I think it's that in a nutshell. But in a way I can't blame the locals. I saw a post once (I do not remember where, maybe here on WS but I don't recall) where some locals (at a Kangaroo or Spinners??) were discussing RC just before he was due in court, possibly for arraignment but maybe it was at the time of his entering a plea. The group of locals were all pretty much in agreement that RC would once again slither through the cracks of justice. Some thought he would get a shorter sentence than he should (which did in fact turn out to be the case). Others thought he might skate completely.
My point is I do believe locals have gossiped amongst themselves, the kind of gossip that is common in smaller communities, the kind that stays local because it usually doesn't matter to outsiders.
But even though RC's neighbors and others in the community who knew him had his number all along...few if any spoke out beyond the local gossip about him, his antics, or justice for Haleigh. I read in a news article (grain of salt, of course) that LE had asked neighbors to remain quiet about the case, and for some reason they agreed. If such a crime occurred where I live townsfolk might have agreed initially to stay mum if asked to by LE, but would have become quite outspoken indeed if they saw an allegedly grieving father carry on like Ron did over the days, weeks and months following Haleigh's demise.
Satsuma and surrounding area seems a bit too content, IMO, with the knowledge that there will not be justice for Haleigh. Most likely they are not happy about it, yet they will take no action to change things. If neighbors could look the other way at how Haleigh lived, they probably feel OK looking the other way at how she died.
