What I have maintained is that, without evidence (and, presumably, you will admit that we posters have little evidence), planting ideas of guilt regarding Richard as the kidnapper (with Angela as an accomplice), is a rather shallow and mean-spirited pursuit.
There is every reason to believe that plenty of dumb mistakes have been made by LE. Therefore, it is difficult to think anyone would "give them a pass" on what they have related as being Ricci's involvement....alas, if only that dreadful Richard would have spoken up before he died, because now we can't solve this case. /end sarcasm
At best, much of what has been fed to us from the beginning by LE, the Smarts, and media is often contradictory and/or misleading. More than three months later, nothing they have done or said has zeroed in on who the kidnapper is, and/or where to find Elizabeth!
That is everyone's goal isn't it? Well, maybe not.
Sincerity becomes an issue when one looks back. If LE & the Smarts believed the public could help locate/recognize Elizabeth's abductor through media, there was every reason to publish a composite sketch - whether Mary Katherine saw his face or not....his general stature, clothing, a description of his walk, was he left or right-handed, etc. And we're still waiting.
Ed Smart says he feels his daughter is still alive. So do I. Why? For the simple reasons stated above, and that tells me he knows very well who the abductor is. And it wasn't Ricci!