Hello, they were Mormons, which means they were already nutty. The weird guy was in their home - the father had hired him. Teenaged girls are very impressionable, especially over-protected girls who are emotionally twelve.
It was my understanding that because they were Mormons they gave this transient a job at their home. Because of the type of job he had he figured out which window to break into, and how. I believe he was working on their roof? He came in during the night and woke Liz up. Actually both girls woke up but he told the other to remain silent. Liz got her shoes on and he took her out the door while threatening to kill her sis and parents.
I admire her parents for tying to give that type of person employment but had it been me I’d have hired a licensed contractor.