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The Search for Rachel, a father's journal

Friday, March 1

I discussed Run/Walk for Rachel with my co-worker Kelly. She had found out that May 4th might be the best date since the Capital 10,000 and other races and walks are scheduled in April. Kelly is going to follow through on it.

The button vendor sent me an e-mail saying that the buttons would be ready on Saturday.

I met with my cousin Lanny and friend Don and we went over some possible new search sites. We identified a large area for a horse search. Lanny will contact horseback riders for it. Hopefully we can do that search next weekend.

Friends Tony and Robert S. called searchers to line them up for this weekend. We will meet at 1:00 p.m. Saturday.

Saturday, March 2

There will be another self-defense class this Monday night at St. Johns United Methodist Church at 311 E. University St.. (Hwy 29, Exit 261) in Georgetown at 6:30 p.m. The last class brought in around 150 people. It is geared toward women and senior citizens and teaches general self-defense methods. Janet and I are planning to attend the session.

Nine of us searched an area outside of Georgetown. The temperature was below 40 degrees. I can not say enough about these dedicated people. Some of them I didn't even know two months ago. We will search again Sunday afternoon. The temperature is supposed to be about the same on Sunday. God bless them all!

I talked on the phone with my sister Elaine. She attended a Future Teachers of America Conference in Austin on Friday. She spoke to the students and teachers during a general assembly. Rachel's flyers were distributed to every school. They will make copies and post them in their hometowns.

I spoke with Rachel's boyfriend, Greg, on the phone. The same INSIDE EDITION reporter that was following the Danielle Van Dam case interviewed both he and Rachel's ex-roomate Bambi. They are still saying that the show about Rachel will be broadcast this Thursday. I believe it comes on at 3:00 p.m. on KVUE. I will continue to give updates on the broadcast.

Sunday, March 3

I typed up letters to notify publications to whom Rachel had Subscribed as well as creditors that she had disappeared. After calling them it was quite clear they didn't want to talk to me since I was a third party. On the telephone they kept making comments like "When Rachel comes back" and "That's all we can do because you are a third party." It was not an easy task to do. I wish Rachel could come back. With all my heart and soul.

We did a search today with five friends and family from 1:00-4:00. The weather was cold but much better than on Saturday. The terrain was much tougher, though. There were a lot of cliffs, and much climbing was involved.

Friends Tony and Robert S. , my cousin Lanny and I discussed next weekend's search. We will need to have at least 20 horse-mounted searchers and 20 walkers to do the large area that we have identified.

Monday, March 4

My coworker Kelly reserved a preliminary date for The Run/Walk for Rachel. When that is confirmed I will post it here. We are working on sponsors for the event.

I sent out e-mails to all of the searchers on my list asking for walking search volunteers for this Saturday. I need to start calling the rest of the searchers tonight that do not have an e-mail address. My cousin Lanny is notifying horseback riders. My friend Robert S. is getting the landowner's permission to search his property.

Janet and I attended a self-defense class at St. John's United Methodist Church in Georgetown. Deborah Brown taught the class geared toward women. She gave an excellent class! All proceeds went into the Rachel Cooke Reward Fund. Thank you Deborah, St. John's Church, Nails Etc. and other sponsors!

Tuesday, March 5

Janet and I met with the Sheriff's Department this morning. We discussed the case and I gave them some possible leads. I'm sorry but I can't go into anymore detail on this.

Coworkers Kelly, Ben and I discussed Run/Walk for Rachel. Kelly met with a possible sponsor to gather information this morning and briefed Ben and me. We are still trying to decide if we want to offer a competitive run as well as a noncompetitive run and walk. We should have most of the details and announce the Run/Walk by the end of this week. The date is pretty certain to be Saturday, April 27th.

I stopped at Best Buy to pick up a few things for the search Saturday. The cashier saw my Help Find Rachel Cooke button and commented "I see Rachel Cooke's picture everywhere". All I could think of was YES!!! Thank you everyone, that has worked so hard to post flyers.

