Kayleah Wilson (12) R.I.P.

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12-Year-Old Greeley Girl Missing
Last Seen Walking To Friend's House Sunday Afternoon
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/23005256/detail.html
March 30, 2010

FBI Joins Search For Missing Greeley Girl
Kayleah Wilson Vanished Sunday Afternoon Walking To Party
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/23018320/detail.html
March 31, 2010

GREELEY, Colo. -- The FBI has joined the search for a missing 12-year-old Greeley girl who mysteriously disappeared four days ago while walking to a friend's birthday party.

Kayleah Wilson left her home in the 2800 block of 28th Street at about 12:15 Sunday, crossing U.S. 34 heading toward the Greeley Mall. She never arrived at the party.

Greeley police have been searching for Wilson since she was reported missing Sunday night and don't know if she ran away or if she was abducted. Police said there's no evidence to point in either direction.

"She's never run away before," her mother, April Wilson, said. "I am worried she may be in danger because none of her friends have seen her, and it is like she just vanished, but that's not possible."

On Wednesday, the FBI joined the search for Wilson. It was not immediately clear why the FBI joined the investigation.

"We have about 25 people out on the ground searches and re canvassing the areas where she was last seen," said Sgt. Joe Tymkowych. "We are re-interviewing a lot of the key figures in the investigation as well."

The girl was last seen wearing a white and pink shirt over a white tank top, blue jeans, and white and red shoes

“There are several sex offenders in the area,” said Tymkowych. “We’ve had a detective working that angle as well, but we’re hoping she’s a runaway and is somewhere safe. As time goes on though, this becomes more and more concerning.”

Wilson is a sixth grader at Brentwood Middle School in Greeley.

"I just want everyone to help find her. I don't care if you're in this state or in another country, just help," April Wilson said.

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Greeley police search along roadways for missing girl
A morning search by police of the areas around Kayleah Wilson's home produced no new evidence and nothing to show what happened to the 12-year-old.

Wilson left her home Sunday afternoon to go to a friend's birthday party and never arrived. She didn't show up at the pick-up location, and she hasn't come back home since.

Greeley police have been on the case since Sunday night, when it was reported, but no sign of the missing girl has turned up.

Sgt. Joe Tymkowych said scent dogs were brought in Tuesday, but no trace of the girl was found. Police said it was probably too much traffic in the area and too long since the girl disappeared.

Numerous officers searched the areas between the Wilson apartment in the 2800 block of 28th Street and U.S. 34 Bypass. They think she may have crossed the highway while walking toward the Greeley Mall.

Kayleah is described as 5-foot-1, 145 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white and pink shirt over a white tank top, blue jeans, and white and red shoes. She is a student at Brentwood Middle School.

According to the Greeley police bulletin, there are no indications she uses drugs or alcohol and has no history with gangs. She also has no history of running away from home.

She had a boyfreind at one time, but he has been questioned by police and released, according to to Tymkowych.

Kayleah has asthma and will likely be carrying an inhaler. She does not have a cell phone and usually walks to various places to meet her friends.

Her family said she likes to hang out at the Centennial Park Library, the Greeley Mall, Walmart on 23rd Avenue, and Hastings music store. She also goes to the Higher Grounds Youth Center, in connection with her church.

No Amber Alert was issued for the girl, because her disappearance doesn't meet the state criteria.

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100331/NEWS/100339951/1051&ParentProfile=1001

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FBI Involved In Search For Missing Greeley Girl Reporting
Mike Hooker GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4)

Greeley police have been searching for a missing 12-year-old girl since Sunday, but no AMBER Alert has been issued. The FBI is now involved in the search for Kayleah Wilson.

She was last seen at her home on Sunday afternoon at about 3:40 p.m. and left to walk to a friend's home for a birthday party and never arrived.

"Her mom hasn't eaten for, like, two days because she's so worried," said Kayleah's neighbor Carrie Booker. "She was headed to a friend's house to go to a birthday party, but she never made it to her friend's house."

One neighbor has been posting missing person flyers while Kayleah's mother spent most of Wednesday being interviewed at the police department.

The police spokesperson said while more than 20 officers and investigators, as well as FBI agents, are looking for Kayleah, this search doesn't qualify for an AMBER Alert through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

"The criteria is pretty specific: needs to be a child that has been abducted and is in immediate danger of serious bodily injury or death. We can't prove or even point to any of that at this time," said Sgt. Joe Tymkowich, spokesperson for Greeley police. "At this point all we know is she's disappeared."

Tymkowich said with no evidence of foul play, no vehicle description, no description of people Kayleah has been with, there wouldn't be much to announce in an amber alert, except that there is a missing person.

Wilson is described as 5-foot-1, 145 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a white and pink shirt over a white tank top, blue jeans and white and red shoes.

