Visible crew/equipment: Just after the beginning credits end, you can see the reflections of the boom, the crew and other things as they pass the 4x4. (Most visible on VHS version). (00:02:35)
Visible crew/equipment: During the scene where the car breaks down and pulls to a stop in the middle of the road there is a shot of Kurt Russel getting out of the car. Look in the passenger side door, you can make out a camera reflection. Also, look out for the reflection of a reflecting light in the window as Kurt goes to get the cell phone. This is most obvious when the door swings open. (00:08:25)
Visible crew/equipment: During the confrontation between the bad guy and Kurt at the first gas station (where he leaves his hood open,) the camera and two crew members can be seen in the passenger side window as the camera follows the bad guy walking along the Jeep. Look out for the boom mike reflected in the windshield in the same shot as well. Both are really obvious. (Not visible on DVD version).
Answer: There was always a ransom, or at least that was always the intent. Anyone that didn't have money the kidnappers would just eliminate them. The kidnappers MO was to take a couple and force one of them to empty their bank accounts. Earl makes it clear that the difference in Jeff's case is that they were unable to kidnap the pair at the same time. For whatever reason, Jeff refused to get in the truck with Red, which caused the kidnappers to alter their plans slightly. Earl also gives some insight into how the group chooses their victims. He tells Jeff that he was targeted because he was driving a brand new SUV, which indicated he must have a fair amount of money in the bank. The kidnappers care very little about being caught, they have obviously committed many murders without being found out. They seem to leave very little evidence of their crimes for the police to find. Red is always several steps ahead of the police and is brazen enough to kidnap a man's wife and say directly to him in front of a police officer that the man must have him mistaken for someone else.
BaconIsMyBFF