They now have a suspect linked to two murders by his proximity & actions...no one cares if he’s guilty of murdering mannequins if they indict him for double homicide
Makes sense.
Bingo.
It isn’t about the mannequin. It’s about the other homicides.
The “crime” against the mannequin is nothing. The idea is to get blood, fingerprint, DNA evidence on this guy and possibly link it to the other murders.
Exactly, not to mention the murder weapon if the same hammer used to attack the mannequin was used to kill the other two homeless men.
I'd prosecute this guy for murder either way.