True Detective S1E5: Did Rust kill off Ginger before arriving at the cookhouse?

Doing a rewatch and I noticed a huge plot hole in episode 5.

After all the drama that went down in the previous episode and Ginger finding out that “Crash” was a rat, I feel that leaves a giant question mark about what Rust did with him.

In first thought it was just a simple knock him out and leave him stranded on the side of the road.

However, on the rewatch I noticed Rust told Marty that Ginger was “Wrapped up in a ditch.” After being asked what happened to him.

Sure, he had him bound in duct tape, but it gives the feeling Rust offed him and left him somewhere. The only thing that debunks this in my mind is Rust was in a hurry and didn’t have time to bury him.

However, leaving him alive seems like a huge misstep in keeping himself and Marty safe. Ginger now has intel on him, has seen Marty’s face, and could lead his gang to eventually piece it all together.