Search for Emily Rimel resumes

Penny Moore:

It was quiet for a while, but now there is a renewed search for 5-year-old Emily Rimel, who has been missing since December 7.

Her body has never been found, but police got a tip on where to find her late last week.

Monday, the trial for Lindsey Bruce, charged with kidnapping and raping Emily, was put on hold while the search was resumed.

In the past, the searches for Emily Rimel have also been what police always called "site-specific." Before Bruce was arrested, they had a global positioning device on his car hoping he would lead them to the Emily, but he never did.

Monday, the prosecutor told the judge, by law, they must pursue all leads so they don't get caught in a double jeopardy trap down the road.

Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor Ron Welch says, "We want to pursue all possible leads and attempt to locate Emily Rimel or her remains so that at some later time if the state chooses to pursue charges for the homicide we can do so."

Emily's mother Jane says, "They really haven't told me anything else except that they're searching for her in the area the inmate said Lindsey told him."

Rimel isn't sure she believes the inmate. She says, "He's known for all this time. Why is he coming forward, a week before the trial?"

Police believe Bruce killed Emily, but can't prove it without her body.

Rimel says, "That little girl was my whole world. There are kids missing longer than she has and still come home to their families. I'm not giving up on my little girl."

The new trial date on the rape charge for Bruce is now August 15.

Alleged Child Rapist's Trial Put On Hold

Emily Rimel