Maybe he just couldn't handle the smell

to this day I believe reiser could have gotten away with it if he hadn't been so clearly socially awkward/autistic. there wasn't much solid evidence at all.

there's something to be said about people instinctively distrusting the socially inept: just look at all these modern "catch a pedophile" outfits, where losers are baited by impossible situations into ruining their life.

Yeah, but neither DA nor the judge considered lack of body or murder weapon a problem when bringing him in front of the jury.

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

>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/

I forgot about him. /. was all up in arms at time. He still in jail?

Yes. Next parole hearing is 2027.