But for the parents' negligence, they never would have been in trunk in the first place. And I can see how the police, having been told the parents had searches for hours before calling them, could jump to the conclusion the kids were no longer in the immediate area.
I am not trying to absolve the police of fault entirely here. This tragedy is big enough to share lots of blame and I have no idea why someobody did not think to pop that trunk. But I still think you have to look at the parents in the first instance and I still wonder how long they were in that trunk before anyone started looking.
The officer comes back and tells you the car was searched but no clues were found.
And then you find out that he did not even look in the trunk.
What would you have to say to the officer?
"Hey, don't feel bad. You gave it the ol' college try. At least the parents can't sue us. Come on... I'll buy you a dough-nut."