Thursday morning press conference notes. Sheriff Davis making statement.
Sheriffs office, FBI, Virginia Police, Pulaski Police, NCMEC, all on site and still working.
Local volunteer fire depts, trained dogs, other searchers still on the job.
Currently 45 investigators solely working this incident around the clock.
Investigative portion is following up on tips from phone calls, local resident interviews. Over 100 tips generated through phone calls, traffic stops and interviews.
Investigators are repeatedly interviewing residents, their children, repeatedly, coming at all times to make sure they catch people.
Parents have been completely cooperative. Parents are in deep anguish. Please do not judge them, they are living a nightmare which most of us don't have to experience.
An interview with the family consists of 5 min of talking and 5 min of recuperating.
Armchair analysts on the internet, please keep uninformed opinions and distractions to yourself.
National Missing Children's network has already started distributing photos and flyers - all their flyers are accurate.
There is not enough descriptive information to believe an Amber Alert would help rescue this child. We don't know where he is, if he's with someone, if he is who it is or what the car is like. Scarce information in an Amber Alert can hurt more than it helps. We haven't met the stipulations required with Noah.
Media coverage is more important than Amber Alerts at this point. If information is found that would legitimize and Amber Alert, one will be issued.
Search has searched buildings numerous times. Now they are doing second and third searches with dogs in outlying buildings.
Command center has moved to a new location due to weather and access. Old command post was in private land, new command post will be at the fair grounds.
Search operations will continue today. LE is searching roadsides today, double checking things they've already covered.
If you have any evidence, anything, please call.
Question : It's odd that parents aren't going on camera. Have you talked with them?
Sheriff : We've spoken at length. This is unique because we all deal with grief differently. They are feeling helpless and are dealing with grief. At some point they or a family member will likely come forward but for now they are dealing with grief.
Question : There is some confusion on the timeline
Sheriff : Ashley came home and Noah wanted to watch cartoons at 7a. During that time period she was up until 8:15a. At one point she did take a nap and when she awoke around 10:30a she discovered Noah was missing.
Question : Has other family seen Noah publicly recently
Sheriff : He was at school Friday. Other people have seen him publicly but not since Sunday.
Question : You are confident he isn't in local ponds, have you checked (couldn't hear) lake?
Sheriff : Noah is 5. We haven't ruled out he might have been abducted. At the same time there is a massive ground search. People ask why are you searching so much ground and that's simply because we can and we will. Variables will make cases different from each other and with studies on how far a child may travel we keep that in mind. We have constant air support. (This was confusing)
Question : Any evidence which proves the family was in fact home on Sunday morning?
Sheriff : At this time, no. We have family statements and their timeline, that Noah was alive and well on Saturday night.
Question : Has the family taken a polygraph?
Sheriff : That's part of the investigation I wont get into
Question : Do they have a lawyer
Sheriff : They have sought legal advice
Question : Is a lawyer present during questioning?
Sheriff : No. This family has been very cooperative. Very cooperative. Their call not to face the media is understandable to me. Maybe not to people who judge them from afar and have not dealt with this situation have different opinions.
Question : Have you dealt with a situation like this before?
Sheriff : Yes. We've had cases like this which have lasted far longer.
Sheriff : I understand the need for people to have answers. Everyone wants to know what is happening and for us to find Noah, that is our goal. Police will not say or do anything which compromises the search or investigation.
Question : It's going to get cold, he's been out a long time, does that concern you?
Sheriff : I don't speculate if Noah is alive. I pray he is. It's all a factor (Weather, terrain, age, size). We can only hope and pray if he has been abducted that he is being taken care of.
Sheriff : Tips are coming from all over the country.
Sheriff : We have searched the family home and surrounding area more than 3 times. We did not need a warrant, parents were cooperative.
Question : Is there surveillance footage video of Noah which you can comment on?
Sheriff : I cannot comment on that but we have secured every footage in Pulaski county.
Question : Are there any suspects or credible leads?
Sheriff : We have a number of credible leads, no suspects or persons of interest. In an investigation like this you start in the home, then you look at family members, neighbors, friends, co-workers, acquaintances. In our effort to ensure Noah's safety we are looking at all these areas. But every call is important. We ask for friends and people associated with Noah to contact us and help us understand.
Question : Any detail on these credible leads?
Sheriff : A car was observed in the neighborhood which nobody knew. But this is a heavily traveled area on Sunday morning.
Question : Nobody saw Noah out and about on Sunday morning?
Sheriff : No
Question : Can you gauge how long the search effort will continue?
Sheriff : It will eventually dwindle. You'll run out of people, resources and hope over time. Armchair legal analysts want us to search a certain area, I ask them why. If you can tell me why.
Question : What is the plan for search today
Sheriff : We have areas we will search again. Other new areas. Anywhere that we have cause to look, we will look.
Question : Where specifically?
Sheriff : Outlying areas within our search grids, picked and researched. We want to walk away feeling we have done the best we can. I have never worked a case with this much support. We have 28 FBI agents working with us. Their sole goal, like ours, is to find Noah.