The producer of INSIDE EDITION and I went through video tapes that I had given her of Rachel's life and the news coverage. We picked out a few good videos of Rachel running and singing. She will let me know today if it will definitely be on tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. on KVUE 24. I will give that information in tomorrow morning's journal entry.

I called several people to ask if they can search on Saturday. I had a good response but I'm still about five people short. We are trying to get one or two G.P.S. units donated or loaned to the searches. They really help keep us going in a straight line even through heavy brush.

Wednesday, March 6

First of all, the INSIDE EDITION story on Rachel will not be shown until tomorrow March 8th. It comes on at 3:00 on KVUE 24.

Co-workers Ben, Kelly and I discussed the Run/Walk for Rachel some more. My wife Janet would like to have a competitive run so we are considering that. A noncompetitive run and walk will definitely take place. Hopefully tomorrow or Saturday I can announce it.

I have my 20 walking searchers lined up. Hopefully my cousin, Lanny, has had good luck in getting horse riders for Saturday's search. Friend Robert S. has gotten 90% of the permission we need from property owners. He will continue to contact the remaining 10% today and tomorrow.

Texas Cable News Network called me yesterday. They want to interview me in their Austin studio tomorrow. Their broadcast reaches all of the major Texas cities although some cities require digital cable.

Thursday, March 7

I received several new search commitments for walkers today. Also, a local food service will be providing lunch for the searchers free of charge.

The promo for Rachel was shown on today's INSIDE EDITION. Rachel's story will be on INSIDE EDITION Friday March 8th at 3:00 p.m. on KVUE 24.

We should announce the Run/Walk for Rachel on Monday. Flyers and a web page are being designed now.

I confirmed with Texas Cable News Network that I will be interviewed at 8:00 tomorrow morning. They broadcast in all major Texas cities.

Friday, March 8

I did an interview with the Texas Cable News Network this morning at 8:30. The Austin studio was remotely hooked up to the main studio in Dallas. Someone in Dallas actually interviewed me.

Monday we will officially announce the Run/Walk for Rachel. Information will be posted on the rachelcookesearch.org web site and on the RunTex.com site. The race will be held in Round Rock at Old Settler's Park on Saturday April 27th. All proceeds from the Run/Walk will go to the Rachel Cooke Reward fund. Rachel loved running so much it will be a good way to honor her. We are hoping that a lot of her running friends can participate in the run part. I plan to participate in the walking portion.

KVUE came out and filmed Janet and me as we watched the INSIDE EDITION story on Rachel. Inside Edition did an excellent job! It was very strange to be filmed at such an emotional time.

Saturday, March 9

The Round Rock Police Department pulled their search dog off of Rachel's search. Hopefully their dog Harley will be reassigned this week to do the job he was trained for. It was sure nice to have him on our team.

We met at 9:00 a.m. and sent out two search teams of eight each by 9:30 a.m. The horse team and another walking team of 10 went out around 10:00 a.m. Express Gourmets donated a fantastic hot meal to the searchers at 12:30. My friend Thad and I took a lunch to the horseback riders. They were searching two miles away from the command post and it was easier for them to eat in the field.

After lunch, most people left but a team of nine stayed. We searched the rest of the almost 400 acres. We finished around 5:00 p.m. Still no sign of Rachel but we did a complete search and we know she isn't on that property.

Sunday, March 10

Today it has been two months since Rachel disappeared. It is depressing that with all of the searches and the investigation that we have not turned up anything new in the last six weeks. I push myself every day to try to think up new ideas that might help. So far I have failed. I'm so sorry, Rachel. I am trying. We all are.

My mother, sister Elaine, sister Diane and her family attended church this morning at Faith Lutheran Church in Georgetown. What a wonderful group of people they are! I'm going to meet with Pastor Selle later this week and talk about things. He is a great guy.

