“We have polygraphed so many people and they passed with flying colors,” said Mafnas, adding the tests included relatives of the girls.
Mafnas said there must be someone who abducted the girls because they could not just disappear into thin air.
“The children may have known [their abductor]. There must be a scream or a howl,” said Mafnas.
He said DPS was in the process of sending people out to search certain areas including those under water.
“We have targeted search areas for this week,” Mafnas said, adding that authorities continue conducting searches “upon request.”
Mafnas said they have searched “over 480 areas back and forth.”
“It is baffling. We have carefully examined everything. We don’t want to miss anything,” he added.
Mafnas said they are balancing due process with establishing probable cause in the case.
“We need material facts that can be corroborated,” the commissioner added.
Mafnas said he is in constant communication with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
DPS, he added, “responded within hours” after the girls were reported missing on May 25.
Mafnas said DPS received the missing persons report at past 5 p.m. and at about 9:15 p.m., he “issued instructions to launch investigation immediately and to conduct search operations.”
“Trust us. We will not give up on this,” Mafnas told reporters.
The total reward money for any information leading to the recovery of the sisters or prosecution of person or persons behind their disappearance is $50,000.
Call 911, the FBI at 322-6934, the girls’ family hotline at 285-4048 or the Crime Stoppers at 234-7272.
