[varina davis]

Heck, the police were probably happy to have the back-up.

Why would anyone possibly think that Liz and the alleged perpetrator would still be lolling around the neighborhood 2 to 3 hours after the deed was done? Makes no sense at all. It looks more and more like the "big search" was a big CYA.

[GovernmentShrinker]

They were looking for Elizabeth, not for the perpetrator, and they probably weren't at all sure that it wasn't some sort of sneaking out situation. Most of them probably didn't hear a lot of details before they ran out searching. If Elizabeth had been kidnapped to be raped, she would quite likely have still been around -- rape victims are often grabbed, taken to the nearest secluded spot, raped, and left there. Charlotte Hansen would still have been lying in her backyard 3-4 hours later, if someone hadn't heard her cries for help sooner (and doctors expressed some amazement that she was able to make the cries she did, given the colossal trauma to her face, head, and mouth).

[Jolly Green]

It looks more and more like the "big search" was a big CYA.

Only to you.