Monday night friends Robert S. and Tony, my cousin Lanny and I will meet to plan next Saturday's search. After that, we will divide up the work to get detailed maps, landowner permission and search volunteers.

Janet worked on the Run/Walk for Rachel t-shirt design and symbol. Hopefully we will have that on rachelcookesearch.org tomorrow with the Run/Walk information and registration.

Monday, March 11

Co-workers Kelly and Ben and I defined the list of items needed to get the Run/Walk for Rachel online and flyers made. We divided up the work. Hopefully we will have it online on Tuesday or early Wednesday. I stopped and paid the reservation fee and deposit for the site on my way home.

Friends Tony and Robert S., my cousin Lanny and I planned next weekend's search. It will take place on both Saturday and Sunday because of the large amount of area. Mostly walking searchers will be needed with a few others on horseback. Tony will get landowner permission and Lanny and I will ask for the volunteer searchers.

Tuesday, March 12

Coworker Kelly and I went over the list of items to be completed before we officially announce the Run/Walk for Rachel. A few last minute things have delayed the announcement.

I reworked the volunteer sign-up list and added new volunteers. Tomorrow I will start e-mailing and calling volunteers for this coming weekend. We have several 100 acres to cover this weekend also.

My sister Elaine and I put together a thank you package for the producer of Inside Edition. They did such a nice job with Rachel's story we wanted to send them a thank you card and some other things. Hopefully that and other national coverage will bring Rachel home.

For some reason, this afternoon was really hard. I kept thinking about Rachel and how much I miss her. I don't think we will ever heal from this but I am determined to bring her home.

Wednesday, March 13

Coworkers Ben, Kelly and I went through the final list of items needed to announce the Run/Walk for Rachel. We should have everything done tomorrow and start getting the word out.

I e-mailed and called 30 people requesting volunteer searchers for this weekend. Very few commitments were received. Hopefully more will commit in the next two days.

My 17-year-old daughter had a flat tire last night on the way home. Janet and I started to panic but a nice man changed her tire before I could get there. There are good people left in the world. Thank you!

Thursday, March 14

Co-worker Kelly sent the Run/Walk for Rachel forms into RunTex. As soon as they are on-line we will get the information page up on rachelcookesearch.org. Kelly is also designing the flyers to be available at all four RunTex stores and to be passed out.

My wife Janet and others are working on getting sponsors to cover some of the cost of the T-shirts and advertisements. Janet is taking the T-shirt art she designed to see if the manufacturer will be able to use it for the shirts. Hopefully some of the cost will be sponsored. My sister Elaine is starting to working on the press release.

Janet smashed her finger while working in the backyard this afternoon. My daughter JoAnn took her to the emergency room, and the doctors pulled out the end of the bone and sewed 30 stitches in it. She's in a lot of pain but hopefully it will heal okay.

Friday, March 15

I took a day of vacation to get the tire fixed and take care of Janet. We ended up having to make a trip to the emergency room to have her pain medication changed. The first prescription was making her nauseous.

Kelly got a reply for RunTex that the Run/Walk for Rachel registration form is ready. We will finally get everything else on-line on Monday.

Saturday, March 16

My cousin Lanny came over at 7:30 a.m. and we road around the search area before meeting the other searchers at 9:00 a.m. We had nine horseback riders and around 18 walkers. I led a team of walkers and friend Robert S. led the other walker team. Lanny led the horseback riders.

Express Gourmets proved another delicious hot lunch. They even brought sack lunches for the Sunday search. What wonderful people!

On the way home from the search I got a little depressed. All of these good people are working so hard to find Rachel and we have found nothing. We need your help, God. So many are praying. Please give us a sign so we can bring Rachel home.

Sunday, March 17

We had a small four-hour search today. Only six people showed up but the rain stopped long enough for us to do the search. After the search my cousin Lanny and I drove the area looking for future search sites.

Coworker Ben called at night and showed me the final Run/Walk for Rachel web page. We made some last minute changes. I will try and get that posted to the web on Monday.

