I cannot stop thinking about the frustration of the information that LE could be holding back from the general public, and even family. I did some research and found this paragraph particularly helpful in learning what can be held back:
...hold-back can be information or detail regarding the modus operandi of the killer, the clothing worn by the victim, the manner of killing, nature of injuries, autopsy results or any other minute detail.
There are probably many things being held-back from family, as well, in order to maintain the integrity of the case. And it truly is frustrating for everyone, but it serves a purpose. What if there are more than small cuts - there would only be the perp(s) who could know that, so if they finally come forward and confess (here's hoping) LE will know FOR CERTAIN that their statement is legitimate. So yes, frustrating for family - and us - but so necessary.
I personally cannot stop having bad dreams about this case because Cheryl is so much like me - we even live in the same area. It's as if I've suddenly realized that the world works in an entirely different way than I thought it did all of these years. That's why I joined WebSleuths.
Now, some thoughts that are my own regarding Cheryl's investigation. I honestly don't think that her ID badge being at home under some clothing is "off", or something to spend time thinking about. My house is a wreck, and I could lose my everyday coat - if I even manage to remember to put it on - in a laundry pile, not to mention my key-card for work, very easily. Cheryl, imho, just had that type of personality. She was a geek, afterall. I'm not exactly generalizing here - people who are extremely intelligent exhibit lifestyle traits rather commonly that others see as unimaginable in their own lives. Some of those traits can be extreme generosity, tunnel-vision (focusing so much on what you're doing that sometimes you don't even register when someone's talking directly to you when your mind is deeply involved in anything) - sort of like ADD symptoms. But add in a general naivety about the world, and to me that sounds like the person Cheryl's family and friends described her to be.
Sharing a tiny story here - so I made the text smaller: My Father in Law was a total genius. He was an incredibly decorated General in the Air Force. We would joke that he was so smart that he was stupid. One time while camping the flies were buzzing around the pan of pancakes he was cooking on a gas stove so he just grabbed a nearby can of bug spray and sprayed it onto the fire - the flames were visible from the other side of camp. Kind of funny now, but this man was in charge of the entire Air National Guard in his state at the time!
I know I write too much to get to my point, and I apologize as I can't help it, but I think what I'm trying to get at here is that Cheryl's traits are what kept her out of trouble, and what got her into trouble. I honestly think she would have been able to analyze a situation going on outside of her vehicle and avoid it if it was even slightly dangerous so she very likely had to have known the person who would eventually bring harm to her. She analyzed data for a living - it's just how her brain was wired - and people like that can't get out of that mode; no matter what type of input they're receiving.
All of the data we have, and what has been inferred, leads me to believe that this was done in full or part by a woman that she knew. I can only think of one that I've come across in my research that fits, but I'll keep looking.
Stryker57 - It is my hope that Cheryl has been laid to rest by now, and although I'm not a religious person, and I don't know if it matters to the dead if we celebrate their memory, I think it matters if their memory was filled with happiness. I'm sure she lived a happy life, and I hope that thought brings you some solace.