>Are you assuming the intruder would have looked in the windows
>to realize they werent home? Doesnt that seem risky to do,
>especially in the daytime? Also, do you think he checked the
>house and realized nobody was home, then went and got his
>'tools' or were they already on his person?

The intruder may well have been planning the crime for a long time, could have been watching the house for some time, days, weeks. Plenty of cover in the back and on the sides of the house.

The "tools" could have fit in a backpack or car trunk.

On the Charlevoix intruder, check the archives - there are threads on that one - - cowboy boots seen in the bedroom by the maids - - they thought it was a guest but later found out no one had been invited to use the house. Remains a mystery. Look for posts by "B".

>what do you make of
>the $118,000 ransom? Do you think they already knew it was
>Johns' bonus? A reference to Psalm 118? One million pesos? A
>complete coincidence?

Personally, I think the killer likely saw a pay stub, saw the BONUS amount - - and was jealous or whatever - - I mean, most of us don't make that in a year and it was his BONUS! But I don't know that the amount is related to the bonus at all. I wouldn't be surprised if the killer is caught and we find out he lived at house #118 something street, or did 118 days in jail, or owed the Electric company $118.00.

I mean, we are talking about a sadistic pedophile capable of murder - - I don't pretend to understand that train of thought at all.