LINDSEY J BAUM - 10 yo (2009) - McCleary WA

Sad to say, this is now a long-term case.

Authorities have conducted two new searches related to the disappearance
of Lindsey Baum, who was 10 years old when she
vanished June 26, 2009, while walking home from a friend's
house in McCleary, Wash.
Investigators with the Grays Harbor Sheriff's Office and the FBI
grew suspicious after they found inconsistencies in information
provided a year ago by a 47-year-old man, whose name they will not
release.

Some of the man's account failed to match other information the
investigators had obtained independently, according to Grays Harbor Undersherriff
Rick Scott.
"We found that what we were being told and what we now believed to be
true were two different things," Scott said. "Those inconsistencies gave
birth to some concerns that we needed to explore further."
The Sheriff's Office obtained search warrants and carried out searches
on the man's residence and a shared storage unit Tuesday, seizing some
items and speaking to the man at length.
Investigators planned to search his car this morning.

Scott downplayed the new search, emphasizing that this man was one of
many persons of interest in the case and has not become a suspect.
"A lot of what we were concerned about has been somewhat explained,"
Scott said.
"We found nothing yesterday that clearly links him to Lindsey's disappearance.
"We've looked at over 4,000 leads so far," Scott said. "Even if it
eliminates someone from further scrutiny, it's a step in the right
direction."
Investigators will submit the items they seized from the man's residence
and storage unit for forensic testing, but Scott said it may be some
time before they learn anything.It has been more than a year since Lindsey disappeared on the 10-minute
walk from a friend's house. Witnesses spotted her shortly after 9:30
p.m. on that day last June, but when she did not return home by 10, her mother, Melissa, went to look for her. When
Lindsey did not turn up, her mother notified police within the hour.
Lindsey would have celebrated her 12th birthday a week ago, on July 7.
Even though a year has passed, Scott still holds hope his office can
find Lindsey and "bring her home.
"You have to remain optimistic," he said."It's a painstakingly slow
process, but we are making progress."

TomTerrific0420 wrote:Sad to say, this is now a long-term case.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/101185149.html

Brush cleared in search for missing McCleary girl
By Associated Press and KOMO News Staff
Story Published: Aug 20, 2010 at 1:30 PM PDT
Story Updated: Aug 20, 2010 at 1:31 PM PDT

McCLEARY, Wash. - State prison work crews have cleared a large patch of
overgrown land in McCleary where searchers have been looking for a girl
since June of last year.

Grays Harbor County Undersheriff Rick Scott said removal of the brush gave investigators a closer look at the
area. A number of items were collected and sent to a lab for examination as possible evidence.

Scott says none of the items are sending
up "red flags" in the disappearnce of Lindsey Baum, but he says it's
worth the closer look.

Lindsey vanished while walking home from a friend's house at dusk on June 26, 2009. She was 10 years old at the
time of her disappearance.

No arrests have been made and police have never identified a suspect in connection with the case.

Investigators have released several video clips to the public hoping to generate new tips and are offering a
$30,000 reward for information in the case.

Hundreds of people also have been interviewed as part of the investigation and searchers
have combed woods, fields and properties all around the small mill town where she lived.