Mike Riemer ...Still Think He's Guilty?

[TheCars1986]

Found this newspaper clipping that says private investigators looking for the (at the time) missing couple found witnesses who placed Riemer's pickup truck in the K-Mart parking lot on the day that Crystal was found there. I don't know why this information has never been reported since (article was written in February of 1986) other than maybe they thought the witness was mistaken?

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

I think the murders of the couples are completely unrelated and someone known to Diana and Riemer killed them.

This is an interesting theory. It seems like whoever killed Diana had a lot of rage due to the multiple stab wounds. I wonder if it could have been someone who was interested in her and upset that she kept going back to Mike despite their volatile relationship. This person would have known that Mike had traps to check and if they killed Mike, he would be the prime suspect due to the history of violence in their relationship. Then this person spared Crystal because she was too young to talk.

Diana was found nude from the waist up. The killer may have done Mike in first to get him out of the way before attacking Diana, and perhaps they attempted a sexual assault before angrily stabbing her. Authorities thought the sock around her neck was used to control her, and it could be the killer was trying to attempt an assault by using that tube sock to subdue her before committing the murder.

It's interesting to note the other couple was killed by gunshot, without any stab wounds. It seems to me that Diana's murder may have been much more personal.

I used to think Mike was the most likely killer because of all the red flags: Violent history, previously threatening Diana, and let's not forget the problematic age difference here (he was 32 and she was 17 when the began dating). It's not uncommon for a much older man to control/domineer his younger partner and become enraged when the woman attempts to leave. But it does seem odd that he would kill Diana, take Crystal to the store to safety, then return to the crime scene and kill himself. I think a murderous third party is probably more likely here, and not a random serial killer.