So, respectfully, I don't think you could possibly be more wrong. But look, you articulate a viewpoint that seems widely held on these pages. It may be my position that's in the minority, which is flabbergasting to me.

You--and your fellow travelers--seem to believe that the police have probable cause to arrest a quadruple knife murderer but are not doing so because he may further incriminate himself while at liberty. Do I have that right?

First, that's crazy because any person with the ability to stab and kill four innocent people is deeply damaged; has no empathy; no conscience; no compassion. There is nothing inside that person that will stop them from killing again. There is a significant risk they will kill themselves. Yes, there are cases--most notably child molest comes to mind--where cops leave a suspect out and try various rouses to lure them into a confession. In this case, leaving this perpetrator on the loose would constitute a laughable public safety threat and no right-minded department would do that. You may say that they are surveilling him, but that is not realistic. No amount of surveillance can ensure this person is not alone with others in the company of knives.

Second, what exactly do you suppose the police are waiting for? Is it your contention they have not even spoken to this person yet? Have not interrogated them? Not even to request an alibi and a DNA sample? That hardly seems plausible. The only other alternative is that they have taken a run at this fool, and he's not given anything up. In any case, the person will already know that they are a suspect, or potential suspect, and is not about to fuck anything up, start making admissions, or lead the cops to evidence. That's not realistic.

Third, if they have the necessary PC to make an arrest--which is a very very very very low standard--they could do so and then further investigate the case while trial is pending. This term "technicality" is so grossly misunderstood. A technicality would be if they collected some DNA specimen and then at the eve of trial found out it had been mislabeled through the chain of custody. What potential "technicalities" would result in a suspect walking in this case?

Fourth, if they have a person they are interested in, there are a couple of concrete steps they can take to lock this thing up. First they will compare DNA. Everyone agrees the killer left DNA at the scene, and in ways that only the killer would leave--i.e. comingled with victim blood. If the suspect refuses to give up DNA, they can get a search warrant. Once they have a match, it's pretty much game over. But they don't have to stop there. Once they have someone they like, they will scrutinize their every movement, scrutinize their social history for a motive and any potential mental defects. Scrutinize them for scratches and injuries. Of course scrutinize their alibi. Also they will search their concentric social circles for a white elantra which will be impossible to hide. If cops are in the room with a quadruple knife murderer, that person is not able to skate. There's just too many avenues for incrimination, starting with "where were you that night." And ain't no one gonna help knowingly fabricate an alibi that will stand up in order to protect this killer.

So look, I understand the need to feel optimistic, and feel like the cops have this in control. I would say that I hope you're right if there were any actual chance you were. But you are completely, totally, incontrovertibly mistaken and so is everyone else who thinks like you.