Caleigh Harrison Update: Search Postponed Again?

Looks like search is off till Wednesday due to continued bad weather.

Of note in article is that Caleigh's sister Lizzy did meet on Saturday with a child psychologist trained in trauma. Family was not told of any information gained via that interview. But, based on MA State Police stating again this morning that there was no proof positive re water or abduction, doesn't sound like there was anything to tell family.


http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x164319359/Weather-stalls-search-child-psychologist-interviews-Caleighs-sister

The ocean is really choppy out there today. While they can't officially rule anything out, I'd think it was obvious where the direction of their focus is. They would not send divers into the water in these frigid temps without good reason. I realize the abduction speculation makes a good story but I think it's fantasy versus the sad reality at this point. There has been zero movement off in that direction so I don't know why anyone should expect a public plea from a mother struggling through the horrible tragedy of her baby drowning and swept out to sea. The focus is on when/if they find her out there and not who took her...and the mom is right there on the news every night, waiting and crying.

Hi Chris, Rescue/recovery searches are very costly. Considering the environmental circumstances at time of disappearance , it is logical for LE/Recovery efforts to be highly focused on the water. This does not mean LE is not investigating other scenarios behind the scenes. LE has not ruled out abduction. The family has not ruled out abduction. Until both parties do, photos of the child, description of clothes, any identifying entities, should be spread beyond the local areas in order to keep awareness high.

Your compassion for the family is strong, admirable and lends understanding to your words. But a child is missing, Chris. Will ask you to step out of protection mode, step into their shoes, and ask yourself if you would want a search for your child limited to one focus because environmental factors suggest it is 99.9% the likely scenario. .1% remains open to abduction....not impossible, just improbable.

My compassion is just as high for the police divers, as I know several of those guys. I grew up on boats, on that beach and on Gloucester harbor. To know what they are experiencing right now, and what lies ahead for them, they deserve everyone's thoughts and prayers too.

The "environmental circumstances" you speak of are right outside my back door. The tragedy touches every single one of us. The costly aspects of a search/recovery are exactly my point. That they continue to focus it there kind of says it all.

If you walk up to the seawall, you have an expansive view of everything from end to end, and would see any person on the sand even if they were at the complete opposite end of the beach, even just a dot. There are no big dunes or rocks to hide them. The only time they would not be visible was if they were in the water.

And, as I said before, I have two daughters. I take them to that very same beach. I think, as members of the family have stated in various ways, that abduction would almost be "hoped" for...when you consider the tragic realities. But it's actually less than 1% probable.

How about we agree to disagree on whether an abduction scenario is worthy of inclusion? Because, truly, we are saying the same thing, we're just wording it as it applies to our experiences.

Re expansive view...would you mind describing your perception/experience re outward view were you standing on the seawall in area of disappearance? I understand the swiftness of current, sand vulnerabilities, etc. Interest is based more on the results of LE test re buoy and current movement in the area.

Traumatic events have been known to evoke amnesia type blocks re memory as a protection against emotional shock. In such a case as this one, where there was another child still in harm's way, even the slightest glimpse of pink in the water may have forced a mental block.

What would your opinion be on this?

About the sister... my opinion would be that she was four years old. It's as simple as that. To expect she would be monitoring her little sister's every movement is just ridiculous.

You stand on the seawall and you are elevated like ten feet above the beach, which is very flat, straight and long as compared to most beaches in the area. It's not the typical North Shore Beach tucked into a circular cove with grassy dunes or hiding places in rocks or anything. The footbridge is low, and again easily visible from the wall. The sand around the bridge where the river flows is the type you sink into very easily. The current and undertow in that area are notoriously strong. In the summer when there are more visitors and tourists, lifeguards need to go out and rescue the inexperienced at least once every weekend. It's a very common occurrence.

The tests the did with the buoys pulled it out and over more towards the left, away from the main beach, towards the island and then a little outcropping.

Thank you, Chris, for you reply. Was puzzled by some of its aspects. Did read it over a few times in order to figure out why your replies, while informative, do not correlate to what I write/ask. An example would be Lizzy. I wrote:

'Traumatic events have been known to evoke amnesia type blocks re memory as a protection against emotional shock. In such a case as this one, where there was another child still in harm's way, even the slightest glimpse of pink in the water may have forced a mental block. '

You responded with:

"About the sister... my opinion would be that she was four years old. It's as simple as that. To expect she would be monitoring her little sister's every movement is just ridiculous."

Am not sure why you interpreted my words as if they were expectations I held of Lizzy. They are not applicable to Lizzy. They are applicable to a mental occurrence an adult might experience in such a life/death situation re their children.

I have not made any comments regarding Lizzy. However you have. So, for the sake of communication, will break my own rule re discussion of minors (aside from the missing minor). My feelings...Lizzy is a 4yo, who was preoccupied with building a sandcastle. Am embarrassed to say how many times that same preoccupation ended with a search for one of my children. So please know....I do not hold/have any expectations of Lizzy.

As I wrote, I am aware of the test results re buoy, current strength, sand etc. What I am asking you is this:

If you were standing on the the seawall (in approx location of Caleigh's mom), at that height, if the currents movement of the buoy were indeed the movement of the child, would your opinion be that even a glimpse of pink might be viewable? Or do you feel the depth of water, rock formation etc would hinder sight?


(seem to be having touble posting...is doubling up?)

Snip from article at link:

"David says this morning in the rain, a group of a couple of dozen people, kept up the search on land.

Her family refuses to give up hope that Caleigh will be found alive.

"I think she is out there somewhere. I'm feeling that she's probably not in the water, I'm thinking that maybe we can find her somewhere," Harrison Jr. added."

http://www.necn.com/04/23/12/Family-anxiously-awaits-word-on-Caleigh/landing.html?blockID=695358&tagID=181432

The water is dark, churned up with foamy tidal currents. And when people go under, they are under. It's not likely, and if it ever was the mother would need to be looking in the exact right spot in the exact right split second.

Thank you, Chris.