Police in Indiana are reportedly suspending the seek for a teen they beforehand stated was in “excessive hazard” who went lacking hours after being pictured in a weird T-shirt with handwritten messages studying “I’m a liar,” “I harm my lil brother” and “cheat”.
Scottie Dean Morris, 14, of Eaton, was final seen round 8:30 p.m. native time on E Indiana Avenue on March 16.
A Silver Alert issued the following day stated Morris – who was solely sporting shorts and a white T-shirt when he vanished – is believed to be in “excessive hazard” and “could require medical help.”
Speaking to The Star Press late Monday, Eaton Police Chief Jay Turner stated that investigators have been “coming to the top of the searches” for the teenager after having exhausted all avenues.
“We’ve [searched] your entire city a minimum of 4 occasions. We’ve completed all of the outskirts, we [searched] each the north and south sides of the [Mississinewa] river,” he instructed the outlet of the in depth search effort.
“We’ve had horses, we’ve had the helicopter with infrared, we’ve had a fixed-wing [Indiana State Police] helicopter, [the Department of Natural Resources] had boats within the water. We’ve just about exhausted all the pieces we are able to trying on this space. Now we’re hoping for somebody to name and provides us a tip and we’ll transfer on that.”
In a Facebook update shared shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, Eaton Deputy Chief Chris Ligett stated legislation enforcement would have a “multi-agency” assembly on Tuesday to find out subsequent steps.
Ligett stated that a number of interviews and polygraphs have been performed, however that police nonetheless had “no new leads or data” and have been “at a standstill.”
Ligett additionally tried to quell a number of the rumors surrounding the case on social media, most of which started after police shared the full-length photograph of Morris the place he appears upset whereas sporting a white T-shirt with the hand-written black ink messages, which included “cheat” underlined and a drawing of a crying face on Morris’s proper shoulder.
The white shirt is believed to be the identical t-shirt he sporting when he went lacking.
Social media customers speculated that the unusual shirt coupled with Morris’ buzzed haircut might potenitally point out abuse at residence.
Nonetheless, in Monday’s video assertion Ligett famous Morris’ buzz lower was completed at his request a number of days earlier than he disappeared.
Though acquaintances reportedly described Morris as “the sweetest” and “very well mannered,” Turner instructed The Star Press the teenager tried to run away as soon as prior to now.
Turner additionally stated there was no cause to consider the boy was being abused.
Morris’ mom, Felicia Morris, appeared on Indianapolis TV on Monday with a determined message for her son.
“I really like you and I simply need you to return residence,” she stated tearfully.
Along with his mother and father, Morris lives at residence in Eaton together with his three siblings, together with a twin sister, The Star Press stated.
Along with in depth legislation enforcement efforts, the seek for Morris drew volunteers from throughout the state.
“If it have been my very own child, I might hope somebody would come out and assist me,” Curtis Little, of Albany, instructed The Star Press.
“That is any person’s child. We will do the second-guessing and that stuff later, we simply want to search out that younger man.”
Thomas Frost, of Bloomington, instructed the outlet that he was impressed to assist discover Morris following the 2011 disappearance of Lauren Spierer, who has by no means been discovered, and the Delphi murders, the place two teenage women have been discovered useless.
“This isn’t the primary time I’ve been uncovered to this sort of factor,” he lamented.
“These two [cases] had horrible outcomes. And I wish to assist if potential keep away from that.”
In accordance with the official Silver Alert, Morris is 5 ‘4″ and 150 kilos with blue eyes. He was final seen sporting purple and black shorts, a white t-shirt with writing on it, and black exhibits.
The Eaton Police Division didn’t instantly return The Put up’s request for a remark.
