Tip On Missing Girl Sparks Search Possible Evidence Found; Father In Protective Custody
Detectives spent Saturday searching for evidence they believe may help explain the disappearance of a Spokane Valley girl, and hours later police took her father into protective custody.
William “Brad” Jackson hasn’t been named as a suspect in the disappearance of his 9-year-old daughter, Valiree, but was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center for evaluation because of reports he was suicidal, Spokane police Sgt. Keith Cummins said.
Police drove away with Jackson from the Perkins Restaurant parking lot at Division and Riverside at 10 p.m. Minutes later, officers pulled a shotgun from the back seat of Jackson’s vehicle.
Spokane County sheriff’s detectives began searching for evidence at 8 a.m. Saturday, after a tip pointed them toward a wooded area near Dishman-Mica and Vicari roads, just west of state Highway 27 in the Valley.
Authorities wouldn’t say what they found, but sheriff’s Capt. John Simmons said they believe they discovered evidence pertaining to Valiree, a student at McDonald Elementary School.
“We did find some items of interest,” Simmons said. “I will say we did not find Valiree.”
Searchers scoured about 50 acres before dark and planned to continue today. The private property is about five miles south of Valiree’s grandparents’ home on Blossey Road, where Valiree was last seen Oct. 18.
No suspect has been named in the case. Detectives interviewed numerous sex offenders living near the girl’s home on East Blossey, and at one point asked Valiree’s father to take a polygraph test.
Police said Saturday night that William Jackson was taken into custody only to evaluate whether he was suicidal. They received reports around 5:30 p.m. that Jackson was talking about killing himself and driving around in a car with a 20-gauge shotgun, sheriff’s spokesman Dave Wiyrick said.
“There’s a possibility he was watching the news and saw information related to the case” and that upset him, Wiyrick said.
As the sun set on Saturday, Valiree’s grandparents watched through their front window and wondered how the search was going. White Christmas lights near their front door outlined a cross and an angel with a halo.
“We’re hopeful,” said Valiree’s grandfather, who didn’t want to give his name or talk about the search. “When she comes back, we’ll have lots to say.”