Reachelle Smith

[Sher]

The Minot Police Department and the State of North Dakota issued the Amber Alert after the girl was abducted this morning, May 22nd.

Reachelle Smith, 3 years old. She's white with brown eyes and light brown hair. She is about 3 feet high and weighs about 40 pounds.

She's believed to be with Leigh Cowen, a 22-year-old white man with black, collar-length hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds. Cowen has a Chinese symbol tattooed on the right side of his neck.

They might be in a teal 1995 Ford van with minor front end damage and North Dakota license plates HAY 548 and on route to Kansas.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Minot Police Department at [phone] or dial 911.

[Sher]

A man who police thought was with a missing 3-year-old girl was found dead in a van at a wildlife refuge Tuesday, but authorities said there was no sign of the girl.

Police Capt. Al Hanson said the body of Leigh Cowen, 22, was found inside the van on a gravel road at the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Minot early Tuesday afternoon. The body was sent to the state medical examiner in Bismarck to determine a cause of death, but Hanson said Cowen appeared to have killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Hanson said authorities searched the area for 3-year-old Reachelle Smith, who was last seen the night of May 16.

"At this point, there's no indication that the girl was around that area,'' he said.

Authorities had thought Reachelle was with Cowen, a man who had been living with her aunt, the child's legal guardian. Hanson said authorities were looking for evidence at the site where Cowen's body was found to see if the girl had been with him.

The Patrol issued an Amber Alert for Reachelle after she was reported missing Monday by her aunt. Police said Cowen had been living with the child's aunt and his mother sometimes looked after her in Minot.

The Minot Police Department had issued a public appeal for help Tuesday morning in obtaining leads in the search for Smith. A nationwide Amber Alert was issued shortly after 3:30p.m. Monday.

During Tuesday morning's press conference, Hanson and Sgt. Dan Strandberg again stated their primary suspect was Cowen. Cowen lived with Smith's custodial parent, the sister of the child's biological mother. Cowen had claimed to be Smith's father. However, according to Hanson, Cowen was aware of biological testing that proved he was not the father.

Hanson also revealed that Smith was missing from the custodial parent's home on May 16. When filing her report, the custodial parent told police that Cowen had claimed his mother was taking care of Smith at a Minot Air Force Base residence. Cowen repeated the story again on May 19, claiming that his mother's car had broken down and that Smith remained at his mother's residence. It wasn't until her van turned up missing that the custodial parent's suspicion was aroused.

"It appears that the custodial parent bought into the story hook, line and sinker," said Hanson.

Police have not released the name of the girl's biological mother nor indicated whether they know her whereabouts.

It is believed that Cowen stole a van from the custodial parent's residence during the early morning hours last Monday. Upon discovery of the missing van, described as a teal-colored Chevrolet Astro with minor front-end damage, the custodial parent went to the home of Cowen's mother at Minot Air Force Base where she discovered that Cowen's mother had moved to the Wichita, Kansas, area the previous week. The custodial parent then went to the Minot police department with the information.

Late Monday, Kansas authorities searched the home of Cowen's mother and found no evidence that the missing child was there or had been there. Cowen's mother, who had often cared for the child while in Minot, also disavowed any knowledge of Smith's whereabouts.

It is known that Cowen has had troubles with theft and drug use in the past. State officials said Cowen was on probation for theft of property in Ward County and was being supervised in Fargo when he failed to report in as required. A warrant was issued last month for his arrest on charges of violating his probation.

Tuesday afternoon Minot police were checking on several leads, including trying to contact the missing child's biological father who lives in Colorado. Police were also tracing leads to other relatives of the missing 3-year-old.

"There's some family in England, some family in Colorado and thought to be in Kansas," said Hanson. "It's time consuming and were trying to put together the reasoning behind it all."

[Sher]

MINOT, N.D. - Reachelle Smith's mother and aunt tearfully pleaded for her safe return as searchers fanned out through a wildlife refuge north of here to look for the 3-year-old girl known as "Peanut."

