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By John Darling For the Tidings December 28. 2014 7:04PM Missing girl's family, friends, want more info from police Hannah Thomas-Garner poses for a photo posted on a Facebook page devoted on returning the 17-year-old to her Ashland home. Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/bringhannahhomesoon People involved in the search for missing Ashland teen Hannah Thomas-Garner called off a Sunday search for clues on Dead Indian Memorial Road, but they suspect the disappearance was a crime, not a runaway — and today they are calling on Ashland Police Department, in person, asking they deepen their investigation. New snow in the area of Dead Indian Memorial and Shale City roads — site of the Nov. 30 party where the 17-year old girl was last seen, raised concerns for the safety of some 50 people who had volunteered to drive up there and search for personal items, said Amy Couture, an Ashland mom and participant in the effort. “The reasons we’re searching for clues is that we believe she’s not a runaway,” said Couture. “We’re asking the police to pursue this as a criminal case. They've said they believe she’s alive somewhere in California, but they don’t know where.” Couture says Ashland Police have been very helpful in the case, but she and others will present lawmen with a statement in the Police Department parking lot at 11 this morning, so they can deliver facts that indicate she may be a victim of foul play. Thomas-Garner was considered a stable Ashland High School student with good grades and a positive family situation, according to family and friends at a Plaza vigil for her last week, but she disappeared from the party, with her car being found abandoned and bashed up near a freeway exit in Mt. Shasta. A motorist said he gave a ride to a hitchhiker matching her description the next morning, dropping her off at Dunsmuir. Police have said the man’s testimony is credible, especially given the fact that she had reportedly planned a runaway jaunt with another girl. However, Couture said the girl’s father, a Texas resident viewed surveillance video of the supposed hitchhiker, recorded at a store later, and said that is not his daughter. Couture says she and other supporters want the police to divulge all evidence they may have in the case, so that townsfolk may have full knowledge of all circumstances that could point at criminal activity. Police were not available for comment over the weekend. Supporters had planned to search the Dead Indian Memorial area for clothing, shoes, driver’s license and especially a SIM card she says is missing from the girl’s phone, which was found in her car, minus the card, she says. Couture said she and others were not able to reach police over the weekend to verify facts about the phone and video. Couture said she wants to set up a meeting with police or else walk in the building and try to find someone to talk to, especially about the confusion around sightings in the first few days. All information on the girl is being posted on the Bring Hannah Home Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/bringhannahhomesoon ). Couture said she is in contact with the father, James Garner, by email. The search on Dead Indian Memorial Road will happen when weather improves, she said. — Reach Ashland freelance writer John Darling at [email protected] . To the police: As concerned local citizens and friends of Hannah Thomas Garner, we want to urge you to reclassify her case and to launch a criminal investigation into her disappearance as soon as possible. ...We believe that Hannah is NOT a runaway. Yes, she left her house to attend a party, but Ashland teenagers have been doing that for generations and they always return home. ... 48 hours later, and 80 miles away, her car was found damaged and abandoned... We are very skeptical that she would have damaged and abandoned it herself. ... Hannah’s cell phone and keys were abandoned and that the SIM card was removed from her phone. This sounds to us like the actions of someone who wanted to conceal evidence, possibly of a crime.... We worry that the rumors of a "runaway" scenario, put forth in the first few days after her disappearance, has caused law enforcement to overlook evidence that points toward something much more serious. ... Her father investigated all of the supposed sightings of Hannah since the night of the party and has unfortunately found them all to be false and unconfirmed. ... We hope that the Ashland Police Department will consider reclassifying Hannah’s case in order to pursue an aggressive investigation that will help her family find their missing child. ... http://www.dailytidings.com/article/20141228/NEWS/141229898 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->