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.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
ARCHIVED ARTICLE: Search Continues For Missing Minot Girl - 5/28/2006
Search Continues For Missing Minot Girl
May 28 2006 12:00AM
http://www.kxmb.com/
Police Captain Al Hanson says the bloodhounds and their handlers searched sections of the Mouse River ... a park ... and a gravel pit near town.
Hanson says the search dogs will be used again tomorrow to search the entire length of the Mouse River in Minot.
Hanson says additional air and ground searches are planned this week.
He says leads have dried up but any new ones will be checked out.
Reachelle has not been seen since the night of May 16th.
An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank for people to donate toward a reward fund for information.
Police also are asking area residents to check sheds, bushes and vehicles on their property.
Hanson says authorities still hope to find Reachelle alive.
May 28 2006 12:00AM
http://www.kxmb.com/
Police Captain Al Hanson says the bloodhounds and their handlers searched sections of the Mouse River ... a park ... and a gravel pit near town.
Hanson says the search dogs will be used again tomorrow to search the entire length of the Mouse River in Minot.
Hanson says additional air and ground searches are planned this week.
He says leads have dried up but any new ones will be checked out.
Reachelle has not been seen since the night of May 16th.
An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank for people to donate toward a reward fund for information.
Police also are asking area residents to check sheds, bushes and vehicles on their property.
Hanson says authorities still hope to find Reachelle alive.
ARCHIVED ARTICLE: Search For Missing Minot Girl Continues - 5/27/2006
Search For Missing Minot Girl Continues
May 27 2006 12:00AM
http://www.kxmb.com/
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.
May 27 2006 12:00AM
http://www.kxmb.com/
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.
Friday, March 23, 2007
ARCHIVED ARTICLE: Search For Missing North Dakota Girl Being Shut Down - 5/27/2006
Search For Missing North Dakota Girl Being Shut Down
May 27 2006 12:00AM
http://www.ap.org
Associated Press
Minot, N.D. - Searchers looking for a missing 3-year-old girl began winding down their efforts on Saturday after bloodhounds failed to turn up any trace of Reachelle Smith.
Police Capt. Al Hanson said any new leads would be checked out, but "we've had virtually no leads coming in," he said. "(The search) has pretty much been shut down."
Searches might resume in the coming days, but nothing was scheduled Sunday, Hanson said.
Reachelle 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. Hanson said only about three dozen people searched on Saturday, and only on the ground.
They revisited a wildlife refuge northwest of Minot as well as the area around the girl's home.
Three bloodhounds were brought in from southern North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota.
"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.
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, who had sometimes cared for Reachelle, had moved to Derby, Kan. She has been questioned several times in Kansas, and authorities say they do not believe she is involved in the girl's disappearance.
Police on Saturday also asked area residents to check sheds, bushes and vehicles on their property.
"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."
May 27 2006 12:00AM
http://www.ap.org
Associated Press
Minot, N.D. - Searchers looking for a missing 3-year-old girl began winding down their efforts on Saturday after bloodhounds failed to turn up any trace of Reachelle Smith.
Police Capt. Al Hanson said any new leads would be checked out, but "we've had virtually no leads coming in," he said. "(The search) has pretty much been shut down."
Searches might resume in the coming days, but nothing was scheduled Sunday, Hanson said.
Reachelle 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. Hanson said only about three dozen people searched on Saturday, and only on the ground.
They revisited a wildlife refuge northwest of Minot as well as the area around the girl's home.
Three bloodhounds were brought in from southern North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota.
"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, who had sometimes cared for Reachelle, had moved to Derby, Kan. She 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.
Police on Saturday also asked area residents to check sheds, bushes and vehicles on their property.
Hanson said 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."
ARCHIVED ARTICLE: Search For Missing Girl Continues - 5/26/2006
Search For Missing Girl Continues
May 26 2006 12:00AM
http://www.kfyr.com/
Minot, N.D. (AP) _ The search for three-year-old Reachelle Smith of Minot is now focused on a portion of the Mouse River and the city landfill.
Smith was last seen the night of May 16th.
Crews yesterday sifted through garbage in the landfill and began drawing down the Mouse River channel near the girl's home.
