"drove off a California cliff..."
California is a long way away from Minnesota, isn't it?
they apparently were in panic mode for 3 days?
They never lived in Cali, but were driving there on a "jaunt," according to friends. More like they were on the lam in a neighboring state to hide from authorities investigating them for gross child abuse. Their concocted agenda was crumbling, and a moment on honesty led them to do what they "must" do. /sarc