Hailey's Tearful Father Meets with Organizers, Searchers
By: Jessica Reyes and Laura Kellerman
Updated: January 19, 2011
Clint Dunn and the group dubbed "Hailey's Angels" met at a bridge in the town of Dunn that's been turned into a makeshift vigil for Hailey. The site features teddy bears, pictures of Hailey, and messages that have been left for and about the girl.
The group read poems and prayed together as Clint thanked the volunteers for the continued efforts to bring Hailey home safely.
Shortly after the ceremony, many of the searchers gathered at the Colorado City Civic Center to meet with two private missing children's organizations that are helping organize the volunteer efforts. Representatives from KlaasKids and the Laura Recovery Center provided a short training seminar on the best way to search before sending out folks in organized groups.
KRBC's Jessica Reyes reports the founder of KlaasKids, Marc Klaas, is expected to arrived in Colorado City this evening. Representatives from the group are expected to stay in the area through the end of the week, if not longer.
The KlaasKids Foundation was established in 1994 in an effort to help protect children. The group's founder is the father of murder victim Polly Hannah Klaas. Marc Klaas regularly appears on the Nancy Grace show to discuss Hailey's case.
Brad Dennis, a director at KlaasKids who is already in Colorado City, has over twenty years of experience in search and rescue and disaster response, according to klaaskids.org. He has managed search efforts for over 60 missing/abducted children around the country.
The Laura Recovery Center, based outside Houston in Friendswood, Texas, organizes community-based searches using very specific mapping and communication techniques.
The organization was founded in 1998, a year following the deadly abduction of 12-year-old Laura Smither. Smither's body was recovered 17 days after her disappearance. The organization was established to honor the volunteers, document and publish their effective search methods, and educate families, communities, and law enforcement in working together to prevent abductions.
Officials now say the information that leads to Hailey's safe return is $15,000.