Minot Police Captain Al Hanson says the drawdown of the river's channel around Minot's Oak Park will likely take two days.
The body of 22-year-old Leigh Cowen was found in a van at the refuge, after an apparent suicide. He was believed to have taken the child.
May 26 2006 12:00AM
http://www.kfyr.com/
Minot, N.D. (AP) _ The search for three-year-old Reachelle Smith of Minot is now focused on a portion of the Mouse River and the city landfill.
Smith was last seen the night of May 16th.
Crews yesterday sifted through garbage in the landfill and began drawing down the Mouse River channel near the girl's home.
Minot Police Captain Al Hanson says the drawdown of the river's channel around Minot's Oak Park will likely take two days.
A search of a wildlife refuge northwest of Minot earlier this week turned up no
trace of Reachelle.
The body of 22-year-old Leigh Cowen was found in a van at the refuge, after an apparent suicide. He was believed to have taken the child.
ARCHIVED ARTICLE: Police Check With Experts As Search Continues For 3-Year-Old - 5/26/2006
Police Check With Experts As Search Continues For 3-Year-Old
May 26 2006 12:00AM
http://www.ap.org
Associated Press
Minot, N.D. - Police say they have spoken with FBI behavioral scientists as well as psychics in their search for 3-year-old Reachelle Smith.
The search for the child continued Friday in her home neighborhood. She was last seen the night of May 16.
Police Capt. Al Hanson said investigators had a conference call with FBI behavioral scientists for about an hour to discuss the case and sent them tapes from interviews "to pore through and see if there's anything that they think we've missed."
"We've got some dogs in, we're going to try to bring some more dogs in, just to double, triple check," Hanson said. "We have two experts from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children here, helping us. Of course, the behavioral scientists - we're reaching out to anything and everything that we can think of.
"Psychics have given general suggestions, such as water or tall grass, he said, and all leads are checked out.
"I'd be lying if I said we didn't think the possibility exists that she could be dead, because we're searching garbage dumps and rivers and such, but we want to cover all our bases," he said. "I still think there's a possibility that she's alive."
Crews sifted through garbage in the city landfill on Thursday and began drawing down the Mouse River channel near the girl's home. The landfill search turned up no sign of her. Hanson said the drawdown of the river channel would take a couple of days.
A search Thursday of Roosevelt Park in central Minot also came up empty, Hanson said. About 20 off-duty police officers volunteered to search the park, he said.
The Upper Souris Wildlife Refuge was searched earlier, after the body of Leigh Cowen, 22, was found in a van there Tuesday. Authorities suspected he had taken Reachelle. They said he killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning, but there was no sign of the child.
Reachelle Smith was put to bed at about 10:30 p.m. on May 16 at her home in Minot and was missing the next day, police said. She lived with her aunt, Stephanie Smith, who was her legal guardian, police said. Her and her mother, Samantha Smith, have said she has asthma and needs treatment.
Police suspicions centered on Cowen after he told Stephanie Smith that Reachelle was with his mother, who had sometimes cared for the girl, and then disappeared, Hanson said. Police later learned that Cowen's mother did not know the girl's whereabouts and issued an Amber Alert.
"Mr. Cowen gave an explanation to the custodial mother and that was, in her mind, enough to go on until he disappeared and the vehicle disappeared. She started to question that and followed up," Hanson said.
Cowen's mother has been questioned several times in Kansas, Hanson said. "We have no reason to believe that she's involved," he said.
May 26 2006 12:00AM
http://www.ap.org
Associated Press
Minot, N.D. - Police say they have spoken with FBI behavioral scientists as well as psychics in their search for 3-year-old Reachelle Smith.
The search for the child continued Friday in her home neighborhood. She was last seen the night of May 16.
Police Capt. Al Hanson said investigators had a conference call with FBI behavioral scientists for about an hour to discuss the case and sent them tapes from interviews "to pore through and see if there's anything that they think we've missed."
"We've got some dogs in, we're going to try to bring some more dogs in, just to double, triple check," Hanson said. "We have two experts from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children here, helping us. Of course, the behavioral scientists - we're reaching out to anything and everything that we can think of.
"Psychics have given general suggestions, such as water or tall grass, he said, and all leads are checked out.
