Seems to me that any explanation from Michel simply makes it easier for future saboteurs to avoid detection.

As owner of a commercial site, Michel is a member of an international group that faces these issues all the time and adopts algorithms and techniques to unshroud bad behavior. As a result, techniques that may have worked reliably to avoid detection 5 years ago are quickly peeled back today.

I'd also observe that there are cultural and other differences in the way people communicate that may be more obvious to those outside the clique. For example, perhaps you'll recall that it was a South American who immediately unshrouded "Lynda L" to the consternation of others here who thought he was being sexist. These days there is software that is very good at spotting such cues even if people try to alter their diction and cover their tracks.

I think I understand why some people suggest that there may have been 2 people using the Grover account, but in that case the culprit was given every opportunity to confess rather than allowing a buddy to be blamed. They still could.

I'm sorry for Kevin, but he does have options if he believes that his reputation has been unfairly besmirched or that he was hacked or whatever. Of course that will draw in the authorities and the sophisticated tracking capabilities they can command of ISPs and others, though of course there's no fear in that for somebody who didn't do it.

My final observation is that this chatter section is a PITA. I've had it turned off for a long time and am now switching it off again. Seems to me that if it weren't for this section the UT would be a happier place and few if any of the bannings and furore would have occurred.

FWIW I've only ever complained about one post, many years ago. It was in a technical thread and its distaste was on a completely different level from Grover's puerile taunts. People who want to keep the chatter forums might consider ignoring or twitting the Grovers of this world rather than complaining to Michel who clearly is sick of it.