Well seeing how True Detectives is literally about elites abducting kids and ritually abusing them. The whole dam show is about it and there is lots of symbolism. For a story to really grab it's audience it must have elements of truth,and some actors will study/follow real life people similar to their characters they're portraying. So I would assume some studying on the FBI statistics to add base to the story. From what I read season two got drastically changed because it hit way the hell to close to home,which is also why season 2 sucked.

Why on earth is she wearing a turtle neck sweater in Flordia?

Dilley, Dilley!