I pressed record at the start but missed the very beginning, where he asked the reporters if they had any questions. My transcription begins with where my recording picked up his response :blushing:
Sheriff: "We're just going to continue investigating the case, following up leads which have started to come in, and build on the case from there."
Reporter: We saw that on Mount Pilgrim Road today, there were just the two deputies just kind of keeping an eye on the area. Any plans to search that area again, today or in the coming days?
S: No, not at this point. I think we feel pretty confident that we covered that area pretty well, but certainly in the event that leads or evidence turns us back in that direction , we'll be more than happy to go back out and do that again.
R: So you believe Myra Lewis is still somewhere in this area? Do you believe she's still alive?
S: Yes, I do. I don't have anything that would say otherwise
R: inaudible about previous presser
S: Well the press conference was, I can't go back over it, I mean it's long, but basically it's, the investigation's gone from a search mode to an investigative mode. Follow leads and try to piece the puzzle together and get a happy outcome and get Myra back home.
R: Why do you believe she's still alive?
S: Because I don't have any reason to suggest otherwise and I'm an optimistic person, ok?
R: Realistically, with the temperatures the way they've been, I know you're optimistic, do you believe she's alive even with all the factors, realism playing in?
S: I... I do. I sincerely believe that in my heart, and I feel for the family, we're gonna keep going. I made the statement we're gonna explore every option we can and we're gonna do that. Today the FBI's gonna explain that further. Ok? Alright, one question, go ahead.
R: Why was the mother arrested? I know you said she was charged with a violation, a probation violation that probably just came up. If you're looking for a two-year old child, and you throw her in jail on a probation violation, doesn't that make it hard for her to communicate in the proper way with authorities to try and find the child?
S: You know, there's never a good time to go to jail for anyone, I don't think, but you know she just wasn't thrown in jail. There was a warrant served that was for her arrest, and obviously I'm charged with the duty of serving those warrants. I don't have the discretion to give her that authority. The warrants that are issued by the Judge. I swore to uphold the law and that's part of it.
R: Do you believe the mom had something to do with her disappearance?
S: I'm not gonna answer that.
R: Why take the father, uh why take the children out of the home if the father was not incapacitated any way by the search?
S: Say that again?
R: The children were taken out of the home and put into DHS custody with the father still around.
S: The children were removed based on the DHS investigation. That's their call. I would suggest asking them that, ok? Alright, I'm going to turn things over to Mr. McMullen
to be continued in the next post
Transcription of Presser - Part 2 - excuse my typos
lease: