Bedford police on Friday sought to reassure the community that there is no known public danger days after a teenager's body was found in a landfill.[[429988703,R]]
The body of 14-year-old Kaytlynn Cargill was discovered Wednesday by a worker at the Republic Services Arlington Landfill on Mosier Valley Road. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office positively identified the body but has not determined Kaytlynn's cause or manner of death.
The medical examiner has ordered toxicology tests as part of the investigation.
At a press conference Friday, Bedford police said no arrests have been made and that no "persons of interest" have been named.
"We have absolutely nothing that points to a risk to our community, that points to further danger," said Bedford Police Chief Jeff Gibson.
Kaytlynn had been reported missing just after 6:20 p.m. Monday. According to a flier, she was walking her dog and asked her friend to watch it for a minute. Kaytlynn never returned and the dog was found tied to a post in the apartment's dog park.
Since Monday, Kaytlynn's disappearance and the eventual discovery of her body has left some in this community shaken and concerned.
"I did not get a phone alert or an email alert," said Bedford mother Crystal Riddell, who questioned the way police initially handled Kaytlynn's missing persons investigation.
"If a missing persons report was filed Monday, regardless of the urgency, that should have been posted Monday night on Facebook, not Tuesday at 2:31 p.m.," Riddell said.
Gibson stressed that officers canvassed the Oak Creek apartment complex where Kaytlynn was initially reported missing for days and that they never had a reason to believe the teen was abducted or in any danger.
"There's nothing we could have done differently," Gibson said Friday. "Our staff has worked tirelessly on this case, night and day, since being notified [by Arlington police]."
"We did not have any specific requirements that would require us to initiate an Amber Alert," the chief said.
It remains unclear what happened to Kaytlynn Cargill or how her body ended up at the landfill. The many unanswered questions have left the quiet community unnerved.
"I think that we can be more vigilant as a community to be aware of what's going on around us," Riddell said.
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On Thursday, dozens of people gathered for a vigil at Central Junior High School, where friends said Kaytlynn had just completed seventh grade and played trumpet in the school band.
"You could look at her and tell she was always really happy, she was really carefree," said classmate Bayleigh Wagoner.
"I just don't understand. She's, she was 14. What did she do to you? She's just out here walking her dog, doing a normal thing. Then she's just gone," said Brooke Kirkland, carrying balloons to the apartment complex dog park where Kaytlynn was last seen.
The family has planned a visitation for Kaytlynn on Monday June 26 at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst. The visitation runs from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Funeral services are planned for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church of Euless.
Police are asking anyone with information on the girl's disappearance to call police at 817-952-2440, call Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS or e-mail tips@bedfordtx.gov
