Expert: Jack Toomey - 11/17/2007

Question
Mr. Toomey:

    Thanks again so much for your reply, and for the great info!  I never imagined I would receive such a helpful, thorough response -- I really appreciate it!

    One more quick thing related to my earlier question:  Going with the small-town Sheriff's Department who I've decided will be handling this case with some help from the SBI . . . how long would they realistically have a "search party" out combing the county for the 14-year-old?  Considering they couldn't look *forever*, how long before the case would of course remain open but authorities were no longer actively involved in an organized search party type of thing?

    I hope this makes sense.  Thanks again, so much!


    J.N.
    http://www.james-newman.com

Answer
James,

   Unless this girl disappeared along a known stretch of wooded path or someone saw her at a specific spot there would not be any search party.  Where they look?  If she was last seen at school and she normally walks home then maybe a search of the route that she walks home but if she simply was at her home one minute and gone the next then there would be no reason to organize a search party.  I don't recall the circumstances of her disappearnce but I can't see any orgainized effort to find her.

  A missing fourteen year old would never become a cold case.  After all leads had been exhuasted it might not be worked as heavily as in the day she was missing but it wouldn't be forgotten for the simple reason that a fourteen year old does not have the "right" to be missing while an adult does have that right.  But with all of the groups that advocate for missing kids today, like the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, they might in fact put more effort into the later investigation that the police do.

  Once again I cannot recall how she disappeared but that is basically what happens.  Feel free to contact me again if I am off base here.