These are interesting theories concerning who might have abducted the girls.
As to there being a significance to the Easter Season, I would tend to doubt that, or think of it as a long shot without other supporting evidence. For instance, if this guy had made phone calls or left behind some sort of evidence that he was in fact a religious type of guy, then the Easter angle would be a stronger possibility.
One of the most common traits of abductors and child molesters is that they tend to think only of themselves at all times. Thoughts of others (like a group, accomplice, or victim) are usually only taken into consideration as to how they fulfill their own wants. In other words, they might use a technique which plays on others' feelings, but might not actually feel that way themselves.
It would seem far more likely that the more immediate variables such as warm weather, time of day, and situation of school being out and a lot of kids at the mall played a direct part in this specific crime. Also, such factors as moon phase, day of the week, etc could affect the abductor in some way. When all factors have been analyzed, possible patterns might be seen when comparing this crime with others (solved and unsolved).
One wonders how things might have been different if it had been raining. Or if Kate's friend had accompanied them to the mall that day. Or if they had arrived a half hour earlier. Or if they had decided to go to a movie that afternoon. The list is endless, but not meant to cause anxiety or second guessing. What I am saying is that I think this crime involved both carefull planning AND the elements of chance.
With the lack of evidence in this case, certainly just about anything is possible. Regarding the possibility that the abductor may have known or been familiar to the girls; many friends, relatives, and acquaintences were interviewed and questioned by police in an attempt to develop a possible suspect, but with no luck at all.
I do agree with the concept of the abductor being at least "familiar" with/to the girls, as I mentioned in a post earlier. I feel that the abductor may well have been the Tape Recorder Man, whose "interview" with them was only a way of introducing himself to them and making them feel comfortable around him - if only enough to approach his vehicle.