The search centered around an area where the body of a man suspected of taking her was found Tuesday.

Leigh Cowen, 22, was found inside a van on a gravel road at the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, and authorities said he apparently killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning.

There was no trace of Reachelle, who was last seen the night of May 16 when she was put to bed at her home.

National Guard members, law enforcement officers, horseback riders and others on foot and in all-terrain vehicles, battled heat and then rain in searching the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, which covers some 32,000 acres northwest of Minot. They found no sign of the child.

"We figure we searched at least 2,500 acres of the Upper Souris Wildlife Refuge," said Capt. Todd Keller, of the Ward County Sheriff's Department at the end of the day Wednesday.

"We really didn't have any indication that she was here. The only reason we wanted to search this area so thoroughly was that he was found there," Keller said.

Stephanie Smith, the girl's aunt and legal guardian, and Samantha Smith, her mother, joined other relatives and friends at a news conference with law enforcement officials Wednesday. They said the 3-year-old needs treatment for asthma, and clutched her doll in tears as they spoke about how Reachelle knows the alphabet, likes puzzles and likes to have her picture taken.

"She's our Peanut," Stephanie Smith said.

"Right now, we just want her back," Samantha said.

Authorities said dive teams were searching part of the Souris River in Minot's Oak Park, near the girl's home. The search also included in the Surrey area, where a farmer thought he had recently seen the van in which Cowen's body was found.

"We're going where the evidence takes us. We're not going to leave any leaf unturned. We're not going to close the door on other suspects," Police Capt. Al Hanson said.

Reachelle Smith was put to bed at about 10:30 p.m. on May 16 at her home in Minot and was missing the next day, police said.

Authorities said Cowen lived with Stephanie Smith and had told her that the girl was staying with his mother. Police later learned that Cowen's mother had moved to Kansas and did not know the girl's whereabouts. They issued an Amber Alert.

State officials said Cowen was on probation for theft of property in Ward County and had failed to report in as required. A warrant was issued last month for his arrest on charges of violating his probation.

Reachelle Smith is described as white, about 3-foot-4 and weighs about 40 pounds, authorities said. She has brown eyes and straight, light brown hair.

[Sher]

Police check with experts as search continues for 3-year-old
Associated Press
MINOT, N.D. - Police say they have spoken with FBI behavioral scientists as well as psychics in their search for Reachelle Smith, a 3-year-old girl missing for more than a week.

The search for the child continued Friday in her home neighborhood, where crews were draining an old river channel.

They had to remove silt and reposition pumps, and the job was not finished by the end of the day Friday, police Capt. Al Hanson said.

"There's more water in there than we thought there was," he said.

Other searches near Surrey and around Minot ended Friday without any sign of the child, he said. More search dogs were expected, and police planned to have extra people around over the weekend to follow up any leads, he said.

"We're plugging along, trying to cover some things second and third times," Hanson said.

Investigators had a conference call with FBI behavioral scientists for about an hour to discuss the case and sent them tapes from interviews "to pore through and see if there's anything that they think we've missed," he said.

"We have two experts from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children here, helping us," Hanson said. "Of course, the behavioral scientists - we're reaching out to anything and everything that we can think of."

Psychics have given general suggestions, such as water or tall grass, he said, and all leads are checked out.

Hanson said he still hopes to find Reachelle alive.

"I'd be lying if I said we didn't think the possibility exists that she could be dead, because we're searching garbage dumps and rivers and such, but we want to cover all our bases," he said. "I still think there's a possibility that she's alive."

Crews sifted through garbage in the city landfill on Thursday and began drawing down the Mouse River channel near the girl's home. The landfill search turned up no sign of her. Hanson said the drawdown of the river channel would take a couple of days.

A search Thursday of Roosevelt Park in central Minot also came up empty, Hanson said. About 20 off-duty police officers volunteered to search the park, he said.