Janet's finger is doing better. We have to change the bandages twice a day now.

Monday, March 18

It has been a big day today. There have been many ups and downs.

First of all the Run/Walk for Rachel is officially online on rachelcookesearch.org and www.runtex.com (under upcoming races.)

It will been held on April 27th at Old Setters Park in Round Rock. Rachel ran there for four years during the Round Rock Meet, the District Meet and the State Meet (junior and senior years.) It gives people a chance to get some good running or walking exercise while at the same time honoring Rachel. All proceeds go into the Rachel Cooke Reward Fund to help in the continuing efforts to find Rachel.

I am hoping that people that wanted to help before but couldn't will register as well as those friends and family that have been involved. My thanks go out to co-workers Kelly and Ben for their hard work to get it started.

At night friend Robert S. and cousin Lanny met with me to discuss future searches. We are in the process of marking a big map with all the areas that have been covered. Lanny and I may have to visit Texas EquuSearch Headquarters in Houston to get some of the documentation.

My friend J.R and I exchanged e-mails about kids and grand kids. I've been thinking a lot about that. I will probably never see Rachel get married or have any children. We've not only lost a daughter; we've lost a future son-in-law and grandchildren. It's hard not to get depressed about things like that.

I have to maintain strength though. Rachel, I made you a promise two months ago. I'm not giving up. Not here, not now........not yet.

Tuesday, March 19

Co-worker Kelly picked up a few example flyers from RunTex. We found one that printed the information on one page and we will use that design. Co-worker Ben will type up the actual flyer for the Run/Walk for Rachel. When that is done, I will take it to have copies made. If anyone wants to volunteer to help with the Run/Walk for Rachel, donate bottled water or help with the searches they can e-mail runforrachel@yahoo.com.

I sent out e-mails about this weekend's search. We need both walkers and horseback riders again. Friend Robert S., cousin Lanny and I will drive around the search area tonight and we will plan the search for Saturday.

Janet's finger is doing much better. Her friend Carol has been changing the dressing for her.

Still no luck with other national news programs. If the missing person is over 14 the networks don't seem to be interested. I know I love Rachel just as much as I did when she was 12, maybe more.

Wednesday, March 20

Coworkers Kelly, Ben and I met to discuss the Run/Walk for Rachel flyer. Ben will type it up tonight. We also discussed sponsors and T-shirts. My wife Janet found a good supplier for the shirts and a newspaper sponsor.

Friend Robert S., cousin Lanny and I drove around the search area for this weekend. Lanny found a list of new horseback riders and e-mailed them. Hopefully that will generate search volunteers. I have received two other volunteers via e-mail this week. To volunteer write to: runforrachel@yahoo.com.

Georgetown High School called to discuss the Run/Walk for Rachel. They will be laying out the 5K course and timing the competitive run. We hope to have a lot of track and cross country students attend the run/walk.

I have a news interview scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Thursday with a local station. There is nothing new on the national news programs.

We are still receiving many prayers on prayforrachel.org. People from all over the are world praying for Rachel. That's got to help bring her home. I know that God has provided me strength to carry on.

Thursday, March 21

Co-workers Ben, Kelly and I completed the Run/Walk for Rachel flyer/registration form. We will try and get it copied and placed in all RunTex Shoe Stores by the end of the day tomorrow. I typed up a sponsor sheet with an explanation of why we are having the Run/Walk and a list items that we need. Those interested in donating can e-mail runforrachel@yahoo.com .

Fox7 came out to the house to do an interview. Hopefully the news coverage will increase now that South by Southwest is over. UNSOLVED MYSTERIES called me last night. They may do a story on Rachel. We need more national coverage.

We are still hoping for a big showing for Saturday's search. We are meeting at Faith Lutheran Church on Williams Drive in Georgetown at 9:00 a.m.