Police also said they are taking a much closer look at this case. Both Kayleah's mother and grandmother were re-interviewed Wednesday in a meeting that lasted all afternoon.

http://cbs4denver.com/local/Search.Missing.Greeley.2.1603767.html

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{{ALERT}}
MISSING GIRL from GREELEY,COLORADO
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=1144147&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US

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Kayleah Wilson case: Police stumped for clues in disappearance.
Serious and unsmiling, the FBI agents parked the large unmarked white van in front of the Wilson apartment Thursday afternoon, then went silently into the apartment of a 12-year-old girl who's been missing for four days.

Kayleah Wilson, 12, left her home Sunday afternoon for a birthday party and never returned. Greeley police — and now as many as 40 FBI agents — are working the case nonstop.

On Thursday, some of the agents carried in large cases, boxes and other material that would be used to gather evidence and samples from the house.

“They will take carpet samples, paint samples from the walls, and other specimens that could help them later as the case develops,” said Greeley police spokesman Sgt. Joe Tymkowych.

This type of evidence is collected routinely on a case to “capture information,” Tymkowych said. Then, as the case develops, they will have that evidence already at hand.

The agents helping Greeley police are part of the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, and they're part of the Denver office of the FBI, concentrating on helping local departments in the state.

There is nothing new in the case, according to Tymkowych, and now Greeley police and the FBI are recanvassing the neighborhood and the girl's family and friends.

Dave Joly, an agent and spokesman for the Denver office of the FBI, said the task force was formed several years ago with five other departments to help with local investigations.

“We realize the FBI might have some resources that aren't available to smaller police departments,” Joly said Thursday. “It's pretty typical for us to participate with the investigation of missing children.”

The Denver task force includes the FBI, plus Denver police, Federal Protective Services, Aurora police, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Lakewood Police Department.

Meanwhile, students at Brentwood Middle School, where Kayleah attends, made ribbons Thursday to raise awareness of her disappearance.

The ribbons — which were mostly colored green, the color of the shirt she wore in a widely distributed photo, and maroon, a color she often wore — were given to every sixth-grader Thursday. Students throughout the rest of the school are expected to receive more ribbons today.

“We've used it kind of as a voice for Kayleah because right now, she doesn't have a voice,” said John Diebold, principal of the school.

Members of the FBI and Greeley Police Department have interviewed at least a dozen students in connection with the case, according to Roger Fiedler, spokesman for Greeley-Evans School District 6. Diebold added that the school's staff is also listening for clues from its students.

Kayleah's disappearance, though, has weighed heavily on the school.

“We've had a couple kids who have gone home because they are stressed,” Diebold said. “It's been a stressful situation for them ... though most of my students are pulling together and trying to figure out a way we can help find Kayleah.”

In news accounts Thursday, Kayleah's former stepfather, Jesse Wilson, said it could be possible the girl ran off to California to see her father.

Tymkowych said that was speculation and that the stepfather hadn't said anything like that to the police.

Tribune reporter Jakob Rodgers contributed to this report.

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100402/NEWS/100409916&parentprofile=

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Kayleah Wilson case:
While Kayleah Wilson's school photo can be seen tacked to power poles and in the hands of anyone her family can find to give a flier, the 12-year-old Greeley girl's disappearance remains a mystery.

And now, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has teamed with Greeley detectives to widen the search and use some of the FBI's ability to investigate missing children cases.

By Wednesday evening, those FBI agents were at the apartment complex where Kayleah lives with her mother, grandmother and brother, interviewing neighbors and searching apartments. As late as 10:30 p.m., an FBI evidence lab van was at the scene and agents in white protective suits were gathering evidence and taking photos. The agents focused their efforts on an area in the second floor of the two-story apartment.

Greeley Police Department spokesman Sgt. Joe Tymkowych said it's not unusual for the FBI to assist in a missing child case, and Greeley police welcome the help.

“They just sent some of the extra people they had here,” Tymkowych said. “And we'll certainly take the help and expertise they have. They just have the ability to get information quickly and easily that might take us longer. Their resources are far and away above what we have. But it is truly a joint investigation. They are working closely with us in the investigation.”

Kayleah didn't arrive at a birthday party Sunday afternoon after leaving home at 3:40 p.m. When her mother, April Wilson, found out her daughter had never arrived at the party, she contacted the Greeley police about 10 p.m. Sunday.

As is normal with missing teens, it was first thought of as possibly a runaway case, Tymkowych said. “But when officers got together and looked at the case Monday, they saw there was no indication it was a runaway, and they decided to step it up.”

A bulletin has been issued with her photo, and the family has been passing out and tacking up the posters for three days.