The Upper Souris Wildlife Refuge was searched earlier, after the body of Leigh Cowen, 22, was found in a van there Tuesday. Authorities said he knew her family, and they suspected he had taken Reachelle. They said he killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning, but there was no sign of the child.

Reachelle Smith was put to bed at about 10:30 p.m. on May 16 at her home in Minot and was missing the next day, police said. She lived with her aunt, Stephanie Smith, who was her legal guardian, police said. She and her mother, Samantha Smith, have said the girl has asthma and needs treatment.

Cowen's mother, who had sometimes cared for Reachelle, had moved to Derby, Kan. She has been questioned several times, Hanson said. "We have no reason to believe that she's involved," he said.

[Sher]

Search continues for missing Minot girl
Associated Press
MINOT, N.D. - Searchers looking for a missing 3-year-old girl revisited a wildlife refuge northwest of here as well as the area around the girl's home, but police said the search was scaled back as leads continued to dry up.

Reachelle Smith has not been seen since the night of May 16. Hundreds of people have been searching for days on the ground, in the air and in the Mouse River. Police Capt. Al Hanson said only about three dozen people were searching on Saturday, and only on the ground.

Three bloodhounds also were brought in from southern North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota, but had not found anything at midday, he said.

"We completed a neighborhood canvas for the fourth time with no positive results," Hanson said. "We want to double- and triple-check to make sure we haven't missed anything."

Authorities also finished draining a section of the river near the girl's home "as far down as we can get it," Hanson said. "The dogs were run past that this morning."

Searchers on Saturday also returned to the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, where the body of Leigh Cowen, 22, was found in a van Tuesday. Authorities say he knew Reachelle's family and they suspected he had taken the girl.

They said he killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning. Hanson said Cowen had made previous attempts at suicide, though not in Minot. The captain said Cowen moved to Minot to live with Stephanie Smith, Reachelle's aunt and legal guardian.

Cowen had grown up with Smith and Samantha Smith, the girl's biological mother, Hanson said. He said Cowen had told Stephanie Smith that he was Reachelle's father, which she accepted until Cowen disappeared with the van.

Cowen's mother has been questioned several times in Kansas and authorities say they do not believe she is involved in the girl's disappearance.

Hanson said other people were being interviewed on Saturday, but he declined to say who they were.

An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank for people to donate toward a reward fund for information.

Hanson said leads called in to police are starting to dwindle, but authorities still hope to find Reachelle alive.

"Obviously, the longer things go on, statistically the less likely it is to be a search operation," he said. "But you're always going to have to hold out some hope."

[Sher]

Search winds down for missing Minot girl

MINOT (AP)


Investigators asked for further help from the public Saturday in the search for a missing 3-year-old Minot girl.

Minot police asked that everyone in the area be vigilant in checking any sheds, bushes, cars that haven't been driven recently and any property that hasn't been inspected lately.
Searchers looking for Reachelle Smith began winding down their efforts on Saturday, after bloodhounds failed to turn up any trace of her.

Police Capt. Al Hanson said any new leads would be checked out, but "we've had virtually no leads coming in,'' he said. "(The search) has pretty much been shut down.''

Searches might resume in the coming days, but nothing was scheduled today, Hanson said.

Reachelle has not been seen since the night of May 16. Hundreds of people have been searching for days on the ground, in the air and in the Mouse River. Hanson said only about three dozen people were searching on Saturday, and only on the ground.

"We completed a neighborhood canvas for the fourth time with no positive results,'' Hanson said. "We want to double- and triple-check to make sure we haven't missed anything.''

Authorities also finished draining a section of the river near the girl's home "as far down as we can get it,'' Hanson said. "The dogs were run past that (Saturday) morning.''

Searchers on Saturday also returned to the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, where the body of Leigh Cowen, 22, was found in a van Tuesday. Authorities say he knew Reachelle's family and they suspected he had taken the girl.

