Volunteers Search, Authorities Hit Streets Saturday in Dunn Case
By: Bigcountryhomepage.com Staff Reports
Updated: January 8, 2011
Volunteers have a handful of searches planned for early Saturday as they search for any clues into the disappearance of 13-year-old Hailey Dunn. Dunn vanished December 27 and hasn't been seen since.
As volunteers search wooded and unpopulated areas, law enforcement personnel plan to continue going door to door in the small town of 4,000, located halfway between Abilene and Midland.
City Manager Pete Kampfer says officers may be in plain clothes and will likley be working in pairs. Kampfer says there's no reason for residents to be alarmed if law enforcement comes knocking on your door.
"They're asking very specific questions as they do searches, as they conduct their search," added Kampfer. "They have a very detailed script that has a focused questionnaire that may help us fill in any voids from the first search that we did."
Volunteers began their searching as soon as the sun came up. The largest of the organized searches appeared to be taking place at 9:30 a.m. Those interested in assisting were asked to meet at the Old Dollar General parking lot on Oak Street in Colorado City.
Kampfer said law enforcement was not directly involved with these grassroot search parties. He made it clear they're looking at them as a good thing.
"We're staying with that from a positive perspective," added Kampfer.
Volunteers kicked off their grassroots searching effort Friday. A group of more than 100 volunteers met in the early part of the afternoon outside the Mitchell County Courthouse.
As of Friday afternoon, one of the country's most elite search groups was preparing to possibly come to Colorado City to aid authorities and volunteers. Texas Equusearch says its been contacted by the Dunn family to assist. TES has been in contact with law enforcement and tells bigcountryhomepage.com its waiting for the "go ahead."
Officials now say the information that leads to Hailey's safe return is $15,000. They previously estimated much higher at $25,000.
