zlacker

Removing the seats from his car, hiding it, and having two books on homicide investigation inside it are not social awkwardness.

>>searea+(OP)
>Removing the seats from his car, hiding it

...several days after the killing (per the testimony of an officer)[0]. reading books about homicide investigation is not illegal, and certainly not suspicious enough to convict beyond a reasonable doubt.

I believe a more charismatic person could have talked his way out of it. At the very least the first impression wouldn't have been "eccentric unsympathetic computer guy, russian mail-order bride, he probably did it".

[0]https://www.wired.com/2007/12/traffic-officer/