FBI lab was being used at the time, They can identify type, manufacture and size of any shoe print. They have NO reason to lie and probably released the information so an innocent person would come forward claim and clarify.
Some how they trace the smoke bombs to Wheeler, maybe receipts...Maybe on his card that someone else used. OTOH he may have purchased some for his own use if rodents are a problem in the area and others (the contractor or one of his employees purchased the ones in the house) It is unlikely he purchased them on his way home on the 28th. Fire dept was called at 11:00 PM that night.
He had worked in DC that day and had reservations for the train to bring him home...Where would he have gotten the smoke bombs that night? He wasn't driving his own car, so unlikely he'd just stop in at a hardware.
Therefore, Don't think he did the exterminating in the construction house either.
We don't have evidence in front of you, the FBI and Police do.
The News article I've read have quoted police reports or individuals....They are trying to keep his death in the news, so others will come forward and it won't end up an unsolved case. Police often use the news to stir the pot, keeping some information to themselves....Not even his wife would be told some information...BUT she would be expected to tell every detail of anything she knows.
As my son travels the world it is not unusual to be out of range and unable to communicate for days at a time. If I didn't have my cell phone or access to the house phone, I'd never call him. His number is just 2 on automatic
Obviously you have no newspaper person in the family or as a friend or you would recognize what they are doing...a public service working with the police...Maybe even planting a couple of things to see if a suspect reacts..
He said he was robbed, but he didn't say where or when. Since even the pharmacist said his behavior was not normal, it very easily could have been before he spoke with him.
John only gave us clues...In the Lawyer office on the 30th he said he wanted to go north.....NORTH? what's north? He might have said North if he thought he was in DC...But he wasn't. He was confused.
A fractured skull produces confusion and red eyes....And as we've heard in the recent AZ situation. A head injury swells for two-ten days after being received making the condition worse.
It is possible that he died from the head injury and someone because of the location of death, and their own position or problems didn't want to be tied to a dead body.
If there is a rodent or insect problem, any new construction will stir them up even more. It might prove useful to ask around the neighborhood if others were having an increase in the problem.