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Stephanie Condon’s mother, Christine Condon, speaks at a press conference Wednesday at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Roseburg to announce a newly formed multi-agency task force to work on her daughter’s case. Next to her is Dwes Hutson, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.
With the Sheriff’s Office’s dogged efforts to solve the mystery of Stephanie Condon’s 1998 disappearance leading to countless tips, a new task force has formed to help in the investigation.
The creation of the multi-agency task force to investigate the homicide case was announced Wednesday. It is the latest push in past months to find whoever is responsible for the 14-year-old Riddle girl’s alleged abduction and presumably, her death.
“A number of leads have been generated from the efforts in the last year,” said Dwes Hutson, spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
The 14-member task force includes representatives from the Sheriff’s Office, the Roseburg Police Department, the Oregon State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, all of whom will take time out from their regular duties to work the Condon case.
Officials are not releasing any further information on the case, but Hutson did note that police continue to look for answers from the man believed to be the last person to see Condon before she disappeared.
Police had named former Myrtle Creek resident Dale Wayne Hill a person of interest in the case early on, then eventually named him a suspect.
The man was arrested on unrelated burglary and robbery charges that year and remained in prison until his release in 2004.
Hill, who officials say remains in Douglas County, has never been charged in connection to Condon’s abduction.
The creation of the multi-agency task force to investigate the homicide case was announced Wednesday. It is the latest push in past months to find whoever is responsible for the 14-year-old Riddle girl’s alleged abduction and presumably, her death.
“A number of leads have been generated from the efforts in the last year,” said Dwes Hutson, spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
The 14-member task force includes representatives from the Sheriff’s Office, the Roseburg Police Department, the Oregon State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, all of whom will take time out from their regular duties to work the Condon case.
Officials are not releasing any further information on the case, but Hutson did note that police continue to look for answers from the man believed to be the last person to see Condon before she disappeared.
Police had named former Myrtle Creek resident Dale Wayne Hill a person of interest in the case early on, then eventually named him a suspect.
The man was arrested on unrelated burglary and robbery charges that year and remained in prison until his release in 2004.
Hill, who officials say remains in Douglas County, has never been charged in connection to Condon’s abduction.
“He does remain a suspect in this case,” Hutson said.
Among other efforts to keep the case fresh in the minds of county residents, the Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Squad joined the investigation, a reward of up to $20,000 was offered and billboards sprung up around the area.
Condon’s family also launched a Web site about the girl and the case on Oct. 30, the ninth anniversary of her disappearance from a family member’s Tri City home in which she was babysitting.
Condon’s mother, Christine, has said she hopes the anonymity of the Internet will allow her daughter’s abductor to reveal where to find Stephanie’s remains. Law enforcement officers and the girl’s family have long since given up hope of finding her alive.
Officials, meanwhile, continue to appeal to the public to keep an eye out for human remains while recreating in forested areas. They’re also asking for more tips on anything that could be related to the case.
“We just never know if that one piece of information is what we’re missing to resolve this case,” Hutson said.
Christine Condon said she appreciates all the work being done to help find her daughter.
She said the creation of the task force to help investigate leads on the case has buoyed her spirits.
“That means there’s a lot coming in, a lot of activity on it,” she said. “When there’s not a lot of activity, you kind of get down.”
• You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@newsreview.info.
Among other efforts to keep the case fresh in the minds of county residents, the Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Squad joined the investigation, a reward of up to $20,000 was offered and billboards sprung up around the area.
Condon’s family also launched a Web site about the girl and the case on Oct. 30, the ninth anniversary of her disappearance from a family member’s Tri City home in which she was babysitting.
Condon’s mother, Christine, has said she hopes the anonymity of the Internet will allow her daughter’s abductor to reveal where to find Stephanie’s remains. Law enforcement officers and the girl’s family have long since given up hope of finding her alive.
Officials, meanwhile, continue to appeal to the public to keep an eye out for human remains while recreating in forested areas. They’re also asking for more tips on anything that could be related to the case.
“We just never know if that one piece of information is what we’re missing to resolve this case,” Hutson said.
Christine Condon said she appreciates all the work being done to help find her daughter.
She said the creation of the task force to help investigate leads on the case has buoyed her spirits.
“That means there’s a lot coming in, a lot of activity on it,” she said. “When there’s not a lot of activity, you kind of get down.”
• You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@newsreview.info.
