Posted on 03/01/2005 6:28:07 AM PST by MisterRepublican
HOMOSASSA, Fla. — The full-scale search for a missing 9-year-old girl ended its final day as law enforcement officers turned to child abduction experts for help.
Investigators and hundreds of volunteer searchers have uncovered little evidence during five days of scouring the rural area where Jessica Lunsford disappeared, and the full-scale search was suspended Monday afternoon.
"To continue this, we would be spinning our wheels," said Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy.
Instead, law enforcement officers were turning to 20 experts from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help crack the case. They planned to focus on a three-quarter mile radius area around Jessica's home.
Jessica's father described the change as a second phase of the investigation. After making a plea for her safe return while choking back tears, he expressed confidence that his daughter would come home.
"Just drop her off. I'll come get her," Mark Lunsford answered when asked what he would say to whoever had Jessica. "I know whoever has got Jessie, they have to have a heart."
He also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support. "It's been overwhelming, the people that have shown up," he said. "It makes me feel real good to know everyone's trying to help me out."
Lunsford said he remains convinced that his daughter did not leave home voluntarily even though authorities have uncovered no evidence she was abducted. He said it's unlikely Jessica was lured away.
"She just didn't go with strangers," Lunsford said. He said authorities also are looking for a stuffed purple dolphin missing from his daughter's room.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
There's something odd about this case, which I think may be a hopeful sign that the girl is at least alive and well.
I heard on FOX News that when they found the body a few days ago that turned out not to be Jessica, they initially didn't tell the grandmother because she wasn't handling this well emotionally. What you saw may have been the initial shock.
Of course polygraphs are infamously inaccurate. They punish the innocent while the most famous spy cases always seem to have the "he red-flagged the polygraph but passede upon retesting" line in them somewhere.
All good liars believe their own lies.
Honest people react to certain questions differently and associate more random thoughts and nervousness to certain subjects and that throws off the little machines.
Sheriff Dawsy seems a lot like Chief Moose.
At this point the case sounds like the Smart case.
Parents said on Headline News that they grilled them for hours and that the law was going to grill the whole area.I would suspect a relative or close friend.
Someone she has had recent contact with like at school or a meeting.
Unfortunately, some people have neither heart or soul. As the days go by, the chances of finding this little girl are getting slimmer :(
Dawsy is a good man, a former New Yorker from Suffolk County
I knew it, he is Moose in disguise. From Lonnnngisland clinches it.
I join you in your prayer for a safe return and a HUGE MIRACLE.
In Jesus name ,Amen.
Just one Question:Have you read the whole article?
The father and grandfather have both been cleared by the FBI.
I would look closely at the father's girl friend and her associates. From different comments he has made on the news, I got the impression that he kept his home/child totally separate/apart from his love life. IF the girl friend resented this and IF she wanted more than he would give because the daughter came first, depending on the character/integrity of this person (not to mention sanity), she might be moved to take the girl out of the picture. Just a theory.
Excellent post.
Praying with you.
BTW, the article says that the police can't find any evidence that this is an abduction. Those are pretty damming conclusions, IMHO.
They do know that she is missing.
sw
Here's what I remember from the first reports:
Her father had been with a friend that night.
Returned home in the morning.
Heard Jessica's alarm going and knew she would be up soon.
Took his shower.
Afterwards, alarm was still going so then he checked and found her missing.
Later reported by media that the friend he had been with was a girlfriend. No big deal that this was withheld initially since it is so personal and the police did know.
Father has taken voice analysis test plus lie detector administered by FBI.
Grandfather has taken voice analysis and will soon (if not already) take lie detector.
I really fear for this girl.
I've heard that, but all of the cases I'm aware of where the person failed one they really were guilty and where they passed them they really were innocent.
I am not saying there can be false positives and negatives, but I'm more aware of their accuracy. Which is why they are used as a tool.
Actually, my recollection is most people suspected Smith within short order. I know I did. In fact, I remember my husband, who doesn't follow such things as closely as I do, getting a little mad at me when I told him almost right off the bat that I thought she had done something with those kids. He thought I was being too cynical.
Yup...I suspected her quickly, too.
Still, I remember my mother coming by to visit right after the official announcement was made that she was arrested. I was crying and when I told Mom she said "Well, we all knew that" ("that" being that Susan Smith was the perp). I said I knew that but still hearing it confirmed was so heart-breaking. And my own daughter was just a baby at the time.
Oh, that was a gut-wrenching situation with that car.
Anyway, just confirming your recollection is spot on. Most people were on to Smith.
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