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Friday, October 17, 1997 Guest: Detective Terry Nelson   Opening Remarks:   Before I get started tonight, I want to apologize for some of the confusion from last Friday's chat. And I would like to clear up one of the questions from last week about Ms. Symons brother. You wanted to know if Ms. Symons brother was cleared of the charges. And yes, he was. I was confused by an early question and answered it incorrectly. I hope that helps clear up some of the confusion. Anyway, the reason I came by tonight was to let you in on a new development in our search for Pierce. It seems we got an interesting and good tip from someone out in Las Vegas. Pierce was spotted buying clothes from a thrift shop right outside of Las Vegas. The tip is looking very good, and as we speak, Agent Stremcha is coordinating a search in the Las Vegas area. I can take some questions now if you all have any.   Question & Answer session with Detective Nelson:   Q: Are you pursuing any other leads? A: We are currently looking at any leads we have, but to be honest this looks like a solid lead and we are acting on it. A.S.A.P.   Q: Was anyone with him or did they also spot the van? A: We only got info that Pierce was spotted in Las Vegas.   Q: Detective do you think he has the girls with him for some "excitement" if you know what I mean? A: That I am not aware of.   Q: Terry, I would like to know if Ed was caught if there is going to be a shoot out again? A: I can't really be sure of anything like that. It is possible, but if he doesn't put up any resistance to arrest, there shouldn't be any problems.   Q: Do you think that the accident was done on purpose? A: You mean, the escape? No, I don't really think it was on purpose, but I do think because Pierce is smart, he wasted no time in getting out of there as soon as the accident occurred.   Q: Has Vicky been seen at any tryouts for the Vegas shows? A: We haven't had any leads to the whereabouts of Ms. Symons unfortunately. We are looking at any possible lead we may have. Maybe you all have some ideas?   Q: Who spotted Pierce? How many days ago? A: Right now, I am not at liberty to give out any more information than I have about that call because we are in the process of a search. We don't want Pierce skipping town. We aren't even sure whereabouts in Vegas to look, but we plan on scanning any and every available space in Vegas and then some.   Q: Detective, you identified Ed in the surveillance video? You must have good eyes. A: We digitally enhanced the picture to get a close up. I'm amazed at how computers work these days.   Q: Why haven't you placed pictures of Ed in pharmacies across America, with his injuries, he will need pain meds! A: Well, we have his pictures up in the news-both tv and newspapers and he is posted on the most wanted lists in America. But I will most definitely take your suggestion into consideration. That's a very good idea. Thanks.   Q: I really don't think Ed has any thing to do with Macy's disappearance. A: We are still looking into leads, that don't have anything to do with Pierce's escape. We have just focused on Pierce because of the time of Macy's disappearance being so close to when the car was stolen at the mall.   Q: Why do you think Ed called his parents? A: I think it was to frighten them, and maybe at the same time let them know that he was ok. But that's just an opinion.   Q: Did Ed rob a bank? A: No, we haven't heard anything like that. It's a rumor. He did steal a van in Texas, and a car in Oxford...and some clothes. But we have nothing on him stealing from a bank.   Q: Please include pictures of Ed and Vicky in post offices as well Detective Nelson, everyone visits the post office. A: We do have those up in post offices. I guess I forgot to mention that. Must be getting senile.   Q: Do you think Ed could be heading to a relatives to hide out with his girls? A: Wow, that's a really good thought. I will definitely relay that to our search team.   Q: Are notices up at gas stations and pit stops? A: We've mainly got pictures up in post offices, Most Wanted lists, and in the newspapers and on the news on tv. I'll see about putting them up in gas stations and such. That's a good point.   Q: When is the Sheriff going to take the polygraph? A: That's a good question, SD. He keeps putting it off, but because we do the tests with an independent firm...the Sheriff has to schedule it on his own. Though, he has made it very clear that he wants to be cleared as a suspect in his daughter's disappearance   Q: Do you think liquor stores would be a good place for picture, since they purchased alcohol during their escape? A: Hmm, it's a thought. I'll see what resources we have at the force to do that.   Q: Well, if he wants to clear himself so much, why doesn't he schedule one? A: I'm not sure really. He wants to clear himself, but I know he's very busy with all of the campaign going on. I'll see about maybe talking to the Sheriff again and see if maybe I can find out why he hasn't taken the polygraph yet.   Q: Detective Nelson, how did Macy know either Ed Pierce or Victoria? A: We don't really think that she did. We think that when Pierce was in the parking lot of the mall that he may have spotted Macy and recognized her. Then took her as a bargaining tool, but as far as we can discern, it doesn't appear that Macy knew either of them.   Q: If no fiber trace ever found of Macy in Oxford car, why would you think she is still with Ed? A: Well, we did find the library card with Phelp's body. It gives us a probable cause to believe that she may be with them.   Q: Considering there were no witnesses...is the mall Macy disappeared from just not a very busy one? A: Not really. The Oxford mall is rather small, it's main stores are WalMart and JCPenny with about 15 stores in between on either side.   Q: About how busy was the mall when Macy disappeared? Fewer than 100? fewer than 50? A: Not very busy at all. Game days are on Saturdays and if people aren't glued to their sets, they are at the games.   Q: Is there any indication that Ed's parents may be molesters? A: No indications. His parents are professionals and seem to really be concerned about him. From what I understand, they even had him institutionalized for a time in fear that he might be self destructive.   Q: Do you have any idea what happened between Ed and the neighbor's kid? A: No. Perhaps the Pierce's can answer that.   Q: Has the other police officer in the accident recovered? A: No. He is still in a coma, I'm afraid.   Q: How about Vicky, have you interviewed any more of her friends? A: She really didn't seem to have many friends that we know of. I'll have to look into that more. I think that you are right, maybe we could find out a lead or two on where she might be at.   Q: Do you know the extent of Ed's injuries? A: From what I could tell on the video from the car jacking, it just seems that he was fine. But he did appear to be limping. So, I can't really determine how bad the extent of his injuries are.   Q: If its possible that Ed doesn't have Macy then why are you focusing on Ed and not looking closer for Macy? A: We are doing both right now. We have been following all sorts of leads, however our strongest lead seems to be Pierce.   Q: What other leads? A: We have been checking into the phone call we received from the psychic but we haven't come up with anything on it yet.   Detective Nelson expressed his desire to hear any and all theories on the case. He said, "We are taking any help we can get right now. I would love to hear your thoughts, it would help out a lot." The following theory was presented by a member present.   I think that someone else took her. That someone needed something to divert attention away from him being the one. The person who did the kidnapping had to have known about the transfer. He/She would have known you guys would have thought Ed did it. What better diversion from the real kidnap? I think her father might owe someone some money or something and they took Macy as some sort of collateral."   Detective Nelson: I'd like to thank you for that theory. I will definitely look into that as a possibility. If anyone has any ideas, please let us know.