ACTIVE SEARCH SD - Serenity Dennard, 9, Children’s Home Society, Pennington County, 3 Feb 2019

[SkipperKey3]

I’m with you. I think it’s possible she could run 3-4 miles. Imo. I have a feeling she’s just right outside the search area. Moo. I’m so frustrated how long it’s taken already. I can’t imagine how awful everyone must feel by now. Prayers for all of them.

The question is - how? That couple that saw her did drive up and down S Rockerville Rd looking for her, but didn't' find her. That would indicate that she left the main road. If she stayed on a side road, it is possible, but those roads certainly don't go in a straight line. If she walked three miles down one of those, she still would be inside the search zone as the crow (or plane) flies, because of the way they curve around. If she left roads altogether, then the terrain was apparently too rough to travel swiftly. Again, in summer conditions it wouldn't be a problem to make your way through such terrain slowly. But in the extreme cold, she would have begun to feel the effects pretty quickly. The one thing she had going for her in this respect was that she had on snow boots, so her feet wouldn't have felt it as quickly, perhaps.

 

[SkipperKey3]

If she got off the road, she would have been slowed down and may have gone in a zigzag or circular manner. Dogs did appear to alert at one location not that far from the facility in early searches, but nothing found.

They mentioned with the latest group of dogs that they went over some of the same ground that had already been checked. I would think the location you are talking about would have logically been included.
Early on they even had portable heat sensors. No luck.

 

[sloane7777]

this is the only case I can think of where I actually hope someone has picked her up and is keeping her

 

[Confusion]

I have no idea if it really means anything, but has it been said how long it took the woman to find someone to tell about having seen her? If she walked inside, found someone immediately and told them, and went right back out, there would have been almost no time for her to disappear. If she went inside, spent 5+ minutes looking for someone to tell, spent a few minutes talking to them, and went back out 10-15 minutes later, she could have gotten a fair distance away and completely out of sight. Is there a secondary road she could have reached in that time?

 

[SkipperKey3]

I have no idea if it really means anything, but has it been said how long it took the woman to find someone to tell about having seen her? If she walked inside, found someone immediately and told them, and went right back out, there would have been almost no time for her to disappear. If she went inside, spent 5+ minutes looking for someone to tell, spent a few minutes talking to them, and went back out 10-15 minutes later, she could have gotten a fair distance away and completely out of sight. Is there a secondary road she could have reached in that time?

I don't think they said for sure. The person that went in did so to drop off a child. There was another person (I think) that stayed in the car and saw Serenity. Did the first person see her and report it, or was it reported after she came back out? I don't know. They did say that the person in the car saw Serenity, but by the time the other person returned, she was out of site. They drove up and down the road to try to find her, but to no avail.
And yes, there is a secondary road a short distance north that she could have reached in that time. At this point, to me that seems like the most likely place she left the main road, although it is possible she headed up the hill into the rocks and hills.
They just don't know.

 

[Caylee Advocate]

A woman near the Black Hills Children's Home makes purple ribbons to honor Serenity Dennard

 

[YaYa_521]

I'm still praying for Serenity but had to step away to let me heart slide back down from my throat. This child has grabbed ahold of my heartstrings and she's not letting go.
Prayers to all who know, love, and are helping find Serenity. May God guide you to Serenity and provide love and support for all.

 

[YaYa_521]

A woman near the Black Hills Children's Home makes purple ribbons to honor Serenity Dennard

SERENITY

I don't know how to make e-ribbons, but here's mine.

 

[SkipperKey3]

I'm still praying for Serenity but had to step away to let me heart slide back down from my throat. This child has grabbed ahold of my heartstrings and she's not letting go.
Prayers to all who know, love, and are helping find Serenity. May God guide you to Serenity and provide love and support for all.

Agreed. She has grabbed hold of all our hearts, I think.
I think we all harbor a small, even if irrational, hope that she will turn up safely. I know I do!

