Search Continues for Missing Minot Girl - 5/28/2006

MINOT, N.D.— Searchers looking for a missing 3-year-old girl revisited a wildlife refuge northwest of here as well as the area around the girl's home, but police said the search was scaled back as leads continued to dry up.

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

Hundreds of people have been searching for days on the ground, in the air and in the Mouse River. Police Capt. Al Hanson said only about three dozen people were searching on Saturday, and only on the ground.

Three bloodhounds also were brought in from southern North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota, but had not found anything at midday, he said.

"We completed a neighborhood canvas for the fourth time with no positive results,'' Hanson said. "We want to double- and triple-check to make sure we haven't missed anything. Authorities also finished draining a section of the river near the girl's home "as far down as we can get it,'' Hanson said. "The dogs were run past that this morning.''

Searchers on Saturday also returned to the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, where the body of Leigh Cowen, 22, was found in a van Tuesday. Authorities say he knew Reachelle's family and they suspected he had taken the girl.

They said he killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning. Hanson said Cowen had made previous attempts at suicide, though not in Minot.

The captain said Cowen moved to Minot to live with Stephanie Smith, Reachelle's
aunt and legal guardian.

Cowen had grown up with Smith and Samantha Smith, the girl's biological mother, Hanson said.

He said Cowen had told Stephanie Smith that he was Reachelle's father, which she
accepted until Cowen disappeared with the van.

Cowen's mother has been questioned several times in Kansas and authorities say they do not believe she is involved in the girl's disappearance.

Hanson said other people were being interviewed on Saturday, but he
declined to say who they were.

An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank for people to donate toward a reward fund for information.

Hanson said leads called in to police are starting to dwindle, but authorities still hope to find Reachelle alive.

"Obviously, the longer things go on, statistically the less likely it is to be a search operation,'' he said. "But you're always going to have to hold out some hope.''

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/459228.html

Reachelle Smith is described as white, about 3-foot-4 and weighs about 40 pounds, authorities said. She has brown eyes and straight, light brown hair.

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