I agree with you that it was pretty late at night when Nora called police to report Kathy missing. I suspect that Nora probably made a few phone calls to the parents of Kathy's friends before she had to call the police.
I was thinking that the next day, perhaps someone from Kathy's family may have went to the donut store and roller rink inquiring about Kathy as they were looking for her. I would guess that they probably called or talked to Kathy's friends and their parents in her neighborhood.
Did the police ever launch a search for Kathy on the next day, or did Kathy's family launched their own search looking for her?
I believe they did.
My father went to Nashville a bunch of times to help Nora. I imagine my father personally walked every route possible from 304 Lutie St. to the rollerdrome and also to the Krispy Kreme, as well as anything anywhere nearby that might attract a young kid's attention (I don't know what was there then, but I think there was a place that sold hotdogs closer to the mall... I've never heard Kathy was going up there, but I'm just saying.. that's a place I know did exist.)
BUT, I don't know that he did this until after Kathy's body was found. We lived some ways away and my father had a full-time job that was even further away. He might have gone up there that Sunday, I will try to see if anyone knows. But, it is possible he did not or he didn't know about it until later. Because he didn't live close no one may have told him until after Kathy's body was found. But, now that I am thinking of it, he would have gone to Nashville that Sunday. So, there is an excellent chance he did search for her (I'll go into this in a sec).
Also, my uncle (who also didn't live close) probably drove up to help.
It was kind of an odd situation that there weren't any nearby men to help with this. Nora's mother was in very ill health at the time (she did recover), but the doctor was afraid she would die. So, Ed (her husband) would have probably stayed by her side at the hospital during much of this. The doctor told them not to say anything about Kathy because he was afraid it would kill her. But, Nora had the excuse of having a young child at home to explain her absence from the hospital. Faye and Linda would have needed to help Nora and help their mom as well. And I don't know how close they were to either Nora or the hospital.
And then there is my father... he DEFINITELY went to see Inez in the hospital. I imagine my at least one of my uncles was there, too.
Now, the good thing is if anyone could get them away from Inez's bedside a minute and tell them about Kathy, they would have immediately driven to Woodbine and started walking the roads looking for her. And obviously, it would not be too difficult to take them aside for a moment. So, that means 2-4 grown men who would cover that neighbhorhood thoroughly. (Two of my uncles lived thousands of miles away, so I am not sure they were there.)
And you know, now that I put all of this together.. THIS IS WHY Kathy was taken. I guarantee this Darrell person (who was related to her father, not to my family) would have known these facts. And this Adcox individual would have known at least some of this just by simple observation... not seeing very many men going around Nora's house.
After Kathy died everyone would have gone to her funeral (except Inez). So, more people to look would have possibly been there.
ETA:
I will try to find out who specifically did what and so forth if it is possible at all at this stage. But, I do believe people tried. People were seriously traumatized after Kathy was found, but I believe they would want to see if they could help if they could. Also, the police would have interviewed at least some of them in case they knew something about who might have been sniffing around Kathy.
My father got asked by the police to join the force at one point. It was a serious request. I don't know if it was around this time.