Police issued a press release Tuesday afternoon, which Tymkowych said is police procedure.

“We normally don't do a press release on a possible runaway because there are many of them,” he said. “In this case, late on Monday, it began to look like it wasn't a runaway, and yet we found no evidence of foul play. It was a difficult case to work, because nothing in the way of information was coming out for us.”

“On Tuesday, detectives had interviewed the family and friends and still little information was coming out. They decided it was time to ask the public if they could help more,” he said.

Tymkowych said 25 Greeley police officers are involved in the case, some searching the neighborhoods around her house, some searching U.S. 34 Bypass, which passes in front of the family apartment building in the 2800 block of 28th Street. Her destination Sunday was near the Greeley Mall, which is across the bypass and east of the family home.

Scent dogs have been brought in, but despite the efforts, there's been no trace of Kayleah.

Kayleah's disappearance has affected her school, Brentwood Middle School, located about six blocks north of her home.

“Most of the kids found out she was missing this morning when they delivered the newspaper here to the school,” Brentwood Principal John Diebold said Wednesday. “We've been helping the police contact her friends here at school, and the kids are very concerned for her safety.”

Kayleah is described as 5-foot-1, 145 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white and pink shirt over a white tank top, blue jeans, and white and red shoes.

According to the Greeley police bulletin, she has no history with gangs, and there are no indications she uses drugs or alcohol. She also has no history of running away from home.

She had a boyfriend at one time, but he has been questioned by police and is not considered a person of interest at this time, according to Tymkowych, who added that he wasn't sure of the boyfriend's age. The girl's father has not been in touch with the family for several years and is now living in California.

Kayleah's name, description and photo have been placed on state and national missing child networks, and Tymkowych said detectives have contacted the statewide Amber Alert network, but the specifics of this case don't fit the requirements for an Amber Alert.

On the morning of the day she disappeared, Wilson said, Kayleah had gone to church with her and had been happy during a lunch at a restaurant with her grandmother. The family was planning to go to Easter services together at the Cowboy Church in Lucerne next Sunday.

On Wednesday, April Wilson was at Greeley West High School, not far from their home and where her son, Mackenzie, attends school. She was hoping one of the students may have seen her daughter. April Wilson also spent much of the day at Greeley police headquarters where she answered questions. She left about 9:20 p.m., though Tymkowych said authorities weren't questioning her the entire time. Much of the time, she was simply there in case a question came up she could help answer, he said.

— Tribune reporters Sherrie Peif and Jakob Rodgers contributed to this report.

Amber Alert requirements
In cases of child abductions, law enforcement officials can call for an Amber Alert, which is a plan to use the Emergency Alert System and media outlets to broadcast information about the abduction immediately in an effort to get the public and other law enforcement agencies involved in the search.

The alert is named after Amber Hagerman, who in 1996 was abducted and later found dead in Texas.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, to qualify for an Amber Alert, a case must involve a known abduction. In the case of Kayleah Wilson, it isn't known whether she was abducted, so the case doesn't qualify for an Amber Alert.

Once law enforcement has been notified about an abducted child, they must first determine whether the case meets the other Amber criteria:

» 1. The abducted child must be 17 or younger.

» 2. The abducted child must be in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death.

» 3. There must be enough descriptive information to believe a broadcast will assist or aid in the recovery.

» 4. The activation must be requested by a local law enforcement agency or Amber designee from another state.

Greeley's first Amber Alert happened in early August 2008 and was a successful one. It involved the kidnapping of a 4-year-old girl. Within 30 minutes after the alert was issued, Fort Lupton police had the suspects in custody, and the girl was safe.

According to Tribune reports of the incident, after the alert, several people called the police to report seeing the girl or the vehicle involved. Ultimately it was a police officer in Fort Lupton who spotted the car and found the girl.

SOURCE: http://cbi.state.co.us/inv/MP/Amber.html and Tribune archives

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100401/NEWS/100409981/1002

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Kayleah Wilson case: Search intensifies as missing Greeley girl becomes Denver FBI's highest priority; police follow up on more than 100 tips.
By Mike Peters

Kayleah Wilson (12) R.I.P. B3v9c5

Police said they have looked at all the security camera video from businesses near the Greeley Mall to look for evidence in the case of the disappearance of 12-year-old Kayleah Wilson. Police are asking for anyone else who may have security camera video from the area to contact them. Call the Greeley police at (970) 350-9600. The FBI tip-line is 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Police released a photo of an inhaler similar to the one Kayleah Wilson had on her the day she disappeared.
Kayleah Wilson (12) R.I.P. M8z8g2

The nearly week-old case of the missing 12-year-old Greeley girl is the highest priority for the Denver FBI office.

