Fairfield police today confirmed that they are now using clues and recommendations of FBI profilers to try and find a woman missing since last August. 22-year old Katelyn Markham disappeared from her condo in that city-and her disappearance is a true mystery.
The art student with many dreams was about to graduate when she vanished. It's the kind of curious and incomprehensible case that the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit takes on. Local 12 News Reporter Deborah Dixon has more.
It's not like in the movies or on TV shows like "CSI," but in real life these investigative psychologists look at crimes from the behavioral aspect. Profilers work out of the FBI Academy. They're studying Markham s case. "We've given them evidence, they reviewed it and made some recommendations."
Profilists study witness and victim reports and a crime scenes that can tell if it was organized, or premeditated or disorganized, unplanned-which is difficult in the Markham case. If you go by the evidence, Katelyn disappeared outside her condo, leaving her keys, purse, car and dreams behind. "I do have a lot of information about her friends, what was going on on in her life." Investigators might use profiling recommendations to help question a suspect.
Katelyn's father says he seems stuck in life. He has trouble sleeping, is often sad and has trouble concentrating. "How do I move on when I don't know what direction to take? It's like a fork in the road-which one do you take?"
There is a $50,000 reward for information that leads police to Katelyn Markham. $25,000 is from an anonymous donor, and $25,000 is from restaurant owner Jeff Ruby. Crimestoppers can take your tips at 352-3040.