Truth; I agree with your earlier post that no matter how Billie phrased it, if she had no involvement or knowledge, she desperately wishes somebody, anybody, would have confirmed that Hailey was where SA said she was. I can also see why she wouldn't have called Hailey and just plain wishes she had, or that Hailey had called her. The "what ifs" have got to be heartwrenching for parents in these case.
Regarding LE's early handling of the case, I was just posting on the same subject so decided to jump off your post.
I think if we had the same information as LE about Hailey's recent background, it would clear some things up regarding the investigation strategy. I think LE makes mistakes all the time; law enforcement is simply a group of people doing its just job to the best of its ability with the information at hand. In this case, as opposed a few others I've followed, I don't see where LE blundered it in the initial stages at all. I don't think LE will release some sensitive information about Hailey's life, nor will the family. Appears they are on the same page in this regards. But here's what we do know:
-Hailey had lived away from home and changed schools at least once in the last year (from DB, not refuted by Billie or Clint).
-Billie and Shawn had a rocky relationship, in Billie's in own words, and there were at least three 911 calls on the same day where the two involved LE and accused each other of having the intent to possibly steel, enter without permission, kill Hailey's mom and dad in a memorable way, take the other one's drugs...
-Hailey was a "daddy's girl", if we take what Billie's friend posted her as fact, and she told her friend MB and a family friend DB that she wanted to live with her dad (Billie has never refuted that Hailey didn't live away from her for periods of time, nor has she refuted that Hailey had been talking about wanting to live with Clint).
Enter Law Enforcement:
LE gets a visit from Billie to report Hailey missing. She's 13 and they've been to Billie's house to follow up on turmoil in the house at least a couple of time in one day. There may have been more. They probably contact a few close family members and friends right away (including MB) to confirm that Hailey is not there - standard procedure. They likely ask some questions that reveal that yes, while Hailey hasn't necessarily run away before, she has left the house for more than just overnight stays at a young age. They probably also hear that Hailey doesn't like mom's boyfriend who is living in the house.
To me, LE would have been ignorant not to consider the possibility of Hailey being a runaway right from the start; she may well be in hiding and not want to be found. In case she's not, they try 3 times to get an Amber alert issued, but the case doesn't fit the criteria.
Meanwhile, LE is physically looking for Hailey and continuing conversations with family and friends. In this process, they are getting inconsistent statements and it is not clear when any blood relatives last saw Hailey alive; it's been a least 1 1/2 days if you count DD's 9 p.m. on 12/26 sighting at the house. In talking with Billie, they learn that SA came home early from work at 1:00 pm 12/27 and his story of what Hailey said. Meanwhile, in talking with SA they learn he claims to have actually gotten home at 3:00 that day and hadn't gone to work at all; he claims he never told Billie he quit/got fired, whatever. Major red flags start waving for LE at this point. They still think Hailey could be a runaway who doesn't want to be found, but also see stories and time lines at the house are not matching up and it's also possible that someone committed a crime against Hailey. Other agencies are brought in, SA's computer is seized, the car is processed, the sheets are taken, the phones of SA and BD are taken into evidence... They are working a parallel investigation within 2 days of the missing person's report; that is clear by the acquisition of SA's computer from his mom's house on 12/30 - as noted in affidavits. Searches continue by LE and community volunteers, hoping Hailey is in hiding and there is no "foul play" involved - so far there is no evidence to support it, However, LE has good reason to believe that Hailey could have been harmed and they therefore continue the criminal investigation, LDTs, interrogations, etc.. to try to narrow down possibilities.
Point is, I fail to see LE as messing this case up at the beginning because they considered and commented about the possibilities or runaway, hiding, no evidence of foul play, and criminal investigation all in a short period of time. I would think they messed up if all the above were not considered and investigated in quick succession and in parallel, just as LE has stated as the case progressed.
JMO....
