April 4, 2006

MISSING MILWAUKEE BOYS--UPDATE




Investigators are re-examining statements about two missing boys made by their mother and grandfather to a reporter in the first days after the boys' disappearance.


An affidavit filed Monday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court shows that investigators subpoenaed and got raw footage from a WDJT-TV (Channel 58) reporter's March 21 interviews with Garry Henning and Angela Virginia. Henning's grandson, Quadrevion Henning, 12, and Virginia's son, Purvis Virginia Parker, 11, were last seen the afternoon of March 19.


The boys' families have given numerous interviews with news media and investigators since then, as authorities search for the boys. The documents don't say specifically what police hoped to learn from the unedited tapes of the interviews, only that the footage "may provide needed information regarding (the boys') whereabouts."


The subpoena for media records was granted by Court Commissioner David M. Sweet Thursday, and the television station handed over the video Friday, according to a police inventory sheet. Police have said the missing boys' families have been fully cooperative with investigators, even submitting to polygraphs, as part of the investigation into the boys' disappearance.


Anne E. Schwartz, the police department spokeswoman, said investigators have been going over all of the media interviews with family members and wanted to review the specific segments that were subpoenaed. "I think they were the first two interviews done with the family, and we were going back to see what they said early on," Schwartz said. "We're going over any ground we can." WDJT officials did not return a call seeking comment Monday.


Meanwhile, the search for the boys entered its third frustrating week Monday. Schwartz said at a morning briefing that police continue to follow up on tips but still have no substantive clues. Police, along with the FBI and other law enforcement officials have searched the entire area, including parks, rivers and ponds. Schwartz said the search will continue at its present level "as long as we feel we're accomplishing something."



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