Unexplained mystery

Since the Giant (Buddy Baer) doesn't get up and walk until the midway point, just who was committing all those slaughters that Sheriff Bob Steele never solves? I assumed the big guy was already on the loose, so it's obviously something the filmmakers forgot during the rushed six day shooting. They set up the premise and then forget what the townspeople were talking about.

I take pleasure in great beauty - James Bond