Just wish to add something to your discussion. As HC Provider who worked in trauma and ER's..defensive wounds are more obvious when a weapon is used..ala knife or gun or tire iron, baseball bat etc..however, hand to hand combat doesnt necessarily leave much other than maybe broken nails, or some bruisings..which IF death occurs fairly quickly, even they can be obscured when decomposition advances....
Also, it is unfortunate the redness, or something the detectives noticed on that July 12th interview on Brad wasnt documented with pics or photo's..They may have indicated sign of struggle..however, minor rubbings or scraps could be explained away such as the bandaid on his finger seen... Its all moot tho, because at that point NC was only missing, and fould play wasnt their focus at that point....I'd say, Brad has some horseshoes you know where!!!