Search for missing teen has family, police at odds

6/8/2009

When Megan Maxwell's car was found burned and Maxwell herself went missing, Cocke County authorities launched a search to find the Newport teen.

In those first three days, Maxwell's mother and grandmother say they were very proud of the work that Newport Police and the Cocke County Sheriff's Office did.

But as the search has worn on with no sign of Maxwell's location, her family is seeing mis-steps and problems. Mother Lisa Maxwell said the investigation had gone downhill.

"What if it were their daughter? This would be different," Maxwell said. She said she understands the department is a small one, but she expresses frustration that more outside resources haven't been called in.

"Bringing Megan home would be the best day of my life," Newport Police Chief Maurice Shults said Monday. Shults said the department is doing everything it can in the search, investigating new leads.

But Shults said unless they have a new lead, a blanket search is not a good use of manpower, without a specific lead to bring them somewhere.

Shults did say he hadn't been in contact with the family as often now as in the early days of the search, but he does feel the department has pulled in outside resources wherever prudent.

Two searches of area landfills have been canceled due to equipment problems or the right dogs being unavailable.