I apologize for any loss of bolding and color.
First of all, the likelihood that Michelle's cell was pinging along Hoffner at 4:30 is greater than the likelihood that the Hummer leaving at 4:40 was Michelle's Hummer, altered, in my opinion.
But even if both of those are equal possibilities, what you've described in this scenario are
three events: (1) Someone comes and picks up the kids to take them to Rose Ave., (2) someone leaves with Michelle's cell phone, and (3) someone then leaves with Michelle's Hummer. Seems to me, the only way to reduce these to two events is to say that the person who picked up the kids also took the cell phone. So that would mean either
- Dale was the one to take the cell phone and kids to Rose by way of Hoffner in his vehicle, leaving the other individual to take the Hummer 10 or so minutes later
- The other individual took the kids to Rose by way of Hoffner, and Dale intrusted that person to also take Michelle's cell phone. Then Dale left with the Hummer 10 or so minutes later.
- A third person was involved. One picked up the kids and took them to Rose Ave. Another took the cell phone down Hoffner. The third took the Hummer 10 or so minutes later.
I'm not discounting any of these ideas, mind! I'm just feeling that it's not that simple and straightforward, given these three alternatives.