An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank under the names of Reachelle and Stephanie for anyone who would like to donate to a reward fund for information relating to the girl's disappearance.

Donations can be sent to Wells Fargo Bank, P.O. Box 1488, Minot, ND 58702.


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[Sher]

Making national headlines



Minot made national news again last week, but unfortunately it was again for the wrong reason.

The disappearance and subsequent search for missing 3-year-old Reachelle Smith brought national media attention to Minot. Local police officials were even included in discussions of the case on the Nancy Grace show, a national news show.
Unfortunately, as of Friday afternoon, there was little, if any, good news to report on the case. Smith has been missing since May 16.

Getting national media attention certainly can't hurt the search for the missing girl. Getting her photo shown to as many people as possible through newspapers and television can only help in the search.

But sometimes, national talk show hosts such as Grace aren't much help at all. Grace's emotional histrionics and her wailing, "how could this possibly happen?" attitude were a bit much for some viewers to watch this week. We certainly appreciate Grace using her show to get the case some additional exposure. But all too often Grace seemed to be trying to make herself the focal point of the show instead of the case.

We understand that cases like this don't happen often in North Dakota, and that's why the national media tends to latch onto such stories. But we'd much prefer to make national news for the good things that go on in our state.

[Sher]

Leads Starting to "Dry Up"

(AP) _ The search for a missing three-year-old Minot girl has ``pretty much been shut down.''

That's according to police Captain Al Hanson. He says if there are any new leads, they will be checked out.

Reachelle Smith has not been seen since the night of May 16th.

Searches this week have been done on the ground and in the air. Hanson says today's search was only on the ground. And there were fewer people out searching.

Three bloodhounds brought in last night helped out. Hanson says the search was in a number of areas, including around the girl's home and at a wildlife refuge northwest of Minot.

That was where the body of 22-year-old Leigh Cowen was found in a van Tuesday. Authorities say he knew Reachelle's family and they suspected he had taken the girl.

The area had been searched previously -- but Hanson says leads are starting to dry up.

[Sher]

No More Searches Planned

(AP) _ Minot authorities are still asking rural residents to check their property for clues in the disappearance of Reachelle Smith.

The three-year-old girl has been missing more than two weeks. And a search by horseback riders of four townships on Saturday failed to turn up any sign of her.

Minot Police Captain Al Hanson says no more searches of that magnitude are planned.

One of the riders on Saturday was injured when his horse started bucking. Authorities say 41-year-old Tom Freud of Cando tried to dismount but fell at an angle, breaking his leg.

He's listed in satisfactory condition today at Minot's Trinity hospital.

Also joining Saturday's search was Becker County Deputy Darwin Nundahl, of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Nundahl says he has a three-year-old daughter, and he wanted to help.

[Sher]

Search Ends for Reachelle Smith (June 6, 2006)


The search for 3-year-old Reachelle Smith, last seen at her aunt (and legal guardian) Samantha Smith's Minot ND home the night of May 16, has come to an end for now, after last week's search dog effort and this past weekend's horseback search.

Reachelle is believed to have been taken by 22-year-old Leigh Cowen, who claimed to have been her biological father (a claim that was proven to be wrong after she disappeared, though it isn't clear whether he believed it himself). Reachelle's mother, Stephanie Smith, gave legal custody of Reachelle to her sister Samantha just after Reachelle was born.

Some accounts state that Cowen was living with Samantha Smith at the time of Reachelle's disappearance.

Cowen had told Samantha that Reachelle staying with Stephanie for a few days. An Amber Alert wasn't issued until May 22, when it was clear the Cowen had lied and that he was gone.

On May 23, Cowen was found dead in his van -- of carbon monoxide poisoning, presumably a suicide -- at the nearby Upper Souris Wildlife Refuge.

The refuge, a local landfill, and the nearby Mouse River channel have been searched.