ARCHIVED ARTICLE: Leads Starting To "Dry Up" - 5/28/2006

Leads Starting To "Dry Up"
May 28 2006 12:00AM
http://www.kxmc.com/

(AP) _ The search for a missing three-year-old Minot girl has ``pretty much been shut down.''

That's according to police Captain Al Hanson. He says if there are any new leads, they will be checked out.

Reachelle Smith has not been seen since the night of May 16th.

Searches this week have been done on the ground and in the air. Hanson says today's search was only on the ground. And there were fewer people out searching.

Three bloodhounds brought in last night helped out. Hanson says the search was in a number of areas, including around the girl's home and at a wildlife refuge northwest of Minot.

That was where the body of 22-year-old Leigh Cowen was found in a van Tuesday. Authorities say he knew Reachelle's family and they suspected he had taken the girl.

The area had been searched previously but Hanson says leads are starting to dry up.