5-2-13 6:50 pm
(Valley Springs, CA) Calaveras County Sheriff’s Investigators have
been in contact with the Fowler family and continue to make progress in
the investigation into the murder of 8-year-old Leila Fowler. Evidence
continues to be collected at the Fowler’s Valley Springs home.
On May 1, 2013 detectives and a composite sketch artist met with a
witness in this case for the purposes of developing a composite sketch
of the person seen running near the Fowler home. This witness had
earlier provided a description of this person to investigators on two
separate occasions. The witness had also stated that she saw the
intruder running in the opposite direction from the direction that
Leila’s 12 year brother had provided. During the composite sketch
meeting the witness recanted her previous statements and her
identification of the man she saw running. She also refused to provide a
description to the sketch artist so that a composite could be
completed. The witness’s description of the intruder was an important
lead for investigators, but as of now it has become clear that this
witness is no longer credible. Though this may seem like a setback in
the investigation, it is actually a positive result in that it allows
the investigators to narrow the scope of their investigation.
Investigators have received approximately 300 tips since the start
of the investigation and continue to follow up on leads. Some of the
leads that we have received have been investigated and excluded, which
is allowing detectives to focus on other avenues.
Detectives continued to follow up on the City of Placerville Police
Department’s arrest of a kidnapping suspect that occurred on April 30,
2013. On May 1, 2013 Calaveras Sheriff’s detectives went to Placerville
to conduct interviews and find out whether or not the Placerville
suspect had any connection to the Leila Fowler homicide. Though DNA
samples taken from the suspect will still be sent to and analyzed by the
DOJ crime lab as a matter of standard practice, detectives have
determined it unlikely that there is a connection between the two
crimes.
Calaveras Sheriff’s investigators have consulted with officials from
the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The FBI is providing support to
the investigation.
