Any cop with a brain is going call for an immediate search
of the area...not "babysit" the Ramseys while waiting for
a phone call. They were just plain stupid and gave the
perp the time he needed.
Supposedly, the house had been searched by two officers before Linda Arndt arrived at 8 am. And apparently no search was done with a parent in tow to ascertain that every possible hiding place was searched in such a large house.
Just sloppy work, no matter how it's sliced.
I wonder if the police thoroughly checked out the alibi of all 300 employees at his company in Boulder. From the ransom note, that would appear to be the first place to start looking.