Deputies say items found during search for Haleigh of "no significance"
Sense of gloom falls over family, community as hunt enters fifth day
<img name="prti" style="width: 1px; height: 1px; float: none;" height="1" width="1">
SATSUMA - Items of interest found Friday during a search for Haleigh Ann-Marie Cummings were of "no significance" and a search today has turned up nothing so far, a Sheriff's Office official said this afternoon.
The bad news came as a growing sense of gloom and hopelessness for the well-being of Haleigh, 5, has fallen over the 40-pound girls south Putnam County neighborhood during the fifth day of the search.
Family, volunteers and town residents said they are worried Haleigh is dead. Police said they are frustrated they have not found the little girl, but remain optimistic they will do so.
More than 250 people on horseback, all-terrain vehicles and foot resumed their search of thick scrubland and woods about 9 a.m. Dive teams also continued searching in the St. Johns River about 300 yards from Haleigh's home.
The land search will resume tomorrow, but the water search will be suspended Sunday unless further information is developed, said Chief Rick Ryan of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
Ryan said today's search didn't find anything suspicious. He wouldn't identify the items of interest found Friday, but said they turned out not to be useful. He said police welcome any discoveries made by the searchers.
"If it didn't grow there, we want to look at it," he said.
Today's search for the strawberry blonde-haired girl went through early periods of rain and dark skies, reflecting the mood of those hoping to still find Haleigh alive. Despite a partly sunny afternoon, the glum faces of family, friends and volunteers provided a continued sense of concern for Haleigh's safety.
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/me...y_of_search_for_haleigh_brings_sense_of_gloom