Updated: 6:24 PM Mar 8, 2012
Search volunteers wonder how they missed Paige's body
Paige Birgfeld's family extends beyond bloodlines. Wednesday's identification brought closure to an even larger group that didn't know her personally.
Volunteers spent weeks searching for Paige. For them, it was mixed emotions all around. On the one hand, many were relieved and grateful Paige could finally go home to her family. But they say they searched the location where her remains were dug up around 15 times, and they're almost certain she hasn't been there for the past five years.
It was family, yes, but mostly strangers. For nearly eight weeks, 200 volunteers took turns searching for any clue that would lead them to Paige Birgfeld.
"We spent day and night, day and night searching out there. Searching this whole valley," searcher Don Bedford said. Bedford and his wife spent a year looking for Paige.
"If one of us didn't see something, we'd send in another group to see what we could find," searcher Sandi Antonelli added.
That was the case for the dry creek where Paige's remains were discovered.
"I personally did walk that gulch with Paige's brother and sister-in-law. There was nothing in there that had been turned over or disturbed," Bedford said.
"It is impossible that that little hill would've escaped everybody's notice up until now," Paige's father Frank Birgfeld added
http://www.nbc11news.com/news/headl..._missed_Paiges_remains_141999023.html?ref=023