“There is, at this moment, no higher priority to the Denver division of the FBI,” said FBI Special Agent In Charge James Davis. “We have significant resources here assisting in this investigation.”

Fifty people from the FBI, representatives of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit are now in Greeley working the disappearance of Kayleah Wilson.

And, police said Friday that there will be a larger number of police cars and Weld County Sheriff's vehicles on the Greeley streets this weekend, all in search of the missing girl.

She left her home to walk to a birthday party Sunday afternoon and never arrived. She has not been seen for five days, and Greeley police and the FBI held a press conference Friday to announce they need more help.

“We're doing basic police work right now,” said Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner. “Re-interviewing people, checking leads.”

Garner and FBI Special Agent In Charge James Davis said they hope people continue to call in tips to help in the search for the girl.

“It's like you pass a traffic accident, and you don't call in because you assume someone else called,” Garner said. “Don't assume we know everything about this case. Even if you don't think it's important, we need people to call us.”

Police have received more than 100 tips since Kayleah disappeared, and they could still use more.

Additional photos of Kayleah were provided to the investigators by her friends, and the photos show her appearance has changed since the time her school photo, which was distributed earlier this week, was taken.
Kayleah Wilson (12) R.I.P. 30j5j7a

They also passed out photos of an asthma inhaler of the same brand the girl uses. “If someone sees this inhaler somewhere, please don't touch it,” said FBI spokesman Dave Joly. “We want to be able to get evidence and fingerprints from it.”

Davis said it isn't unusual for this many FBI agents to help on a local case. And, “our efforts will continue until we've done everything we can, or until Kayleah's safely back home.”

Friday afternoon, a large number of police, sheriff's deputies and FBI agents were scattered along 30th Street, south of the Greeley Mall, stopping traffic and handing out photos of the missing girl. The birthday party that Kayleah was supposed to attend on Sunday was held in that area, in the 1900 block of 30th Street.

In the press conference, neither the police nor the FBI would confirm stories that Kayleah had a 17-year-old boyfriend, or that her father — now living in California — was in jail. They did say they have talked to the father several times, and they are sure the girl is not with him at this time.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has arrived in Greeley, Davis said, “because they bring a special expertise into missing children cases. The FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit also is in Greeley to aid in the investigation.

Davis said they're received calls from numerous police and sheriff's departments, offering to help in the case, including the Weld County Sheriff's Office.

“If we get tips from out of state,” Garner said, “the local departments and the FBI offices in the area have been very helpful in checking the information.” He said none of the tips has proven she is in another state.

Kayleah's family has been “very helpful” in the case,” Davis said, as have the girl's friends.

They are also using the FBI's standard Child Abduction Response Plan in the case, which uses experience from other cases to look into possible child abductions. They said that doesn't mean they believe Kayleah was abducted. “What it means is that there is no lead that won't be covered,” Davis said.

There are four sex offenders living within a 10-block radius of the Wilson apartment complex. One sex offender lives close to the apartment, while three others live near the area police believe Kayleah was headed to before she disappeared. Police said they have interviewed several sex offenders in Greeley.

While neither the police nor FBI would discuss specifics of the case, they all said they hope things will still turn out all right. “We assume the worst and hope for the best,” Davis said.

HOW TO HELP
Kayleah Wilson is described as 5-foot-1, 145 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white and pink shirt over a white tank top, blue jeans, and white and red shoes. She was last seen at 3:40 p.m. Sunday in the 2800 block of 28th Avenue in Greeley.

If you have information on the disappearance of Kayleah, call the Greeley police at (970) 350-9600. The FBI tip-line is 1-800-CALL-FBI.

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100403/NEWS/100409870/1051&parentprofile=1001

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Kayleah Wilson case: Search focuses on woods, ponds
Still no sign of missing 12-year-old Greeley girl
By Chris Casey

Anyone with information that could be helpful to the search for Kayleah Wilson should call the Greeley police at (970) 350-9600 or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or e-mail FindKayleah@GreeleyPD.com.
Kayleah is described as 5-foot-1, 145 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white and pink shirt over a white tank top, blue jeans, and white and red shoes. She was last seen at 3:40 p.m. March 28 in the 2800 block of 28th Avenue in Greeley.
A dive team from Union Colony Fire/Rescue Authority on Saturday afternoon searched ponds in the Gateway Lakes Nature Area in south-central Greeley as part of the search for Kayleah Wilson, 12, who has been missing for a week.

The fire department was called in by the FBI and Greeley Police Department, according to John Fagerberg, Union Colony spokesman. The nature area is on the southwest corner of U.S. 34 and 35th Avenue, just west of the Home Depot store.

“They just wanted to follow up on some leads that they had out there,” Fagerberg said, adding that no evidence was found. The crew started searching the ponds around 2:30 p.m. and finished about 5 p.m.