Friday, March 22

Co-workers Kelly and Ben and I finished the master copy of the Run/Walk for Rachel flyer/registration form. During lunch I ran copies and dropped some by the Gateway RunTex Shoe Store. Kelly took some to both South Austin RunTex stores. She and I will also try and get sporting good stores to display them. Ben is adding some new sponsors to the form this weekend.

We will continue to run new copies and distribute them everywhere. My wife Janet and I will create a newspaper advertisement that contains the registration form. Between the printed and Internet forms we hope to have many people register early. http://www.rachelcookesearch.org. My sister Elaine and her daughter Amy are writing the press release that will go out next week.

Friend Robert S. brought over a detailed aerial view of most of Williamson County. It's about three years old. I know they are currently making an updated one, and I will try and get a copy of it. Otherwise this one will work.

Three new people sent e-mails to runforrachel@yahoo.com volunteering to help search. I e-mailed them and informed them about this Saturday's search. Hopefully they can make it.

Saturday, March 23

We did another search today. Thirteen walkers and 5 horseback riders searched a large area. Express Gourmet donated lunch again and most of the team stayed and searched until 5:30 p.m. Unfortunately we did not find anything.

I passed out several of the Run/Walk for Rachel flyers and many people have already registered. We should have the press release out on Monday. Word is also spreading from runner to runner, which is good.

Sunday, March 24

I forgot to mention that we saw our first rattlesnake of the season during the Saturday search. We have to be extremely careful now. I'm going to make a hard rule that no one under 15 can go out on the searches.

My sister Elaine and I went over the Run/Walk for Rachel press release. It is now ready to be sent out this week. Press releases are just a high-level description of an activity or other news item. My wife Janet is starting to work on the newspaper advertisements.

I started reading a book named THE GREEN RIVER KILLER. Maybe something in it will help me solve this case or at least give some better ideas of where to search.

Several people have told me they've heard others say that our family should be satisfied that a reasonable effort was made to find Rachel. I only tell those people one thing. Whoever took Rachel is still out there and that statistics show they don't just do this one time. I don't want some other young woman or girl to disappear. No other parent should have to go through what Janet and I have.

Monday, March 25

I've had a few days to think about what Joe McKey, a crime analyst and supervisor of the Department of Public Safety's Missing Persons said. He stated, "Last year in Texas, nearly 71,000 people were reported missing." Most of those were women and children. I don't mean to discount the September 11th tragedy, but that's over 10 times the number of people killed then.

We have a real problem with abductions in Texas and the rest of the nation. It's time that law enforcement steps up to the plate. Only one part-time F.B.I investigator worked on Rachel's case. It seems that if the missing person is over a certain age, her value as a human being goes down. Seventy F.B.I. agents were assigned to the Oregon case. Is a 19-year-old that much less important than a 12-year-old? We still love her now just as much or more than when she was 12. I can't even get Rachel posted on the FBI missing persons web page.

A neighbor and an old friend of Rachel's came over last night. We watched the INSIDE EDITION segment on Rachel along with Janet. All three of us were crying by the end of the show. It's not fair and it's not right. Why was she taken from us? What did Rachel do to deserve this?

Later, friend Robert S., my cousin Lanny and I spent three hours going over the search records from just the first four days of the Texas Equusearch search. I am going to make a database of everything so we can easily look up things. It will also help us decide on new search areas. At least I have the expertise to do this. I am still committed to finding Rachel. It's too early to give up.

Tuesday, March 26

Co-worker Kelly and I talked on the phone to discuss the Run/Walk status. She is finalizing the bib (number) order. My wife Janet and sister Diane took the T-shirt art by to have it silk-screened. Janet also ordered the medals for the competitive run.

My sister, Elaine, is working on notices for churches to post in their bulletins and newsletters. She will hand deliver some of them and e-mail or mail the rest.

Janet received word from a restaurant that they will make hot food for 1,000 people. We are also working on donut, and water donations and other things to give the run/walkers in the morning.

I spent another three hours going through the Texas EquuSearch records. We are almost ready to make a trip to Houston to pick up some search team maps from them. We need those to complete the large map that we are marking up.