Hanson said he still hopes to find Reachelle alive.
"I'd be lying if I said we didn't think the possibility exists that she could be dead, because we're searching garbage dumps and rivers and such, but we want to cover all our bases," he said. "I still think there's a possibility that she's alive."
Crews sifted through garbage in the city landfill on Thursday and began drawing down the Mouse River channel near the girl's home. The landfill search turned up no sign of her. Hanson said the drawdown of the river channel would take a couple of days.
A search Thursday of Roosevelt Park in central Minot also came up empty, Hanson said. About 20 off-duty police officers volunteered to search the park, he said.
The Upper Souris Wildlife Refuge was searched earlier, after the body of Leigh Cowen, 22, was found in a van there Tuesday. Authorities suspected he had taken Reachelle. They said he killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning, but there was no sign of the child.
Reachelle Smith was put to bed at about 10:30 p.m. on May 16 at her home in Minot and was missing the next day, police said. She lived with her aunt, Stephanie Smith, who was her legal guardian, police said. Her and her mother, Samantha Smith, have said she has asthma and needs treatment.
Police suspicions centered on Cowen after he told Stephanie Smith that Reachelle was with his mother, who had sometimes cared for the girl, and then disappeared, Hanson said. Police later learned that Cowen's mother did not know the girl's whereabouts and issued an Amber Alert.
"Mr. Cowen gave an explanation to the custodial mother and that was, in her mind, enough to go on until he disappeared and the vehicle disappeared. She started to question that and followed up," Hanson said.
Cowen's mother has been questioned several times in Kansas, Hanson said. "We have no reason to believe that she's involved," he said.
ARCHIVED ARTICLE: Search For Missing Girl Continues In Minot - 5/26/2006
Search For Missing Girl Continues In Minot
May 26 2006 12:00AM
http://www.kfyr.com/
Minot, N.D. (AP) _ Minot Police say they're getting help from F-B-I behavioral scientists as they continue their search for three-year-old Reachelle Smith.
Captain Al Hanson says investigators had a conference call with the behavioral scientists for about an hour. He won't discuss details. But he says the F-B-I scientists will check to see if there's anything police have missed.
Searches of the Minot landfill and the Upper Souris Wildlife Refuge northwest of the city have turned up no trace of the girl, who's been missing since the night of May 16th.
Authorities also want to search the channel of the Mouse River around Minot's Oak Park, where Reachelle lived. Today, Hanson says they plan another check of the neighborhood and sites near Surrey, and plan to bring in dogs to double-check and triple-check some areas.
Hanson says some psychics have given general suggestions, and authorities are checking out all leads.
The body of 22-year-old Leigh Cowen was found in a van at the Upper Souris refuge earlier this week, after an apparent suicide.
He was believed to have taken the child. But authorities found no trace of her.
Hanson says Cowen's mother, who moved to Kansas, has been questioned several times and there's no reason to believe she's involved.
May 26 2006 12:00AM
http://www.kfyr.com/
Minot, N.D. (AP) _ Minot Police say they're getting help from F-B-I behavioral scientists as they continue their search for three-year-old Reachelle Smith.
Captain Al Hanson says investigators had a conference call with the behavioral scientists for about an hour. He won't discuss details. But he says the F-B-I scientists will check to see if there's anything police have missed.
Searches of the Minot landfill and the Upper Souris Wildlife Refuge northwest of the city have turned up no trace of the girl, who's been missing since the night of May 16th.
Authorities also want to search the channel of the Mouse River around Minot's Oak Park, where Reachelle lived. Today, Hanson says they plan another check of the neighborhood and sites near Surrey, and plan to bring in dogs to double-check and triple-check some areas.
Hanson says some psychics have given general suggestions, and authorities are checking out all leads.
The police captain says he still has hope of finding Reachelle alive, and that's
why police continue asking people to check for any sign of her.
The body of 22-year-old Leigh Cowen was found in a van at the Upper Souris refuge earlier this week, after an apparent suicide.
He was believed to have taken the child. But authorities found no trace of her.
Hanson says Cowen's mother, who moved to Kansas, has been questioned several times and there's no reason to believe she's involved.
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