“It was pretty shallow — only waste-high at the deepest,” he said. “They were probing the area with poles and search nets.”

Also Saturday, authorities on foot and horseback combed wooded, undeveloped areas between Greeley West High School and CenterPlace shopping area on Saturday as the search intensified in the vicinity of Kayleah's home.

By late in the day, the intensive effort — which has involved scores of authorities from the FBI, Greeley police and Weld County Sheriff's Office — had not yielded any sign of the girl who disappeared March 28. Kayleah left her home in the 2800 block of 28th Avenue for an afternoon birthday party, which she never ended up at, and never returned.

On Saturday, about 15 members of the Weld County Sheriff's Posse, all on horseback, joined the FBI and Greeley police in ground searches that focused on wooded areas around Greeley West High School and Centerplace, as well as undeveloped areas on the south side of U.S. 34, said Sgt. Joe Tymkowych, Greeley police spokesman. Those areas included the nature area just west of Home Depot, and other undeveloped parcels stretching to the north edge of Evans. Authorities checked a few buildings on the south side of the highway and also combed along ditches and ponds.

Tymkowych said there was no specific reason authorities focused on those areas.

“That's just next on the list,” he said. “We just want to start hitting some of those areas that are a little farther from her place, some places that people don't frequent. We want to be sure we comb them pretty tight today and make sure there's nothing there we should know about.”

Tymkowych said authorities had collected and checked out about 100 leads as of Friday.

“That usually occurs,” he said of high-profile cases such as this that draw national media attention. “We start to have people who come in and give us a call and send e-mails, and we're hoping that continues. Anything a person even remotely might believe to be a piece to this puzzle we want to know about it — you bet.”

Mackenzie Wilson, Kayleah's older brother, spoke briefly to the media at the family's home Saturday.

“It's just a roller coaster,” said Mackenzie, 17. “We don't know. We are just waiting and hoping people will help.”

Assistance from the community grows daily in the effort to find Kayleah. Students at Brentwood Middle School, which Kayleah attends, made ribbons Thursday to raise awareness of her disappearance. One of her classmates is making T-shirts with Kayleah's picture, and the Village Inn, 921 30th Ave. in Greeley, on Saturday gave free biscuits and gravy to volunteers helping in the search.

“We just wanted to help them out,” said Renee Hudspeth, a manager at the restaurant.

Asked how his family is holding up, Mackenzie said, “It's just stressful. We're getting anyone possible to help.”

Tymkowych said late Saturday he wasn't sure how the search would progress today, other than saying that authorities are continuing to work round the clock. About 50 FBI personnel have joined in the effort. Searches are planned to continue in the Greeley area by the Weld County Sheriff's Posse and numerous individuals on foot.

He said the search of the ponds was part of a thorough canvassing of the undeveloped areas in the vicinity of Kayleah's home.

On Friday, authorities were scattered along 30th Street, south of the Greeley Mall, stopping traffic and handing out photos of the missing girl. The birthday party Kayleah was supposed to attend was held in that area. About 500 motorists were asked if they'd seen anything on March 28.

“It's just an expanded, selective kind of search to make sure there's nothing there we need to focus on,” Tymkowych said. “Ideally, it would be nice to find her sitting in those trees too scared to go home. That's just not happening yet.”

Tribune reporter Nate A. Miller

contributed to this report.

T-shirt effort
Suzi Larson said her daughter, a close friend Kayleah Wilson, has been very distressed by Kayleah's disappearance and wanted to help.

“After they did the ribbons (at their school, Brentwood Middle School), she sat down and talked to me, and we decided that we were going to do T-shirts,” Larson said.

They made five shirts with a picture of Kayleah on the front and the message “Have you seen me?” underneath. On the back is a personal message by the girl: “We miss you Kayleah.”

Larson declined to give her daughter's name because “she's having a very hard time with it.” The mother and daughter came up with the T-shirt designs on their home computer.

Larson said her daughter wore the shirt to Brentwood on Friday, while her two sons wore them to Central High School and Monfort Elementary School, respectively. Shirts were also given to two friends of Larson's daughter.

“Some girls saw them (at school) and wanted them, and that's how this got started,” Larson said. “You get her face out there, and hopefully we can help the family at the same time.”

The Larson family so far has bought 36 T-shirts from Michael's Arts and Crafts in Greeley. Larson said they plan to sell the shirts at cost, about $4 to $6, and encourage buyers to also donate a dollar or more to help the Wilson family. “We want to have orders before we start making them,” Larson said, noting she's getting help in the effort from a friend and her sister.

“We just want one less worry for them,” she said of the Wilsons. “We don't want them to have to worry about money at this point. They have enough on their plates.”

