A couple was found inside a car. Suspect was eating their or… See more

Ultimately, the most important question is not what social media users believe happened.

It is what investigators can prove.

Authorities will need to establish a clear sequence of events.

That may involve reconstructing the victims’ final movements, identifying everyone who interacted with them and determining whether the suspect was actually present at the relevant time.

Investigators may also examine whether there was a motive.

Possible motives in criminal investigations can include personal disputes, financial conflicts, relationship problems, robbery or other circumstances.

But motive should never be assumed simply because someone was arrested or questioned.

Sometimes investigators discover that the apparent motive was completely different from what the public initially believed.

The Human Side of the Story

Behind every crime report are real people.

The victims were not simply names in a headline. They had families, friends, routines and lives that existed long before the incident.

For their relatives, the most difficult period often begins after the headlines disappear.

Families may have to wait for official identification, medical findings and answers about what happened.