The Search for Rachel, a father's journal

Wednesday, May 1

A radio station called our house this morning asking if we knew anything about the body found near Decker Lake. I told them no, but I would ask the sheriff's department about it when I talked to them at 8:30 a.m.

The sheriff's department gave my wife Janet and me a briefing at 8:45 a.m. The body found near Decker Lake was an older man. That was a relief, but I still can't understand why we were not contacted immediately and informed of it.

There don't seem to be any good leads on Rachel's case, so I'm glad that we are reopening the search center this weekend. Maybe we can find something.

Friends Kent and Robert S. and my cousin Lanny met with me to plan searches for this weekend. We have five search areas documented and ready to go. Tomorrow night, Kent and I will drive around the areas that I identified as being unsearched and plan more searches. I would like to have at least 15 search areas documented before noon on Friday when the first volunteers will arrive at Faith Lutheran Church.

I spoke to Tim Miller, the director of Texas EquuSearch, on the phone. Some of their people will drive to Georgetown on Thursday night, and others will travel on Friday morning.

Thursday, May 2

After work, friend Kent and I drove Williamson County roads, checking out several areas for this weekend's search. I documented the search routes when I got home.

I attended the Thursday night church service at Faith Lutheran, and afterward Pastor Selle gave me a key to the room we will be using for a search center this weekend. Friend Robert S. and I looked the room over and decided how to best situate the tables in the room. God bless Pastor Selle, Pastor Lowrey, and their church.

My mom and sister Elaine picked up the yellow bows for the search center. Garden Ridge donated the bows and 105 candles for the candlelight birthday service for Rachel on May 10. Rachel will be 20 years old on that day.

Friday, May 3

We reopened the search center at Faith Lutheran Church today. Unfortunately, only about 15 volunteer searchers came.

Five Texas EquuSearch members drove up from Houston accompanied two search dogs came. We utilized the searchers the best that we could.

A sheriff's investigator was assigned to the search center to pursue any leads we might find. She will stay for the entire three-day search.

Saturday May 4

More volunteer searchers came today. Around 30 searchers were sent out in various teams.

Express Gourmets donated a hot lunch for all of the volunteers. They are wonderful people.

At the end of the day a team called in and said that the area they were given was much too large for their small team to cover. That subdivision is so new that it isn't on the county maps yet.

We put out the word to the media that we needed more walkers, horseback riders, and ATVs to cover the area. Hopefully tomorrow we will have 50 or more volunteers. We really need people on horseback. Only two horseback riders came today.

Sunday, May 5

Thirty two searchers came today. We sent them all out to one area. All of the media were focused on the election last night, and only two stations mentioned the search effort. That affected the number of volunteers. Lunch was delivered to the volunteers at the search site because they were fairly far from the search center.

I joined the search after 2:00 p.m., and we worked until 4:15 and then quit for the day. The searchers all looked exhausted. We will finish searching that area on a future weekend search.

My two sisters planned the candlelight birthday prayer service for Friday, May 10. Rachel will be 20 years old then. It will also be four months since she was abducted. We will meet on the square in Georgetown at 8:00 p.m. this Friday. Everyone is welcome to come.

Texas EquuSearch left soon after all of the search leaders were debriefed. They start another search for a missing girl tomorrow in the Houston area. Their mission keeps them busy all of the time.

Monday, May 6

We sent out a press release about the birthday prayer service for Rachel this Friday at 8:00 p.m. It will be held on the square in Georgetown, and we will have over 100 candles and balloons.

Birthday cards and flowers are welcome, but we are requesting that no one bring presents. Some of the members of the Georgetown High School choir will sing, and my brother David will say a prayer or two.

I will start updating the county map tonight with the searches that we did last weekend. We covered a lot of new areas with the small number of volunteers that came.

Tuesday, May 7

We did some final preparations for Friday night's birthday prayer service for Rachel. Most of the tasks have been assigned to someone.

Friends JR and Denise posted flyers about the service around Georgetown. My sister Elaine and I have talked to several people in the media. JR, Denise, and I reviewed this past weekend's searches and talked about the next steps to take.

We will continue to search until all of the gaps are covered. Also, we plan to review all of the old search records and neighborhood interviews. Some clues may have been missed earlier.

Wednesday, May 8

Today we received the final approval to use the Georgetown Square for Rachel's birthday candlelight service at 8:00 p.m. tomorrow.

There were a lot of steps to go through to receive permission, but everyone in the process worked hard for us. Our friend Janie did all of the legwork for us.

I exchanged e-mails with Sabrina Allen's father today. He has custody of Sabrina, and her mother took her in a parental abduction.