To order a shirt, e-mail Suzi Larson at ssuzieq228@msn.com.

Thoughts and prayers on Web
A Facebook group, “Prayers for Kayleah Wilson's Safe Return,” has been started to give supporters a place to connect. More than 1,500 people had joined the group by late Saturday.

The following is a sampling of some of the comments as they appear on Facebook:

» “For Kayleah and all of the missing children, prayers to you and your families.”

» “This has hit home. I work in Greeley and this girl is a student in my next door neighbor's class. I also work with my neighbor's sister and both of their husbands are cops. At least the FBI is involved to help Greeley police find her!”

» “Praying for Kayleah's safe return. You are constantly in our thoughts, prayers, and conversations.”

» “Please bless and hold this dear child and her family in your heart, Father. Keep her safe and guide her home. Thank you for bringing the media and FBI to help in this search. Please grant them the grace to do this for every child who disappears.”

» “As our day begins with Easter egg hunts and happiness, we are not forgetting Kayleah and all our thoughts and prayers will include her. I am praying also that whoever has her; that God will reach down and make them come forward with her. ... Our God is powerful. All of our prayers are powerful to the Lord's heart! Pray ... all day.”

» “I hope Kayleah comes home safely, my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.”

Source: “Prayers for Kayleah Wilson's Safe Return” page at www.facebook.com
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100404/NEWS/100409825/0/FRONTPAGE

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Video at Link-
http://video.ap.org/?f=AP&pid=fFpmsDuxUFd6Gx9n9niXIJyePc8ptsdX

http://video.ap.org/?f=AP&pid=_ry8m4OwHV3EV_JDBOAweV7ai3Ekm9IM

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Rain hampered already-slow search efforts Saturday for Kayleah Wilson, 12, the sixth-grader from Greeley who has been missing since March 28.

Michelle Thompson, who has organized a Facebook page in support of Kayleah, called off the effort at 2:30 p.m. as rain began to steadily fall on searchers. Even before the rain appeared, Thompson said search efforts had grown “very, very slow.”

In all, 52 people showed up Saturday at Journey Christian Church, 2332 27th St. in Greeley, to search for Kayleah.

“It just seems to be at a standstill,” Thompson said. “I just wish that we could get more people out there so we could cover more area. The police don't have the manpower, and as long as we can have the community help out, that's all that really counts.”

“It's just getting them out there to help.”

Earlier in the week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation scaled back its forces looking for Kayleah, though tips on her whereabouts are still being accepted. Authorities also increased the reward for information leading to her discovery to $20,000.

On Saturday, searchers scoured from 16th Street to U.S. 34 Bypass between 12th Avenue and 10th Avenue, Thompson said. In addition, searchers on all-terrain vehicles covered an area from 35th Avenue to 65th Avenue and from 37th Street to 42nd Street.

Kayleah's mother, April Wilson, has been “hanging in there,” Thompson said.

“Mom is doing the best that she can,” Thompson said. “People don't see how hurt and how sad she is. She cries, and she's got her moments, but she's trying to stay strong for Kayleah.”

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100418/NEWS/100419640/0/FRONTPAGE

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Reward for Kayleah leads increased to $20,000 as trail grows cold
By Monte Whaley The Denver Post

GREELEY — Police and the FBI today upped the reward for any information into the disappearance of 12-year-old Kayleah Wilson to $20,000 in hopes of generating viable leads into a case that is becoming grimmer each day.

"Our concern that she is safe increases by the day," said Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner. In nearly every case, runaways generally call someone a few days after they left home, Garner said.

No one has heard from Kayleah since she left her mother's apartment on March 28 to attend a birthday party near the Greeley Mall, he said.

While not eliminating the possibility Kayleah decided to leave her home and family on her own free will, police are "definitely leaning that this is not a runaway situation," Garner said. "This is something more serious."

Jim Davis, FBI Special Agent for the Denver office, said his office has scaled back in the number of personnel working the case because the number of leads has also dwindled.

"We are certainly not getting the leads that will break this case," Davis said. "We're looking for any help we can get."

To that end, the FBI's Behavorial Analysis Unit produced some psychological indicators that might point to the person responsible for Kayleah's disappearance.

Since the evening of March 28 the person:

* Could be coming up with an excuse to leave the area unexpectedly for what may sound like a good reason (work-related, visit a distant relative or friend, etc.)

* May have missed work, called in sick, asked to change shifts, particularly on days close to the night Kayleah went missing (Sunday night, Monday, Tuesday...)

* May have unexplained recent injuries (cuts, bruises) particularly on his head, hands, or arms.

* May have an unexpected or sudden interest in the status of this investigation, paying very close attention to the media or avoiding participation in any conversations or activities related to the case.