 

[YaYa_521]

A woman near the Black Hills Children's Home makes purple ribbons to honor Serenity Dennard

From the article.

While Facebook blew up with everyone asking questions about the search for Serenity Dennard, Peggy Janecek asked only one question to Serenity's mother. What's her favorite color?

her biggest fear is people forgetting Serenity Dennard.

"I don't want to see this become a cold case or anything like that. I want this to always be on the front burner because this is a mile from my house. I go and drive by these children almost daily sometimes and this hits home," says Janecek.

 

[SkipperKey3]

From the article.

While Facebook blew up with everyone asking questions about the search for Serenity Dennard, Peggy Janecek asked only one question to Serenity's mother. What's her favorite color?

her biggest fear is people forgetting Serenity Dennard.

"I don't want to see this become a cold case or anything like that. I want this to always be on the front burner because this is a mile from my house. I go and drive by these children almost daily sometimes and this hits home," says Janecek.

Good for her!

 

[zencompass]

Agreed. She has grabbed hold of all our hearts, I think.
I think we all harbor a small, even if irrational, hope that she will turn up safely. I know I do!

Serenity has most certainly captured our hearts.

As I mentioned earlier, I still have some hope stuck on me and it won't shake off. There is always hope.

I have so many "if only's" and "what if's" but this morning I thought "if only it had been a summer day or even the fall?"

 

[mrbeansmom]

RAD children ar

yes it does, then come across a child with both!

I have two with both. It's like living a nightmare... :-(

 

[Teche]

I have two with both. It's like living a nightmare... :-(

Hugs! I worked in mental health programs. Can’t imagine the daily struggles of families.

 

[PommyMommy]

Sioux Falls searcher talks about his team's experience looking for Serenity Dennard

Sioux Falls-area Civil Air Patrol ground team that searched for Serenity Dennard in the Black Hills, 2/5/19. Photo by CMSgt Blake Parke.
Cold. Snowy. Slippery.

And that's if you're prepared for the elements like members of a Sioux Falls-area Civil Air Patrol ground team that went to the Black Hills last week to help search for nine-year-old Serenity Dennard.

According to Cadet CMSgt Jacob Roth, 19, from Sioux Falls, it was an arduous mission of climbing up and down snow-covered hills in the cold--at first in CAP-issued combat boots that didn't provide much traction. They were sliding down hills in the ice and snow.

One of the things Roth's ground team did was perform a line search.

"You have a designated team leader who controls the line," Roth said. "You walk forward as one straight horizontal line, searching the Black Hills, looking for clues."

Roth said he didn't hesitate to join the CAP ground team and head to the Black Hills. He said he couldn't imagine anyone being in the cold and snow like Serenity was--and he wanted to help.

He was also impressed by the number of other people from public and private organizations who wanted to also help find Serenity.

"Very cool," Roth said.

 

[Caylee Advocate]

Prayers for Serenity

 

[Steleheart]

HOLDING ON TO HOPE

 

[Savmom]

I'm still praying for Serenity but had to step away to let me heart slide back down from my throat. This child has grabbed ahold of my heartstrings and she's not letting go.
Prayers to all who know, love, and are helping find Serenity. May God guide you to Serenity and provide love and support for all.

Me too. Something about this case has grabbed my heart like only one other has here on WS: Kyron Horman.

Where are you Serenity?

 

[ilovepierre]

Where are you, sweet Serenity?

 

[girlhasnoname]

A woman near the Black Hills Children's Home makes purple ribbons to honor Serenity Dennard

Oh this brought the on the waterworks, and continues to remind me there are still good people on this earth just when I needed it the most. Quote below <changed name to initials>

While Facebook blew up with everyone asking questions about the search for SD, P J asked only one question to Serenity's mother. What's her favorite color?


When PJ found out Serenity's favorite color is purple she made ribbons for her family to wear.


PJ lost her son 10 years ago in a drunk driving crash.. His favorite color was also purple. As a mother who has lost a child, she says hope is what's needed most right now.​