This is a well done documentary and the family was very involved in it, all of which was never before seen in that era. I was able to watch it on you tube. What strikes me is that this was a time when states felt and acted more like small countries. It was rare for criminals to be persued across state lines because each was simply focused on their own territory and had their own budget. But this case is one that helped make all law enforcement rethink how things were done and began working together instead of individually.
Based on the information in this film, I definitly believe Eric was assaulted rather than that he picked up hitchhikers. Otherwise, the crooks wouldn't have been hovering at the mechanic garage as if threatening. Because according to them, Eric wasn't yet under duress but he clearly was, according to the mechanic.
It was also a time when most citizens were too honest, like Eric's family. If it were in modern times even the most honest of us would have pretended to be Eric and signed all those documents it would have taken to get the records faster from the bank.
And clearly the private detective is who cracked the case, God bless him.
I think the garage should have been liable somehow for withholding information. They all covered for the guy or guys who pocketed the money even in the face of an investigation of a missing person. If that info had come out sooner the case could have been solved much sooner.
I think people who don't believe in the death penalty are the ones who hold onto the idea of "life" actually being the life of the convict. Those who do are the ones who know that the only way to truely stop a serial killer for good is to take away his life - or disable him like cut off his arms, but ironically, people would think that's even more cruel and they'd probably be right. To me, death is too good for them but I sure don't want them on the street.