Investigators coming up empty in search for teen

By Tom Farmer

July 5, 2000 Web posted at: 1:30 PM EDT (1730 GMT)

WARREN, Massachusetts (The Boston Herald) -- Despite the discovery of tire tracks and other evidence that might link a suspect to the disappearance of Molly Ann Bish, investigators yesterday reported no significant developments to explain what happened to the teenage lifeguard.

With the probe of Bish's suspected abduction scaled back to the confines of the Warren police station, a team of 30 state police detectives was still sorting through ``volumes'' of tip information and conducting interviews hoping for a break in the case a week after the girl's disappearance.

``We don't have anything yet,'' said one source. ``We really could use a break, but we still have a lot of things to check out.''

Investigators are awaiting test results on tire tracks found three days ago near Comins Pond to determine their make.

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A suspicious white car was reported in the area where Bish, 16, was last seen June 27 after being dropped at the pond by her mother.

Worcester County District Attorney John J. Conte has stated investigators have identified ``two or three major'' suspects in Bish's disappearance and ``at least two of them'' own white vehicles.

Investigators are still trying to determine the make of the car seen near the pond. Two carloads of detectives visited the pond area for about 30 minutes yesterday.

Conte, who through a state police spokesman declined to brief reporters yesterday citing a lack of developments in the case, said investigators will also look into every registered or known sex offender in the county.

Although investigators have collected tire, foot and fingerprints from the pond area, it remains unclear if they are connected to Bish's disappearance, according to state police Capt. Robert Bird.

``We don't know if they are relevent or not,'' he said. ``We have to find that one big break but they haven't been able to sift that one through yet.''

Sources said several suspects known to be sexually dangerous are being eyed and up to six people have taken voluntary lie-detector tests.

Several people have failed the test, and sources said questions that appeared to be answered untruthfully mostly involved contradictions over a person's whereabouts at a particular time.

But investigators are not putting great emphasis on the polygraph tests because the results cannot be used as evidence in Massachusetts courts and some of the respondents gave outrageous answers, indicating all their statements were not credible, sources said.

It appears Bish had been secretly stalked and was apparently abducted during a 15-minute period when she was alone at the pond.

Investigators have also found broken brush in the area that Conte said could be evidence ``of a scuffle,'' but detectives have yet to discover a crime scene, authorities said.

On a summer day perfect for the Fourth of July holiday, Warren's small downtown was mostly devoid of residents yesterday as most folks appeared to spend a quiet day at home, with holiday festivities postponed in deference to the missing girl.

Jean and Richard Temple of Athol, who lost their 20-year-old son in a Fourth of July car accident 21 years ago, were among the few visitors to Warren Common. ``We can relate to what it feels like to lose a child and it makes us feel a little better to be here to show support to the girl's family,'' Jean Temple said.

Teen lifeguard missing from pond

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