Missing Reachelle Smith Update - 2/21/2007

Missing Reachelle Smith Update

2/21/2007

Police say while there is no new evidence in the Reachelle Smith case they are still checking up on every lead they receive.

While leads are few and far between authorities still hope she will be found alive. Authorities considered Leigh Cowen a main suspect and say his strange behavior and many lies indicate he had something to do with her disappearance.

Reachelle`s family was eliminated from the suspect list early on after questioning and a lie detector test.

Police receive leads fairly often and most of the new information that police receive comes from outside of North Dakota.

"If they give us a description of the little girl, in every case where we have been able to find that girl we have been able to determine it wasn`t Reachelle. We are still following up on every lead we get. I have told people I would just as soon follow up on 100 new leads that are not her as disregard one that was," says Sergeant Jason Sundbakken from the Minot Police Department.

Seargent Sundbakken did say the recent case of the 2 Missouri boys who were found alive has given them fresh hope.

He says this case will never close until they are able to bring Reachelle home to her family.