I posted about this in the incest leak main, but if the case becomes criminal will investigators be able to get testimony from Cole? Cole is a dick but like others have said I believe him about Barb being abusive and that's a huge part of why I suspect Barb is less an innocent victim and more someone that groomed and abused Chris for years and Chris is just repeating the abusive behaviors she taught him.
I know dealing with Chris/Barb bullshit is probably the last thing Cole wants to do right now and I don't blame him, but I think he'd have some key insight that would help investigators get a clearer picture on what possibly happened and what needs to be done. Like if it turns out Barb sexually abused Cole in addition to physically and psychologically abusing him, that would be huge and I think confirm my suspicions that Chris is just doing shit that Barb groomed him to do and thus belongs in a mental hospital more than prison.
If investigators come knocking and Cole tells them to fuck off would there be any way for them to try and get info from him? Because I think Cole has some pretty key insight about Barb especially that will be vital in piecing together what exactly went down.