* Minimize or deny a known acquaintenance with Kayleah.

* May display nervousness or irritability.

* May show a recent increase or decrease in expressing religious beliefs.

* May have changed routine sleep patterns.

* May have changed "usual" consumption of alcohol, drugs or cigarettes.

* May have shaved off facial or head hair, or, started growing a mustache or beard.

* May be no longer driving, or changing the appearance of, his personal or work vehicle for no obvious reason. Including suddenly keeping it in a shed or garage, covering it, painting it, selling it, reporting it stolen or giving it away.

The person also is likely to live in the Greeley community and has ties to the area around the Greeley Mall, the FBI said.

However, Davis said, he would be suprised if the person who may be holding Kayleah would still be in Greeley. "We have scoured the area pretty well," he said.

People with tips about Kayleah's whereabouts are asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14891855

WATSON

GREELEY, Colo. – Police confirmed Thursday that a body recovered from an irrigation ditch in northern Colorado is that of a 12-year-old girl missing since March and she was the victim of homicide.

Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner said the body recovered Wednesday is that of Kayleah Wilson of Greeley, who was last seen walking to a friend's house for a birthday party.

Garner said Thursday the coroner's office ruled Wilson's death a homicide. He said police know the "manner and cause" of death but he declined to provided details. No one has been arrested, Garner said.

The body had been in the irrigation ditch "for some time" in an area that had been searched twice, Garner said.

Police retrieved the decomposed body from the ditch Wednesday, about a half-mile from the home of the missing sixth-grader. A worker checking the ditch after heavy rain found the body in about 3 feet of water, said Sgt. Joe Tymkovich.

Wilson's disappearance on March 28 spawned repeated searches by police, Greeley residents and the FBI. Authorities said they pursued more than 300 leads and knocked on the doors of about 1,000 homes.

No one has been ruled out as a suspect, but investigators have nothing that points to family members, Garner said.

Authorities received additional tips on the case after the body was recovered, and police will vigorously press the investigation, he vowed.

"We don't give up on cases like this. We don't give up," Garner said.

Police met with Wilson's mother, April Wilson, before the public announcement, the chief said.

"She's upset as you would expect," he said.

Authorities had stressed they didn't know if Kayleah Wilson had run away or was abducted and did not issue an Amber Alert, which notifies the public about a possible child abduction through text messages, phone calls, radio and television broadcasts and highway signs.

Authorities said criteria for an alert include information that a child may be in danger or if a suspect has been identified. The criteria ensure that the public won't ignore alerts because they are not broadcast often.

In April, as leads from the public dwindled, authorities increased the reward for information about Wilson to $20,000. Investigators also described behavior that might point to a possible abductor. They urged people to watch for someone who had missed work, had unexplained injuries or shown an unexpected or sudden interest in the case.

About 150 people gathered at the ditch after the body was found Wednesday evening, many of them carrying candles and teddy bears.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/decomposed-body-found-kayleah-wilson-missing/story?id=10689749

Team Angels

Police: Body found is 12-year-old Colorado girl

GREELEY, Colo. — Police confirmed Thursday that a body recovered from an irrigation ditch in northern Colorado is that of a 12-year-old girl missing since March and she was the victim of homicide.

Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner said the body recovered Wednesday is that of Kayleah Wilson of Greeley, who was last seen walking to a friend's house for a birthday party.

Garner said Thursday the coroner's office ruled Wilson's death a homicide. He said police know the "manner and cause" of death but he declined to provided details. No one has been arrested, Garner said.

The body had been in the irrigation ditch "for some time" in an area that had been searched twice, Garner said.

Police retrieved the decomposed body from the ditch Wednesday, about a half-mile from the home of the missing sixth-grader. A worker checking the ditch after heavy rain found the body in about 3 feet of water, said Sgt. Joe Tymkovich.

Wilson's disappearance on March 28 spawned repeated searches by police, Greeley residents and the FBI. Authorities said they pursued more than 300 leads and knocked on the doors of about 1,000 homes.

No one has been ruled out as a suspect, but investigators have nothing that points to family members, Garner said.

Authorities received additional tips on the case after the body was recovered, and police will vigorously press the investigation, he vowed.

"We don't give up on cases like this. We don't give up," Garner said.

Police met with Wilson's mother, April Wilson, before the public announcement, the chief said.

"She's upset as you would expect," he said.

Authorities had stressed they didn't know if Kayleah Wilson had run away or was abducted and did not issue an Amber Alert, which notifies the public about a possible child abduction through text messages, phone calls, radio and television broadcasts and highway signs.

Authorities said criteria for an alert include information that a child may be in danger or if a suspect has been identified. The criteria ensure that the public won't ignore alerts because they are not broadcast often.

