Sorry, PhychoMom . . . With all respect for your professional opinion about SMD's demeanor on camera, I think you are neglecting to consider one of the most important questions here. WHY is he doing the interview at all?
How many of LG's law school friends, including those who looked for her Wed. night and went to the MPD with SMD on Thursday, consented to an interview? Zero. Why is that?
Several reasons: they are personally upset about the disappearance of their friend LG; and (later) even more upset about her death; and they consider this a personal loss. They want to be with and talk with their friends who knew LG, not to communicate with the public or explain things to a pushy reporter who did not know LG and is acting in a manner most of us would find offensive, wanting to record video of either anguish, maudlin sentimentality, or shock. Surely people don't want to display themselves to others at a time such as this.
After the friends are informed that LG has been killed, they realize that a crime has been committed and desire to cooperate fully with LE, but would think that media questions to them at this time are both intrusive and likely to not assist LE in solving the crime and arresting the perpetrator.
SMD, on the other hand, is moved to give all sorts of information in extreme detail. That is a defensible action, especially when he thinks LG is missing, but after he learns a body has been found, I think it indicates that he is making a terribly bad decision to attempt to sell the media on the alternative theories (snatched while running; hoodlums; BF) that he has thought through so many times in the past 5 days. He has rehearsed these facts and he wants to publish them, hence the continued interview after he regains his composure and returns from the ATT building.
He even remembers the name of the detective whose car in in front of the apts. He has been paying acute attention to all the details of the investigation, more than I think is normal.
More than anything else, though, the fact that he goes on camera repeatedly tells me he has a reason other than concern for Lauren Giddings.
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Bold sections by Sandstorm)
Thinman, you did a really good job describing how Lauren's friends would react to this tragedy. My family member was a good friend of Lauren; in fact, they were hanging out together at a downtown club on Friday night, June 24. They were running buddies as well.
My family member call to inform me that Lauren was missing on early Thurs morning, June 30. My FM was very worried and said, "please pray for Lauren's safety." BTW I do not get prayer request from this FM very often, so I knew this was a serious concern.
Then, within a few hours my FM called again to inform me that Lauren was found dead outside her apartment.
Let me tell you, my FM was in complete shock, disbelief, shaken, deeply hurt, and distressed. My FM could hardly make it through work. Actually, no work was done, rather those at work who also knew Lauren all met and talked among themselves. Then, as the details unfolded and the dismemberment was disclosed, my FM went into complete shutdown and did not want to talk about it at all.
My FM who had planned to go out of town to a concert for the July 4th weekend, canceled. FM informed me "I can't go out to a concert, partying and celebrating." FM informed me that staying home and staying busy with hobbies was a better choice at this time.
FM did gather with some other HHH at one of their houses downtown Macon, and they talked and told some funny and loving stories about Lauren. The meeting was in honor of Lauren and only lasted a couple of hours in the early evening on the July 4th weekend. The rest of the weekend for my FM was quiet with only another friend of Lauren's stopping by.
As you described:
Lauren's friends wanted privacy; they were badly shaken. I am very close to my FM, but when we talked, I had to think of other topics in an effort to help my FM maintain. And when I asked how are you doing, the reply was "I am trying to stay busy and not focus on it."
There is no way my FM would have talked to a reporter. Absolutely no way.
And you were right again, Lauren's friends were fully cooperative with LE: My FM was called in to the police station for a 45- 60 min interview with the FBI, as were many of Lauren's friends.
In summary, Thinman, your perception is right on: Those who were friends of Lauren would not go before a camera. Their hearts were and still are crushed at the loss of their friend.
They do not want to talk about it because it is toooooo painful. 
