“We still don’t know what happened to the girls,” Simon added. “There are no human remains or evidence about the girls’ disappearance.”
Federal and local authorities called off the search at 3 p.m. yesterday.
There were backpacks found from the landfill but they lacked indication that they were owned by the girls, Simon said.
But some of the bags found will be presented to the girls’ family for possible identification, Simon added.
“We will continue investigating leads coming in,” Simon said.
About 62 personnel from federal and CNMI agencies joined the search yesterday.
Simon said unlike those depicted in movies or on TV, real life cases are not solved quickly.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Simon explained, referring to the ongoing investigation.
“More leads are to be covered,” Simon said, expressing hope that what they are doing now “would bear fruit in the future.”
Simon also thanked the CNMI government for waiving the quarantine for the search dog from Hawaii’s Civil Defense agency.
The search dog will arrive later this week, Simon said, and federal and local authorities will start searching “targeted areas” on island.
The search dog has a “tremendous historical success at searching jungles in the Pacific islands,” he added.
Simon urged members of the community to continue providing any information about the girls’ disappearance.
There is a $12,500 reward for any information leading to the recovery of the girls.
If you have any information about this case, call 911, the FBI at 322-6934, the girls’ family hotline at 285-4048, or the Crime Stoppers at 234-7272.
