It also seems pretty clear to me that they weren't involved, considering there's zero evidence that ties them to the case, and the "satanic ritual abuse" that was done to the bodies later turned out to be caused by animals post-mortem. IMO, the town is full of a bunch of ignorant hicks that were automatically afraid of anything "different" and either the police felt pressured to close the case and latched onto the most convenient scapegoat.

I think Terry Hobbs seems like the most likely person to have done it, or at least is involved, given that his DNA was found on the bodies. A theory I've seen is that he got pissed at Stevie and accidentally went too far in "disciplining" him, killing him accidentally, and then killed the other two because they were witnesses. I'm not saying that's what I think happened for sure but it sounds plausible.

Also, on the night of the murders a guy covered in blood and mud showed up at a fast food restaurant. Employees at the restaurant called the police but the evidence they collected from the bathroom where he went to clean up was supposedly lost, and they were never able to figure out who he was.

It just seems to me like the investigation was totally botched from day one.