The projectiles used to kill the Ewells had been found in various locations throughout the crime scene (another plus!): the flower bed outside contained one; there was one underneath Glee Ewell's shoulder; another underneath Glee's head; one in the wall of the home office Glee had used; and one embedded in the kitchen wall.
The bullet that had killed Mr. Ewell was missing.
As investigators studied the scene, something stood out right away: the fact that not one shell casing had been uncovered. Apparently, the murderer had methodically picked up each shell casing after firing each round, or used some sort of device to catch each casing as it disengaged from the weapon.
As one of the investigators later explained to author Kraig Hanadel, "[I]t was apparent that the murderer(s) had picked up these items ... a rare event within all the accumulated experience of investigators present."
Was the killer a professional?
Shoot. Kill.
Grab the evidence.
Leave.
It certainly seemed so.
If it wasn't a hired hit, investigators were certain that the Ewell murders were either revenge killings or, worse, an inside job.