I lived in a small Texas town for 14 years--population 1,000. It's true, there is an assumption of safety. People still leave their doors unlocked and their car keys under the seat, or in the ignition. There's also the element of everyone knowing everyone's business. Nothing goes unnoticed, typically. Heck, you even know if the neighbor lady bleaches the family underwear!!
That's why I agree that this guy must be hiding in plain sight. It's just not typical for a Texas neighbor to let it slide that some guy is lurking around Ms. Brown's house down the street. Trust me, someone would go check it out and I wouldn't be surprised if they brought one of the "friends" mentioned above.
The thing I can't figure out is, if this man is a meter reader, postal carrier, neighbor's son, etc.; why can't the women identify him? Any new service person would be given great scrutiny until they were accepted into the fabric of the community. If the guy is someone on the periphery at church or the local grocery store, why can't the women identify him? One woman shot at him..she must have gotten a decent look at him.
I have a feeling that, while the article doesn't go into detail, he must blindfold or attack the women from behind (yikes, that's scary).
I hope everyone is these towns is extra careful as I sure don't want to read that some poor woman mowed down her neighbor's boy who was setting her newspaper on the porch.