"People of interest" identified in Baum case

Investigators looking into the disappearance of 11-year-old Lindsey Baum say recent interviews with McCleary residents have helped raise interest in about a dozen people, but authorities stopped short of calling any of them a suspect.

Grays Harbor Undersheriff Rick Scott said federal and local authorities collected vast amounts of anecdotal information during hundreds of interviews with residents, some of which identified the potential people of interest.

Of the 12 or so people identified, Scott said, two were of “high interest.” Detectives will be closely examining their activity around the time that Lindsey disappeared June 26.

Local authorities worked with the FBI in recent weeks to question McCleary residents living near where Baum went missing. The questions were suggested after a review of the investigation by experts with the FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff to look at,” Scott said.

Lindsey Baum went missing days before her 11th birthday while walking a short distance home from a friend’s house. Investigators have found no evidence in the past nearly nine months to explain her disappearance.

In two-man teams, investigators went from house to house talking to residents. Scott said they questioned nearly 1,000 people for up to hours at a time, asking them about new details and any suspicions. Many brought forward new information or presented theories on what happened.

“Arising from the ashes of all this,” he said, “there’s probably a dozen people of interest and a couple people of heightened interest.”

Law enforcement officials are asking anyone who might have any information about Lindsey's whereabouts to come forward with tips. Tips can be shared by phone at 1-866-915-8299 or via e-mail at soadmin@co.grays-harbor.wa.us. A $20,000 reward is available for information leading to her being found.