Well said...I guess it’s easy to be a casual observer and conclude poor police work but with multiple players, multiple crimes, multi state and a background story that oozes Jim Jones’ish I don’t see incompetence. I think the Arizona investigation was lousy but everything else seems well done for the circumstances LE was in.
Agree. This was and is a complex case comprising many possible crimes committed across multiple jurisdictions (some of which are almost jurisdictions within jurisdictions, like Rexburg) and with many possible players, alive and dead. Moreover, these cases involve children, adults, religious and quasi-religious communities with potentially explosive beliefs (literally) embedded within and way outside of a locally powerful church with ties to community, LE, politicians, etc.
This case has been a morass since the beginning, requiring maps, lists and flowcharts just to keep track of the main players and relationships. Much better, IMO, to take the time to get it right.
WS has tons of cases where things were rushed or where specific circumstances or general chaos has prevented any resolution — think Heather Elvis (until fairly recently, and still...) or Hailey Dunn, or Amiah Robertson, or....
This case, in its scope and complexity, reminds me of the Pike Co murders. An end that brings justice for the families of the victims is the main aim here. Getting there a few weeks or months earlier, with less surety, doesn’t matter that much, IMO.