ShawnAlert For Missing Children in IL/MO

Franklin County Press Release About Task Force


Last Edited: Friday, 19 Jan 2007, 5:41 PM CST
Created: Friday, 19 Jan 2007, 5:41 PM CST
Washinton, MO (Franklin County Sheriff)  --  A task force has been established in this investigation consisting of the following agencies:

Missouri State Highway Patrol
FBI
Franklin County Sheriff
Washington County Sheriff
Lincoln County Sheriff
St. Charles City Police
Kirkwood Police

The purpose of this group is to continue the investigation of the Ownby and Hornbeck case. It is also tasked with investigating cold cases from some of the participating agencies or any other similar crimes that have occurred in the United States over the past several years. The task force office is located in Washington, Missouri. Members of this group will not be giving media interviews unless an announcement is made from a press release.
I have received phone calls from the media with questions related to citizens who state they provided information related to the Ownby and Hornbeck case. The concerns relate to response time to investigate reports of suspect vehicles that were given to authorities. At this point in the investigation, we are focusing on the investigation itself and possibility of other victims. When this investigation winds down, we will conduct a debriefing as is common in a major investigation. During this debriefing we will discuss if any errors were made and if so, ways to improve. We will be addressing those concerns at that time.

It is very likely that this vehicle could have been reported by other witnesses prior to its location. There were over 800 leads received in this case. At any given time there would have been well over a hundred or more leads pending. I mentioned in a prior press release in the beginning that we had 225 leads and about half had been eliminated. This ratio continued and actually grew as the case progressed. The majority of these leads would have involved a white truck with similar descriptors in establishing their priority. It is impossible to check all leads in a timely manner. At times there are leads that are not addressed for a substantial period of time because of the volume we receive. After certain news programs we would be swamped with calls. Although anticipated we could not respond according.

At our last news conference I stated that law enforcement would no longer be doing interviews for at lease the next week. We stated that the welfare of the victims in this case was now of the most importance. We did not want to be a part of the speculation of what happened to the boys during their captivity nor releasing information about that part of the investigation. We stated that the release of that information should be controlled by experts who interviewed the children and through the judicial process as it became public information at the proper time.

Unfortunately, through interviewing witnesses who knew the suspect, and a variety of alleged sources, media are either reporting or considering the reporting of information that they feel is related to what occurred during that captivity. As during our last press conference, I would again ask that you consider the welfare of the victims in this case and allow the healing process to be aided by profession and allow this information to surface at the proper time in court where it will be accurate and in the best interest of the victims. If someone is telling you what they is believe happened, or, if you "have someone close to the investigation" who has told you what might have happened, I would respectfully ask that you not get in to that area.
I thank you for your cooperation.

Gary F. Toelke
Sheriff