - like, as another freeper said, talking to a child. They know who it is!
While it's possible that your conclusions here are on the mark, I will respectfully disagree. I think if LE knew that Ricci was not involved they would make an announcement clearing him. If his lawyer felt that Rick had answered all of LE's questions satisfactorily then he would be holding news conferences blasting the police for not exonerating his client. For these reasons I believe that LE still believes that Ricci was somehow involved in this. Just because we can't prove anything about the Jeep doesn't mean it is off the hook. As far as I know it is still in the possession of LE. Why would they hang on to it if they weren't still suspicious? I may be giving LE too much credit but until they announce that Rick is no longer of interest to them in this case then I'm going to keep on suspecting him as having involvement.
The details that have come to light in the last few days also point to a possible Ricci connection. MK recognized the voice of the perp. This is a significant revelation which may have been leaked by the Smarts without LE's blessing. It doesn't mean that voice was Rick's but it doesn't clear him either. It does clear many other people. It is tough to piece this thing together when we are missing so many of the puzzle parts. Your speculation is valuable as is my humble criticism of it. Let's hope that more information will come forth and that this case can have a happy resolution.
This is the kind of back & forth discussion we need. Thank you.
As I've speculated in prior posts, I don't think that's necessarily so, if they're trying to make a possible (as yet unnamed) abductor feel less threatened.