Court documents released yesterday indicate that even before they had arrested them, authorities had confirmed that they knew of no prior connection between the two Vermont teens and their alleged victims, the Zantops.
Although, documents released earlier this week provided information about the prosecutors' case against suspects Robert Tulloch and James Parker, they said little about why authorities believe the boys committed the brutal murder. In the wake of the arrests, the authorities working on the case have also not given an indication of knowing a definitive link or connection between the boys and the professors.
A handwritten note by Lebanon District Court Judge Albert J. Cirone Jr. on Tulloch's arrest warrant shows that days before the arrest, the authorities had yet to forge a conclusion about the Chelsea, Vt. suspects' link to the two Dartmouth professors.
"The investigation has not shown any connection between the Zantops, Parker and Tulloch, and no reason for Parker or Tulloch to be at the Zantop home," Cirone wrote on the warrant on Feb. 16, implying that the authorities had concluded that the crime appeared to be random.
Released yesterday Cirone's assertion, based on information he received from Sergeant Robert Bruno of the New Hampshire State Police, fuels speculation that law enforcement officials are still far from devising an explanation as to what could have prompted the two teenagers to brutally stab the couple.
Sources told the Associated Press that the investigation team is considering burglary or "thrill kill" as possible motives this week.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
