"The most frustrating thing is I can't touch her," Colorado City Police Detective Kelsey Alexander, of the principal investigators, said. " As every day goes by we're closer. I would love to have her walking through this door but the big frustration is it's one year later. As a police officer you sometimes get used to a crime committed and you have resolution. Crime, justice and recovery and it happens quickly. This hasn't done that." Tears well up and spill over in Alexander's green eyes.
Another frustration which grows worse as the case progress are the rumors and accusations from outsiders which hinder rather than help police efforts.
"As investigators our job is to find Hailey," Alexander said, "and I think it's really sorry that people who don't have anything to do with this case demand answers. It doesn't get us any closer and just stirs up emotion. Rumors create hostile environments for everyone out there that follows this. This case and justice are more important than giving someone a feel-good-I-know-what's going-on attitude."
"This small community was put on the national map because of this tragedy," Police Chief Roy A. "Tinker" Owens said. "My number one responsibility, in addition to Hailey, is to this community. The community doesn't deserve to be hounded and riled up. This is not Austin, not San Angelo, not even Big Spring. This whole community got involved with the situation and this whole community has suffered. I'm going to protect this community first and foremost. I'll take your help, but we're going to do it the right way."
<< Click here to continue reading this story from The Colorado City Record >>