He is going through a lot of the same things that we are. At least I don't think her mother will hurt her.

I gave her father the Laura Recovery Center web site. Sabrina also has a web site now: http://findsabrina.org . I hope someone will see Sabrina or her mother, and that sighting will bring Sabrina home to her father.

Thursday, May 9

We decided to fill the balloons on the square for Rachel's birthday instead of prefilling them. They will be easier to handle and less likely to pop.

Everything is ready for tomorrow. Wildfire restaurant will provide the cake, and HEB will provide the balloons. Garden Ridge Pottery provided ten large yellow bows and a decorative wreath.

Friday, May 10

Today is much harder than I thought it would be. I took a day of vacation, and it's a good thing I did. Rachel's disappearance is very real today, and even getting ready for the birthday event did not take my mind off of it.

Fox 7 News wanted to do a "Live at 5:00" from the square in Georgetown, so I meet them at 3:45 p.m. They did a short interview. KEYE and News 8 came later and also did interviews.

I practiced what I was going to say all day in my mind; hoping that I wouldn't break down while speaking. It didn't work, it was too real. Rachel is gone, and we have been unsuccessful in finding her for the fourth month in a row.

We all wrote messages to Rachel on the yellow balloons and released them. I wrote messages for both Janet and myself because she was unable to attend. It was so windy that the candles wouldn't stay lit. We finally put them inside paper cups to shield them from the wind.

We formed a large circle, and twenty friends and family members went to the middle of the circle to represent the twenty years of Rachel's life. We then sang "Happy Birthday".

Members of the Georgetown Choir sang "Amazing Grace" and "May the Lord Bless You and Keep You". My brother David also said a prayer.

Saturday, May 11

I am pretty drained from yesterday. My emotions that I have been holding back are huge. It was one of the worst days yet. Having to face it without Janet made it even harder.

My friend JR came over this morning, and we cleaned our living room and kitchen. Just cleaning those two rooms makes me feel a lot better. Our house has not had very much attention since Rachel was abducted.

Our daughter JoAnn is going to a prom today in Austin. She looks so beautiful. I took several digital and regular pictures of her.

I visited Janet in the late afternoon. She is stable but not doing too well.

Sunday, May 12

I went to Faith Lutheran Church this morning. Afterwards a large group of family took my mom out to eat. I showed them pictures of our daughter JoAnn in her prom dress and some other pictures of the candlelight birthday service for Rachel.

Janet's friend Carol took her some prime rib from Outback Steakhouse for lunch. I also visited Janet later and brought her some roses and a card from our friend Michael. JoAnn and her boyfriend Danny went to visit her in the late afternoon.

I completed updating the search map tonight. We are almost finished filling in the gaps that I found in the county. I scheduled another search for this Saturday, May 18th. We will meet at Faith Lutheran Church at 8:00 a.m.

Monday, May 13

I updated the home page and tribute section on www.rachelcookesearch.org to include pictures of the candlelight birthday service for Rachel. I also added a short notice about this Saturday's search.

Tonight friends JR, Robert S., and I met to discuss this weekend's search and other matters. We have one area that we need to finish searching. I e-mailed all 60+ people on my volunteer searchers list to tell them about the search.

My cousin Carolyn flies back to San Diego today. She came last week to attend the candlelight service. She and Rachel became very close when Rachel moved to San Diego in 2000. We all miss Rachel very much.

Tuesday, May 14

After work friend JR and I met to go over some things about Rachel's abduction. We are still trying to think of new suspects and maybe find clues that were overlooked before.

I am hoping for a good turnout for this Saturday's search. We have a lot of area to cover and could use 20 or more people.

Wednesday, May 15

I finally typed up my daughter JoAnn's poem (Click here to read the poem.)about her missing sister. I added her poem to the tributes section on www.rachelcookesearch.org, The words come from her heart, but they are very sad.

Tonight I started going through the records that I have on searches, neighborhood interviews, and other items. If those records are cross referenced properly, they may give a clue or two about Rachel's abduction.

I received an e-mail from Child Protection Education of America. They have Rachel's flyer posted on their website. They also submitted Rachel's flyer and information to Fox Sports, who will feature her on a spot during their boxing match this Sunday. I will try and find out what time it will be shown.

Friday, May 17

I received word that it will be another week before Rachel's flyer will posted on the FBI site. I can't understand why some missing persons are posted within hours and it takes two months to post my daughter's flyer. Actually, it's four months but I have personally been trying to get it posted for two months.

