See, I don't find it so surprising that they haven't been found yet. I've driven a golf cart all around our little 40 acres of woods, looking for 8 full-size horses, and sometimes have real trouble finding them in the trees. And they aren't even hiding from me. At least I don't think they are, lol.
Now imagine someone in hundreds or thousands of wooded acres and highly motivated to hide. Able to reason and plan. Move around. And the news telling you where they have searched today.
I can imagine this guy snatching a phone away and tossing it, or throwing the lunch bag out of the car. But whether he is dragging her unwillingly along or knocked her out and is carrying her, I think he's going to be way too busy getting away to drop false clues. Just my opinion.