IMO, it could have been any one of family and or friends who spent time in their homes. Enough to know the layout of rooms, etc. To be able to draw a rough sketch of the layout of rooms, who slept where, etc. Retired DEA agent who was interviewed early in the investigation also says they were probably watched carefully in the days and weeks leading up to the killings. Observing when they get up, when they go to bed, who lives where, entrances to homes, who locks their doors and how, who has watch dogs and when are they out vs in, etc.
Anyone could do that. Strangers doing surveillance could have been what caused CRSr to become suspicious in the weeks before the murders. It was reported by a local they had been stopped by gun-wielding Chris Sr and others when driving at night on Union Hill Rd.in the days before the murders. If true, something had them on alert. This could also explain Reader's references to neighbors who might know something. If you were a neighbor who might have seen strangers watching the Rhoden homes prior to the murders and knew those strangers may be affiliated with a murderous drug cartel, would you tell anyone?
JMO, the killers used both local sources of info and did some of their own surveillance. Some have speculated here that the locals who provided information about interior layout of homes, etc. might not have been aware that murder would be involved.
My primary theory is a hybrid of CRSr informing LE about drug activity/outside organized crime with local Boss Hogg associations that are hampering the investigation.