In contrast, my friends and family accomplished several things in the last two months. We planned the Run/Walk for Rachel, an event with over 600 participants. We planned and executed a birthday candlelight service attended by over 130 people. We searched close to 100 linear miles. I created a tributes section on the rachelcookesearch.org site with over 25 web pages. We passed out over 1,000 Help Find Rachel Cooke buttons. Three M.U.S.T. seminars were held to teach women self-defense awareness tactics.

Why does it take two months to post a flyer that should take 10 minutes or less? Something needs to change in the system.

I haven't received very many commitments for volunteers for tomorrow's search. I would like to have at least 12 walkers and 4 horseback riders. My cousin Lanny and I drove around the search area and planned the search routes.

My sister Diane called tonight. She and my co-worker Kelly are designing some Rachel Cooke bumper stickers. We will order between 250 and 500 of them to give out.

Saturday, May 18

We had 10 walkers and 2 horseback riders take part in the search today. We started the search around 9 a.m. and finished at 12:15 p.m. Everyone that participated did a great job, and we covered everything that I wanted to at the site.

We will have another search next Saturday. We will meet at 8:00-8:30 a.m. at Faith Lutheran and will drive to the site at 8:30 a.m.

My sister Elaine came over tonight and we reviewed future plans. She is trying to contact race car driver Darrell LaMoure. He has put pictures of missing persons on the hood of his race car in the past.

Sunday, May 19

I started reviewing the neighborhood interviews from January. A few of them need a follow-up interview.

We have five searches identified and ready to be assigned. Depending on the turnout, I will assign one or two search areas each Saturday.

We will have the next search this Saturday, May 25. Please meet at Faith Lutheran Church at 8:00 a.m. We will brief the team(s) and leave for the search site(s) around 8:30 a.m.

Monday, May 20

I added a picture and link to Sabrina Allen on the home page of rachelcookesearch.org. She was taken by her non-custodial mother last month. Sabrina is still missing. I also added the information about this week's search for Rachel.

A group of us met tonight and starting going over the search records and interviews. We are looking for anything that was overlooked in January. There has to be something there that will help us find Rachel. We have almost finished covering the practical search areas, so going over the records may be of more benefit. I feel it's just a matter of time before we find out who did this.

Tuesday, May 21

We found some interesting things while going through the search records today. We are going to follow up on them and give a copy of the records identified to the Sheriff's Office.

I received some good aerial pictures of Williamson County. They are good to look at when we are planning a search.

The design of the bumper stickers should be ready soon. My co-worker Kelly is working on the design, which will be simple and readable, just like the buttons. Kelly is going to check on the price difference between putting a color picture of Rachel and a black and white picture on the sticker. I don't know how long the manufacturing will take. I would guess two or three weeks.

Wednesday, May 22

I heard another bad rumor today. A friend of ours heard that Rachel had been found. This is incorrect. I think someone might have heard about Chandra Levy's body being found in Washington and thought they were talking about Rachel.

I wish people would read the paper or watch the news to get their information. Your co-worker or next door neighbor is not the best source for accurate information.

Friends Robert S., JR, and I drove out to an area where some items were found in the January search. We bagged a few pieces to turn over to the Sheriff's Office. We will continue to review the records and search until we find out something.

Two dog teams are coming up from Houston to help this weekend. I was happy to hear this news. We have already identified several places for the dogs to search.

We will find Rachel. We will find out who took her. God is on our side and will help us do it. It's not going to be easy, but we are determined. It's just a matter of time.

Thursday, May 23

I received an e-mail from Rinokids. They have posted Rachel's flyer on their website. I appreciate their help very much.

KVUE 24 interviewed me today. They wanted my reaction to the Chandra Levy case. I really feel for her parents. They have been through the same hell as my wife Janet and I have. I know that the realization of her death hurts them greatly, but I think that the closure will help them deal with their loss. I have said this before; but I will repeat it: parents can never heal or forget about their lost child. They can just learn to live with the pain.

Her body was found only four miles from her apartment in an area that had been searched. It is a large 1,700 acre park, but it should have been covered 100%. We have covered over 2,000 acres searching for Rachel. Chandra's case just reinforces what we are doing. I don't want Rachel's body found by a stranger walking his dog a year or two from now. Rachel deserves more than that.

After work I met with the two dog handlers that drove up from Houston. We went over the search areas where I would like them to take their dogs this weekend.

Friday, May 24

My friend JR took the dog searchers to several sites today. They searched under several bridges and other places.

I think everything is ready for tomorrow's search. Several volunteers have committed to come. We have a rather large area to search and we could use 15 to 20 people.

