Considering the history of the area LE's investigatory sophistication and professional ethics, I'd guess there is some conflict of interest at play. Did they screw up what would have otherwise been an open and shut case? Are they, as is commonly the situation there, somehow related socially or through family to the suspects?
I find it VERY hard to believe an autopsy takes this long, especially considering that Mariah Woods was killed AFTER Paitin, and Mariah's killer was charged over three months ago. Most of the time, these counties send their autopsies to the same place. It's just dishonest for them to claim the only delay is the autopsy. There is some other reason that doesn't seem above board.
The bottom line is that they are letting a child predator and killer walk free. Since the FBI has been down in Robeson taking over investigations, they might as well hop on over to Pender to see why they can't seem to bring themselves to charge the guilty person.
Another point, as it relates to the Mariah Woods case. Both of these children lived in trailer houses. At the VERY beginning of the Woods investigation, the biological father nailed it when he went on record telling the media that you can't break into a trailer house without being heard. That's the honest truth. Especially both of these trailers, they are pretty dated Even he knew the claim that a stranger had broken in and stolen her was utter rubbish. That same logic applies to the Fields case.
But what IF a stranger broke in? This is a RURAL area. There are several sex offenders living within a five minute walking distance. There is no way LE could have ignored this fact. Their DNA is on file already. Guests visiting the family? Again, their DNA should be available since there is probable cause to request that from a judge. Don't forget, when the media filed a FOIA to request a copy of the warrants, a judge immediately sealed them.
This case makes me so angry. I'm tempted to do an entire episode dedicated to just this case. We mentioned it during an episode when it first happened, and I've been following this case so we could update listeners on who was charged. But now this is getting so silly, I think someone needs to create more pressure on LE to provide some answers or bring someone in already. I don't want to criticize the family, but good gravy. Where is the outrage? Would authorities be dragging their feet if it had been the SHERIFF'S child?