I just called the local sheriff's department and spoke to a sergeant there, letting him know that there are people in our area who want to form a search party for JR. He said that he would "discourage that at the moment because there are ongoing operations with that. We don't want anyone involved in a search that could disturb our areas, not at this point in time." When I asked if they're doing searches or have done them, he said, "We have planned and ongoing operations and plans for searches and K-9s in the area. I can tell you that we're doing everything possible to find Jennifer." He also said "Thanks so much for calling first, before you guys went out, because it's important not to do that, especially not today or this coming week."
Yes, I was specifically told by a Chenango County Sheriff via phone, to not allow an interested search party group to search for Jennifer. This makes sense given the fact that the SAR team appears on their way!
As for alienating the public, I still don't get the angle of the people who created the FB page for her. I've seen SO many posts on the Missing FB deleted after the poster's offered to help (not just with search party). Why not just say "we don't want the scene disturbed" if in fact they knew of the SAR team's pending arrival? What they seem to be saying instead is "We don't want your help, unless it's just to share a pic."
Oh wait, I'm arm-chair-sleuthing. Sorry!
Today, I was in a neighboring town, and the person I was visiting hadn't heard that Jennifer was missing. She's lived in that town for 40+ years and knows everyone. She has 10 foster children in her home, many of whom are teens, and none of them have heard either. That said, me asking her about Jennifer triggered a memory she had earlier about a person handing out "some kind of flyer" to her garbage collector.
As an aside, I heard from a friend of the family's who said that Jennifer's friends and family are reading posts in this forum, and that Jennifer's mom and dad have in fact, been traveling back and forth from AZ to NY.
As another aside, I started a FB page a few days ago with the words "Help Find Her" next to Jennifer's name, and her husband wrote on the wall asking whoever created the page to contact him. I did so, and haven't heard anything back.
This case is bizarre. Can I say "bizarre" or is that too much arm-chair sleuthing too?
In any case, if my child/husband/sister/friend/other-love-one were missing, I would be so grateful for all the interest shown in the case on this site. As a newbie here, I don't see people's posts here as being "drawn by drama" as the "reporter" insinuates, or for "fun" as he outwardly states. Rather, I see a bunch of wonderful people wanting to help by offering ideas and thoughts. Silence is not golden in this case...
JMO