I don't think you meant that to sound quite like it did (and maybe I'm being a bit touchy), so this is not directed at you; it's just my opinion and something I wish people would remember.
The Smarts don't owe us diddly squat. Please remember that things may not be as they seem on the surface. The police are obviously keeping a lot of information to themselves, understandably. The other day, I saw where Poised Woman and some others astutely pointed out how this could be a ransom situation, something I hadn't really thought of before. It would certainly put a whole a new interpretation on things we're seeing if there's a complex game of cat & mouse going on among the participants. If this is the case, the Smarts and the SLC police should be saying whatever they deem necessary to get Elizabeth home alive. The opinions and comfort level of people like us are irrelevant. I know most here would probably agree.
If it turns out the Smarts and/or some extended family members are somehow complicit in the "kidnapping," there will be plenty of time for us to sit around and demand explanations for their behavior and throw a public crucifixion party. I mean, it's not like FReepers can sit here and solve the case or anything, and idle speculation serves no useful purpose, IMHO.
The main thing that's bugging me at this point is whether the SLC police are total bumbling idiots (Did they really wait a week to view the hospital tape?!), or whether they're very good at their jobs and fooling all of us.
When people go on national TV, night after night, requesting that we give of our time to help them, they incur an ethical debt towards all who do so. That debt, at a minimum is to speak straight forwardly and honestly about why they need our help.
The main thing that's bugging me at this point is whether the SLC police are total bumbling idiots (Did they really wait a week to view the hospital tape?!), or whether they're very good at their jobs and fooling all of us.
I remember similar questions about the DC police in the Chandra case. It turned out that they were total bumbling idiots. I suspect the same to be the case here. I'd guess that you've seen the periodic stories about folks being refused jobs with various police departments because they were too intelligent for the job.