Boyfriend Now Considered Suspect in Hailey's Disappearance
-->By: Austin Kellerman and Tiffany Tatro
Updated: January 14, 2011
Shawn Adkins has not been arrested or taken into custody.
"I would consider him a suspect," said Kampfer. "I would say he's at the top of the pyramid."
At this point, law enforcement tells us Hailey Dunn's case is primarily a criminal investigation. Texas DPS Senior Trooper Sparky Dean and Kampfer have said there are several "persons of interest."
"The focus has been around a lot of leads and information pertaining to Shawn," said Kampfer. There are still other persons of interest being investigated. They are still working on all the aspects related to the criminal side of the investigation."
Adkins is believed to be the last person to see Hailey alive on the afternoon of Monday, December 27. After failing a polygraph test, Adkins has been staying at a home in Dunn, Texas, After initially being open to interviews, he's no longer speaking out at the request of an attorney. On Friday morning, bigcountryhomepage.com obtained two internet videos that appear to show Adkins smoking pot, cursing, and posing in costume with knives.
Billie Dunn says she no longer knows what to think about the man she dated for so many months.
"I just don't know. I am very confused about it and that is why he is not here (her home) because I don't know," said Dunn about whether Adkins was involved in her daughter's disappearance.
Other people are pointing the finger directly at Adkins.
On Thursday's "Nancy Grace" broadcast on HLN, Hailey's paternal grandmother, Connie Jones, said she fears Adkins has done the worst. Jones told Nancy Grace she's afraid Adkins has killed her granddaughter.
Many of the searchers combing through fields and brush in an attempt to find Hailey also have a growing suspicion about Adkins. Some refused to go on camera with KTAB's Tiffany Tatro Thursday fearing retribution from Adkins. Searcher Freda Radcliff told Tatro things aren't looking good.
"I think it's going to be a horrible outcome," said Radcliff. "The fact that he said she could be found in Scurry County and that they should be looking at both of them. They've done something to her."
Additional search warrants obtained by bigcountryhomepage.com Thursday show investigators seized several electronics from Hailey Dunn's home in an effort to learn more about her whereabouts. They also took a computer from the home of Shawn Adkins' mother that Adkins is believed to have used. The contents of those devices and items were not revealed.
The release of those affidavits followed the release of shocking documents Wednesday that show Billie Dunn and Shawn Adkins failed polygraph exams concerning Hailey's disappearance, held a party after reporting her missing, purchased illegal drugs, and continue to change the stories they're giving to investigators.
Despite all the mounting evidence, the community and law enforcement are trying to remain hopeful and optimistic Hailey could still be found alive. Volunteers are planning additional searches around the town of Dunn on Friday.
Officials now say the information that leads to Hailey's safe return is $15,000. They previously estimated much higher at $25,000.







