FBI Joins Hunt for Missing Girl
Dec. 19, 2005 — -- The FBI has joined the search for a 12-year-old Omaha, Neb., girl who has been missing for nearly three weeks, as the Omaha police chief defends the department's actions in the case.
Amber Harris was last seen getting off her school bus on Nov. 29, and officers worked through the night talking to the girl's family and others who rode the same bus that she did, Police Chief Thomas Warren said today. One of the other riders told police the girl may have asked to get off near Miller Park, an 80-acre recreation area that police searched along with surrounding areas near Harris' home.
Police notified the media the following evening, and Harris' photo and police phone numbers were released to the public. Community search parties were formed.
ABC's Omaha affiliate KETV reported that Warren said police had a tip early on that Harris might be with a boyfriend. "We initially pursued a lead that she may be in the company of a boyfriend, but we obviously haven't been able to locate her," Warren said. "I can't say it was that one boyfriend that she was in the company of."
The police chief said that, while investigators can't conclusively say that Harris is with someone, it is reasonable to assume someone her age would not be able to stay away from home for three weeks on her own resources.
"We had no indication [initially] that there was any foul play involved," Warren said, according to ABC's Omaha affiliate KETV. "We investigate these matters from all possible perspectives -- from worst-case scenario, if there may have been an abduction, to the individual running away voluntarily. At the time of the initial radio call, we didn't have any indication that this was anything other than a runaway. But as the time elapsed, you have concern that there's a missing 12-year-old."
Investigation Gets Help
Omaha police have now enlisted the FBI to help search for the girl. "We are involving as many resources from the FBI as possible to track down any and all leads," said Paul C. LaCotti Jr., special agent in charge of the FBI's Omaha division. "We are involving the behavioral analysis unit. This task force is growing in an effort to find Amber and resolve this matter."
In the three weeks since her disappearance, details have emerged about Harris' parents' history with law enforcement, though Warren said the girl's family has been extremely cooperative with the investigation and they are considered "victims" by the department.
Court records show Amber's father, Michael Harris, and two others raped a woman 22 years ago and he spent five years in prison for the crime. His wife, Melissa Harris, told KETV that their six children did not know about the sexual assault conviction until it came to light during the investigation into Amber's disappearance.
She also said her husband has at least three arrests for driving under the influence.
In addition, Melissa Harris took out a protection order against her husband last year. Harris told KETV that one of her six children manipulated her into doing so and that the protection order was a mistake.
Still, the girl's mother told KETV that Amber and her father have a very close relationship and she has no reason to be scared of him. She added that she and her husband have taken parenting classes to improve their skills.
Meanwhile, the search for Amber continues, and she has been listed by the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children and on the Nebraska State Patrol's Missing Persons Information Clearinghouse.
"I cannot tell you that we've had any confirmed sightings of Amber Harris since her disappearance," Warren said. "We're working literally hundreds of leads."