UPDATE: No Evidence of Foul Play in Dunn Disappearance
By: Bigcountryhomepage.com Staff Reports
Updated: January 9, 2011
Saturday evening, Senior Trooper Sparky Dean told KTAB's Tiffany Tatro investigators and searchers hadn't found any evidence to indicate foul play in the disappearance of Hailey Dunn.
While no one is ruling out foul play at this point, Dean said the case could still be a runaway.
Dean says searchers hope to complete efforts in Dunn this evening and will then work their way south towards Colorado City.
Saturday, 11:00 a.m. Update:
Colorado City City Manager Pete Kampfer tells KTAB's Tiffany Tatro law enforcement will be focusing in on the town of Dunn Saturday after going door-to-door in Colorado City Friday.
Kampfer says a temporary command post is being set up in the small town approximately 12 miles north of Colorado City.
"There are several areas of interest that will be explored by law enforcement officers," said Senior DPS Trooper Sparky Dean in a new release. "Some of these will be searched today and others possibly at a later date."
Dunn is where searchers discovered oil field glasses and a knife sheath in a stream Friday evening. A volunteer searcher also told KTAB's Tiffany Tatro they discovered tire tracks leading to an empty field. The searcher said authorities were alerted.
Law enforcement can't yet confirm they've visited that location.
All of the discoveries occured within a mile of a home where the boyfriend of Hailey's mother is believed to be staying.
Again, Kampfer says none of the developments or discoveries made by the volunteer search parties can be tied directly back to Hailey's disappearance.
Senior Trooper Sparky Dean says he expects officers to complete the canvas of Hailey’s immediate neighborhood today.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. Update:
Some items discovered by searchers late Friday have raised the eyebrows of investigators in the disappearance of 13-year-old Hailey Dunn.
Colorado City City Manager Pete Kampfer confirmed authorities were looking at two items discovered in a stream near the home of one of Shawn Adkins' relatives. Adkins is the boyfriend of Hailey's mother, Billie Dunn. It's believed Adkins may be staying at the home, according to the CBS affiliate in Midland.
Kampfer told KTAB News someone located oil field glasses as well as a knife sheath.
At this point, authorities have no reason to believe they're connected to the case. However, they plan to follow all leads.
Because the stream where the items were discovered is so close to the home where Adkins might be staying, crews from the Midland CBS affiliate knocked on the door of the home to see if they could speak with Adkins about the findings.
A male reportedly came to the door and told CBS 7 crews, "our attorney has advised us to not speak with anyone. No comment".
As investigators take tips and continue to interview those who knew and came in contact with Hailey, they report no single key theory in Hailey's disappearance has emerged.
"We're looking at anybody, we're looking at everybody," said Texas Department of Public Safety Senior Trooper Sparky Dean. "We aren't focused on one person or one or two people. There's no smoking gun out there."
At this point, authorities still have no suspects in the teen's disappearance. Dean tells bigcountyrhomepage.com that can be typical in an investigation of this nature.
"Everything takes time," said Dean. "Not everyone is forthcoming with interviews and telling the truth. It doesn't mean they're guilty of something. They may just not be comfortable talking to a police officer."
Authorities seized new evidence Friday from the Dunn household. KTAB cameras were rolling as law enforcement took away one of Billie Dunn's vehicles as well as an X-Box from the home. Law enforcement told KTAB's Tiffany Tatro they were looking for any clues regarding Hailey's disappearance. The vehicle is expected to be taken to professionals to be inspected.
Hailey's mother, Billy Dunn, also spent a few hours Friday evening speaking with Texas Rangers about the investigation. Dunn told bigcountryhomepage.com she gave authorities another statement and was given the option to speak with a grief counseler.
Billie Dunn was joined by Hailey's father Clint Dunn outside the home after she returned. Both declined to do on-camera interviews. The pair did, however, wish to express frustration about not being kept in the loop regarding the investigation.
When asked whether they had anything they wanted to say to the public, Hailey's father spoke out.
"Don't forget, just please don't forget (about Hailey) until we bring her home," Clint Dunn said.
Officials now say the information that leads to Hailey's safe return is $15,000. They previously estimated much higher at $25,000.
