Wes isn't a saint by any means but he had to know that his history alone was going to make him the biggest suspect. The thing is, Wes isn't the only person that knew his history and how it would make him look. It wasn't even necessary to draw attention to oneself by pointing fingers at Wes because LE was going to have no choice but zero in on him first.
It also bothers me that we have a case where AJ's death really has been overshadowed by all the "who's the daddy" jockeying yet the man who, for all intents and purposes, "won" (I don't like the connotation but ...) is being blamed for killing her. Why would he?
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I don't think anyone was in competition over who the father was. That was known by all involved. The common demoninator in that is what worries me more. How much of a control freak was the person that moved to another state with AJ and didn't tell her biological father, who loved and adored her, where AJ was? We don't know if legal stuff was done to try to find her, or what. We know the child support payments were being sent to another state out west where JH was living with ZH and AJ. BUT, when did the biological father whose name is on AJ's birth certificate, his only child, find out where AJ was? Why was the ripped out of his life? Why wasn't he allowed visitation? Why wasn't he allowed to be a part of AJ's life? At what point did AJ connect with him? We know they were friends on FB, so AJ knew who he was, but did she know why she wasn't in his life?
And Zach did raise AJ. That is fact. He was her main father figure, she even used his last name. Yet because he hadn't adopted her, he was seen as a step father when JH and ZH divorced. Thus even though he tried in legal battle through courts to maintain being in AJ's life, the courts ruled otherwise. Now, it shouldn't have had to be a battle to begin with. His biological children and AJ should have been treated the same, and custody maintained though the parents, and child support figured out through the parents, etc., but we know custody and divorces don't always work that way.
And then in steps WH for less than 5 years he has been in AJs life. During a period that teenagers have enough to deal with, she was dealing with a divorce, custody dispute, and living with a man who was a virtual stranger to her. We know WH has a past. JH knew WH has a past. Now whether he told some believeable story of how he was wronged by the courts, and served time he didn't deserve because hew as innocent of all wrong doings, or what, we don't know.
Bottom line, we don't know the actual family dynamics going on within the home during AJs teenage years, nor up to her disappearance. We know WH was no longer living at home, but not the circumstances as to why. "IF" he is guilty, it will come out in court. All skeletons will be exposed whether by the DA in setting the scene for what happened, or by the defense. No doubt there will be surprises to the public during a trial either way.
I don't think either of the 3 father figures AJ had were in a competition to 'be the best dad' or whatever. I think two felt helpless and either thought it was best they stay away until AJ was older, able to understand circumstances and choose for herself what she wanted to believe, and what relationships she wanted or not, and they would follow her lead and be there for her.
Obviously JH must have felt the same because she notified the first father figures to see if AJ was with them, even knowing the friction that was there, and the lack of relationship they had at that point. What would have her thinking AJ would have turned to either of them for help unless she knew they would have stepped up immediately to help AJ if asked!! I can't see any other reason they were contacted that early to ask if they had seen AJ, or communicated with her. Somethign happened to make JH feel AJ might reach out to either of them for help, and something made JH feel both would have helped. That's just the way I see it.
The fact that you called her Jelly makes me smile. All our kids have goofy nicknames too. She looked like she was a truly happy kid. Hang on to those memories with all you've got. Remember every smile, every birthday cake, every outdoor adventure. ((((Zach)))) my heart goes out to you. Keep seeking the Lord for strength, and He will be faithful to provide it. I know you KNOW that, it's just good to be reminded, amen?
