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Press
Release from Vallejo Police
December 20, 1999 10:00 a.m.
Case #99-25692
The Vallejo Police Department is investigating
the disappearance of 7 year old Xiana Fairchild. At approximately
7:35 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, she left her home in the 500
block of Georgia enroute to the school bus stop at Maine and Marin
Streets where she takes the bus to Mare Island Elementary School.
At approximately 1:00 p.m., her mother contacted the school because
she had not returned home. She then learned that her daughter
had not been in school during the day.
The Vallejo School District bus driver stated
that she was not at the bus stop that morning when he arrived
to pick up the children. Witnesses have reported that she was
seen walking alone in the downtown area, near the bus stop, that
morning. Vallejo Police Department is working in conjunction with
the FBI on this case.
At this point, there are no leads or suspects.
Bloodhounds were called in on Thursday evening in an attempt to
track Xiana's scent. On Saturday, December 11,Search and Rescue
provided us with approximately 150 dog teams to search for Xiana
. Saturday evening, divers were deployed in the Mare Island strait.
There was no evidence found by the divers. Sunday evening, December
12,we deployed divers again in the Mare Island strait. This was
done because on the previous dive, the rescue divers were unable
to check under the seawall. During this dive, they utilized underwater
cameras to assist in checking those areas. There was no evidence
found by the divers. We are focusing our efforts on following
up on the tips that have been received and to continue contacting
sex registrants that live in the area. We have received in excess
of 400 tips. We have search and rescue dog teams on stand-by to
respond to any new locations that are identified.
On Wednesday, December 15, 1999, we released two
composite photos of possible witnesses. These composites are being
provided by two witnesses who indicated that they had seen Xiana
Fairchild in the downtown area on the morning of her disappearance.
The first sighting was by a witness who may have observed Xiana
at Georgia and Sonoma at 7:30 a.m. The witness recalls seeing
a man in a tan mid-size vehicle in the area. The witness describes
the man as a Hispanic male, late 20's or early 30's, moustache,
unshaven, wearing a red and white plaid shirt.
The second sighting is by a witness who knows
Xiana. This witness saw Xiana at Sonoma and Georgia between 9:30
a.m. and 10:00 a.m. The witness recalls seeing a man described
as a Caucasian male in his 40's, 5'11-6' tall, dirty blonde straight
hair worn in a pony tail, moustache, scar above his left eye,
wearing a red and white plaid shirt and jeans. At this time we
believe we have identified the Causian male witness in the composite
based on information received through the tip line. This person
did not provide with any information relevant to this investigation.
The Vallejo Police Department is still attempting to identify
the Hispanic male in the composite in hopes that he can provide
any relevant information to the investigation of Xiana Fairchild's
disappearance. O
n Thursday, December 16, 1999, the Vallejo Police
Department canvassed the downtown area between 6:30 a.m. and 10:00
a.m. in an effort to identify anyone who may have seen Xiana or
the witnesses in the composities. Approximately 400 vehicles and
pedestrians were stopped and identified. From these stops, approximately
50 leads were developed relating to this case. Most of these leads
were from individuals who had seen Xiana in the area in the past
and some recognized the composites as individuals that had been
seen in the downtown area in the past. Thus far, we have received
approximately 50 calls on the hotline with information regarding
the possible identity of the composites. We are following up on
those leads at this time.
On Saturday, December 18, 1999, Search and Rescue
teams provided by Solano Sheriff's Department were utilized to
search the 680 corridor between Benicia and I80. They utilzed
dogs and horses to search approximatley 31 linear miles along
the freeway and marsh area. The search dogs keyed on an area off
Marshview Road where there were several piles of dirt. This area
was cordoned off overnight until it could be more closely examined
during daylight hours.
On Sunday, December 19, Vallejo Police and FBI
evidence technicians searched this area but did not locate anything
related to this investigation. We have been receiving some tips
as a result of the coverage of this case on America's Most Wanted.
These tips are related to possible sightings of Xiana and sightings
of the composites. We are following up on these tips, but thus
far no sightings of Xiana have been verified. Xiana La Shay Fairchild
is approximately 3' tall, weighs 50 lbs, has long dark wavy hair,
with an olive complexion. She was last seen wearing a puffy purple
jacket, grey sweatshirt, and grey sweatpants.
At this time, there is $11,000 in rewards being
offered for information leading to the safe return of Xiana Fairchild
or for information leading to arrest and conviction of the person(s)
responsible if Xiana is determined to be the victim of a homicide.
These rewards have been donated by the Carol Sund/ Carrington
Memorial Reward Foundation ($5000); Team Chevrolet ($5000); and
Crimestoppers ($1000). In addition, accounts have been set up
at West America Bank, 1660 Tennessee Street, Vallejo for donations
to the reward. The account # is 2104104621. A recovery account
(#0104986955) has also been established at West America Bank.
There will not be any additional press conference updates unless
there is a significant development in this case. If that occurs,
a press release will be sent out advising of the time and place.
The web page will continue to be updated daily.
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