May 3, 2008 9:37 pm US/Central
Mystery Internet Girl Is Not Missing Bradley Girl
Calif. Father Says The Picture Is That of His Daughter; Sorry That Image Raised Hopes of Bradley Family
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The FBI Saturday night is investigating a California couple who claim that a mysterious picture on the Internet is actually their daughter, not missing Chicago girl Tionda Bradley.
A private detective who's worked on the case says that the latest development may be disappointing for the Bradley family, but it's good for the investigation.
"It stops the resources from going after and spending money and resources and manpower going after a false lead," said private detective James Miller.
Earlier this week, a Houston forensic artist sparked controversy saying, she was certain a mysterious Internet picture is Tionda Bradley, a South Side girl that disappeared from her home in 2001 with her younger sister.
But in a phone interview from Chula Vista, Calif., Jeff Smith told CBS 2 that the girl in the Internet picture is his daughter and he was sorry if the picture raised the hopes of the Bradley family.
"I hate to have the family suffer like this, it is very disheartening," Smith said. "It's a very cruel thing to do to someone missing a child."
"It gave the family false hope, but it did bring national awareness to the case," Miller said.
Sources tell CBS 2, on Monday, California FBI agents will be checking birth certificates, school records and perhaps DNA to verify the identity of the mysterious girl.
"It stops the resources from going after and spending money and resources and manpower going after a false lead," said private detective James Miller. Earlier this week, a Houston forensic artist sparked controversy saying, she was certain a mysterious Internet picture is Tionda Bradley, a South Side girl that disappeared from her home in 2001 with her younger sister. But in a phone interview from Chula Vista, Calif., Jeff Smith told CBS 2 that the girl in the Internet picture is his daughter and he was sorry if the picture raised the hopes of the Bradley family. "I hate to have the family suffer like this, it is very disheartening," Smith said. "It's a very cruel thing to do to someone missing a child." "It gave the family false hope, but it did bring national awareness to the case," Miller said. Sources tell CBS 2, on Monday, California FBI agents will be checking birth certificates, school records and perhaps DNA to verify the identity of the mysterious girl.
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