Not necessarily a bad idea. If suspects don't know they're suspects, they're less likely to off the people who could testify against them. Somebody who would sexually assault and hang a 6 year old girl wouldn't hesitate to kill a someone who might testify against them at trial.
I see your point of view.
I also can understand the next door neighbors fear for her family.
We had a farm up here and the man living on the farm said police/detectives showed up on his property and said we are looking for a barrel with a body in it.
The farmer said they left with a barrel with a body in it but the police refused to tell the guy how the heck a body in the barrel got on his property or how they knew it was there.
The guy was really befuddled and we have not heard anymore on the story.
I find it sad that Mom didn’t appear to tuck her lil one in at night nor get her up in the morning.
Lil to independant for a lil six year old.
JMO but the killer must have known the lil one was not on a momma’s leash.