Thanks so much for providing practical information on this, RyeGuy. Yet, you know, in a way, your commentary also points to the fundamental absurdity of this case and the reason we all keep spinning like tops. If the point was to steal this vehicle and/or its engine, why on earth arrange to have its owner inside at the time. Why not just break into his garage when he wasn't home and steal the damn thing. For that matter, with the sort of mark up you're talking about, why not just buy it flat out and resell it overseas? Lack of money is hardly a prohibitive object in this case. All of that brings us back around to the idea that it wasn't the vehicle or its components we wanted, it was some manic urge to kill an innocent that descended on two or more people. But if that were the motive, why not go thrill kill some poor wasted homeless person that nobody, sadly, might ever get around to missing. Why choose a hale and hearty chap who might put up a fight and win, why go to his house, introduce yourself to his wife (or at least make sure she could identify you later) and why drive off with him - why not just meet up with him at a local parking lot and kidnap or kill him there? We bounce back and forth between the perpetrators here being greedy, immoral rich trash or crazy manic druggies. Something just feels like it's missing. Something right in front of us but we can't or won't see it. Frustrating. What in the name of heaven or hell happened on that horrible night?
