New evidence sheds light on Dunn case

   New evidence has surfaced based on affidavits attached to search warrants issued through the Mitchell County Judge’s office that may shed more light in the disappearance of 13-year-old Hailey Dunn.

   Investigators for the Colorado City Police Department and the 32^nd Judicial District served search warrants on Dunn and Adkins, taking their cell phones, a Dell computer belonging to Adkins’ mother, Christina Walker of Big Spring and a 2000 Chevrolet Lumina 4-door car into evidence.

   According to the affidavits, investigators believed there was probable cause for evidence of the felony crime of kidnapping contained in the items taken into evidence.

  Adkins and Dunn voluntarily surrendered their cell phones to police. The search warrants requested “all stored electronic and/or wire communications or files for user accounts..., including text messages, text message content and any attachments, including picture message and any other files associated with the account, that relate to the time period of December 25, 2010 to January 7, 2011 from the Cellco Corporation.

   Although the affidavits do not suggest guilt or innocence, investigators stated that “in the course of the missing person investigation, investigators noted numerous inconsistencies in statements made by Adkins and reported suspicious behavior by Adkins on and around the date of Hailey Dunn’s disappearance.”

   According to the affidavits, “the telephone records dispute Adkins’ report that he went straight to his mother’s residence in Big Spring, but show Adkins returned to Colorado City where Hailey Dunn was reported missing.”

   The computer, which belongs to Adkins’ mother, was confiscated because investigations showed Adkins had spent time on Walker’s home computer, a Dell Inspiron 530 computer. It was picked up on Dec. 30 and on Jan. 5 the computer was placed into evidence.

   Because information gathered during the investigation places Adkins as possibly the last person to see Hailey, police determined the 2000 White Chevrolet Lumina, owned by Dunn and jointly driven by both Dunn and Adkins, was the only vehicle available to Adkins at the time and might possibly contain forensic evidence.

   Members of the task force would not comment on a statement contained in the affidavits which state “It is the belief of your affiant (law enforcement officer) that Hailey Dunn was kidnapped and transported to another location against her will.”

   However, investigators are looking at several persons of interest, including Shawn Adkins.