Terri (parents) hired a stellar, highly regarded, winning defense attorney who intimidated the decision makers. This was something like three-and-a-half weeks after the disappearance. Name was Houze or House or something like that.
IMO this highly influenced the prosecutor in regard to arrests.
The parents got their money's worth, moo.
ETA:
Stephen Houze page.
Take a look at his representative cases.
Stephen Houze has represented thousands of individuals over his 40 plus years career. Many of those cases have been chronicled in the Oregonian, Portland Tribune, and Willamette Week newspapers among others publications.
www.shouze.com