Suspect Questioned About Missing Teen
Authorities Hope To Question Suspects
Sources also said an FBI agent is assisting in the investigation.
Bish vanished Tuesday morning within a half-hour after her mother dropped her off at Comins Pond. Police said they are interested in talking with a handful of suspects about the missing teen.
One of the possible suspects was seen driving a white car and had been spotted in the parking lot staring at the girl in the days prior to her disappearance, Worcester County District Attorney John Conte said.
"We believe at least two individuals fit that description," Conte said. "We're in the process of reaching out for those two individuals."
Detectives also have six or seven other possible suspects they are seeking to interview, Conte said. He did not elaborate.
Authorities are also distributing a poster of the missing girl to police agencies nationwide and handing out copies of her picture at interchanges on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Following a two-day search of the pond by divers, authorities ruled out accidental drowning, and much of Thursday's search concentrated on catch basins, drainage ditches and other out-of-the way areas in the thick woods of this rural community.
"We've scaled back the search and are moving out away from the pond to areas of lower probability," said State Police Capt. Robert Bird. Still, the search involved about 200 officers, aided by some civilians.
Police have not ruled out the possibility that Bish ran away, although friends and family say that would be out of character for the popular high school soccer and basketball player.
"They say no, it couldn't have happened, but we would be thrilled if that was the case, because it would mean that good things are still possible," Bird said.
As of Thursday, police had followed up on more than 110 tips and calls to a hot line they established, he said.
"Some were better than others and we are still encouraging people to call," he said.
Police have also interviewed many of the girl's friends and
classmates, checked her home computer for any possible Internet
contacts and reviewed the client list of her father, a probation
officer.
The only trace of the girl found on the beach -- a popular swimming spot for teen-agers -- were her guard chair, lunch bag and water bottle.
Also left behind was a two-way radio Bish had used to check in with police during the two weeks since she started the job. On Tuesday, they never heard from her.
Meanwhile, her friends and family in this small, close-knit town of around 4,500 turned to prayer. And they wondered how could this happen to the youngest daughter of a prominent, well-liked family. Her mother, Maggie, a special-needs teacher in neighboring Palmer and a longtime school committee member, was named Warren's citizen of the year in February.
"This is the sort of town where people leave their doors unlocked," said Jerry Badger, principal of Quaboag Regional High School. "It makes it hard. So very, very hard."
The Rev. Peter Shea, the girl's parish priest, talked about the difficulty of making sense of it all as he offered special prayers at the morning Mass at St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church in the hamlet of West Warren.
"None of us really know what to do with ourselves," he said. "All we can do is place our faith in God."
Previous Stories:
- June 29, 2000: Town Prays For Teen's Safe Return
- June 29, 2000: Search For Missing Lifeguard Continues
