[The Other Harry]

The child was known for sneaking out of the house, and I think the prosecutor's explanation that she was outside the house when Westerfield saw her, so he had no reason to go into the house. This is very plausible to me.

It's also very hypotetical.

[CyberAnt]

"hypotetical"

Did you mean hypothetical?? If so, then you may have a point. But, hypothetical or not, it might explain why the dog didn't create a stir when she left the house.

The defense contends that because the dog didn't bark, Westerfield didn't enter the house. But, the dog was downstairs when the father found the open door, and he carried the dog back upstairs and closed the dog in the bedroom with him. The dog could have followed Daniele downstairs when she left the house. But, this is also hypothetical.