For all of the theorizing and speculation that's rampant, that really is the simple key fact. Like air, it sails right by.
The worst type of sinner (and brazen to boot) disappears off the face of the earth while standing in plain sight and locked up so he goes nowhere, and yet nobody knows or sees a thing.
translation: strange things are afoot at the Circle K.
Might as well add "phone booth" onto the list of egress possibilities!