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First, I agree that Ricci might have been muddy when at Moul's on June 8 b/c he'd gotten muddy at work--considering the type of work. But he wouldn't have gotten his jeep muddy at work, b/c I remember Mr. Mitchell said on TV that Ricci's job description was for work only at the nursery location, not out in the field or on errands.

I also agree with your assertion that the police must know of some time/opportunity when the large mileage could have been racked up, or they wouldn't have kept after Ricci for an explanation--they would have looked for some other possibility, presumably. You know, in spite of his day job, it's not unheard of for a guy who's done burglaries in the past to be going out at night. I guess he wouldn't get much sleep, but then he could have been "speeding" or whatever. That's strictly conjecture, of course.

What you said about the police being suspicious as to why he wouldn't know his own jeep was missing, and why he or his wife didn't seem to complain to Neth's about this "borrowing," is also accurate, IMO. Angela's and Richard's previous apparent lack of curiosity about the jeep absence is a red flag. The police could be expected to notice such flagrant absurdities.

I almost think the bit with the "stolen/lost keys" is not worth wasting time on, but some people buy it. I consider you rational for questioning it, though, considering that it just doesn't make sense that a guy would steal the keys in April, and know all about exactly when the jeep was in the shop in May-June. Seems this key-thief acquaintance would find it much easier to take the jeep from Richard's workplace or home or whatever.

Yes, if he had a place where he hid the jeep, chances are that's also a place Elizabeth was--if Ricci did it. How many great hiding places can one man have? So, back to the white mud...

I didn't think it was likely that a friend could have borrowed Rick's jeep and then used it for a crime, but now I do think it possible. In the caper where Ricci was convicted of receiving stolen food from the food bank, it was said he'd received this stolen food as a payment b/c the friend who stole it had borrowed Rick's vehicle to do the theft (or burglary.)

Sandude, a word about Ricci's failure to ever explain to the police where the jeep was, and what we should make of that, IMO.

In spite of our suspicions of Ricci, it is plausible that he steadfastly refused to clear up the jeep-whereabouts matter for a reason other than that he was involved in Elizabeth's abduction. Ricci already knew he was going back to serve the sentence he'd been paroled on. (The one where he'd been granted parole in Sept. 2000.) He'd also have known about at least some of the possible new charges coming down: bank robbery, Adams burglary, Smart theft.

The police offered him immunity for crimes committed during the time the jeep was missing, if he'd just say where it was. It is possible that he'd committed no crimes while the jeep was missing, so maybe he and his attorney didn't think it worthwhile to offer this valuable info (valuable info=the details of the jeep's whereabouts) until they could get something real in return. If he trades info for immunity from crimes, but he knows there were no crimes, what has he gained? Immunity from prosecution for his activities during a period during which he committed no crimes is not much.

He and his lawyer knew he had something of value that the police wanted. Why not save that something of value to trade for something that was of value to Ricci? Why not wait till the prosecution of the bank robbery, etc., was in full swing, and then offer his valuable info of telling the whereabouts of the jeep. At that point, law enforcement would finally have something of value to HIM: possible lenient sentencing on the new charges.

Above all, Ricci didn't have to tell the police anything--and his silence and refusal to tell them anything could NEVER be used against him in any criminal court proceeding whatsoever. It was up to him and his lawyer to get as much value for his "currency" as possible. As with the stock market, sometimes you have to wait in order to get the most possible gain.

About the possibility of their transferring a body, I'd think they'd have sought to make it so they had to transfer the body as few times as possible, b/c of course every time they moved it, they were taking a huge risk.

Yes, if he had a place where he hid the jeep, chances are that's also a place Elizabeth was--if Ricci did it. How many great hiding places can one man have? So, back to the white mud...

I didn't think it was likely that a friend could have borrowed Rick's jeep and then used it for a crime, but now I do think it possible. In the caper where Ricci was convicted of receiving stolen food from the food bank, it was said he'd received this stolen food as a payment b/c the friend who stole it had borrowed Rick's vehicle to do the theft (or burglary.)

Now your thinking. Now think, were would you hid a jeep for awhile when you get that, youll be on the same track I am. Also the miles. I did a road trip one day with my slueth close on and I rack up 580 miles and I didnt go anywhere outside of the wasatch area.