In April, as leads from the public dwindled, authorities increased the reward for information about Wilson to $20,000. Investigators also described behavior that might point to a possible abductor. They urged people to watch for someone who had missed work, had unexplained injuries or shown an unexpected or sudden interest in the case.

About 150 people gathered at the ditch after the body was found Wednesday evening, many of them carrying candles and teddy bears.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gn8IXcjcb6_Ima2NNrCSsomdjCUgD9FQRMR80

Team Angels

Kayleah Wilson, 12 (deceased) 18yro Boyfriend arrested (unrelated to her death)
May 22, 2010

Police: 18-year-old had sex with 12-year-old girl

By P. SOLOMON BANDA (AP) – 10 hours ago

DENVER — An 18-year-old Colorado man has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a 12-year-old girl whose decomposed body was recovered this week in an irrigation ditch, police said.

Greeley police Sgt. Joe Tymkowych said the arrest of Robert Laurencio Montoya, a former boyfriend of sixth-grader Kayleah Wilson, is unrelated to the homicide investigation involving her death. Authorities said they know how the girl died, but aren’t releasing details.

“This arrest is separate and distinct from the Kayleah Wilson homicide case that is currently being investigated,” Tymkowych said in a statement.

Kayleah had been missing since March when her body was found Wednesday in an industrial area about a half-mile from her house. Montoya was arrested that same day, police said.

He faces felony charges of sexual assault on a child, pattern of abuse. He appeared in court Friday where bail was set at $100,000.

His next court hearing is May 25.

Tymkowych said Montoya had previously been interviewed and cooperated with their missing person investigation.

It was unclear whether Montoya had hired an attorney. A home number could not be immediately found.

On Friday, police said they were examining a “mountain of evidence” and developing a list of people to re-interview about the disappearance and death of the 12-year-old.

Tymkowych said they still had no suspects in the slaying but are looking at a range of individuals who had the time and opportunity to kill Kayleah and don’t have good alibis.

“We’re reviewing every detail that we developed when this was a missing person investigation, deciding which lead could be more fruitful, then prioritizing which people to talk to first,” Tymkowych said.

Evidence gathered along the irrigation ditch earlier this week was also being processed for testing. Tymkowych would not disclose what investigators found.

Two eyewitnesses previously told police they saw Kayleah at the Greeley Mall March 28, about a half-hour after her mother said she left to attend a friend’s birthday party. Tymkowych said police also have surveillance video from near the mall showing a grainy figure that could be Kayleah.

Kayleah’s last known whereabouts are crucial in determining how her body ended up about a mile away from the mall, where a worker checking the ditch after a heavy rain found the body Wednesday.

Meanwhile Greeley, an agricultural community of about 93,000 people 65 miles north of Denver, grieved the death of Kayleah. A steady stream of parents and children, some in tears, visited the spillway in the ditch where Kayleah’s body was found. A makeshift memorial of teddy bears, candles, flowers and crucifixes grew on the grassy banks.

“It’s an open wound because whoever did this is still out there,” Melissa Lujan, whose daughter knew Kayleah said Thursday. “You know it’s bringing us together to where we watch our children more often, we tell them we love them, we kiss them goodnight, kiss them before they leave but just knowing that somebody could do this.”

Cheryl Frendrich, whose grandson was friends with Kayleah, described her as a “happy little girl, full of life.”

The decomposing body had been in the irrigation ditch “for some time” in an area that had been searched twice, Police Chief Jerry Garner said. Greeley is about 60 miles northeast of Denver.

Wilson’s March 28 disappearance spawned repeated searches by police, Greeley residents and the FBI. Authorities said they pursued more than 300 leads and knocked on the doors of about 1,000 homes.

No one has been ruled out as a suspect, but investigators have nothing that points to family members, Garner said.

In April, as leads from the public dwindled, authorities increased the reward for information about Wilson to $20,000. Investigators also described behavior that might point to a possible abductor. They urged people to watch for someone who had missed work, had unexplained injuries or shown an unexpected or sudden interest in the case.

Police met with Kayleah’s mother, April Wilson, before the public announcement. A victim’s advocate said Wilson did not want to speak with the media.

Firefighters help removed protective clothing from colleagues after they recovered a body from a drainage ditch in Greeley, Colo., on Wednesday, May 19, 2010. The body was found within a half mile of the home of Kayleah Wilson, 12, who has been missing since March.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/ap/police-body-found-is-12-year-old-colorado-girl-94558839.html

Orlando, Florida

Police Still Investigating Several People In Kayleah Slaying
Adult Boyfriend Charged With Sexually Assaulting 12-Year-Old Girl ~
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/23906477/detail.html

Team Angels

Orlando, Florida

» Rilya Shenise Wilson (4) R.I.P.