You must bear with me. I've worked as a liaison between the mental health community, the courts and our local police. I've had the opportunity to speak with incarcerated people, people found to be NGBRI, ex-prisoners who counsel inmates both in jail and in prison, people associated with N.A.M.I and the Forensic Fact Program. Most criminals understand the system very well. They know the risks involved by degree. They understand the court system. They know the strata of possible penalties. There are criminals alive who know who they are, what their level of ability is, what their criminal expertise is, what their level of acceptable risk is and they choose not to go beyond those self-imposed limitations. They aren't necessarily dumb. They don't refer to the prison system as "college" for no reason.
Crime is poor decision making from the outset. That's a given, but it also involves a level of self-preservation maintained by the individual during the act. Criminals are of all stripes, not necessarily ignorant or totally lacking in self-control. They operate from a foundation of experience and know the difference between misdemeanor crime and heavier stuff. Many of them won't do the crime, because they're unwilling to do the time. Others know when to back off in the heat of the moment. I'm not insinuating that criminals suspend time to make quick assessments of their status. I'm saying many of them have a limit going in and will go no further should the situation demand more of them. If this mindset was not possible, or negotiable, police agencies would not even entertain CIT training rather than going in guns blazing. The last thing a fully disguised trespasser, with no stolen property (swag) on their person wants to do is kill someone over a misdemeanor.
The problem with this case is the incongruity between the threat level imposed by the supposed unsuspecting victim and the overwhelming response of the murderer. SP had little to lose if caught, any number of ways to back off, and anonymity on their side, yet they murdered her. If there is a glaring WHY it is to be found there. SP is a completely unsuccessful trespass/burglar, but a very successful murderer. MS is dead. Cosplay is assuming the outward character of someone you are not. In this case it provided successful anonymity, associated cop behaviors unnecessary. We have found some common ground.
Thank you for your insight. I appreciate your thoughts and know we both want to see this young woman's family receive a just outcome.