(note caveats in other West Memphis Evening Times posts)
Thursday, May 6th, 1993 (paper goes to press at 1 pm)
Missing. Police, others comb city in search of three boys.
West Memphis police and volunteers from across the city began searching at daylight for three boys missing since yesterday afternoon.
All available officers are combing the area for Christopher Byers, Michael Moore and Steve Edward Branch. The three boys, all 8 years old, were last seen together riding bicycles north on North 14th Street toward Goodwin Street about 6 p.m. Wednesday.
"It's like they vanished into thin air," Diane Moore said. "If someone got them, please just like them go. (sic)"
The parents were gathered at the Moore's awaiting any word from the police.
Byers, of 1400 E. Barton, is described as 4 feet, 4 inches tall, weighing 50 pounds, with light brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, dark shoes and a white long-sleeved shirt. Byers regularly takes Ritalin for hyperactivity, but had not taken his medication yesterday afternoon, Todd Byers, the boy's father said (sic).
His father last saw him cleaning up the yard at 5:30 p.m.. Later he was seen with the two other boys around 6 p.m.
Moore, of 1398 E. Barton, is 4 feet tall, 60 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing blue pants, a Boy Scouts of America shirt, an orange and blue Boy Scout hat and tennis shoes.
Branch, of 1601 E. McAuley, is 4 feet 2 inches, 60 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt. He was riding a black "Renegade" bicycle.
The three boys attend Weaver Elementary School.
Diane Moore saw the three friends on their bikes and when they disappeared from view, she sent her daughter after them, but they could not be found, police reports said.
Police began their search about 9 p.m., after none of the three returned home.
The search this morning spread from Seventh Street across the city to Airport Road and north of Interstate 40. Police and concerned family member were searching vacant homes, nearby fields, bayous and the pumping station on North 14th.
A culvert that extends from Stuart across Barton and on to Ingram Boulevard was searched at 9:30 a.m. by police. A search of a culvert that runs under the interstate near the Blue Beacon truck wash is believed to be the route the three may have taken across the highway because bicycle tracks and small tennis shoe prints were found around the entrance to the culvert.
Small prints were also found this morning in the mud near the Raceway gasoline station on the north service road, but police said the prints may have been made by family members searching near the area.
Crittenden County Search and Rescue volunteers joined in the search this morning. A helicopter crew entered the search about 9 a.m.
The children were riding two 26 inch boys' bike, one spray-painted green, and the other red.
No information intimating foul play has been found, police public information officer Gary Gitchell said.
At press time, the youths had not been found. The search had not progressed outside the city.
Photo caption: Clockwise from above, Chris Byers, Michael Moore, Steve Branch.
Thursday, May 6th, 1993 (paper goes to press at 1 pm)
Missing. Police, others comb city in search of three boys.
West Memphis police and volunteers from across the city began searching at daylight for three boys missing since yesterday afternoon.
All available officers are combing the area for Christopher Byers, Michael Moore and Steve Edward Branch. The three boys, all 8 years old, were last seen together riding bicycles north on North 14th Street toward Goodwin Street about 6 p.m. Wednesday.
"It's like they vanished into thin air," Diane Moore said. "If someone got them, please just like them go. (sic)"
The parents were gathered at the Moore's awaiting any word from the police.
Byers, of 1400 E. Barton, is described as 4 feet, 4 inches tall, weighing 50 pounds, with light brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, dark shoes and a white long-sleeved shirt. Byers regularly takes Ritalin for hyperactivity, but had not taken his medication yesterday afternoon, Todd Byers, the boy's father said (sic).
His father last saw him cleaning up the yard at 5:30 p.m.. Later he was seen with the two other boys around 6 p.m.
Moore, of 1398 E. Barton, is 4 feet tall, 60 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing blue pants, a Boy Scouts of America shirt, an orange and blue Boy Scout hat and tennis shoes.
Branch, of 1601 E. McAuley, is 4 feet 2 inches, 60 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt. He was riding a black "Renegade" bicycle.
The three boys attend Weaver Elementary School.
Diane Moore saw the three friends on their bikes and when they disappeared from view, she sent her daughter after them, but they could not be found, police reports said.
Police began their search about 9 p.m., after none of the three returned home.
The search this morning spread from Seventh Street across the city to Airport Road and north of Interstate 40. Police and concerned family member were searching vacant homes, nearby fields, bayous and the pumping station on North 14th.
A culvert that extends from Stuart across Barton and on to Ingram Boulevard was searched at 9:30 a.m. by police. A search of a culvert that runs under the interstate near the Blue Beacon truck wash is believed to be the route the three may have taken across the highway because bicycle tracks and small tennis shoe prints were found around the entrance to the culvert.
Small prints were also found this morning in the mud near the Raceway gasoline station on the north service road, but police said the prints may have been made by family members searching near the area.
Crittenden County Search and Rescue volunteers joined in the search this morning. A helicopter crew entered the search about 9 a.m.
The children were riding two 26 inch boys' bike, one spray-painted green, and the other red.
No information intimating foul play has been found, police public information officer Gary Gitchell said.
At press time, the youths had not been found. The search had not progressed outside the city.
Photo caption: Clockwise from above, Chris Byers, Michael Moore, Steve Branch.
