I could not reply on the board where you posted the article that eventually hit the USA Today, but I pulled this quote from that article.
Regarding the 1,000 point drop...Anyone with access to the ECN's could have benefitted like this trader did.
"Gensler testified that one trader took a large short position in the E-Mini, selling "on the way down and (continuing) to do so even as the price level recovered." That could indicate that the trader, who wasn't named, was betting on a price decline."