Re how NG would have reacted, my take on it is that I'd expect her, or anyone, do most likely do exactly as instructed, when being held at gunpoint.
I wouldn't be surprised if LD's mom was behind the TV interview. Imagine being a 77-year-old lady, minding your own business in your own home, when suddenly a SWAT team swarms the house, apparently without any explanation, then proceeds to break down doors and ransack the place. I imagine she wasn't happy with everyone in the community knowing it, either. I could definitely see her saying, "Oh yes, you
will go on TV and clear our name, boy."
My feeling is LD's appearance may or may not mean anything. I think it would be the norm to want to appear clean cut, considering the purpose of LD and his mother granting the interview in the first place. I've also heard that LD's clothes might be typical "business casual" attire in the region. And desert temps change drastically, warm during the day at that time of year, but quite cool in the morning and evening. That might also figure in.
And/or, LD could have been trying to cover up, whether his general shape, tats, heroin tracks or evidence of having been in a fight or a struggle with a rough environment.
It would be so great with these cases to get a peek behind the curtain and be able to know what LE knows. Guess we'll just have to wait for it to appear on Dateline again, though.
That poor lady. My god, what is wrong with people.
MOO