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 ...
Maybe the police aren't telling us everything they know? Maybe the police are baiting the hook? AND maybe the police are not calling it an abduction, because it is really a murder?
PS...I don't know any of the answers to the questions I just asked :~(
sw
Have they stated that like they have about there not being any evidence of an abduction?
Good points. We haven't heard of any extra foot prints outside the home, or anything disturbed, missing or left behind at the home such as fingerprints that didn't belong there etc.
I know,I don't have the answers either. :0(
All we can do is hope and pray for a good outcome.
I hate to think the worst,but it is lurking in the back of my mind. :(
you spell that Lawn Giland! :-)
So we are led to believe that the perp KNEW he could get in the house UNDETECTED by the grandparents or the dog and gracefully removed the child from the house. No screams, no struggle. Nothing was out of place that we know of. Perp was comfortable just walking her out the front door?
So far, we have a PEFECT undetected kidnapping, which is why LE are hesitant to call it that. And YES, I am aware that the Danielle Van Dam abduction had much the same M.O. So are other people.
sw
Left there 50 years ago, lost some of my local accent.
No,but it was just my opinion.Like I said it could be or couldn't be an abduction,there is just not much to go by.
None of us have any answers and we are all just speculating on what may have happened or not have happened,all we know that this lovely child is not where she is supposed to be,at home with her family.
Thanks... My heart is breaking for this child...
And she was right nearby. Chandra Levy was also found in an area already searched. When we've had girls snatched here in Houston I don't think I've ever heard of them giving up in less than a week. SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING, DAMMIT! And something stinks about this investigation.
This reminds me of the Danielle Van Dam case more than anything else. If there was a registered pedophile living behind them well, Occam's Razor and all that.
Yeah, what in the heck was the deal with that sub-plot? They find a body, it's not Jessica. Well, was in another little girl? Who was it? Was it that girl that disappeared from Florida Childrens Services? Why was there no reporting on the other body? Weird.
I agree.
sw
A moose bit my sister once.
It HAD to be someone known to the family because the dog didn't bark, and there was no forced entry. Sounding like Grandpa to me.
During a dive call once, we found a body that wasn't the person we were looking for, and we also found a body once during a training dive. We identified one, never identified the other. There's lots of stuff under the surface of the water in wildland/urban interfaces.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.