Van Dam Volunteer Sets Up Shop To Help In Search For Missing Boy: Bill Garcia takes lead role.

Union Tribune ^ | May 3, 2002 | Mark Arner

[FresnoDA]

	Van Dam volunteer sets up shop to help in search for missing boy

By Mark Arner
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

May 3, 2002

Elizabeth "Ellie" Elmore's new office is the Moose Lodge at 30th and Date streets.

Spread before Elmore on a fold-up table across from the bar are two laptop computers, a video camera, a cellular phone and several stacks of documents.

About the case

Jahi Turner was reported missing by his stepfather on the afternoon of April 25. Tieray Jones told police he and his stepson were at a playground near 28th and Cedar streets, at the edge of Balboa Park, when Jones walked to a vending machine to buy a soda. The boy was missing when he returned, he said. Police now discount that story, saying they have no evidence the boy was at the playground that day, sources said. Jahi weighs about 30 pounds and is about 30 inches tall. Police ask anyone with information about the boy to call authorities.

San Diego Police Dept.
(619) 531-2000

Crime Stoppers
(619) 235-TIPS

Volunteer search line
(619) 570-1070

The 25-year-old San Diego State University graduate student is helping to coordinate the search for 2-year-old Jahi Turner, and throughout the day, scores of concerned residents who want to help come by and talk with Elmore.

This is the second time in a little more than two months that Elmore has looked for a missing child. Earlier this year, she helped in the successful search for the body of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, who prosecutors say was kidnapped while she slept in her bedroom, murdered and dumped off the side of an East County road.

Despite the odds against finding Jahi alive, Elmore, along with the more than 800 residents who have volunteered in the search effort, is not dissuaded.

Elmore is putting 10 to 12 hours a day into the endeavor.

"Children are my passion," said Elmore, who is earning a master's degree in elementary education. "I'm a teacher and I wanted to help."

What drew her to the search center?

"A little baby is missing and I felt I had the knowledge from the van Dam search to help," she said. "I have a system of how to organize searchers."

Among the documents on the table are fliers with descriptions of the missing boy, volunteer registration agreements and stacks of blank "hello" name tags for volunteers.

On one computer, Elmore is clicking in the names, descriptions and identification numbers for more than 100 volunteers who strolled into the lodge on a recent day to help.

On the other computer screen are maps of several areas in and around Balboa Park and downtown San Diego.

Volunteers have been concentrating on those areas since Jahi's stepfather told police the boy was missing from a Balboa Park playground after he left the child for about 15 minutes to get a soda from a nearby vending machine.

Police have now discounted that story, saying on Wednesday there is no evidence Jahi was in the park last Thursday, sources said. But Elmore and volunteers say that has not deterred them.

"Nothing had changed for us. We're still searching for Jahi."

By noon yesterday, more than 45 volunteers had shown up.

"The community is so wonderful for coming together for Jahi," Elmore said.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

You have got to be kidding...

I'm absolutely serious. They reported that on KUSI news (Channel 9 in San Diego).

[Freedom2specul8]

Why is garcia still being presented as an investigator? Could the orginal claim have been false? what's the latest scoop?

[MizSterious]

Ok, so what about Garcia's credentials? Are they legit? Someone posted an article stating they weren't.

[MizSterious]

One suspects that if the Jones's would only join a swingers club, that perhaps things would go more smoothly for them.

[MizSterious]

Ohmigawsh, that's IT! TOOTSIE! Excuse me while I pick myself up from the floor--talk about laughing so hard you fall out of your chair....!!

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

One suspects that if the Jones's would only join a swingers club, that perhaps things would go more smoothly for them.

Yep........if they had only planned ahead.

**GIGGLE** I didn't mean to insult Tootsie, but........... ROFL !!!!!!!!!!

[Amore]

If the VD's were smart, they'd be distancing themselves from this case, not cozying up to it. Obviously the stepfather (again, total surprise and shock -- not!) is the guilty culprit, and the child is long cold. But I guess it's too late, y'all are all drawing the parallels between the 2 cases, and I'm sure others in SD are as well.

Although I'm sure it's in vain, I'll point out that Jones flunked the poly, while apparently the VD's did not. But apparently many here regard polygraphs as being on par with voodoo and witchcraft, when in fact they are pretty reliable (& yes of course I know, they can't be admitted into evidence because sometimes -- not often -- they do not yield a correct result).

[RnMomof7]

This is not going to turn out well for the demon..as daddy did it in the Jai case IMHO ....

[RnMomof7]

Actually, Brenda and Damon will now help the couple in private, behind the scenes and not publicly as Brenda did earlier this week. This was announced on KFMB news last night.

I wonder what they call "help"

[RnMomof7]

Most excellent of points, Jaded. It either matters or it doesn't. I guess poor Tie-Ray has no friends at SDPD or doesn't socialize with its retirees.

ochhhhhhhhh

[RnMomof7]

Halfmann....

any significance in the name? knowing the VD's it just might..2 for the price of 1 and all

[RnMomof7]

It was also on Fox

[MizSterious]

I think the parallels are being drawn because of the van Dams involvement. Just can't resist making the comparisons. As to polygraphs--much has been published pro and con. One of the "cons" is that a naturally nervous person can fail, and a sociopath can ace them. That really is why they're not allowed in court. Did Damon take a polygraph? I don't recall hearing anyone but the van Dams say he'd taken one and passed.

[MizSterious]

".as daddy did it in the Jai case IMHO .."

Shhhhh! We're not supposed to look at the parents as suspects. They're VICTIMS, always. (sarcasm mode: off)

[mini_teacup]

Something stinks here (and for once it isnt my babys diaper lol). I think step daddy had something to do with it. Otherwise why are they searching the landfills? Bored? They like the smell? Or to coincedentally go through Feldmans trash? Maybe Damon is helping because ya know, he did have that "feeling" when they found danielle.
Sorry but I used to live in SD. Took the kids to Balboa Park more then once around the same age. I have to say I would have to hurt my husband if he even thought about turning his back on ANY of my 4 kids for 1 min let alone 15. Call me over protective I guess. I dont even leave them alone with their Dr LOL. Then again I even check on my kids at night, dont use drugs, or barhop,or bring home strangers. If I did, and was the VD's...I would be hiding, not publicly humiliating myself and announcing my 'services' in public or private to any other parents whose kid was missing. They may not have killed their daughter, but their actions certainly dont make them poster parents. Then again, maybe I am wrong.....

[MizSterious]

From the KFMB message board:

Anonymous
Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 06:40 pm

The Fourth District of Appeals ruled late this afternoon that the affidavits for the search warrants may be unsealed and shown to the media. News reported maybe as early as Monday.

[Jaded]

Here's an item from another forum: 11 of the 13 VD investigators are at the dump searching for Jahi Turner.

[RnMomof7]

I went to Balboa Park too..(beautiful!) I would leave an olderchild (9 or 10) in one of the covered walk ways while I ran into a shop...BUT never a baby that could wander off...The problem for the dumb is that they think everyone is a stupid as they are:>))

[Jaded]

That could get ugly. So we'll know what Brenda & the D said.

[RnMomof7]

Please keep us flagged