How can you reach this conclusion based on what this new article states? The article states that Ed took the Jeep back after two days and that he allowed Rick to take possession of it after Rick showed that he would follow through with his end of the deal. No date is mentioned but it had to have been while Rick was still working for the Smarts which was many months before the abduction. And for your information DNA cannot be dated. Blood can be dated only if it is in it's liquid form.