I really think this guy had planned all of this out very carefully before he went in. Surprisingly, I don't think he is an idiot like most offenders seem to be.
I think he carefully planned how he would set the house on fire. He didn't want to start the fire himself where the fire investigators would know it was arson. He wanted it to look like an accidental kitchen fire so that is why he left the stove on underneath the oil skillet. Kitchen fires are at the top for causes of fires in homes when someone left something cooking on the stove.
Also it is common knowledge that older mobile homes burnup very quickly. The chemicals in the older insulation/carpet/lumber were ignitors. Now they are made much safer and have to pass fire codes just like all site built homes. When I owned my real estate business I went to a class one time, and the instructor stated the older single wide had a burn rate of 8 minutes once started. The newer models have fire retardant materials.
Imo, he thought the home would catch fire once the oil began to sizzle hoping it would boil over and spread quickly. God was truly looking after this family. What a horrific loss that would have been on top of Diana being taken. I think he did this as a diversionary tactic and also none of them could ever tell the police his name and about what he had said to Diana.. It would buy him time because if the mobile home had burned to the ground it would take days or even a week or more to identify the bodies found inside of the home. Perhaps he even thought they would think Diana had burned up in the fire as well.
This guy is up to no good. My heart is breaking for little Diana who has to know by now what a monster he truly is. There is no other reason for taking this little girl that he flirted with. GAH!
When I posted the detailed study about abducted/kidnapped children the other day it stated the motive most all of the time was to do sexual assaults against the abducted child. I am afraid its going to hold true in this case too.
It continues to amazing me how bold pedophiles can be who have no qualms coming into a home in order to get their victims. It doesn't matter if the family has dogs, it doesn't matter if they know the family or are perfect strangers. They all will take the risk to get their intended victim/s, and so many times they are successful, and that is the scariest part of all. No one knows where or when the next pedophile will strike.
I am praying so hard that they find little Diana and bring her home to those who love her.