Aurora – Relatives of 6-year-old Aaroné Thompson walked the streets near her home this morning, passing out fliers and asking people who answered their doors whether they had seen the girl who was reported missing on Nov. 14.
It was a small gathering of about 20 people, who throughout the morning were outnumbered by members of the press. They passed out 1,500 pamphlets with the last known photograph of the girl, information about what she was wearing and police phone numbers.
Family formed the search party because police stopped looking for Aaroné and began focusing on a homicide investigation based on a “credible tip,” said Aurora’s interim Police Chief Terry Jones.
No arrests have been made, but police believe the girl has been missing for as long as 18 months.
Aaroné’s father, Aaron Thompson, and his live-in girlfriend, Shelley Lowe, are considered people of interest who the police would like to interview. The other children who were in the house were removed and placed in protective custody.
Neither Thompson nor Lowe showed for today’s search. Friends of the family said their absence was because Lowe was having pregnancy complications that put her in the hospital Wednesday night.
Today’s search was delayed about an hour as the small gathering waited in the freezing morning temperatures at Rocky Ridge Park as handouts were printed.
“I was hoping it would have been a bigger turnout,” said Kenneth Walker of Aurora, who joined the search after hearing the family’s plea for help at a Thanksgiving church service.
“The police department saying it’s a homicide stopped a lot of people from coming out. Only God truly knows. I’m giving support to the family, right or wrong. I just have to help out any way I can.”
Aaroné stepgrandfather, Jessie Cloman, blamed the media for not getting the message out about the search, which will start again today at 7 a.m.
“We made a plea for people to help us and no one reported it,” he said. “We need to make this positive.”
Cloman went door to door and in a quiet voice and with sad eyes told people he was Aaroné’s grandfather, handed them a wanted poster and asked for their help.
“If you see anyone or know anything please call the Aurora Police,” he told one woman. “If nothing else, pray for her.”
Members from Rampart Search and Rescue brought bloodhounds and all-terrain vehicles to drive the trail along Tollgate Creek. But the dogs had no scent article to lead them to the girl.
The search was organized by Richard Berrelez, who started the ALIE Foundation in honor of his granddaughter, Alie Berrelez, who was abducted and killed in 1993. Her body was found by an Aurora Police Department bloodhound.
Berrelez handed out MapQuest maps to the searchers and instructed them on how to graciously ask for help.
“You have to keep asking yourself, ‘Is it in vain? Is it a waste of time?”‘ he said. “It isn’t. It;s a missing child. Today, we’re creating a wave, to get people from around Denver involved. This is where you start. If we do nothing, we’ll get zero results.”
Staff writer Jeremy Meyer may be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
