[Palladin]

This shows proximity of Smart House (top), Grandfather Francom's House (second to top), Dixon's Residence (second to bottom), Dixon's Ward House (bottom).

Credits to poster Aresin on Crime&Punishment Forum.

[Palladin]

As you can see on this map, while the Ward House of Dixon is 5 miles from the Smart home, the residence of Dixon is less than a mile from the Francom residence. It is not unlikely that Dixon, being a neighbor of the senior Francoms, may have stopped on to pay his respects when the elder Francom died. This may be the connection we have been looking for between the Francom funeral, and the disappearance of Elizabeth two days later.

It amazes me how those on the other thread try to make it appear as if Dixon were on the other side of the planet from the Smarts, when in reality he is a neighbor of the grandparents.

"A person trusted in the neighborhood or community". UH HUH!