At what point do you start searching fields and wooded areas? I don't want to give up hope, but am afraid as time passes more clues could be overlooked.
In cases we've discussed here on WS, which are many, searches can be very useful even in the first 24 hours. When bad things happen, people get careless. They discard evidence, make suspicious purchases on videotape, drive around in the middle of nowhere then tell police they spent the day at home alone. The longer evidence sits the bigger chance of it being scavenged by wildlife or destroyed by the elements.
I understand that it sounds harsh to be critical of the local PD. I feel safe in saying that most of us who watch these types of missing children cases can plainly see deficiencies in the way CCPD is portraying itself in the public and the media. They leave the impression that calling Hailey a runaway, which sounds like blaming the victim, somehow explains the lack of progress in finding her. Quotes from Chief Bivins himself acknowledge that they were back at square on after several days of investigation. The lastest official info available is several days old, and promotes a theory which denies clear evidence that Hailey most probably has met with foul play; no money, no suspicious communications, no gossip from close friends, no threats of running off, and social network pages with very sporadic posts about cute babies, belief in God, Love of family,petty name calling among peers, and being bored with Nana. Girls who run away have very different things on their webpages! Hailey's "Heros" are her Daddy and her big brother, for goodness sake!
There is a time for being careful not to offend grown adults, and that time is not when a child's life is at stake and local police appear to be getting no closer to finding her. I love police officers, they risk their lives to protect us, but in this case, it appears they need some help from someone very experienced in finding missing children who have met with foul play.
Whew! That's my opinion, for what it's worth. Redcat , you are wonderful to be keeping Hailey in the news. I am sure the police are hardworking and exhausted and have done the absolute best they can. Maybe CCPD could use your public relations skills to clear up widespread misperceptions, if we are mistaken!
(MOO all over the place!)
