I did the math. My memory is the first arest on this was January 27 or 28. That would ordinarily mean the police would have been watching these folks for a while.
Did Westerfield get wind of impending arrest and was that his cause for snapping a few days later ? Is the info that is worse than a confession that he was part of this ring ? Is this why his girl friend left him ? Was this kept from the jury because its only alledged at this point ?
All speculation but the timing is curious.