This idiot reporter never tells us about Thompson's injuries, never tells us if she was dehydrated to death and never has a glimmer that somebody else killed her. The D.A. is not far ahead of the reporter in intelligence. Between the two of them, they don't add up to the brains of a chicken.
Chickens are way smarter than that. When they see other chickens getting killed, they know enough to be afraid, even before anyone reaches for their neck.