Janet has to go to a hand surgeon. There still is a small piece of broken bone in her finger that has to be removed. Hopefully it won't be too painful for her. She is in enough emotional pain as it is.

Wednesday, March 27

The body found at Lake Travis gave us a big scare. The first news reports didn't identify that it wasn't Rachel and no one from the Sheriff's office called us. We finally called them at 9:00 a.m. asking for an official report. It turned out to be the body of a male who was taller than Rachel. Another person that was loved and lost.

UNSOLVED MYSTERIES called and told me that they can do a short piece on Rachel. It will only be one to three minutes and won't be broadcast until late May or June.

We picked up some good sponsors for the Run/Walk for Rachel. Even a couple of copy places are running free flyer copies for us.

I added some new things to the http://rachelcookesearch.org site. Most are under the tribute section. Janet's poem "Rachel" and three of her drawings of Rachel are there now. I plan to add pictures and other drawings, a few at a time. I also started adding sponsors to the Run/Walk for Rachel page.

I spent two more hours documenting the EquuSearch search records. We are almost done with the first phase. The records show fixed wing and helicopter air searches, 4 wheeler, horseback, mountain bike, car and walking searches.

Thursday March 28

My sister Elaine and I e-mailed the Run/Walk for Rachel press release to all television, newspaper and most radio stations. We even received some replies that the stations were adding the announcement to their community calendar announcements.

Co-worker Kelly and I went over the list of action items needed for the run/walk. We still have a lot of work to do, but everything is on schedule.

Janet picked up 4,000 donated copies of the Run/Walk for Rachel flyer/registration forms. I folded 250 of them at night. Saturday my family is meeting and we will do the rest of them.

I finished documenting the Texas EquuSearch records on paper. My cousin Lanny and I will go to Houston next week to copy the actual search maps. After that we will mark up a big Williamson County map that friend Robert. S. is getting.

A few tips have been sent to the rideforrachel@yahoo.com and runforrachel.yahoo.com. I have routed all of them to the Sheriff's Office.

Due to Easter weekend we will not have a search on Saturday. Next Saturday, April 6, we will resume searching.

Friday, March 29

Co-worker Kelly and I checked on bag prices for Run/Walk participants and folded some Run/Walk for Rachel flyers. She will go around to stores tonight and pass them out.

I folded 750 flyers at home tonight. I also added the main sponsors to the http://www.rachelcookesearch.org/run_for_rachel.html web page. A few other minor changes were made to the site also.

Saturday, March 30

I spent a couple of hours this morning adding some photos of Rachel to Rachel Tributes section of rachelcookesearch.org. I also added some new sponsors to the Run/Walk for Rachel page.

Friday night I talked on the phone to a mother who had lost her daughter due to a manslaughter a year and a half ago. We have a lot in common, and during the hour we talked we gave each other support.

Our family had an early Easter dinner at my mother and father's house. My brother David said a nice prayer thanking God for what he has provided us. He also asked God to help make our family complete again by bringing Rachel home. There is a big hole in our family now and we are all feeling the pain it generates.

With tomorrow being Easter it brings mixed emotions. My faith is being tested like it never has before. I do know my strength is being given to me by the Lord and it's what keeps me going.

Sunday, March 31

I created a video tape to send to UNSOLVED MYSTERIES today. I want them to have some of the news coverage and some video of Rachel running, singing, etc. Hopefully that will entice them to do a longer story.

I also began entering the EquuSearch records into a spreadsheet. Later, if needed, I will load them into a database.

Janet and I began talking about the future. We want to do something to help missing persons. She wants to concentrate on talking to students, hopefully helping prevent some abductions. I would like to work on reducing the age discrimination boundaries that we have run into and to provide databases to help document searches.

So far these are just ideas, but you can't go through with something like this without thinking about it. We want to help prevent abductions and provide services to victims and missing person organizations.