Attorney for Dunn Suspect Says Adkins Wrongfully Accused

Attorney Sidney Lyle, of Odessa, spoke with bigcountryhomepage.com over the phone earlier today but declined requests to have the conversation recorded for playback. Lyle also said he didn't feel it was time to do an on camera interview.

Lyle acknowledged that he was Adkins' attorney. He also confirmed he's told his client not to speak with anyone about the case.

During the call, Lyle said he felt he was making some progress in the case but said law enforcement needed to get farther into their investigation before he could comment about where things stood. He noted his client has been wrongfully accused.

Lyle seemed to indicate he would be making a statement on Adkins' behalf or be willing to do an interview alongside Adkins sometime in the near future.

Reporters for both KTAB and KRBC have continued to knock on the door of the home where Adkins is staying in Dunn. Each time, requests for an interview are declined. KTAB News has corresponded with Adkins via his Myspace account within the last week. However, Adkins has not consistently responded to those messages.

Adkins is the boyfriend of the missing 13-year-old's mother. Investigators believe Adkins was the last person to see Hailey on Monday, December 27 at their home on Chestnut Street in Colorado City. Adkins is the only person to be named as a suspect in her disappearance.

He has been holed up at a home in Dunn since failing a polygraph exam on Wednesday, January 5. Adkins and other "persons of interest" in the case are under 24-7 surveillance by law enforcement.

Though authorities have labeled Adkins a suspect, he has not been arrested. Colorado City's City Manager Pete Kampfer said law enforcement likely needs to discover more evidence before charging him with a crime.