Timeline of what's happened since Harley Dilly went missing
Dec. 20
According to a post from his mother, 14-year-old Harley Dilly was last seen at Port Clinton High School at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20. He was wearing a maroon puffer jacket. She described him as 4 feet, 9 inches tall and 101 pounds in weight.
Police later stated that Harley was last seen around 7 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 20.
Dec. 22, 10 a.m.
Heather Dilly posts to Facebook that her son is missing and to contact her, her husband Marcus Dilly or Port Clinton police if Harley is seen.
Dec. 22, 1:53 p.m.
The Port Clinton Police Department shares Heather Dilly’s post on Facebook and requests that anyone with information on Harley’s whereabouts contact them at 419-734-3121.
Dec. 22, 11:33 p.m.
Port Clinton Police Chief Hickman posts to Facebook that police, the fire department and Port Clinton Schools conducted an extensive search of the Port Clinton area on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 22. Chief Hickman states that the investigation does not currently not indicate any foul play.
Dec. 23, 7:20 a.m.
Chief Hickman states on Facebook that officers were checking “leads” and continuing to search for Harley though the night. Hickman acknowledges a community search party scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at City Park.
Dec. 23, 8:39 a.m.
News 5 reports on missing Harley Dilly, confirming the 10 a.m. community search party.
Dec. 23, 12:17 p.m.
Chief Hickman posts to Facebook stating that any and all leads about Harley’s disappearance are being investigated. He asks that users stop posting that he has been located, “unless WE the POLICE have actually notified you!”
Hickman also says their phone lines are “busy enough without having to deal with ‘rumors’!"
Dec. 23, 5:23 p.m.
Hickman thanks the community for the tips and assistance, but requests that any future searches be conducted at the request of police.
Dec. 24, 11:21 a.m.
Port Clinton police upgrade Harley’s missing alert to an endangered missing child advisory.
Dec. 24, 6:53 p.m.
Heather Dilly posts to Facebook asking the community to continue to pray, keep their eyes open and share all information to police. She asks Harley to contact them if he sees the post, and thanks Port Clinton police, various individuals and the community at large for their help and support in the search for Harley.
Dec. 25, 8:28 a.m.
Port Clinton police release a surveillance video image they believe shows Harley, captured between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. in the area between Harley’s home on East 5th Street and the Port Clinton High School and Port Clinton Middle School campus.
Dec. 25, 10:28 a.m.
Port Clinton police and the Sandusky co-founder of Bikers Against Abused and Neglected Children each offer $2,000, bringing the total reward to $4,000 for information leading to Harley's safe return.
Dec. 26
Authorities say they had a 150-acre area to search Thursday, Dec. 26. Members of local, state and federal agencies were called in to assist in the search. Around a dozen K-9 teams, multiple drones and two helicopters were used to look for the teen. The search was called off for the night around 5:30 p.m.
Chief Hickman says he believes Harley is still alive until he knows otherwise. Police explain an Amber Alert was not issued because his disappearance did not meet the criteria – there was no evidence Harley was abducted.
Hickman tells News 5 that police responded to the family's home about a month previous after an argument between Dilly and his parents after they took away an electronic device.
Hickman describes Harley's parents as "cooperative" and "distraught" six days after anyone last saw their son.
"In the past when they have a conflict in the residence, Harley will go away for the night," says Hickman. "The first night was not uncommon for Harley to not be there."
Investigators say there was no sign of a struggle in the family's home. They also sent a cadaver dog into the house, but police say it did not find anything unusual.
Dec. 27
The search for Harley goes nationwide, with plans to distribute missing posters across the United States.
Volunteers stream into the Port Clinton Police Department and take thousands of missing posters to hand out.
Chief Hickman asks for the community’s assistance going door-to-door to distribute flyers.
Chief Hickman confirms the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are now involved in the search.
Hickman asks residents to review home security recordings for any sign of Harley or anything suspicious, and to leave their porch lights on at night.
The Port Clinton Police Department posts to Facebook a statement from the Dilly Family.
Dec. 28
The reward for information leading to Harley’s safe return increases to $7,000 thanks to checks from an anonymous donor and two local businesses.
Heather Dilly posts an emotional message and more images of her missing son on Facebook.
Dec. 29
A candlelight vigil is held in Port Clinton with Harley’s family, friends and neighbors.
“You don’t know how it’s tearing us up,” Harley’s grandfather said to News 5 at the vigil. “It can happen to anybody’s child.”
A Port Clinton pastor advised people to ignore hearsay and gossip about the case on social media.
“The goal that is before us and that is to bring Harley home,” Tony Calloway said. “Without question, without speculation, without rumors and gossip.”
Harley’s mother posts another emotional message on Facebook, pleading for Harley to come home, and saying she is “sick of being judged.”
Warning: the post below does contain profanity.
Dec. 30
Ten days after Harley’s disappearance, Port Clinton have no new information, but say they are working tirelessly to bring the boy home. Chief Hickman does not tell News 5 whether anyone is actively searching for the boy, but said local, state and federal law enforcement are working together on the investigation.
Dec. 31
In one of the Port Clinton Police Department's daily updates on Facebook, they advise readers that through the entire investigation, the Dilly family “has fully cooperated and we have no reason to believe they are involved.”
Jan. 2
The reward for information leading to Harley’s return rises to $9,325, thanks to additional contributions from area businesses and donors.
Port Clinton police ask for any security footage from homes or businesses from Thursday, Dec. 19 between 3 p.m. and 12 a.m., and from 12 a.m. on Friday. Dec. 20 to 12 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Jan. 3
Port Clinton police announce that the reward fund is now at $9,825 thanks to two additional donations.
In an on-camera interview with News 5, Heather Dilly says there are “no words” to describe what she and her family are going through.
"You see everything on TV, you watch all these crime shows and you think, 'Oh, that’s never going to happen.' And they solve it in an hour," Heather Dilly said. "It doesn’t take an hour to find out everything. You have subpoenas, you have warrants. It just, it takes a long time."
