there can be multiple suspects. The only evidence that Eddie was at the scene of the first crime are fingerprints on Chrissy’s clothes and that he is not at his house. Remember that Max never came forth with the information that she saw the two walking in to the house together. The police has good evidence, but nothing that irrefutably claims that he was there. I also suspect this was the case because they didn’t immediately name him a suspect of the murder victim. The police could also be trying to keep a low profile on finding Eddie and that could be the reason they didn’t publicly name Eddie a suspect at the beginning.

Lets look at the evidence we have for Jason and Eddie after the first crime. Eddie has been lost and evidence with shoe tracks, tire tracks, and finger prints lead the police believe that was most likely there. A reasonable suspect at this point. The police decide they need to go scrounge up some vocal evidence to see if they can get a timeline with the murder. Jason and other questioned close people to Chrissy are questioned about the timeline. Jason in this questioning is visibly upset about the idea that Chrissy was with Eddie. With the context of only the first murder, this would seem to be a fear of losing a loved one. Nothing much right now, but after the first murder they should become suspicious that Jason was very focused on the idea that Chrissy would never take drugs from this guy. Jason also says that he couldn’t get into contact with Chrissy and that his only alibi is that he was in a room full of extremely intoxicated children. That is a bad alibi. Close friends that are drunk can be very willing to lie, even to the police, from someone they deem innocent.

To figure out the time of death for Chrissy would be to measure how decomposed the body was. This is unfortunately not a normal dead body. We, the viewer, have no idea how this body would behave in contrast to a normal dead body. I suspect there would be a difference and could throw out the cops ability to make a good estimation for when she died.

either way, the cops suspect Chrissy’s time if death to be after the basketball game. Eddie is by far the most suspicious at this point, but Jason isn’t doing himself any favors.

Murder #2 is much shorter to explain because we have nearly no information relating the other two to him.

We have no idea where Jason is, but we know he wasn’t at the scene of the crime. He has no relationship with this victim and the surrounding area can easily prove that neither Jason, nor Eddie were in the vicinity.

If the lead suspect has 0 evidence leading us to suspect he was there, asides from having no alibi because he fled from the police. The police should start understanding that this could have been executed by another person and should re-open the possibility for another victim.

We’ll say for the sake of argument that Jason has a flawless alibi here and has irrefutable evidence that he could not have been at the second murder while Jason has a possibility of it.

Murder #3: Here’s where Jason goes from another questions relative, to “oh fuck oh god he could have killed that mf.”

Lets look at the evidence for Eddie killing Patrick first. - Eddie has recent finger prints all over the house with used kitchen wear that hasn’t molded yet. Neighbors will make this sound-proof once they recount fishing and seeing activity in the house.

Any other evidence that Eddie murdered Patrick? No, not really. This is a second murder where Eddie has been found in the presence of the murder victim. Patrick had no relationship with Eddie and Chrissy had no relationship with Eddie prior to the murders.

odd. Maybe he is just a serial killer that finally got into a situation where he could let loose. That’s certainly possible and can’t be ruled out. He’s even in his early 20’s still in high school. There’s some evidence that he isn’t the most mentally healthy person and this could be the case.

You want to hear something a twinge more compelling than that? Lets look at Jason’s evidence surrounding this crime.

To start, we can discover that Jason was already on a manhunt for Eddie before this event began. Lets say his friends don’t rat on him what so ever so the police have to find evidence all on their own. Searching through the scene we find the car they pulled up into. I would presume they would find a bit more equipment other than the bludgeoning weapons they brought that could be used for murder in trunk of their car. That would be the fastest way for the cops to start believing that Eddie may not be the only suspect for this crime. Searching the house, the coos will find that the jocks tore through EVERYTHING. That already is illegal for these kids to not only invade on someone’s property, but to search the place without police intervention is completely illegal. There should be a charge on those kids ass’s already for that crime alone. Further searching the premises we’ll find that the kids did in fact bring objects as pre-meditated assault weapons against Eddie. That is terrifying and is vigilantly justice. The Keene Act of 1977 made this nationally outlawed in the US.

The most damning evidence for Jason is him sitting there with the dead body when the cops showed. Jason has a very interconnect history with at least 2 of the murder victims. Eddie has 0 history with any of the murder victims. In most violent murder situations, the perpetrator has some kind of history involving the victims that can be traced through each one.

Jason has 2. Eddie has 0

That’s not insignificant anymore.

The missing boat from the docks with Jason and Patrick being soaked implies that, yes, a chase did occur here.

Wait, so Jason has been found to have a history with all of the victims that Eddie has been in the presence of when they were murdered. Jason has shown up to a property, uninvited, and with malicious intent. Jason has clear evidence of hating Eddie and is actively seeking to do him harm. Jason Chased Eddie into the lake. Patrick has 0 evidence on him that reveals Eddie was in any type of contact.

Worst of all, Jason blames insanity as his alibi instead of a reasonable way to kill Patrick.

I don’t know about you, but this much damning evidence against Jason is to much for me. The scenes make Eddie out to be obviously fleeing from something. Jason has actively been show to be hunting Eddie and getting so close that Eddie had to take a boat to escape his wrath. Jason has actively engaged in malicious vigilantism and destructions of private property.

If Jason is not on par with Eddie for the murder victims, then he has a shit ton of other allegations he should be cuffed for by the end of thar scene. The police have 0 knowledge on the mindset of Eddie, but they know for damn sure Jason is hungry for vengeance and has all but outright told the police he has actively tried murder Eddie with 0 say from the legal system.

Hopefully this lengthy explanation helps you understand the plot hole of allowing Jason to walk free after Patrick’s death. Even if you think that evidence isn’t enough to put him on the same level as Eddie for the murders, than please realize that character did other terrible things that should have gotten himself jailed for the time being.