Saturday, May 25

I got up at 6:00 a.m. today and drove around the search site. It will take 15 people several hours to complete the search.

At 8:00 a.m., I met the searchers at Faith Lutheran Church. We had a good turnout of 16 people and two dogs. We divided into two walking teams and one dog team. For the first two hours we searched the empty property in the subdivision with lot sizes one acre and up. My friend Robert S. and I acquired permission from two land owners along a "cut through" road. The search teams searched that area and along a creek there.

After the search debriefings, friend Jinese and I drove to a few areas to check them out. She let her dog search under another bridge near my house.

Tonight my wife Janet and I attended the Georgetown High School graduation. The senior class had collected several thousand dollars and wanted to give part of the money back to the community. They gave $1,000 to the Georgetown Project in honor of Rachel. The Georgetown Project will put the money to good use here.

Georgetown High School has given us so much support throughout this ordeal. I would like to thank them. Everyone from principals and teachers, to students, coaches, the custodial staff, cafeteria workers, the administration staff, and others have done so much.

Sunday, May 26

Friend Jinese and I went out for a search with her dog Meadow. We searched along a creek bed near my house. The water was not flowing because of the dry weather that we've had here.

I marked all of the search sites that we covered the last two weekends on the large county map. Almost all of the areas that I have identified have been covered, but I am still finding new roads and areas that still need to be searched.

Monday, May 27

Friend Jinese and I searched under bridges and in culverts this morning. We started at 6:30 a.m. when the weather was still cool. By 11:00 a.m., it was hot, and we were tired from climbing up and down the hills.

A group of us will meet again this week to go over the search records looking for clues. Last week we identified several things that needed to be looked at again.

Tuesday, May 28

I made a new searches page on http://www.rachelcookesearch.org. It is dedicated to the 1,000 plus people who have supported the search for Rachel by searching, providing assistance, donating items, etc. Many pictures will be added there over the next week.

A group of us met to review the search and interview records tonight. We are over half-way through the documentation. Several areas were identified to research further.

We will have another search this Saturday morning. Meet at Faith Lutheran Church on Williams Drive in Georgetown at 8:00 a.m. The team will be briefed and will drive to the search site around 8:30 a.m. The search should be completed before 1:00 p.m.

Unfortunately, Rachel's car was hit by the bad hail storm that went through Georgetown Monday night. I have called the insurance company and will get it fixed. I want it to stay nice in case by some miracle she is returned to us.

Wednesday, May 29

I sent out 70 e-mails informing people of this Saturday's search. Hopefully we will get a good turnout.

Co-worker Kelly told me that the initial design has been sent to the bumper sticker manufacturer. The company will format it and send us an example before they begin to make them.

I ate lunch with Sabrina Allen's father Greg today. We compared what we each are doing to find our daughters. Sabrina was taken by her mother, and the FBI has been involved. His church is also doing a fundraiser this Saturday for her. There is a link to Sabrina's site on rachelcookesearch.org.

On the way home I received a call from the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. They are doing a story on Sabrina Allen's abduction and wanted to include the connection between Greg and me and our helping each other. The article should be in this Saturday's Metro section.

Thursday, May 30

The Sheriff's Office gave my wife Janet and me a briefing this morning. A new witness has come forward who saw a female jogger on FM 3405 the morning of Jan. 10th talking to two young men in a blue Camero with a white stripe on the hood and trunk. Rachel disappeared on Jan. 10.

The car was blocking the road, and the witness actually had to stop while a white pickup passed from the opposite direction. The jogger waved to the driver of the pickup. When the witness drove around the blue car, she noticed the driver's face and later worked with an artist to create a composite drawing.

A press release was sent out later today with the details. The composite and a description of the car and truck were included in the announcement.

As soon as the press release was received, the media began to call Janet and me. KVUE interviewed me outside my office. Fox 7 interviewed Janet and me at our house, and then KEYE talked to the two of us.

Janet and I are trying not to get our hopes up too much with this news, but it is a good lead and hopefully it will help resolve Rachel's abduction. We will continue to do searches and other activities while we wait on the results of this latest information.

Friday, May 31

The Sheriff's Office called today to ask some questions. They said that they have been really busy with calls relating to new blue sports cars and the composite sketch.

I briefed friend Robert S. on the site that we will search tomorrow. My cousin Lanny has the search assignment papers.

I will be unable to attend the search because my wife Janet and I are speaking at a Search and Rescue class in Austin tomorrow. I regret not being involved in the search. It will be the first time I haven't attended one since February 1, but the S.A.R. team training is very important.